Results 13,681-13,700 of 23,978 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Chair and all the members of the committee for their good wishes and their comprehensive questions. The Chair asked about the meat plant in Banagher, and there was a later reference to it as well. The situation is that the Department is expecting a report to be submitted shortly and we will consider that when it is received. Turning to the questions from Senator Paul Daly, he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Chairman spoke about the progeny of the dairy herd and it is something we must address. There must be consideration given in breeding to all aspects of what is being produced and ensuring it is not just about the milk side of things. Beef potential must also be considered. It is certainly something I know the Chairman has raised with the committee before and whenever I engage with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The LEADER funding comes under the rural development programme within the CAP. As the Deputy knows as well as I do, this makes a massive contribution to the rural economy, supporting new ideas, farm diversification, rural business and the economy. It will be essential and the intention is that there would be a very substantial LEADER programme in the next rural development programme. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: With the Mercosur agreement, it is absolutely appropriate that a clear and evidence-based impact assessment would be done to inform how we proceed. It is an appropriate way to go forward and make an argument at the European level about our concerns. With respect to equivalence of standards, it is essential that there is reference to how the beef should be sustainably produced and the impact...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice. Regarding our grass-based system, we will be providing funding for research into how to do things more sustainably in the years ahead. Our grass-based system is being advertised and marketed internationally. The idea behind the PGI proposal is to be able to advertise what we produce domestically in overseas markets. It is a significant part of how Irish beef...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: There has been progress in this regard. Previously the threshold for de minimis aid was €15,000 over three years but that has been increased to €25,000 over three years. It has been increased recently so there is significant capacity there now to put schemes and contingencies in place to support particular sectors.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Impact of Covid-19 on the Agriculture Sector and Priorities for CAP and Brexit: Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (6 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Browne for his question. Income volatility is a significant issue for farmers, particularly in recent years. The industry is turning its attention to the issue and needs to do so in order to provide tools to the farming community that are practical and that work. The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, ICOS and the ICMSA have put forward proposals on ways to set aside...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Communities (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Fisheries Local Action Group Scheme is a community-led local development initiative for the socio-economic development of coastal communities and forms part of my Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-20.  There are seven Fisheries Local Action Groups, each responsible for a specific coastal region, and each has published a Local Development Strategy for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: There are no Covid-19-related restrictions in place regarding the importation of domestic animals and pets through Dublin Airport.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The role of my Department is to oversee the development of forestry in a manner which is compatible with the economic, social and environmental sustainability objectives of the Government as a whole. The Department is also designated as the National Plant Protection Organisation and is responsible for the implementation of the relevant Official Controls Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Timber Supply (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Forest pests and disease can be readily transported from one country to another and we need to be vigilant in respect of all these harmful organisms. These organisms may be associated with a variety of internationally traded plants, plant products including wood and wood packaging material such as crates and pallets which can be associated with goods of any kind. In order to address this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: An application for the 2020 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was made by the person named on 9 March 2020.  Subsequent to the submission of the application for the scheme, it was necessary to process a change in the status of the herd number under which the application for the scheme was submitted.  My Department is currently processing this change and is awaiting...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tuberculosis Eradication Programme (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: A full breakdown of the costs of the TB programme for 2017 to 2019 is presented in the table. The most up to date estimates of expected 2020 expenditure on the TB Programme are also presented. The overall cost of the TB Programme has increased from €86.4 million in 2017 to an estimated €97.3 million in 2020 (+€10.9 million or 13%). In that time, the primary drivers of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Appeals (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Following processing of the applications for 2019 and 2020 on behalf of the persons named, a number of overclaims were identified.  These overclaims were notified and accepted by the applicants' agricultural agent. The largest parcel was then appealed and a Rapid Field Visit was arranged. This resulted in the eligible area being increased by 0.72 hectares.  The result...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Na hOileáin amach ón gCósta (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Tháinig Scéim na Limistéar faoi Shrianta Nádúrtha (ANC) in áit Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste in 2015.  Nuair a tugadh isteach Scéim na Limistéar faoi Shrianta Nádúrtha ainmníodh tailte ar oileáin amach ón gcósta ina Limistéir faoi Shrianta Sonracha i gcomhréir le forálacha...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 403 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Income and Expenditure figures for the SFPA for the years 2016 to 2019 are provided below. Please note that 2016 - 2018 figures are taken from SFPA Annual Reports.  As the 2019 annual report is in the process of being published, these figures were taken from the 2019 Financial statement which was signed off by C&AG. 2016 2017 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to my Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-20, which is the financial mechanism for supporting implementation of the CFP.  The EMFF Programme is implemented through a suite of 18 support schemes addressing various aspects of the development needs for the fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors, and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Meat Processing Plants (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Consultancy engagements between the company referred to and other parties are a commercial matter for those parties and my attention has not been drawn to any such activity.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Teagasc Activities (1 Oct 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The development of the grass-fed standard for Irish beef involved active consultation between key stakeholders including Bord Bia, producer organisations and industry. Accreditation was provided by the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB). I understand that calculation of the proportion of the grass in the diet was based on Teagasc modelling for both dairy and beef systems and that...