Results 12,641-12,660 of 23,975 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) provided temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland, subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. BEAM was funded by a combination of EU aid and Exchequer support. It was provided to support Irish beef farmers who saw beef prices fall in light of the Covid-19 market...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Websites (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: On foot of a Government decision, the websites of all Government Departments are being moved to the gov.ie portal. The websites of 14 Departments are already hosted on this platform and the websites of the remaining Departments will be moved in the coming months. The core principle of gov.ieis that information that the user needs is provided, in a way that is easily accessible. The objective...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Feedstuffs (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: While there are currently no indications of significant challenges in the overall availability of animal feeds at present, there has been a temporary reduction in the level of imports of soya products in recent weeks mainly due to a temporary disruption in supplies from Argentina which is the main exporter of soya. Access to sources of protein, including Soya for inclusion in concentrate...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Teagasc Activities (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has no direct role in placing students on farms. Teagasc has over 1,000 active host farms that provide in-situ practical learning periods (placement) for Teagasc learners. I am advised that Teagasc is intending to maintain its student farm placements in line with planned schedules. Teagasc will issue both hosts and students with best practice guidance in relation to COVID.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 682, 690 and 705 together. I fully recognise the impact the current forestry licensing delays are having on the sector at the moment. It is my immediate priority to resolve the issues which have led to this backlog and to issue licences in the volume needed for this important sector to continue to contribute to our rural economy and to help achieve our...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Inshore Fisheries (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, in December 2018, following a public consultation process in which over 900 submissions were received, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine announced that vessels over 18m would be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1st January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government commits to rewarding farmers for adapting to more sustainable methods of farming. The Programme commits to the development of a new user friendly, agri-environment scheme capable of delivering broad environmental and biodiversity benefits that will align financial supports with climate objectives. The Programme also commits to the implementation of a results-based...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has developed and participated in a number of initiatives to improve the viability of male calves from the dairy herd. The Calf Stakeholder Forum brings together key stakeholders in industry, with a strategic vision for a socially sustainable national dairy industry. It aligns with the overarching policy objective to develop a more integrated strategy for the livestock...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: There is no rule limiting the upper age of cattle for beef production. However, meat processors do make in-spec bonus payments in respect of cattle which meet certain market specifications demanded by retail customers. The 30-month age limit is one of these criteria. Such specifications are entirely a commercial matter, and are not conditions imposed by my Department. It should be noted,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 687 to 689, inclusive, together. As part of the September 2019 beef sector agreement, three distinct consultancy studies, all of which relate broadly to market transparency, were commissioned as follows: - a summary of competition law issues as relevant to the sector. This report is finalised and published on my Department's website. - an independent review...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I reconvened the bovine TB (bTB) Stakeholder Forum on 1st October 2020. At this meeting, the draft bTB Eradication strategy was discussed including the issue of herd test history statements and reports. As a result of that meeting, subsequent bilaterals and a second meeting of the Forum on 8th December 2020, a new bTB eradication strategy has been agreed and will be published shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Gaining access to new markets and opening new trading opportunities for Irish exports while simultaneously strengthening established export markets has been and remains integral to my Department’s strategic approach to the development of the agri-food sector, including the beef sector. Between 2016 and 2019, Irish agri-exports to third country markets (those outside of the EU and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fur Farming (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department continues to engage with the farm operators in order to manage the next steps in this process. From a public health risk management perspective, my Department has conducted testing on mink on all three farms, with negative results to date and the HSE are also monitoring the health of the workers on these farms.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: The allocation of the COVID 19 vaccine is a matter for the Department of Health and further information is available on their website: . The rollout of the COVID 19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE. I understand that my officials have requested that appropriate consideration would be given to prioritising the availability of the vaccine to key workers in high-risk settings.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement will, unfortunately, have an impact on our fishing industry. However, this impact would have been far greater had the Barnier Task Force agreed to UK demands or had we been in a no-deal scenario which would have seen all EU vessels barred from UK waters and subsequent displacement into...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pesticide Use (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Biocidal products may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and are entered on the “Product Register” in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013. On 5th June 2020, my Department received an application for registration of a hand sanitiser product from a Turkish company...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 698 and 699 together. Developing increased market access and furthering trade opportunities abroad is an integral part of my Department’s response to the ongoing challenge of Brexit. We have been particularly active on the European dimension of this response. For example, additional funding provided to Bord Bia has been used to further its Market...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Gaining access to new markets and opening new trading opportunities for Irish exports while simultaneously strengthening established export markets has been and remains integral to my Department’s strategic approach to the development of the agri-food sector. According to the latest figures from the CSO, exports of agri-food products from Ireland to the 26 EU countries has grown by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: Exports of agri-food products from Ireland to the 26 EU countries has grown by 26% in value in recent years, from €3.8 billion in 2016 to €4.75 billion in 2019. Dairy products, at €1.76 billion in 2019, are our largest export and have increased in value by almost 50% since 2016. Final year-end figures for 2020 will be available in mid February. I consider that there...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (20 Jan 2021)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has no responsibility for or data on scientific procedures involving animals in Ireland The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the state agency with responsibility for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes, the regulation of human and veterinary clinical trials, and the regulation of human and veterinary medicines, medical devices and other health...