Results 13,861-13,880 of 23,967 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Household Incomes (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Family Farm Income (FFI), the return from farming for family labour, land and capital, is the principal measure used in the Teagasc National Farm Survey.   The preliminary results for the 2019 National Farm survey issued in June 2020 shows that the average family farm income (FFI) for 2019 was €23,934, a 2% increase on 2018 figures. Following a decline in the average...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The agri-food sector has been well served over the last 20 years by having a series of ten-year strategies to guide its development and we have committed in the Programme for Government that this should continue with the preparation of a new strategy to 2030. A Committee of sectoral stakeholders has been working since late last year on this new strategy. Their terms of reference are to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Equine Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The UK’s decision to leave the EU means that equine movement legislation that pertains to non-EU countries will apply, from 1stJanuary 2021, to the movement of equines from Great Britain to the EU, including Ireland.  The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland states that Northern Ireland will be treated as if it were an EU Member State for the purpose of equine...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme is the vehicle for fostering the sustainable development of our fisheries and wider seafood sectors.  The Programme is expected to close in 2021 when it is anticipated that it will have successfully exhausted its budget.  The Programme's strategy for developing the fishing sector over the course of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Like other sectors of the economy in 2020, the Irish agri-food sector has been managing the impact of COVID-19.  The entire agri-food sector was designated as an essential service from the start of the pandemic, and kept supply chains moving and supermarket shelves stocked with Irish food and drink,  not just in Ireland but across our European and world markets. The closure of food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I would like to assure the Deputy that fisheries remains a high priority for Ireland.  Brexit poses enormous challenges for the Irish fisheries sector and our coastal communities which are so reliant upon this sector.  This Government is seeking to protect the interests of the Irish fleet in terms of both access and the quota share it currently enjoys in UK waters....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Having previously conducted a similar exercise in Scotland, Mr. Jim Mackinnon, CBE, former Chief Planner with the Scottish Government, reviewed the forestry approval process and related issues in Ireland.  The Review was published at the end of last year and presented to the Forestry Programme Implementation Group in January.  Its implementation is one of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (16 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department meets and liaises with the main banks on access to finance issues relating to the agri-food sector and is currently scheduling meetings for me with the CEOs of the main banks. There is also good cross-Departmental cooperation on banking matters with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) and the Department of Finance. In recent years there have been a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputies Ó Cuív and Carthy. I indicated that the Commission has a preference for a one-year transition but it is becoming increasingly clear that a two-year transition will be required. If it is to be two years, it is important that we give clarity on the schemes and that the funding is there to ensure the income streams they produce for farmers continue as well. That...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Herd Data (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Regarding the background to it, as I outlined, the interim report of the TB forum was important in that regard. That report advocated the development of herd risk categories that are simple, clear and convey sufficient information to enable farmers to make decisions appropriate to their situation. I know farmers have expressed concern about the letters. All of us can unite on the fact that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Herd Data (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: There are not many coming forward with the answers, but we need answers. That is why I am calling a meeting of the TB forum. Nobody suffers more than farmers when herds are restricted. Farmers experience stress when they are facing a test, particularly if they have gone down in the test in recent times. There is also the cost impact on them. It is incumbent on all of us in the Oireachtas...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The provision of interim CAP measures for the transitional period between the current rural development programme and the post-2020 CAP strategic plan is closely related to progress on the transitional regulations, which will provide a range of options for member states to deploy over the period. Since their publication in November 2019, the transitional regulations have been subject...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: This is something the Deputy has raised regularly in the past. I accept the importance of ensuring that the income stream from environmental schemes, which has been very important for farmers, continues. In addition, there are the environmental outcomes and contributions to biodiversity and we do not want to see a missed opportunity to ensure those outcomes continue. Certainly, it is my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The important thing to note is that the implementation of the agreed priorities under the strategy has been continuing and it is crucial that it continues. It will certainly be important that a meeting be held promptly to follow on from and to co-ordinate that. It is a very welcome approach. It has been greatly welcomed by the inshore fishermen that this is being led by themselves and that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: It certainly will be a priority of mine to meet with them and I have engaged with them previously. The approach they have taken in terms of leading this strategy has been a credit to themselves and it is important that it bears fruit. It is important to the Government and to me, as Minister, that the important contribution they make to our economy is recognised and that jobs in the inshore...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Herd Data (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Yes, if they are on the same issue, I will deal with them.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Herd Data (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 122 together. I thank Deputy Browne for his question and congratulate him on his recent election. Herd test history statements and reports are issued to all cattle herdowners with the aim of helping them to reduce the risk of bovine TB in cattle herds. The bovine TB forum interim report identified the need to provide more effective information to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Obviously market research is very important in terms of assessing what consumers are looking for and what resonates with them. We must take that into account and I know that Bord Bia has done significant research in that regard. It is really important that PGI status has the support of all stakeholders and that everybody gets behind it, including farmers, the industry and our marketing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: Coming from Inishowen in Donegal I know, no more than anyone else, that our suckler beef is tremendous. Our objective must be to ensure that our high quality beef gets the best price possible and is marketed well abroad. This is important and is something that I have raised with Bord Bia in the past. It is an issue that Bord Bia very much recognises too. It is important to assess the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Inshore Fisheries (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The Strategy for the Inshore Fisheries Sector 2019-2023 is an industry-led strategy, the first of its kind for the Irish inshore fisheries sector. The national inshore fisheries forum finalised the strategy at the start of last year, following what I understand was an extensive development process that also involved the six regional inshore fisheries forums and a steering group with industry...