Results 1,941-1,960 of 23,906 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Kerrane. Payments to farmers are particularly important. I place a big emphasis on them in the context of the role played by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. That is why last year, which was the first year of the new Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, we put a massive effort into making sure that we would set dates at the start of the year that could be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Tax averaging is available to farmers to even out what can be uneven incomes that come from farming, particularly in terms of prices and sales. It is also available in the context of the two payments farmers are due to receive. This is the first time a decision to offer an interim payment has been made by a Minister. I am taking this approach because I understand the importance of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In reply to Deputy Kerrane, as I say, the income averaging which is available to farmers is available in this case. The objective has been to make sure that farmers get paid as early as possible. That was not possible in December, but we are making sure that everyone will be paid by the end of this month. As matters stand, I only have funding for 4,000 farmers this year . As the Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I continue to be particularly aware of the challenges being faced by the seafood sector and by fishing families and particularly the challenge we have had over the past couple of years around the increased costs of marine fuel. As previously stated in a response to this issue, I met with the industry’s representative groups a number of times to discuss this as well as other matters....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Meetings (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 51 and 73 together. I was pleased to accept the invitation to address the recent AGM of the Irish Farmers Association as is custom and practice for Ministers for Agriculture. I was accompanied by my Ministerial colleagues in the Department, Ministers of State Pippa Hackett and Martin Heydon where we addressed the meeting on a wide range of relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is committed to achieving 10% of all land farmed organically by 2030. A key element of this is providing the infrastructure and support to both those farmers that convert to Organic and those who are thinking of converting. There has been a very strong uptake in the Organic Farming Scheme over the last three years, most recently in December 2023, when a further 1,000...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As Deputies will be aware there has been a decline in afforestation in recent years. In 2020 2,434 hectares of land were afforested, with 2,061 hectares and 2,273 hectares in the years 2021 and 2022 respectively. In 2023, there were protracted negotiations with the EU Commission to secure State Aid approval for the new Forestry Programme, which was launched in September. This had an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As the deputy is aware, there was unprecedented demand under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) Tranche 1. This is a reflection of the interest amongst farmers in taking on actions to address climate, biodiversity, and environmental issues. In response to this ambition by farmers, I ensured that all eligible Tranche 1 applications were approved, with just under 46,000 active...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I acknowledge that the new UK requirements represent a significant change for Irish businesses trading with Great Britain and the additional burdens they impose on this vital trade. My Department has had extensive engagement with all stakeholders in the agri-food sector on these changes. This has included detailed training sessions for businesses trading with the UK and direct engagement by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) is funded under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. It provides support to sheep farmers for carrying out actions that improve animal health and welfare in the sheep sector and builds on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS), which has now come to an end. The first year of this 5-year scheme ran from the 1st February 2023 to the 31st of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Action Plan (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: As part of the governance and oversight of the Climate Action Plan process, the Department of An Taoiseach publish, on a quarterly basis, progress reports on the status of the actions within the Climate Action Plan (CAP) for 2021 and 2023. These reports are available online: www.gov.ie/en/publication/55fde-climate-action-important-pub lications All actions assigned to the agriculture sector...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department provides considerable levels of funding each year through the Animal Welfare Grants Programme to registered animal welfare charities for the care and welfare of animals. Animal welfare remains a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government, and that is reflected in the funding provided. On the 7th December last year, I announced record funding of €6 million to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Food Vision 2030 aims to balance the economic, social and environmental sustainability of our agri-food sectors using a holistic food systems approach. Aligned with Mission 1 of Food Vision, in 2022, Ireland secured an extension to our nitrate’s derogation covering the period to the end of 2025. This derogation allows farmers operate above a maximum stocking rate of 170 kg of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hare Coursing (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann; hare coursing is managed and regulated by the Irish Coursing Club. The organisation consists of 89 affiliated clubs from Ireland and Northern Ireland, all of whom are governed by the ICC’s rules...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Livestock Issues (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The operation of a livestock market is a private business which, from an animal health and welfare perspective, is subject to regulation by my Department. Each year, nearly three million cattle and sheep are sold through livestock marts and I acknowledge the important role that marts play in maintaining viable sales outlets for livestock. However, while periodically DAFM provides grant aid...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Ireland is one of the most food secure countries in the world. In fact, Ireland has come second of 113 countries assessed for food security, according to the latest Global Food Security Index. The issue of maintaining food production has been the subject of much discussion in the context of the Government's economy-wide target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. My position has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Inshore Fisheries (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Strategy for the Inshore Fisheries Sector 2019-2023 was the first industry-led blueprint for the Irish inshore fisheries sector involving the National and Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums. I understand an inclusive approach was taken in developing that strategy, and in identifying the key issues and priorities for the sector, including a Steering Group with industry and State partners, a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Horses (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 76 together. Compliance with equine identification rules is delivered through a variety of tools across a number of government departments and agencies. In the first instance, the relevant legislation which deals with the issue of straying horses is The Control of Horses Act 1996. This legislation is implemented by local authorities and provides...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Strategies (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Advancing the role of women in the agriculture sector has been a key priority of mine since becoming Minister. The organisation of the national dialogue on women in agriculture last year and the subsequent publication of the Action Plan on 31st January were two major milestones in progressing this aim. The Action Plan has been compiled from the outcomes and recommendations put forward at the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (22 Feb 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Last December, 2023, almost 4,300 farmers in the Co-operation Project (CP) stream, applied for 43,910 Non-productive Investments (NPIs) as part of their participation in my Department’s agri-environment scheme, ACRES. This reflects the huge interest farmers continually demonstrate in supporting the habitats and species found on their farms. NPIs - using the right action in the right...