Results 12,461-12,480 of 23,963 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (3 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: In the context of the Commission Proposal for a Regulation establishing a Brexit Adjustment Reserve, I am exploring a variety of possible measures to support our sector with the impacts of the quota transfers to the UK agreed under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.  This is likely to include a Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme to support the sector in the short term as the effects of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences (3 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy has enquired about two tree felling licence applications, the first of which was issued in October 2019 and was subsequently appealed to the independent Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC).  Their decision was to cancel the licence.  The person named then reapplied for the same area covered by the cancelled licence in April 2020.  That...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (3 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (3 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 970 and 971 together. My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme is the vehicle for financial supports to the seafood sector for the period 2014 to 2020.  The Programme delivers a wide range of supports for fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processing, and to coastal communities, through a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Chairman and members for the opportunity to address the committee on the impact of Brexit on the agriculture industry. I am joined by officials from my Department: Mr. Paul Savage, assistant secretary; Mr. Rob Doyle, director of veterinary services; and Ms Hazel Sheridan, head of import controls operations division. The decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: It certainly has been a matter of concern for our dairy industry. Obviously, we are an all-island dairy market and producer. It is entirely integrated. That is one of our strengths and, likewise, that feeds through to our dairy processors, who have a lot of mixed milk coming into their operations. It is something they were concerned about and something that I, as Minister, and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Senator Daly. I take on board his concerns and the point he made about the issue relating to Northern Irish milk. As Minister, I am aware of it and we hope to continue to address it. Mr. Savage outlined the challenges and issues relating to market supports, etc. As agreements to trade internationally with third countries fall due for renegotiation, it will be important that we try...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I refer to the agricultural attachés and their work post-Brexit. They play a really important role, particularly in being able to work and maintain existing markets abroad and work with our export companies to try to develop new markets. They also work very closely with Bord Bia on ensuring the Irish team abroad collaborate and have a clear strategy to try to develop and maintain the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland will receive a quarter of the Brexit adjustment reserve fund, which will amount to just over €1 billion. I will be monitoring progress and the impacts of Brexit. The academic assessments in advance of Brexit made estimates of what its cost implications and impacts on the agrifood sector would be. Various projections and assessments were made in advance. This is not a test...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice. On the importation of farm machinery, there is ongoing and close engagement between my Department officials and officials in the Department of Transport and the Revenue Commissioners on the importation of all products, and I know about the challenges concerning farm machinery. There have been many adjustment challenges, particularly as people adjust to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: On the Northern Irish ports, this is an emerging situation. As I said, the first priority here is the safety of staff. The type of threats we have seen are to be condemned by all. There are still full documentary checks in place and we will work very closely with our Northern Irish and EU counterparts in the time ahead. It is important that we all work together to calm the situation and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I will ask Mr. Doyle to come in on the export of live animals to the UK market. I will ask Ms Sheridan to come in on the Senator's second point about parts for machinery and the challenges in that regard. The Senator's third point related to the CAP and where it is at. A general approach was agreed both by the EU Council of Ministers and by the European Parliament on what the next...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I might ask Ms Sheridan to address the point about tractor and machinery parts and so on and the experience so far.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: On duties and the challenges arising from them, I will ask Mr. Savage to give an update on the experience so far. The Deputy asked about the meat industry and additional costs. In general, we continue to monitor the real-life impact of Brexit on the cost base and the cost of doing business. We are monitoring that closely across the agrifood sector. On reopening the Chinese market, that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: First, on the Covid situation in meat plants, there continues to be intensive and ongoing engagement between my own Department and the meat factories on this issue. The plants also continue to work closely with the HSE and the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, in respect of the protocols that are in place. As with wider society in recent weeks, there have been particular challenges for all...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The same protocols apply to meat factories as apply to any other business or location where outbreaks occur. In terms of communication, there are protocols for staff to self-isolate and take precautions. The difference with meat factories is that we have ongoing serial testing as an additional aid to oversee infection rates and to work with the factories to ensure they are minimised. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: The Impact of Brexit on the Agriculture Industry: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (2 Feb 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: First, Deputy Carthy mentioned mink farming. Following the initial advice of the CMO, the Department proceeded on the basis that we would proceed with a cull. The run-up to Christmas is pelting season, when approximately 80% of the mink in the country are pelted. We engaged with the farmers to indicate that there would be no breeding afterwards, we would bring forward primary legislation in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beekeeping Industry (28 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I fully acknowledge the important contribution bees make to agriculture and biodiversity as both pollinators and honey producers. In this regard, my Department provides a range of supports and initiatives to encourage and assist beekeepers and the national beekeeping associations. These supports include provision of a free disease diagnostic service for Irish beekeepers to help maintain the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (28 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) creates a new framework for the future EU-UK relationship that ensures quota-free and tariff-free trade between the EU and the UK. This is of significant importance to the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors. The overarching body that will monitor the agreement and ensure its effective implementation is the Partnership Council. This will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (28 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas. Fishing vessels, irrespective of size, must comply with the rules of the CFP, which include rules in relation to access and catch limits/quota. In relation to access to Ireland's coastal waters by foreign vessels, I would point out...