Results 13,361-13,380 of 23,964 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Regulations (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: As I outlined, it is a paper-based application process for a licence from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Once that is approved by the Department and the composition of any sanitiser is made clear in respect of the licences provided, the legal responsibility is then on the company to ensure it actually meets the requirements of the licence which was provided. There is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy. As she will be aware, in December 2018, following a public consultation process, the then Minister announced that vessels over 18 m would be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the 6 nautical miles zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18 m targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Naughten. At the most recent meeting of the beef task force which took place on 22 October, stakeholders agreed in principle to support an application by Bord Bia for protected geographical indication, PGI, status for Irish grass-fed beef. The beef task force also agreed in principle that a PGI monitoring group with a majority of farmer representation would be established to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Unfortunately, the application for European funding has not been successful. The Deputy knows well from previous debates in this House the absolute commitment I have to suckler beef and to ensuring it is promoted. Working with the beef task force on this agreement, I have committed to ensuring that €6 million of Government funding will go towards developing a suckler brand for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: This is something we have discussed before and I am certainly willing to explore all avenues to add value to Irish beef and add income to the farmers who produce it. I am sure the Deputy will recognise this is the first time that we have seen funding specifically put towards the suckler brand and it is to the tune of €6 million. That is something I am committed to and I am glad the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Schemes (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: That €1.5 billion commitment is over the ten years until 2030. I note the Deputy's support for the €79 million which we brought forward in the budget as new funding for environmental schemes. I also note that the Sinn Féin did not have any such funding commitment in its pre-budget submission so I am sure the Deputy is particularly glad to see we have delivered €79...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department does not have a estimate of the impact of Covid-19 on agricultural emissions in 2020. Responsibility for maintaining the national inventory for greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland rests with the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, operating under the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The EPA reports on emissions from all sectors of our economy on an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy's point is important and well made. It will be interesting to see the 2020 figures showing the impact of the pandemic across many aspects of the economy from an emissions point of view. I am not so sure that the impact on agriculture will be as significant when compared with other sectors of the economy because agricultural activity has not been affected as much as many other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: We will be closely assessing these matters. I take the Deputy's point that the agricultural sector deserves recognition in this House for the tremendous work it continues to carry out to ensure the security of supply chains. The sector continues to prove its resilience and farmers never fail to step up to the mark in that regard. Farmers have shown themselves willing to take a partnership...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Sales (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputies Cairns and Crowe for raising this issue. We should acknowledge that being able to bid online in the safety of their home and not having to go out has been welcome for some farmers. There is no doubt there have been challenges for those who do not have Internet access. Compared with the situation in March and April where online transactions were not available and we had a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Schemes (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for his question. I take this opportunity to emphasise my commitment to the provision of agri-environment schemes which will continue to support the farming sector in these uncertain times, along with continuing the environmental benefits that such schemes have delivered. This commitment was demonstrated by a number of key provisions in my Department’s budget...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Environmental Schemes (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will know, 35,000 farmers were due to leave GLAS at the end of this year. Importantly, the recent budget provides funding to ensure that GLAS can roll over for those farmers to enable them to continue in it next year. Obviously, a number of farmers are outside GLAS and are not in any scheme. The intention is to put in place a pilot scheme for a number of those farmers, which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Sales (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 36 together. I wish Deputy Cairns a happy birthday. I hope she finds a way to celebrate it in later years other than the way we are celebrating it tonight. I hope the day ahead finishes better than the way it is starting, that is, here in the Chamber. I thank the staff for being here with us. I take the Deputy's point on the late hour at which we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Sales (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: On Sixmilebridge mart, which Deputy Crowe raised with me before, I believe it did manage to finish its sale last Saturday. With regard to marts' sales in general online, the clearance rates have been very high and very much in line with traditional mart clearance rates. They are certainly very similar. On Deputy Cairns's point, I am certainly monitoring the position very closely. I...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am very much aware of the income pressure many farmers are under. That is why in the recent budget I secured an 11% increase in funding above last year's amount to ensure that some key schemes will continue next year during the transition period running into the next CAP programme. That is something which is massively important for our farming community. Also, in the context of trying to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am glad to hear that the Deputy will work with me on the policies I will be seeking to implement in respect of this matter because I have not seen any policies from Sinn Féin that would address it at all. I expect to see the report Grant Thornton is preparing on the relationship and the requirements of retailers and how that interfaces with processors and primary producers very soon....

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

Charlie McConalogue: This Government is committed to a new national afforestation programme which will benefit farmers, the sector, the environment and society at large. This is clearly set out in the Programme for Government which is ambitious for the future of Irish forestry.   While it's well known that forestry has had its share of its difficulties in recent times, which we are addressing,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (3 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I can confirm that I spoke via telephone conference call with my Northern Ireland counterpart, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Edwin Poots MLA, on 9 September.  Our conversation was very constructive, and covered North-South trading arrangements post-Brexit, implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol, and the prospects for the wider EU-UK...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The 400 tonnes limit for the Mackerel Hook and Line Fishery was adopted as part of Polyvalent Mackerel Management Arrangements and licensing issues in November 2010.  This policy was adopted after detailed analysis and public consultation procedure was completed.  This policy represents a balance between all interests in the mackerel fishery and...