Results 13,101-13,120 of 24,076 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: The pigmeat sector has shown remarkable growth in recent years. Last year the total value of pig meat exports was €891 million; an increase from €828 million in 2018.  Over 103,000 tonnes of pigmeat exports valued at over €463 million was exported to the UK in 2019. This represents almost 52% of total export value for the sector.  However,...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am committed to promoting good practices that respect the welfare of all animals - this is underpinned by the programme for Government and a dedicated team of officials in my Department. My Department devotes considerable resources to protecting animal welfare and in dealing with breaches of animal welfare legislation when found. My Department has recently...

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Department dedicates a substantial level of resources and funding to animal welfare and I am fully committed to delivering on the Programme for Government undertaking to prioritise equine welfare. In December 2019, my Department delivered the largest ever allocation of funding of €2.906m to 106 animal welfare organisations, many...

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

Charlie McConalogue: In accordance with Section 47(4) of the Disability Act 2005, my Department surveys all employees annually to establish the number of employees who have a disability.  Disclosure by individuals of their disability status is voluntary, as is the disclosure of the nature of any disability disclosed. As required under Section 5 of the Disability Act 2005, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Data Protection (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has contacted my Department eight times since 2016 and sought clarification regarding Data Protection cases raised by individual DAFM clients. Two of these contacts were notified as formal investigations (one in 2016 and one in 2018). The other contacts were requests for information and/or clarifications on cases. The nature of these cases raised has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) scheme is a one off, exchequer funded grant aid scheme under the Covid 19 State Aid Temporary Framework. The objective of the BFP has been to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland which have been severely impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme was open to all beef farmers who presented animals for slaughter in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Regulation (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The use of wrasse on salmon farms is regulated under the provisions of EU Directive 2006/88 on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals. Statutory Instrument 261 of 2008 – European Communities (Health of Aquaculture Animals and Products) Regulations 2008 gives effect to the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Regulation (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Responsibilty for the designation of protected habitats and species and for reporting on their status rests with my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Wild caught wrasse are widely used in Irish salmon farms as cleaner fish. Ireland is not alone in this and this practice is commonly used internationally. The ecological risk, associated with fishing in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Regulation (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature concerning law enforcement of sea fisheries law are, as a matter of Statute, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational law enforcement matters such as this. I have referred the Deputy's request to the Sea...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department provides a range of supports to the horticulture and field vegetable sector through the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector. However, this scheme does not include the purchase of equipment for the processing of potatoes.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department provides a range of supports to the horticulture and field vegetable sector through the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector. However, this scheme does not include the purchase of equipment for the washing of potatoes.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: A tree felling licence application was received by my Department, from the person named in November 2019. Every application for a forestry licence must be carefully assessed to ensure that any potential effects that the proposed operations may have on the surrounding countryside and environment are considered. For this reason, the application has been referred to my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Management (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Coillte CGA was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company. I have therefore passed the questions raised to Coillte for response and direct reply to the Deputy with 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 396 together. My Department is fully committed to ensuring compliance with the legal requirements as set out in Council Directives 98/58/EC and 2008/120/EC and Commission Recommendation 2016/336 on measures to ensure the rearing of pigs with intact tails. My Department has communicated with all stakeholders on the details of the Commissioner's...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is acutely conscious of the need and works diligently to ensure the welfare of animals in transit and is satisfied that the systems in place in respect of the intra-community movement of these animals are fully supportive of the welfare of the animals and in compliance with the relevant legislation. The care of calves is a priority of mine. My Department has put a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Heretofore, Ireland issued a single Certificate of approval in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No. 1 of 2005. Such certificates were issued under S.I. No. 356/2016 and S.I. No. 675/2006. This covered both approval under Regulation 1/2005, and under the more stringent Irish national standards laid down in S.I. No. 356 of 2016. These standards have been notified to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Farmers affected by outbreaks of TB are covered by the TB Compensation Scheme. This includes the On-farm Market Valuation (OFMV) Scheme, Income Supplement, Depopulation Grant and the Hardship Grant The principal compensation mechanism is the OFMV Scheme. This is an indemnity payment per reactor animal removed. This is paid at a rate that the farmer would ordinarily expect to achieve on the...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 30 – Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Chair and I welcome the opportunity to present to the committee this request for a Supplementary Estimate for 2020. We require this Supplementary Estimate to pay for the Department’s share of the Brexit infrastructure costs undertaken by the Office of Public Works. We are also using the opportunity to provide for an early payment to the World Food Programme, which is...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 30 – Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: On the issue of forestry, there have been fewer expressions of interest coming forward and there is no doubt that the licensing situation has had a significant impact. The backlog should never have reached its current level, as has been well documented in contributions in both Houses of the Oireachtas by myself and the Minister of State, Senator Hackett. An immense amount of effort, time...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 30 – Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I responded to the Chairman and Deputy Carthy on the forestry issue. There is no doubt that the licensing backlog and licensing challenges have contributed to the reduction in the forestry area planted. If a licensing system is not operating smoothly and has delays, it acts as a discouragement to applicants. It does not make it attractive. We have a great deal of work to do and we are...