Results 13,181-13,200 of 23,964 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department recognises that within the EU Green Deal, the Farm to Fork and EU Biodiversity strategies there is a very strong focus on soils, in particular healthy soils that display high levels of biological activity in order to ensure healthy and secure food production. In addition, my Department is showing its commitment to soils by introducing a soil sampling...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Teagasc and research partners UCD, University of Limerick and Sligo IT completed  a Research Stimulus  project “SQUARE” in 2018 funded by my Department. In the SQUARE project, a baseline survey of soil health status was taken for a range of grassland and arable soils across Ireland (total: 108 field sites). This research identified key soil indicators related to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am aware that there has been an increased interest in regenerative farming in recent years and the movement is growing internationally. In 2018, the National Organic Training Skillnet organized the first Biological Farming conference in Ireland.  Ireland’s second annual Biological Farming Conference ‘BioFarm’ was held in November 2019. In recent weeks,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Eligibility (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The hardship grant is one of a number of supplementary compensation schemes aimed at contributing towards the consequential losses suffered by farmers as a result of a TB breakdown. These supplementary schemes are unique to Ireland and are not available in other jurisdictions with a TB eradication programme where compensation for reactor animals is the only relief available to herdowners. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme, my Department pays out some €1.2bn annually to farmers based on the entitlements that they hold in respect of eligible land they declare in their scheme applications.  In general, there are two key principles in relation to the eligibility of land.  Firstly, the land in question must be available to the applicant for a period...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Directive (EU) No. 2019/633 on unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain (UTP Directive) must be transposed into Irish law by 1 May 2021. This can be done by way of a Statutory Instrument, but any measures that extend beyond the minimum harmonisation requirements of the UTP Directive will require primary...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department received an incomplete Tree Felling Licence application from the person named in February this year.  Tree felling licences carry a mandatory replanting requirement irrespective of whether they were originally grant-aided or not.  The applicant has the option to replant the felled land, or to provide an alternative site, which must receive approval for planting before...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to advise the Deputy that, in respect of the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information sought is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Identification Schemes (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 together. A non-animal identification number has issued to the person named and a notification to that effect issued earlier this week.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Planning Issues (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department worked closely with the Department of Housing to bring an amendment to the Planning and Development Acts to facilitate a more efficient application process for forest roads.  Section 8 of the Act was commenced in February and in tandem with this the Forestry (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 2020 (SI No. 39 of 2020) were signed.  The legislation means that from the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Planning Issues (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very aware of the serious issues being faced by the forestry sector, and in particular timber mills, due to delays in processing forestry licences and in issuing decision on appeals.  My Department is treating the current situation extremely seriously.  We are committed to addressing the situation and have taken steps to improve matters by means...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968, established the concept of fishery harbours in the State and invested their management in the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine took over responsibility for the Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs) in October 2007. Ros an Mhíl is one of six Fishery Harbour Centres, the others are located at...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Government has made available financial and other supports for employees and businesses negatively impacted by the Pandemic.  Both the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme have supported the incomes of employees and the self-employed in our seafood sector and I am aware that many availed of these Government payments in the first half...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 to 369, inclusive, together. I am aware of the urgency to deal with the backlog of licence applications and appeal cases currently with my Department and with the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC). We are committed to addressing the situation and have taken steps to improve matters by means of additional resources, a systematic approach to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (19 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department continues to support a number of urban horse projects nationwide, bringing education on all aspects of equine welfare to disadvantaged areas. For example, in the context of breeding, the DSPCA with financial assistance from my Department, continues to facilitate castration clinics and education programs in an effort to address the problem of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome the opportunity to provide an update on the calf investment scheme for farmers. I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which he has raised on many occasions before on the agriculture committee and which he has a strong commitment to developing. This on-farm investment scheme supporting investments in calf-related items opened to farmers last January. The scheme was one of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I do not have the figure to hand but there is sufficient funding in place to cater for the number of applications that were approved. There is not funding in next year's budget for a new calf welfare scheme. In the budget, I secured an 11% increase in funding for the Department compared to the funding for the outgoing year. That is significant and is targeted at ensuring we can continue...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Brexit poses enormous challenges for the agrifood and fisheries sectors by virtue of their exposure to the UK market.  The UK is our largest market, with exports of €5.5 billion in 2019. This represents 38% of total agrifood exports in 2019. The UK also remains our largest import market, with imports of €4.6 billion in 2019.  If there is no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I should advise the Deputy that the monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are law enforcement matters for the Irish control authorities.  Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature are exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service.  I am...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Council Meetings (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Agri-fish Council of Ministers reached an agreed general approach on the CAP Reform Package on 21st October, after more than two years of negotiations. The Council now has a political mandate and trilogue negotiations are underway with the European Parliament and Commission.  However, until overall agreement has been achieved we will not have certainty on the final shape of the...