Parliamentary questions

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

1. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on his engagement with the forestry sector regarding concerns around the limitations the new forestry programme rules will have on afforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55423/23]

Beef Sector

Alan Kelly

2. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the reasons to delay 60% of agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES, applicants payments until February 2024; what discussions there were with farmers and stakeholders; if he will ensure that payments are made before Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55988/23]

Beef Sector

Claire Kerrane

3. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on concerns raised around the suckler efficiency carbon programme and the recent changes to the beef index; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55424/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Holly Cairns

4. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department will make efforts to deliver ACRES payments to participating farmers without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56100/23]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

5. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected financial loss to the vessels of the Irish fishing fleet arising from the actions of the UK and Scottish Governments in blocking them from fishing in their traditional fishing grounds around Rockall for the past number of years; and to provide an update on the status of negotiations with the UK and Scottish Governments, aimed at finding a resolution. [55295/23]

International Programmes

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

6. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to report on his attendance at the food, agriculture, nature and land use thematic days of COP28; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55710/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

7. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approval will issue in respect of TAMS applications relating to animal welfare-related investments and the construction of slurry and manure storage facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55733/23]

Teagasc Activities

Alan Farrell

8. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the development of the centre for sustainable animal and grassland research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55511/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Smith

9. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approvals will issue in respect of TAMS applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55732/23]

Fisheries Protection

Christopher O'Sullivan

10. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider a ban on fishing for sprat, which is not intended for human consumption, in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55810/23]

Animal Carcase Disposal

Michael McNamara

11. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will promulgate emergency interim measures to allow farmers and knackeries to dispose of dead animals in light of their accumulation, with the resultant risk to sanitation, due to the strike by renderers since 1 December 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55812/23]

Live Exports

Brian Leddin

12. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to fulfil the programme for Government commitment to increase the veterinary presence available on all live export consignments to third countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55708/23]

Exports Growth

Bernard Durkan

13. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains confident for the dairy, beef, lamb and pig meat sectors, as well as the cereal sector, into the future; the areas in which competition is most likely anticipated on international markets; the extent to which the industry can meet these challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55725/23]

Citizens' Assembly

Paul Murphy

14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the impact that inserting the rights of nature into the Constitution would have on agriculture; whether he supports the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity’s proposal to hold a referendum on the rights of nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55790/23]

Inshore Fisheries

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

15. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the immediate financial support measures he can put in place for the Irish inshore fishing sector to address the deepening crisis in the industry that is threatening the livelihoods of inshore fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55722/23]

Beef Sector

David Stanton

16. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent publication of the new bull replacement and terminal index ratings by an organisation (details supplied); the potential impact this could have on beef suckler farms and the suckler carbon efficiency programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55528/23]

Teagasc Activities

Peadar Tóibín

17. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has conducted any research into the reasons the number of Teagasc graduates attaining trained farmer status has been declining in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55429/23]

Organic Farming

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

18. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers in Carlow are benefiting from the organic farming scheme or other supports for the organic sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55640/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

19. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what action he intends to take to address delays to ACRES payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55410/23]

Agriculture Schemes

Cathal Crowe

20. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details on when farmers who are participating in the ACRES co-operative scheme can expect to receive their payments. [55634/23]