Results 461-480 of 1,044,069 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Ruairi Ó Murchú OR speaker:Jennifer Carroll MacNeill OR speaker:Gino Kenny OR speaker:Michael McNamara OR speaker:Carol Nolan OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: As the Minister is aware my colleagues, Deputies Kerrane and Carthy, put forward a proposal earlier this year with regard to having a commission on the future of the family farm. It is about more than generational renewal. In our view, what needs to happen is we need to look at the family farm in the whole to see what the future of it will be. That is for the suckler, sheep, pig and every...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy has identified the two key aspects in terms of economic viability for farming. Those are price and the economic schemes and supports we have in place to support food production and farmers' work at farm level. On price, 90% of our food is exported so it is dependent on the prices available internationally. However, the significant step I took as Minister was introducing the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: A major issue is that the price the farmers get for their produce is dominated by processors and the big players. Often, they do not get an opportunity, because they are basically price takers. That is the key problem, along with how to organise and how to form production groups and so on to ensure we get a fair price for farmers. I was speaking to the grain growers at the ploughing last...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I agree with Deputy Kenny. That is why I took the unprecedented step of establishing a statutory legal authority to deliver on that. I have also asked it to continue to engage and update me on its progress and I will be stepping to enhance its powers further as is necessary to make sure that transparency is there throughout the supply chain. We obviously have to be proportionate in law in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Food Industry

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Marian Harkin: 56. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the application of PGI status for boxty. [36483/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Marian Harkin: Once again, I am asking for an update on the application for protected geographical indication, PGI, status for boxty. I put down this same question several times every single year throughout the lifetime of this Dáil. The original application was submitted to the Minister's Department ten years ago. We keep getting the same responses, which are a long explanation of what PGI status...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Harkin for raising this. This is something I strongly support and PGI status would greatly enhance the capacity of boxty to grow in popularity and be understood and develop in new markets internationally. I am glad to report that my Department expects to shortly publish the PGI application for boxty as part of the national opposition procedure required under the relevant EU...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Minister. I am pleased to hear that, but to be honest with him, I am looking at various responses he has provided to me over the years. I will go back 12 months. The final sentence in his response to my question on this was: My Department's scrutiny is almost complete. Once my Department is satisfied that the application is ready [it] can move to the next stage which is the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Agriculture Industry

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: 54. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has plans to extend the slurry spreading deadline by at least two weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38402/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: I want to ask the Minister about the plans he hopefully has to extend the slurry season. As he will be aware, we have had a difficult and wet summer. The harvest was late and farmers in many parts of the country have had difficulty getting fodder saved, particularly in areas where there are wetter, heavier soils. As a result, many farmers are letting their cattle graze later in order to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this matter. It is something that a number of people have raised with me over the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, and for very good reason, it is not something I intend or am in a position to do. Our collective priority has to be in terms of making sure that we improve water quality and, in particular, that we retain our nitrates derogation. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: All of us recognise that both the quality of water and our waterways have to be protected. I suppose overuse of fertilisers, etc., can be a problem and is an issue in many cases. However, we also have to recognise that we were at the ploughing championships last week and it was more like a day in July than one in September. That can often happen. This is the problem when one farms by the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: It is always the case. There should be exceptional circumstances, and they would have to engage and explain those circumstances from an animal welfare point of view. There is a long slurry-spreading season from early spring until 1 October. The use of chemical fertilisers finishes in mid-September. As I say, grass does not grow in mid- or late October and November in the same the way...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: I appreciate and understand all of that, but a particular situation obtains in many parts of the country at present. Many farmers have been in contact with me - I am sure they have been in contact with the Minister's office - regarding the difficulties they have had in getting their slurry out because of the particularly wet summer and as a result of the situation they find themselves in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (26 Sep 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: It is animal welfare considerations that we are talking about at this stage. Every year, from the start of the year onwards, there is a time to spread slurry and, as much as possible, to use it between grazing intervals as well. Certainly, nobody should have full tanks. Especially in the context of the year that is in it, nobody should have full tanks at this point. If they do, they...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Departmental Bodies

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh – Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2024)

Martin Kenny: 55. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the engagement his commission on generational renewal in farming has undertaken since its establishment. [38403/24]