Results 11,081-11,100 of 24,065 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (17 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Climate research remains a key priority for me in my role as Minister. This commitment was clearly evident in the AgClimatise Roadmap which I published in December 2020. The benefits of research and innovation are clear, a number of new mitigation options have emerged on the back of publically-funded research, for example, protected urea fertiliser to reduce nitrous oxide emissions. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (17 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: There are currently 22 factories operating mechanical classification in Ireland representing approximately 90% of the national kill. Mechanical grading in beef factories is underpinned by two pieces of EU legislation which came into force in July 2018. Carcase classification is also governed by S.I. 249 of 2019. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1184 of 20 April 2017 sets out...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (17 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: In the past five years (2016-2021 to date), officers from the Carcase Classification Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine conducted 2,911 inspections in total, across 32 factories classifying carcasses. The average number of inspections significantly exceed the requirement under the relevant EU legislation. The EU legal requirement for monitoring classification is a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Equality Issues (17 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees and the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion policy, which was launched in 2018 builds on the Department's core values in the areas of equality, diversity and inclusion. The Department is a long time supporter of providing employment opportunities...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (17 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415, 416 and 417 together. Management of the National Mackerel quota is set down in Ministerial Policy which has been developed and put in place over a number of years. The allocation of 400 tonnes for a fishery for smaller vessels using hook and line as a means of fishing was set down in Ministerial Policy in 2010. The Minister amended the Mackerel...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (17 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department is continuing to monitor and analyse the mandatory and voluntary options present in the CAP proposals that are currently under discussion. In this regard, there are examples of modelling and analysis that have previously been carried out on the Department's website at the link below and there will be more of this type of analysis published as the regulations become clearer in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (17 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Developing increased trade opportunities continues to be an integral part of the Department’s response to the challenges posed by Brexit. The key challenge here is to continue to maximise the volume and value of Irish agri-food exports to all destinations, and to anticipate and, as best we can, mitigate the potential impact of adverse developments in trading patterns. This requires...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (17 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I was delighted to see the huge level of interest in REAP, demonstrated by over 10,800 applications being received by the Department. I was also pleased to be in a position to increase the original anticipated participation numbers in the project. Now, almost 5,000 farmers will be supported to undertake environmental commitments to increase the environmental value of existing farm features....

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank everyone for their contributions. It has been a very constructive debate. I look forward to more of these discussions as the new CAP evolves and then, hopefully, if we get agreement at the end of this month, as we put together our national CAP plan from that point onwards. The CAP ensures that our farmers can continue to farm, that we produce the highest quality food and that we...

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Deputy Flaherty touched on a number of issues which we have touched on before and outlined the position from his county’s perspective. He touched on a number of issues such as convergence, for example, and the importance of a well-funded CAP overall and ensuring the impact on farmers and their financial sustainability is central to how we frame the next CAP. I take on board the...

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I know the tremendous value of agriculture to Deputy Lowry's constituency. He outlined it well in his contribution. I assure him that, in putting the next CAP together, we will consider all farm types and consult farmers in great detail to ensure that CAP is as farmer friendly as possible. I look forward to the Deputy's engagement in that. There will be a comprehensive consultation over...

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: We have environmental sustainability and social sustainability but what anchors our family farm system is financial sustainability. That will be crucial in framing well the next Common Agricultural Policy to support families. Also, there is what we do then at domestic national level to support that in terms of additional funding, such as the 11% increase this year in national funding and...

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Which budgetary cuts?

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: We are clear at this point on what the budget will be between now and 2028. In monetary terms, it is narrowly up but in percentage terms, the overall CAP is down. This has been a challenge over many CAP cycles. If we include inflation, it reduces its impact in real terms. Monetarily, it has increased. Pillar 2 has increased by 20%. We have fought very hard to maintain the budget and to...

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Ó Murchú. I will take the second point on diquat first. The use of diquat has been suspended at EU level. There is ongoing engagement with Teagasc on alternatives and how to use them. I made it clear to farmers last year that this was the route they should take this year. On maintaining sustainable family farm incomes, that is obviously a key objective in how...

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Cairns. I have a couple of comments on the policies of this Government and what we are doing for farmers. The budget for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine this year has increased by 11% in trying to support farm families, which demonstrates the prioritisation we give to supporting farmers in the work they do. I am progressing work on establishing a food...

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy. His points on convergence speak to the challenges that arise in different parts of the country in this regard and also the importance of having a full national debate and consultation on the issues. They also speak to the fact it would not be appropriate for a Minister, without having had that consultation and full engagement with farmers of all types, from Donegal to...

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Sherlock. I will try to be brief. On the funding for climate action measures, the Deputy will be aware of the situation regarding the proposed CAP, whereby a minimum of 20% of Pillar 1 will now go towards eco-schemes. My objective there will be to make sure that however they are framed, those eco-schemes are accessible for farmers in order that they can actually participate...

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: That half minute is very important. Tremendous time has been given to the climate action Bill, both at the pre-legislative scrutiny stage and again in the Dáil. There is also a necessity here that we have to move on with it. If this was given all the time for every amendment, we could be here until next year debating it.

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: We must move on but tremendous consideration has been given to it. The programme for Government commitments, particularly regarding biogenic methane and the socioeconomic importance of agriculture, are transposed into the Bill. That is really important. Ultimately then, this will come back to the Government to make the decisions around it. There is an obligation on the Government to...