Results 1,961-1,980 of 23,906 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am fully committed to promoting responsible dog ownership among the general public. The Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025 Working Together for Animal Welfare includes a commitment to establish an Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare. The Council convened in November 2021 with members having a diverse range of skill sets, so that it can advise me on matters relating to companion...

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

Charlie McConalogue: One of the key recommendations of the Wool Feasibility Study was the establishment of an independent, all-island wool council that would be industry-led and comprise multiple stakeholders from the wool sector, including primary producers, farmers and commercial enterprises willing to fund research and marketing activities. In support of this recommendation my Department committed financial...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Trade in live animals is a necessary and integral part of the dairy and beef sectors and plays an important part in supporting farm incomes, as a competitive balance in the market for beef animals and as an outlet for dairy calves. Such trade can only be sustainable on the basis of a strong regulatory regime which protects the welfare and the quality of the animals transported. While the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have one Bill on the Government’s priority legislation list for publication during this Oireachtas term and that is the Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2024. The current Programme for Government contains a commitment to establish an Independent Agriculture Appeals Review Panel in legislation, as a priority and to ensure that the panel...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Negotiating the resumption of beef access to China has been a top priority for me since the temporary suspension last November. Utilising relationships that have been developed over recent years, my department engaged at diplomatic, political and technical levels to provide the scientific and technical detail needed to reassure the Chinese authorities of the effectiveness of Ireland’s...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) suggested that there was significant economic potential in rural areas and recommended a number of actions by government departments to support the long-term development of rural Ireland. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine established the Rural Innovation & Development Fund (RIDF) to...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Five years ago, in December 2018, a transition to a ban on vessels over 18 metres in overall length trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines, was announced following a previous public consultation. This ban had a strong support base but was overturned following legal challenge. In view of changes in activity and issues concerning the marine space since...

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

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has identified a number of actions in the Climate Action Plan (CAP) that will play a key role in the achievement of Ireland’s climate targets. Evidence of these actions is already being reflected in the most recent EPA Inventory reports, where Agriculture reduced emissions in 2022 by 1.2% compared to 2021. The Programme for Government set...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The management of forestry plantations is ultimately the responsibility of the owner of the land in question. Where the landowner is no longer under contract with my Department in relation to their forestry plantation, it is for the landowner to decide how and when they carry out general maintenance on their lands and there is no requirement to notify or seek approval from my Department under...

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

Charlie McConalogue: CAP payments are a critical source of income for the many family farms that we have in Ireland. The CAP Strategic Plan, which was launched in 2023, will underpin the sustainable development of our agricultural sector by: (i) supporting viable farm incomes and enhancing competitiveness, (ii) contributing to the achievement of environmental and climate objectives at national and EU...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I have engaged with my colleagues the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the introduction of the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT), and the related concerns expressed by stakeholders including farmers and farm representative bodies. Introduced in 2021, the RZLT is an action under the "Housing for All" plan and is designed to prompt residential...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Following on from Ireland's Food Vision 2030 strategy, my Department is implementing a wide range of actions and measures to improve environmental sustainability on Irish farms including soil health and nutrient management. In the first instance, conditionality controls in respect of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments are part of this approach. Conditionality is a set of Statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Electricity Generation (22 Feb 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. The Solar Capital Investment schemeis one of the measures in TAMS, which provides support to farmers wishing to invest in renewable energy, thereby reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. I launched the TAMS 3...

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

Charlie McConalogue: My Department commissioned an independent expert to carry out a report on peat supply for the horticulture industry in Ireland. This report identified a number of recommendations to alleviate issues with regards to supply of peat which are being considered across government. My Department also commissioned experts to provide focused guidance to those wishing to achieve regulatory...

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

Charlie McConalogue: At a strategic level, my Department works very closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) on exploring ways to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3. That Goal commits by 2030 to halve, per capita, global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses. That...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Like all of our environmental and climate objectives in the CAP Strategic Plan, and the prior Rural Development Programme, we are using a multi-action approach to habitat creation and maintenance. It begins with the basic definition of the Eligible Hectare. Since 2023, our definition allows eligible hectares to contain other landscape features that are beneficial to the environment and...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Achieving our climate ambition in the agri-food sector in Ireland requires new and innovative approaches by everyone in the industry and beyond. The 2030 25% sectoral emission reduction set for the agriculture sector is a challenging target and will require scientific and technological advancements to be achieved. In Climate Action Plan 2024, I have set out measures around three themes:...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The tillage sector is an important and integral component of the Agri-food industry. It is a major producer of high-quality grain for the animal feed industry and straw for feeding and bedding. Tillage growers also make a significant contribution to the food and drinks sectors through the provision of high-quality raw materials. A vibrant and sustainable tillage sector is central to...

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, all eligible Tranche 1 applications were approved, with just under 46,000 active contracts now in place. ACRES payments...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) are the leading government authority in Ireland for the Nature Restoration Law (NRL). My Department has worked closely with DHLGH to ensure that the text of the NRL will deliver for the environment and climate whilst supporting all sectors of society, including farmers and rural communities. My Department supports the...