Results 1,421-1,440 of 23,915 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Over the past five years, my Department's business needs have grown significantly. In 2018, its workforce totalled 3,336 staff. The Department has increased its staffing numbers considerably since then in order to ensure that we meet our commitment to deliver a quality service to all in the agricultural community and to all other citizens who depend on my Department for overseeing food...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: No. At the end of last year, it was 4,007. The current number is up ten on that, although it is similar. Our payroll budget is just over €250 million per year. This finances our salary and allowance costs for the full year of 2024. While my Department has not issued an embargo on staffing, as is borne out by the numbers employed and the figures on which I have given the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Local authorities play a role in providing services to some small abattoirs. Generally, there can be challenges with the availability of vets in various parts of the country, but my Department is committed to ensuring that this service is properly resourced and companies are facilitated as necessary and to working with local authorities, which have a role in respect of small abattoirs. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: This Government has been very responsive and supported farmers in times of need and in the medium to long term, by means of significant investment. The CAP, which will run up to 2027, offers 50% higher funding. That is a record increase in Government funding. Over the past two or three years, where sectors have been under pressure, be it the pig sector, the horticulture sector or the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: We are working to provide support. That is our track record. The Deputy is correct about pillar 1 payments at European level. The CAP budget at European level has been static from the previous CAP to this one. We are one of the 27 member states which is constantly pushing to maintain and increase it but of course 27 member states have to agree to the decision, so it has been static. That...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Supports (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for the question. We had a three-hour session here yesterday discussing this very topic. Over the past several weeks, we have all been very conscious of how challenging spring has been for farmers in all sectors, including dry stock, dairy, and tillage farmers. The Government has been very conscious of this and has worked to respond to farmers as challenges have emerged....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Supports (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I have given the commitment to secure and deliver the funding. Although I have not yet received the funds, it was really important, given the pressure the sector was under, to provide clarity on what support would be forthcoming from the Government. I have been engaging on an ongoing basis this very long spring with all farm representative organisations, and also those in the tillage...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As stated in reply to the previous question, this has been a really challenging spring. We have worked to support the farming community through it with the fodder transport measure. Teagasc has been working at local level to provide support to farmers to ensure they can get supplies where they were running short. The fodder support measure was a really important one last year. It was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Assisting the next generation to take over the farm, when the time is right to do so, is one of my priorities to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the family farm. There are strong supports in place to support succession and the intergenerational transfer of family farms, with support through our CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) and a range of national taxation measures. The new Common...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the pressures being experienced by farmers because of the exceptional and prolonged wet weather over the last few months. In responding to these concerns, I have taken several steps to minimise the effects of the current pressures and to support farmers. My Department paused non-essential farm inspections earlier this month until 22nd of April. I requested that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In March 2022 I established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee. The remit of the Committee is to prepare an industry response, contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises through difficult periods. In recent months, in recognition of the ongoing and challenging weather conditions, I asked the Chairman to convene the Committee to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland experienced an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in March 2001. On 22nd March 2001, the case was confirmed in a sheep flock near Jenkinstown County Louth. The only way to contain any further incursion of the disease in the country was to cull a large number of animals in the Cooley Peninsula, near the source of the outbreak. It is estimated that the culling within the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Slaughtering (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Irish farmers, fishers and agri-food companies produce world-class food and products to the highest international standards of food safety and quality. Our food safety and traceability systems are critical to supporting the export of our produce across the globe. Approximately 30 Local Authority Veterinary Inspectors carry out food safety duties at some 500 food businesses; these are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: EU discussions on Nature Restoration Law are led by the Council of Environment Ministers at EU level and the Minister for Housing and Local Government at national level. An agreement on the EU Nature Restoration Law has not yet been reached at EU Council. There are therefore no implications for the agriculture sector at this point. Should the proposal be adopted, the legal obligation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am delighted that the application for a PGI for boxty has been submitted. Geographical Indications identify a product whose quality, reputation or other characteristics are linked to its geographical origin. Boxty is a traditional locally produced dish which is a great use of potatoes which have long been a staple of the Irish diet. It is deeply rooted in our heritage and I am eager to see...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Under current European Commission rules, applications for registration of food product names as Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) may only be submitted by groups who work with the products concerned. Bord Bia is the named applicant on behalf of Irish producers and processors for the PGI for Irish Grass Fed Beef which I am delighted to say was registered by the European Commission last...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Let me say at the outset that I am fully committed to the promotion and retention of the family farm model in Ireland. It is the heartbeat of our rural economy and the centre of all my major initiatives as Minister including of course the almost €10 billion of investment on Irish farms under the CAP Strategic Plan. It was also core to the development of a 10-year strategy for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Advancing the role of women in our agriculture sector is a key priority of mine as Minister. I am pleased to advise that the Women in Agriculture Action Plan is progressing well since I launched it in January. The Group established to implement the Plan has met four times to date and will continue to meet on a quarterly basis. Good progress has been made across the 12 action points,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the challenges experienced by growers due to the prolonged and exceptional wet weather conditions. The past few months have been very challenging for tillage farmers. Thankfully the weather has improved, and tillage operations and the planting of spring crops are re-commencing as soil conditions continue to improve. There is still a planting window for crops, but I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The horticulture industry makes a valuable contribution to the Irish economy. Many citizens depend on the sector for their livelihoods and for access to fresh local quality produce and plants. My Department continues to support the horticulture sector in Ireland with a range of initiatives. The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector grant...