Results 41-60 of 16,564 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Charlie McConalogue

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...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I am aware that as ash dieback disease progresses nationally roadside ash trees will become an issue of increasing importance. As a matter of law, the care and management of trees adjacent to roads is the responsibility of the landowner on whose land the roadside trees are growing. It is advisable that landowners make themselves aware of the full legal extent of their land ownership and of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (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 the...

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

Charlie McConalogue: Importers in Ireland are already prohibited from importing roundwood from areas known to be affected by quarantine bark beetle species. The only area internationally where imports into Ireland of coniferous roundwood with bark is permitted is from a specific UK Government authority assigned ‘Pest Free Area’ (PFA) in the West of Scotland. My officials engage closely with...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 93 together. It is the case that there has been a decline in afforestation in recent years. In 2020 2,434 hectares of land were afforested, with 2,061 hectares in 2021, 2,273 hectares in 2022 and 1,651 hectares in 2023. The Afforestation target for 2024 is 8,000 hectares, and to date this year my Department has received notification of intention...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy identified areas for further policy development, including the agri-food sector, whilst also outlining the need to ensure consistency between national policy in relation to the circular economy, the bioeconomy and climate action. In relation to interventions to reduce food supply chain losses, my Department has been running a Food Waste...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Programme for Government in 2020 committed to a national land use review which includes all land types such as farmland, forests, and peatlands. The review aims to examine the optimal land use choices which will help contribute to and inform policy. The review aims to balance environmental, social, and economic considerations. It also includes consideration of emissions to air and water,...

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

Charlie McConalogue: The Control of Horses Act 1996 provides powers to local authorities enabling them to control stray and wandering horses in their geographical areas. My Department provides funding to local authorities as a contribution towards the costs incurred by them, in operation of the Act. Enforcement of the Control of Horses Act 1996 is a matter for the relevant local authority, in this case Cork City...

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

Charlie McConalogue: I was delighted that Irish Grass Fed Beef was registered as an all-island Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in December 2023. This means that producers and processors from across the island of Ireland whose products have been officially verified as meeting the product specification will be eligible to market their Irish Grass Fed Beef products bearing the PGI symbol. Only the best food...

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...