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Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ireland's Water Quality and the Nitrates Derogation: Discussion (15 Sep 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As I said, I welcome this opportunity to engage on the important topic for farmers and our farming sector of water quality and the nitrates derogation. In my opening statement, I would like to address three key points. I will first provide an update on developments since I last engaged with this committee. I will also set out the next steps in implementing the derogation decision....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Communities (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Like the Deputy, I very much value our islands and wish to make sure there are sustainable, economic livelihoods on them. Traditionally, fishing was the biggest part of that and really drove the economies of the islands, although that has become less so as the years have passed. I want to work in any way we can to support the inshore fishing sector both around our coast and, in particular,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: To give absolute reassurance to Deputy Berry, everything will be voluntary. It is about providing options to farmers, voluntary options, and ones that will pay farmers. That will help us collectively to meet the challenge of reducing emissions over the coming decade. That is something I am confident we will do, and that is the approach we have taken so far and will continue to take. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Deputy Berry's question is quite a topical one. It is one that is coming up quite a bit at the moment and getting a lot of discussion as well. He is right that it was covered in the Irish Farmers' Journallast week and it has been raised at many of the meetings I have been having with farm organisations in recent weeks too. I want to be clear that no decision has been taken by the Government...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I think Deputy Berry explains it very well. As Minister, it has been my approach, and it will continue to be my approach, to work with farmers with whom we share this challenge. We all have to work together to meet the challenge. We are doing that and that will continue. On the suckler and the beef sectors, farm organisations were adamant that there should be no scheme for them, so I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: To be clear, officials in my Department have worked consistently to ensure the voice of fishers is heard across the Government, which is where the challenge lies. It is always heard within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, but some of these issues are led by other Departments. Like fishers, my Department’s officials have always sought to ensure that engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Water Quality (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: ...Ireland secured a nitrates derogation covering the years 2022-2025. The Commission's implementing decision granting that derogation included the condition that Ireland must use specific criteria to conduct a two-year water quality review. Where that review shows there are polluted waters, or waters at risk of pollution that are not showing signs of improvement, or where worsening...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Last year Ireland secured a Nitrates Derogation covering the period 2022-2025. In granting that derogation, the European Commission attached increased conditionality, including a requirement to conduct a two-year water quality review. The EPA's recently published report for this review shows that based on the Commission's conditionality, significant areas of the county will see their...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (13 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Farming and the agri-food sector are hugely important to our economy and our society. According to the CSO's Labour Force Survey the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector employs over 101,000 people, representing 4% of total employment in the country, but a far greater proportion in rural and coastal areas. The produce of these farms, forestry and fishers directly generate a further 64,000...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (11 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Fishers are accommodated with appropriate net or pot storage at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. Such facilities are organised by making contact with the Harbour Master who works with the users on practical matters like this. I understand that the company in question has accepted an offer from Bord Iascaigh Mhara under the Brexit Voluntary Permanent Cessation Scheme and accordingly it may not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (6 Jul 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: ...and ambitious €1.3bn Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the previous Programme which expired at the end of 2022. The new Programme will benefit farmers, rural communities and contribute to our overall climate and environmental targets. The new Programme is subject to State Aid approval from the EU Commission. It is also subject to an ongoing Strategic Environmental...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Jun 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I will certainly speak to the Minister for Health further on the issue of mental health supports. Like Deputy Cairns, I have met many young people who have been affected by scoliosis and know the massive challenge it presents in their lives. It is heartbreaking for all of us to see them waiting for the operation which would significantly change the course of their lives and provide them...

Seanad: Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023: Second Stage (20 Jun 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am pleased to bring the Bill to the Seanad. I welcome the support it received when it concluded its passage through the Dáil on 31 May. The Bill legislates for two areas. The first part seeks to modernise the area of veterinary medicines and medicated feed. Last year, we saw the implementation of two new EU regulations in this area. The Bill reinforces those regulations in Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (20 Jun 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Farming and the agri-food sector are hugely important to our economy and our society. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector employs over 101,000 people, representing 4% of total employment in the country, but a far greater proportion in rural and coastal areas. The produce of these farms, forestry and fishers directly generate a further 64,000 downstream jobs for a total almost 165,000...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Impact Assessments (13 Jun 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) Regulations came into force in September 2011 and were further amended in 2013 and 2017. The Regulations apply to three different types of on-farm activities: (1) restructuring of rural land holdings, (2) commencing to use uncultivated land or semi-natural areas for intensive agriculture and (3) land drainage works on lands used for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (13 Jun 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: Farming and the agri-food sector as a whole is a hugely important aspect of our economy but also our society. It is a sector that drives economic growth in every rural parish in every county. Food Vision 2030, Ireland’s shared strategy for the agri-food sector, has the potential to transform our agriculture, food, forestry and marine sectors, with environmental, economic and social...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. Farmers are the backbone of our food production system, and it is incumbent on all of us in the sector to prioritise their safety and wellbeing. We have made real progress in recent years on improving agriculture’s safety record. However, farming continues to be the most dangerous occupation in Ireland. Fatal incidents on farms...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I am committed to the promotion of tree planting, including in relation to the protection and enhancement of biodiversity within our forests, for climate change, wood production, economic development, employment and quality of life. As Deputies may be aware, extensive work has been undertaken to date in the development of a new future for forestry in Ireland. Ireland has now for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Spending Code (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Deputy is likely to be aware, all policies designed in the Department are aligned with the principles as set out in the “Public Spending Code”. The code sets out a broad range of parameters for policy design and appraisal techniques including, as the Deputy will be aware, values for the shadow price of carbon using an abatement cost model to value Green House Gas...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (25 May 2023)

Charlie McConalogue: I remain confident that the outlook for the Irish dairy industry and Irish dairy exports remains very positive. The dairy industry is one of our largest and most profitable sectors. Irish dairy exports exceeded the €7 billion euro mark last year, making it the largest food and drink export category. Last year, we exported over 1.6 million tonnes of dairy products to over 130...