Results 12,261-12,280 of 23,957 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: Short supply chains and small-scale processing of agri-food products undoubtedly offer opportunities for Ireland’s agri-food sector to prosper and develop. The Programme for Government (PfG) acknowledges this in saying that while Irish agriculture must maintain a strong export focus, there is also a desire to see a greater emphasis on producing a more diverse range of food to meet our...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The European Commission launched its proposals on the reform of the CAP in June 2018. In October 2020, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament adopted their respective positions on the Commission proposals. Trilogue negotiations between the three institutions, which are aimed at reaching a final shared agreement on the shape of the new CAP, commenced at the end of 2020 and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme (17 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The measures announced under Budget 2021 to support suckler farmers build directly on the schemes established in recent years. The core support for the beef sector under the current RDP is the €300m Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP). In addition to this support, over the last two years, over €200 million of additional supports were made available specifically to the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The person named was approved into GLAS 2 and has received payments for scheme years 2016 – 2019 and the 2020 Advance payment. Following the outcome of an internal review, the person named is due payments in respect of the commonage action. Processing of the balancing payment due for 2017 is currently at an advanced stage and pending final administrative checks will issue shortly.

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-2020 provides financial supports for the sustainable development of our seafood sector. On 22 October 2020, I announced a COVID-19 Aquaculture Support Scheme under the Programme, designed to compensate oyster and rope mussel producers for lost sales arising from the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Scheme closed in November with 181...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (17 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1021 and 1022 together. I fully recognise the impact the current forestry licensing delays are having on the sector and I am in regular and intensive consultation with all stakeholders to resolve these issues. Along with Minister of State Senator Pippa Hackett who is responsible for forestry, it is my immediate priority to deal with this backlog and to issue...

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

Charlie McConalogue: There is no rule limiting the age of cattle, period of residence on farm or the number of movements for beef production. Such specifications are entirely a commercial matter and are not conditions imposed by my Department. In-spec bonus payments are made in respect of cattle which meet certain market specifications demanded by retail customers. The 30-month age, four movement specification...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tuberculosis Eradication Programme (17 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: While TB disease is low relative to historical levels, the number of new restrictions and reactor numbers have been gradually increasing since 2016. The pace of deterioration has accelerated in 2020. My Department is engaged with all stakeholders through the TB Forum to ensure all aspects of the recently launched new Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030 are addressed to move toward the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: All stakeholders, including Licenced Merchants, who are currently permitted to sell veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) under national legislation, such as cattle dosing products, will continue to be able to sell such VMPs following the new veterinary medicines Regulation coming into effect in January 2022. The Regulation does not stop this route of sale. However, from January 2022...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1026 and 1048 together. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to: Ensure fairness, equity, and transparency in the food chain by establishing a new authority called the National Food Ombudsman (NFO) to enforce the Unfair Trading Practices Directive. This new authority will enforce EU-wide rules on prohibited unfair trading practices in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Carbon Tax Yield (17 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Taxation policy is primarily the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Finance. The Minister for Finance announced in Budget 2021 that the carbon tax will be increased by €7.50 a tonne in 2021. All of the resulting revenues raised will be allocated in line with the Programme for Government commitment to use increases in the carbon tax. DAFM received €23m from Carbon...

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

Charlie McConalogue: To be classified as a productive farmer for the Basic Payment scheme, you must manage land and be involved in an agricultural activity. This includes: - milking, breeding animals and keeping animals for farming purposes or, - managing land that can be used for grazing or growing. My Department implements a comprehensive system of administrative checks and other controls to ensure that those...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (17 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Negotiations regarding the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the associated draft regulations are still ongoing. While progress has been made, there are decisions on a number of key issues still to be made, particularly in relation to the proposed CAP Strategic Plan. The proposed new Green Architecture which encompasses enhanced conditionality, eco-schemes and agri-environment...

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

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, prices for beef and other commodities is a commercial matter which neither I, as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, nor my Department have any role in determining. I am acutely aware of the issues presented to the beef sector and also those to the agri-food sector in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, particularly given its reliance on...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The measures announced under Budget 2021 to support suckler farmers build directly on the schemes established in recent years. The core support for the beef sector under the current RDP is the €300m Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP). In addition to this support, over the last two years, over €200 million of additional supports were made available specifically to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Welfare Scheme (17 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Sheep Welfare Scheme was launched in December 2016, for an original period of four years. The scheme reflected the commitment of the Government to the sheep sector in Ireland and was introduced as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme. The Scheme has now been extended for a further year in 2021. As in previous years, existing participants are automatically rolled over into...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. Under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, my Department provides funding to HRI on an annual basis. Under this provision for 2021, my Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Government requested that Point to Point racing be discontinued under current regulations relating to COVID-19. HRI has informed this Department that this request is being complied with. The pre-eminence of the protection of public health in the current pandemic situation is at the fore of such considerations. The situation will continue to be actively monitored.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Regional Development (17 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The EAFRD funding for 2014-2022 is programmed through the Rural Development Programme for the same period. The Rural Development Programme is not programmed at a NUTS regions level but rather Ireland is considered as one region. Therefore, the programme allocation and expenditure is not available at NUTS level. Beneficiaries under the programme are primarily farmers and rural communities...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (17 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-20 is the principal source of development funding for the fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processors sectors and for the socio-economic development and economic diversification of coastal communities. The Programme is implemented through a broad range of support schemes, mostly implemented...