Results 13,621-13,640 of 24,091 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: There are three providers of platforms for online mart bidding, and these platforms are now in use by the vast majority of marts. These systems have enabled the trade in livestock to continue through Level 5 restrictions. My Department’s role in marts sales relates to animal health and welfare. The Department has no role in approving the online platforms - this is a commercial...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Our beef and dairy sectors continue to be the bedrock that our agri-food industry is based upon. Both sectors are worth approximately €4.7bn in terms of output, and my ambition as Minister is to see these value figures increase over the years ahead. Global demand for food continues to increase and given our cost efficient grass based production system, Ireland is well placed to supply...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1562 to 1565, inclusive, together. I am very aware of the serious issues delays in processing forestry licences and appeals is causing industry stakeholders. My Department has been working to increase outputs on new licences and has an expected felling licence output this month that will be the highest number of licences and volume since the beginning of the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I would like to assure the Deputy that Fisheries is a very important priority for Ireland. We are seeking to protect the interests of the Irish fleet in terms of both quota share and access to UK waters. From the outset of the negotiations, Ireland and our EU partners have been clear on our level of ambition in this area and on the fact that progress on an overall trade deal is linked to...

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

Charlie McConalogue: As of 25th October 2020, the number of Herds with TB restrictions placed on them is 2,873. While TB disease is low relative to historical levels, TB herd incidence and reactor numbers have been gradually increasing since 2016. The pace of deterioration has accelerated in 2020. Herd incidence is now at its highest level since 2012 and reactor numbers are now at 2009 rates. Herd incidence is a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Biocidal products, including hand sanitisers, may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and are entered on the Biocidal Product Register" in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013. The hand sanitiser Virapro was approved by our Biocides Unit and placed on the approved register of...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Since the beginning of the Covid19 crisis, my Department has worked intensively, in cooperation with marts representative organisations, to ensure that marts may remain in operation. I would like to commend the representative organisations for this good and necessary cooperation. I would like to commend also the marts themselves, and farmers around the country, for the resilience they have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Capital Expenditure Programme (3 Nov 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department has completed one capital project over €20m since 2016. In 2019, the project for the remediation of the East Tip, Haulbowline Island, Co. Cork under NUTS 3 Region Cork/South West IE053 was completed. My Department assumed responsibility for remediation works at Haulbowline Island in 2012. In the period up to 2017, expenditure was focussed on preparing for and securing...

Level 5 Response to Covid-19: Statements (Resumed) (23 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome the opportunity to update the House on a notice issued by my Department for the hand sanitiser product, Virapro. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the national competent authority for the approval and registration of biocide products, including sanitisers. Biocidal products, including hand sanitisers, may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences (22 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: As you may be aware, there is a backlog of license applications that require an Appropriate Assessment (AA). My Department has put in place a detailed project plan for dealing with this backlog which includes recruitment of additional ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff where required. In this case, a Natura Impact Statement...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (22 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Following a review of the case in question, the 2019 BPS application of the persons named has been accepted.  This case will now be processed and payment will issue in the coming weeks when the next 2019 pay run take place.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tuberculosis Eradication Programme (22 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Effective diagnostic tests are a crucial element of any disease eradication programme. The Irish bTB eradication programme uses two main diagnostic tests for live animals: - The single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT), often referred to as the skin test, which is the test most widely used in an Irish context. - The gamma interferon test (a blood test) which is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (22 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: A study to determine the feasibility of any future once-off targeted scheme for Voluntary Farm Building Relocation is being undertaken.  My Department has evaluated a range of at risk farmyards, impacted by flooding, to see if any alternative remedial works can be undertaken to protect farm buildings at risk of flooding and is currently considering this evaluation.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (22 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Under the regulations governing the previous Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Ireland consolidated, or stacked, payment entitlements. Certain categories of farmers could surrender their original payment entitlements to the National Reserve. In exchange, these farmers received a lower number of payment entitlements with an increased payment entitlement unit value. The EU regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (22 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: All applications for schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme are subject to the standard range of verification checks as required under the relevant EU legislation.  As part of this process, my Department issues letters to applicants where issues such as potential overclaims arise.  In such cases, it remains open to all applicants to respond to the identification of overclaims etc,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (21 Oct 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: Young Farmers Scheme (21 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: To-date some 7,700 applications have been received under the 2020 Young Farmers Scheme.  These applications are currently being processed by my Department and payments under the scheme are scheduled to commence in early December 2020. The number of eligible applicants under the scheme in 2020 and the percentage variance from 2019 to 2020 will not be available until the required...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (21 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department. I have been advised, however, that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate that a TAMS II appeal was received from the above named. I am also advised that an oral hearing organised for 30thSeptember, 2020 had to be cancelled by the appellant. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (21 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (21 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: In order to be eligible for the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme, farmers must apply for the scheme by completing the relevant section of the Basic Payment Scheme application form  using the Department’s online application system at www.agfood.ie.  Farmers may choose  not to apply for the ANC scheme in any given year for a number of reasons such as changes...