Results 12,881-12,900 of 23,963 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The concern about the Mercosur agreement relates to its beef aspect and the 99,000 tonnes of tariff-rate quota. Wider trade agreements have a benefit for Ireland, including our agrifood industry. We export 90% of all of our agricultural produce. As such, being able to trade internationally is important. The part of the Mercosur agreement that I am concerned about is the tariff-rate...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy will find that I am consistent in outlining my concerns about the 99,000-tonne beef aspect. I have also pointed out to him the wider value of trade to Irish agrifood. The approach from his party is anti-trade in general. It is opposed to many of our free trade agreements, for example, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, which has been positive for the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: No, we were not.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Certainly not.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: We have always been consistent on the positive aspects of trade while also being clear on any issue of concern. I have been clear about my concerns regarding the beef aspect of the Mercosur deal. It is appropriate we deal in logic and apply appropriate process to how we consider everything as a Government. That is why there is an impact assessment, which the Deputy is asking me about...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: We have been working closely with all agri-food companies, and exporters in particular, to ensure they prepare for 1 January because, regardless of what happens in the next number of days, there will be significant changes from that date when Britain becomes a third country. For every company that exports to Britain, that will mean additional customs checks and, for the agri-food sector more...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: On supporting companies to prepare for the additional requirements in terms of customs and SPS, significant financial support has been put in place by the Government. In particular, there is a €9,000 grant for all businesses to avail of to ensure they have a member of staff in their company who will have knowledge, understanding and responsibility to prepare for customs checking. ...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Carthy for the question. Whatever the outcome of the EU-UK future relationship negotiations, significant changes will take place from 1 January 2021. These will have considerable implications for the agri-food and fisheries sector and will require considerable adjustment, particularly for businesses trading with Great Britain. The focus of my Department has been on getting...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Livestock Issues (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am satisfied that the online mart system is working successfully in the context of the necessary Public Health restrictions we have applied. I am not aware of any restrictions on capacity. The vast majority of livestock marts now have systems in place to conduct online auctions. Livestock throughput from 22nd October to 30th November - when Level 5 measures were in place...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (8 Dec 2020)

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 will 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The agrifood sector is a vital part of the Irish economy, and maintaining export markets for Irish agrifood and fish products is a fundamental part of my Department’s work. It has also been a central element of my Department’s response to Brexit. While the UK market has always been an important one for Irish exports, successive governments have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I would like to take this opportunity to emphasise my commitment to the provision of agri-environment schemes which will continue to support farmers while driving environmental benefits. This commitment was demonstrated in the Budget 2021 when I secured funding for the rollover of existing schemes and through the additional budget allocation for 2021 of €79...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Beef Taskforce was established to provide the leadership to develop a sustainable pathway for the future of the beef sector. The Taskforce provides a robust implementation structure for commitments entered into in the Beef Sector Agreement of 15th September 2019, with timelines and stakeholder engagement. There have been six meetings of the Taskforce to date and the next...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: In the four and half years since the UK voted to withdraw from the EU, my Department has invested more resources and expertise to the pursuit and development of new markets for Ireland's agri-food sector.  However, opening and enhancing access to international markets is typically a lengthy process with negotiations often taking several years before bilateral agreements are concluded and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Fisheries is an extremely important priority for Ireland and the EU as a whole in the negotiations with the UK. We are seeking to protect the interests of the Irish fleet in relation to access conditions, quota shares and the traditional activity of the EU fleet, while insisting that fisheries issues are dealt with as part of an overall trade deal. Securing an overall future relationship...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Live exports of cattle and sheep to Britain make up a very small proportion of our total live exports - less than 1% of our sheep and 2.4% of our cattle exports have gone to GB this year. My officials have recently received necessary certificates to import animals into the UK - these can be used to facilitate any such trade that will take place. The UK...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bioeconomy Sector (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department co-chairs the high-level Bioeconomy Implementation Group, along with  the Department of Environment Climate and Communications.  One of its key actions under the the national bioeconomy policy statement, is to examine ways of turning biowaste, nutrients, food processing residues and discards into valuable resources, by establishing the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides that compensation to owners of animals may be payable if a cull of those animals is directed by my Department in the event of an outbreak in that herd or flock of certain diseases, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The compensation may relate to the animal that is culled, or to an animal product, animal feed or similar item that is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Brexit poses enormous challenges for the agri-food and fisheries sector, as well as for my Department.  Regardless of the outcome of the EU UK negotiations, from 1st January 2021, any business which exports food to or through Great Britain will be subject to a range of new customs formalities and other regulatory requirements.  The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Marts have clearly demonstrated their ability to work productively during level 5 Restrictions. Since the beginning of the Covid19 crisis, my Department has worked intensively, in cooperation with  marts representative organisations, to ensure that marts continued in operation.  I would like to commend marts and farmers for the resilience they have shown and the...