Tag Archives: Department of Agriculture and the Marine

THE future of the fishing industry will be discussed at a major conference in Limerick next February. The event is a hybrid one, organised by The National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) around the theme of‘Thriving Fishing, Thriving Offshore Wind, Thriving Ports’. It takes place on February 23 in the Castletroy Park Hotel in County Limerick.  Speakers at the event will include Caroline Bocquel, Interim CEO, BIM; Noel Cunniffe, CEO Wind Energy Ireland; Brian Hogan, Chief Surveyor Marine Survey Office, and Norah Parke, Project Coordinator Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation Ltd. Further speakers will be announced closer to the date. Among the topics for discussion include what the fishing industry needs to thrive; the policy regime for renewable energy; implementation of the ‘future skills needs report’; the ecosystem impacts of offshore wind farms; and the future for Ireland’s fishing ports. The Minister for Agriculture and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue will launch the conference. “Having opened the first NMCI Seafarer Conference in 2022, I …

ACTION is being sought from the Department of Agriculture to support those who invested in forestry, but now find themselves facing red tape and delays in securing their nest egg. Councillor Alan O’Callaghan was among those who recently attended a virtual meeting on the deepening crisis in the forestry sector, organised by senior members of Fianna Fáil. He said that many in Clare have been “left in limbo” over delays with the issuing of forestry licences, particularly those for thinning and felling. He also said that many of the 30 people in attendance raised concerns over compensation for ash die-back in their plantations. Councillor O’Callaghan also warned that unless the forestry sector is made more attractive, the entire farming community will suffer as a result of an increased obligation to reduce carbon emissions. At the end of the two-hour Zoom meeting, it was agreed that the issue would be pursued through the tabling of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) with a view …