Results 161-180 of 1,030,713 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Rory O'Hanlon OR speaker:Joan Collins OR speaker:Michael McNamara OR speaker:Robert Troy)

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (13 Jun 2024)

Questions Nos. 47 to 51, inclusive, taken with Written Answers.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jun 2024)

Agriculture Industry

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jun 2024)

Claire Kerrane: 52. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide clarity on whether farmers who are unaware of phosphorus content in their fertiliser will face penalties; what communications have been issued to farmers to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25717/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jun 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I ask the Minister about the changes that have been made with regard to the spreading of fertiliser and phosphorous, the new fertiliser limits for soils and the obligation now on farmers for soil testing depending on their stocking rate when it comes to phosphorous. I am particularly thinking of fertilisers like 18-6-12, which is commonly used by farmers, and any suggestion of penalties for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Each bag of fertiliser is required by law to state the fertiliser’s type - whether it is nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium - and the product and minimum content of nutrients, along with their forms and solubility. Indeed, the nutrient content of chemical fertiliser is the main determinant of its price and value to the farmer, with phosphorus being the most expensive nutrient of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jun 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I probably should not have said new changes because obviously, this was in place and kicked off from January 2023 with regard to soil sampling before spreading phosphorous, and the limitations that are there. However, the INHFA is one organisation that has raised concerns regarding possible penalties on farmers where they have spread the likes of 18-6-12 without knowledge of the limitations...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: It is important to say that there has not been a change with regard to the regulations, apart from for some farmers above the nitrates application's 130 kg N/ha requirement for soil sampling. That was communicated in 2022 and 2023. I know that the Agricultural Consultants Association has raised this and the understanding among farmers about this in the last short period of time, and I take...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jun 2024)

Claire Kerrane: I thank the Minister for his response. I again make the point that perhaps additional communication regarding this could be looked at. I spoke to a couple of random farmers to see if they were aware of the fact that they could not spread a level of phosphorous, depending on their stocking rate, without soil testing. I do not think the awareness is there. When you have a farm organisation...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: There is a 1% inspection check on this. That is why it is important that everybody is managing themselves well and doing the right thing in not applying any more fertiliser to the soil than is needed. Of course, that saves money. In the event of a farmer being in the 1% that gets inspected, there is the prospect of a potential penalty. The penalties are small for small infringements by...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 Jun 2024)

Richard Bruton: I agree with the Minister that we need new approaches and we need research, but we do have known measures that could be implemented. My interest is in how successful we have been. We have slurry spreading, clover planting, protected urea, multi-species sward, incorporation of straw and afforestation cover in winter. Many of these things are not new and do not need research; it is a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Teagasc has an important role to play and it is playing it. One of the key tools that will be very helpful to farmers is the launch of the AgNav online application which enables farmers to be clear on the numbers for their own farms, to see how that is evolving and to suggest steps to them which can reduce their emissions and measure that as they go. People have to know where they are at to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 Jun 2024)

Richard Bruton: I worry that there is no sense that, because we are now off target, we need to take some pretty sharp corrective action. It seems to me that farmers respond to financial incentives. They cut their nitrogen because the price went up. If there were more rewards for the plan that would reduce their emissions numbers, I think we would see farmers responding much more quickly. I go back to the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I agree that farmers respond. I agree that farmers' ability to have clarity in terms of where they are at with their own farms is important in empowering them to take steps which will further reduce emissions at farm level. I also agree it is important we incentivise this. Some of the steps we have taken, for example, the soil sampling scheme, have had a very significant uptake among...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (13 Jun 2024)

Fisheries Protection

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (13 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: 46. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Question No. 89 of 25 April 2024, the status of plans for the introduction of measures to protect the sprat fishery, which is concentrated within the six nautical mile zone; to provide a status update on the review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25539/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (13 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I am returning to the issue of sprat. I ask the Minister for an update on the status of plans for the introduction of measures to protect the sprat fishery, which is concentrated within the six nautical mile zone, and to provide a status update on the review of trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In December 2018, a transition period to a ban on vessels over 18 m 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 in inshore waters. However, this measure was the subject of extended legal proceedings, the outcome of which, received...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (13 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I certainly understand the background to this and I am on record as saying the policy was very good and the intent was great. Unfortunately, we have been through what we have been through, and the Minister mentioned 2018. Of course, it is important to say that sprat is not subject to a quota. As a forage fish, it is a vital source of food for other fish and mammals and it is vital for the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fisheries Protection (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I will not prejudice what I do by indicating what the outcome will be at this point. We have received 5,000 submissions and it is important they are fully considered as part of the process and that I fully consider those. It closed in mid-April, about six weeks ago. Five thousand submissions is a lot to work through and they all deserve to be fully considered and taken into account. My...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Projects (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Ó Cathasaigh for raising the matter. The reason our food industry is so successful and is such a large part of our economy is because we have stayed at the cutting edge of research and added value. That is why we have the research funding in place through my Department. We are open to all applications on how we can progress and delve further into the scientific...