Results 141-160 of 16,652 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: The National Sheep Welfare Scheme will operate in 2024 with a budget of €15 million. Participants in the National Sheep Welfare Scheme are required to complete two actions to receive the full payment of €8 per ewe (€4 per action completed). This will be in addition to payments farmers may be eligible for under the Sheep Improvement Scheme where they are participating...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. All investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare. There are currently no plans to include grant aid for wind powered microgeneration on farms in TAMS 3. My Department examined the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am acutely aware of the current pressures being experienced by farmers because of the recent exceptional and prolonged wet weather. In responding to these concerns, I have taken several steps to try and minimise the effects of the current pressures facing the farming community. 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: Fisheries Protection (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, in December 2018 a transition period to a ban on vessels over 18 metres trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone was announced. A significant part of the objective of this measure was to manage the fishing effort on sprat stocks which are primarily targeted within inshore waters. This measure however was the subject of extended legal...

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

Charlie McConalogue: In 2022 the Government published Ireland's 5th Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and secured our current Nitrates Derogation which runs until the end of 2025. Ireland's 5th NAP is the most robust to date in terms of measures to protect and improve water quality and the associated Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters Regulations (SI 113 of 2022, as amended) apply to all...

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment engage very closely on the EU-Mercosur negotiations and have done so throughout out the 20 year negotiating process of this agreement. As the Deputy is aware, while the European Commission reached political agreement in its trade negotiations with the Mercosur trade bloc in June 2019, due to concerns raised by a number of...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Independent Irish Grown Wool Council was established in April 2023 following recommendations from the Wool Feasibility study. To support its establishment, my Department committed financial assistance of €30,000 in seed funding. However, my Department does not have a seat on the Council nor does the Council report to me. I am aware that following their recent AGM, the Irish...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland has established a range of ambitious climate change targets across all sectors. The targets for agriculture are particularly challenging. Nevertheless, emissions from agriculture are already reducing. EPA inventory data shows that greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture decreased by 1.2% in 2022, driven principally by a 14% reduction in the use of synthetic fertilisers. While...

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

Charlie McConalogue: This government has committed €1.3 billion of funding to the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027 in order to support our national ambition of 8,000 hectares of afforestation per year. This funding provides unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees that can provide a valuable addition to farm income and support the forest industry. My Department has published a Forestry...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676/EEC, as amended) sets out that for each farm, the amount of livestock manure applied to land each year, including by the livestock themselves, cannot exceed an amount containing 170 kg of nitrogen per hectare (N/ha) in the absence of a derogation. It is unfortunately not possible to consider allowing a farmer’s previous years...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I will be bringing a detailed Ash dieback action plan to Cabinet for approval in the very near future. This will outline comprehensive actions by my Department to deal with the issue of ash dieback. Detailed deliberations are taking place to ensure an efficient, appropriate and proportionate response. Furthermore, a subgroup of the Forestry Strategy Consultative Committee has been...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 280 together. As a Minister for Agriculture, I’m acutely aware of the difficulties experienced by both tillage and grassland farmers due to the exceptionally wet weather we have endured since last harvest. Met Éireann data has shown that all stations had rainfall in excess of their Long-Term Average, with stations such as Cork Airport and...

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

Charlie McConalogue: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to prioritise equine welfare and to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare. My Department provides funding to local authorities as a contribution towards the costs incurred by them in operation of the Control of Horses Act, 1996. Enforcement of the Act is a...

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

Charlie McConalogue: According to Central Statistics Office statistics, there have been only very slight fluctuations in the volume of dairy imports into the country in recent years and there is nothing of noticeable concern. For example the latest CSO statistics for January - February 2024 show that the volume of dairy imports are up 13% on the same period in 2023, but down 8% when compared to the same period in...

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

Charlie McConalogue: According to my Department's central equine database a total of 1998 equines were slaughtered in 2023 in slaughter plants approved by my Department. Of these 162 were first registered to an equine premises in County Cork. In addition, according to my Department’s records a total of 236 equines moved to knackeries (for disposal) in County Cork in 2023.

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: Agriculture Supports (25 Apr 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Extreme weather events have become more common in recent years and the weather we have experienced since last July is a further indication of the effects of climate change. Modelling for future climate has predicted that these extreme events will continue, particularly with respect to extreme rainfall events in winter and periods of drought in summer. Adaptation to Climate Change in...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Nitrates Directive (Council Directive 91/676/EEC, as amended) includes a legal provision whereby a Member State can apply for a derogation to facilitate the application of livestock manure to land beyond 170 kg Nitrogen/hectare. Such a derogation must be based on strict scientific criteria and must not prejudice achievement of the Nitrates Directive's objectives. There are...

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Department does not collate statistics on persons who obtain the Green Cert. The Green Cert is delivered by different education providers from across the further education system including Teagasc, Employment and Training Boards and some private providers. All of the providers are accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency responsible for validating...

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Department does not conduct bovine genetic evaluations and has no role in reviewing changes to the beef indexes. The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) is the body approved in Ireland in accordance with the relevant EU legislation to conduct testing, genetic evaluation and publication of breeding values for dairy and beef cattle. Whilst I acknowledge the concerns raised in...