Results 13,261-13,280 of 23,964 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (12 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Regardless of the outcome of the current EU-UK trade talks, from 1 January 2021, new regulatory and customs requirements will be part of trading with or through Great Britain. My Department, as part of the whole-of-Government approach, has been very active in relation to preparedness for these significant and enduring changes, including in relation to the provision of export certification in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (12 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland is currently in the high risk period (October to April) for the introduction of Avian Influenza (AI) as a result of the migration of wild birds returning to overwinter from areas where AI is widespread. This year a particularly virulent form of the disease, known as Highly Pathogenic AI (HPAI) with subtype H5N8, has been confirmed in several species of wild birds on mainland Europe....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Welfare Scheme (12 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Sheep Welfare Scheme was launched in December 2016, for a period of four years. The scheme reflected the commitment of the Government to the sheep sector in Ireland and was introduced as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme The current budget allocated to the scheme reflects the rate of payment of €10 per eligible ewe, which is based on the agreed costings...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Fleet Protection (12 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: 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 1 January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18m targeting sprat was allowed to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fur Farming (12 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is in the process of preparing a Bill to provide for the phased introduction of a ban on fur farming which will include a prohibition on mink farming. The Bill will make it illegal for any new fur farms to be established and will put in place phase out arrangements for the small number of current operators. The Programme for Government 2020 contains a commitment regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Applications (12 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The financial allocation in respect of TAMS for the full Rural Development Programme period is €395m. To date, total expenditure, including transitional expenditure, has reached €252m with committments of an additional €130m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those commitments. Uptake under the scheme has been significant with 33,354 applications...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (12 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Bord Bia Grass Fed Beef and Dairy Standards have been developed by Bord Bia following consultation with my Department, Teagasc, farmers and processors. The Standards were validated by the Irish National Accreditation Board under the Bord Bia ISO17065 schedule and approved by the EU Commission under the Technical Directive 2015/1535. The approved Standards largely utilise existing feeding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (12 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland’s forests and harvested wood products play a significant role in climate change mitigation by removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The national forest estate is an important store for carbon, estimated at over 312 million tonnes. Ireland’s total forest area is not a net emitter of greenhouse gases and is a substantial sink for carbon dioxide compared to other...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Action Programme (12 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is the lead authority for the Nitrates Regulations (SI 605 2017). The purpose of these Regulations is to give effect to Ireland’s Nitrates Action Programme for the protection of waters against pollution caused by agricultural sources. The set of measures in these regulations provides a basic level of protection against possible...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department implements the Biocidal Product Regulation (EU No. 528/2012) to ensure that biocidal products placed on the Irish market are safe for humans, animals and the environment. Hand sanitisers and indeed certain other products such as disinfectants and some brands of wipes are biocidal products. All biocidal products, including hand sanitisers must be registered with my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hare Coursing (12 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Hare coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann. Hare coursing is managed and regulated by the ICC. Hares can only be collected for coursing by clubs affiliated to the ICC, in accordance with the terms of two licences granted by the Department of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fishing Industry (11 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Senator for bringing this matter to the notice of the House and for ensuring it would be addressed. I welcome the opportunity to come to the House to respond to her and to outline the circumstances as they stand. Sprat, as she will be aware, is a short-lived species that occurs in shore and is an important prey fish for many marine species. It is vital to the ocean food chain,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Fishing Industry (11 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: As I outlined in my initial reply, a key measure I am taking is to appeal the ruling to give the courts the opportunity to reflect on the appeal. I am closely monitoring the situation regarding fishing activity. I am working with the Department to ensure that further efforts are made on gathering data. We need to avail of all the resources and capabilities at our disposal to ensure we...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (11 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department engages in workforce planning to assess its current and future recruitment needs. The educational qualifications relquired and the relevant selection criteria are reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis to ensure that they meet these needs. A recruitment campaign for the role of Technical Agricultural Officer was most recently advertised in late July by the Public Appointments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme (11 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The objective of the Beef Environmental Efficiency Programme – Suckler is to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd through better quality data on herd performance, supporting decision making on farm and support of best practice in welfare management. The closing date for receipt of applications for this programme was 15th May 2020. Applications...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Culls (11 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The collaborative One Health approach to disease management which is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is an integral part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s (DAFM) strategy to deal with new and emerging diseases with zoonotic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (11 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Competent Authority, my Department must be satisfied, in submitting a PGI application to the Commission, that there is a verification system in place to ensure that, if successful, the PGI is protected and that the claims made in a PGI application are verifiable. The draft application for a PGI for 'Irish Grass Fed Beef' provides that the control systems already in place for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (11 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I undertand that the question relates to the H6N1 outbreak in poultry in 2020. While no legal basis exists for a mandatory compensation scheme under EU legislation in respect of the particular subtype H6N1 of the disease identified, a once-off financial support scheme was established. The deadline for receipt of applications was 31stJuly 2020. Any affected flock owners were eligible to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has no rental agreements in place in respect of the named company. As regards the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested 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: Departmental Funding (11 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Budget 2021 provides a gross Vote of €1.826 billion for my Department, and the table below outlines the breakdown by Programme as set out in the Estimates. Programme 2021 Estimate €000 A Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health and Animal Welfare 322,113 B Farm/Sector Supports and Controls ...