Results 13,881-13,900 of 23,978 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Meat Processing Plants (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Carthy. There are a number of questions in that one question. I will certainly do my best to address them. My Department is contributing to the whole-of-Government response to managing outbreaks of Covid-19 in food plants. In the context of Covid-19, human health must be the absolute priority for all of us, and therefore it is vitally important that all our decisions and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Meat Processing Plants (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I am aware of the concerns regularly expressed by the farming community and also with the issues around Covid recently. The Deputy will know that in advance of the last election I put forward the policy for a national food ombudsman to address some of those issues. It is included in the programme for Government. Other parties, including the Deputy's, did not have any suggestions in that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Meat Processing Plants (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I have no doubt that Deputy Carthy likes to put forward the narrative that this would be the case in the future. As I have said to him in response to numerous questions, as the Minister I will be respecting everyone in the food supply chain and all stakeholders, and in particular the primacy of the primary producers who have not had a fair crack in relation to transparency or the margins...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Meat Processing Plants (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: ------this is essential. This is why I have moved to working with the ESRI. Every industry, including the beef sector, has to work within the law and within the terms and conditions that are there. I am aware that issues have been raised in how lessons may be learned in that regard. This is why I seek the study and assessment as to what conditions are and how they might be improved....

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

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for the question. Many of the issues raised by the Deputy at that time, and raised by me and many other Deputies, have fallen under the remit of the beef task force. The beef task force was established in September 2019 and it provides a very constructive forum for detailed engagement on key issues facing the beef sector. It is particularly...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Food Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Berry. I look forward to working with him and with his ideas about how we can make sure that the new food ombudsman is as effective as possible in achieving its objective. I will engage comprehensively with farmer representative organisations too because I know they have been advocating for this new office for a significant period. We will look at how we can make sure the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: The objective of the beef exceptional aid measure was to provide temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland subject to the conditions set out in the European Commission implementing regulation.  This aid was granted to provide temporary market adjustment support in response to a specific market disturbance as outlined in Ireland's notification to the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy McNamara for his contribution. I assure him that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with me and the Ministers of State, Deputy Heydon and Senator Hackett, will work to get the best possible return for farmers and their work. We will work with State agencies and all in the sector to ensure that is the case. That is why we are taking the initiative with regard...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Sep 2020)

Charlie McConalogue: It has tremendous merit. It is important that we work with everybody, especially farmer representatives, to ensure it is something everybody can get behind.