Results 11,121-11,140 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (27 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The planting of trees has the potential to play a significant part in our environmental priorities especially water quality, biodiversity and climate. My colleague Minister of State Pippa Hackett has announced her intention to explore how such planting along riparian margins could be promoted at scale. This would combine the best of our agri-environment measures, where over 1.5 million trees...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 294, 295 and 296 together. Any proposed planting of trees that is 0.1 ha or over in area is currently considered afforestation and must have an afforestation licence which must be applied for by a registered forester. The planting of small numbers of trees in an area less than 0.1 hectare is however is not a consented development and does not require to be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Results-based Environmental-Agri Pilot (REAP) is an innovative, ambitious and farmer-friendly pilot that will deliver an important income boost to participating farmers. While the project will support our environmental objectives, it will also support farm incomes by providing a maximum payment of €12,600 to participating farms over the term of their REAP contract. It is a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The average timeframe from date of advertising to date of decision for the 76 afforestation licences which issued in April 2021 was 11.5 months.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department receives new licence applications and issues decisions daily. Our target remains the issuing of 4,500 new licences this year. Within that, there will be fluctuations within individual weeks and months. April was lower than other months for a variety of reasons but I expect May to show an increase and June to be higher again. Last week, the Department issued 101 new...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of the Department. I have been informed however that an appeal was received by the Agriculture Appeals Office on 31stJuly 2020 from the person named. The decision letter from the Department to the person named was dated 30thSeptember 2019 and, in accordance with the provisions of the Agriculture Appeals Regulations (SI 193 of 2002), the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The amount of ecology input required to approve a forest licence varies from application to application. Some sites are more complex than others depending on hydrological connections that might exists or the extent of potential interactions with qualifying interests and features of interest associated with the neighbouring European sites. Some applications screened in for appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: There are a wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under TAMS II. To date, total expenditure under the seven measures of the TAMS, including transitional expenditure, has reached in excess of €286m with commitments of an additional €157m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those commitments. The rate of grant aid is set at 40%...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: To highlight the importance of farm safety, the Government assigned my ministerial colleague, Martin Heydon, TD the specific responsibility for Farm Safety in his portfolio. The next CAP Strategic Plan is currently under development in the Department and it is through this that new schemes will be put in place. The SWOT and Needs assessment process has been completed and Health and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (27 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I fully acknowledge the important contribution bees make to agriculture and biodiversity as both pollinators and honey producers. In this regard, the Department provides a range of supports and initiatives to encourage and assist beekeepers and the national beekeeping associations. The Department is also a partner in the All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2021 – 2025 and is a member of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (27 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Results-based Environmental-Agri Pilot (REAP) project is a short-term transitional measure which uses additional funding secured in Budget 2021 for farmers for this year. This necessitated a quick turnaround and I am happy to confirm that the project is on track despite the extremely tight timeframe. It has now closed and the Department is currently assessing the applications. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: An application for a herd number transfer was received from the person named in April 2021. This application is currently being processed and the herd owner has been informed. The processing of this application was delayed as not all the required documentation was received initially.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department is in the process of developing the criteria to accept applications from suitably qualified persons to form a register of “Forest Road Professionals”. Officials are working closely with the COFORD Forest Industry Transport Group in this regard. When the criteria are finalised, the Department will invite applications from suitably qualified persons who wish...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Relations (26 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland was very pleased to gain access to the Chinese market for beef in April 2018. Department officials worked closely with Chinese Customs to achieve that access and it is a market of significant interest to our industry. According to CSO trade data, the overall value of beef exports to China increased from €65 million in 2018 to €95 million in 2019 but declined markedly...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Bodies (26 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together. The establishment of the new Office of a National Food Ombudsman or Regulator, is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and a key priority of mine as Minister to bring much-needed transparency to the sector. The new Office will have a role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland and will incorporate the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (26 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. As part of our TB eradication programme, beef finishing herds, if they meet the necessary criteria, are allowed to avail of a special status, termed “Controlled Finishing Unit (CFU)”. A CFU herd is a specialised finisher of beef that does not deliberately engage in the active breeding of animals. It is a non-breeding herd...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Slaughtering (26 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Controlled Finishing Units as part of the TB Eradication Programme are subject to enhanced biosecurity measures and can only sell direct to slaughter. Kill numbers (rounded) at EU approved slaughter plants originating in Controlled Finishing Units by month and year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 January 20,000 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: All livestock are required to be identified in accordance with the applicable legislation that is within the remit of the Department. Any instances of untagged livestock should be reported to the relevant Regional Veterinary Office of the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The matter of livestock grazing on land without the owners permission is primarily a civil matter between the two parties involved. Under Section 8 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, for the purpose of disease control and prevention, a person who has in his or her possession or under his or her control a farm animal shall take all reasonable measures to ensure the animal is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (26 May 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Teagasc recently reported that blackgrass weed was found in a commercial wildflower mixture that was grown in an experimental plot at its research centre in Oakpark, Carlow. I understand that Teagasc has taken appropriate action to deal with the specific issue. There are no EU regulations governing the importation and certification of wildflower seeds. While the EU seed regulations cover...