Results 13,201-13,220 of 23,976 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The granting of court orders is a matter for the Courts and my Department is obliged to comply with any court order which is served on it in accordance with the terms of that order.  The legislation underpining the decision in relation to any court order is a matter for the Court.

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

Charlie McConalogue: The granting of court orders is a matter for the Courts and my Department is obliged to comply with any court order which is served on it in accordance with the terms of that order. 

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (18 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together. My Department received over 129,000 applications in 2020 for the basic payment scheme, of which just over 122,000 are currently eligible. To date, over 120,000 farmers have received almost €800m in advance payments and payments have continued since they commenced on the 16th October. This represents a greater amount of money...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Teagasc deliver the Green Cert Programme on a full-time, part-time and distance education basis in the Agricultural Colleges and Regional Education Centres. I am advised by Teagasc that there is no upper age limit on the Green Cert course entry. Promoting generational renewal is a priority and there are supports available for young farmers, both under the CAP and through...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Livestock Marts approved by my Department interact with the Animal, Identification and Movement (AIM) database via a webservice system. Animals presented for sale at marts are notified in real time to the AIM database. The marts own web service system identifies those bovines which move into the mart and interacts with AIM. Relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (17 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Hare coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC). Hare coursing is managed and regulated by the ICC.   Funding for ICC is derived from Stud Book registration fees and the sale of the ICC newspaper “The Sporting Press”. The ICC does not receive funding from Government or RCÉ....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (17 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Financial allocations for the Basic Payment Scheme are not set by the national budgetary process in the same way as, for example, schemes such as the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme and the Sheep Welfare Scheme that are financed by the Rural Development Programme. Rather, ceilings are set for Direct Payments Schemes by the EU Regulations.  For 2019, EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (17 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The budget for the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme has received a number of significant increases in recent years, with an increase of €25 million being allocated to the scheme in 2018 and an additional €23 million being allocated in 2019.  These increases have brought the total budget for the scheme to €250 million per annum. This represents a...