Biography
Bill Callanan
From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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Image: Bill Callanan
Bill Callanan. M.Agr.Sc. Chief Inspector with responsibility for provision of scientific advice on Agriculture and the Environment. Assistant Secretary responsibilities include Climate Change, Nitrates and Biodiversity, Livestock Breeding, Horticulture and Crops, Pesticide registration and controls and Feed and Fertiliser.
He is assisted by Deputy Chief Inspector Donal Coleman.
Climate Change and Bioenergy Policy Division leads the development of agricultural policy on climate change, air quality and bioenergy/sustainable energy at national level and supports the development of EU and international policies, strategies and programmes related to these issues. The Division works closely with Dept of Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources.
Nitrates Biodiversity and Engineering Division – Head of Division Jack Nolan
The Nitrates Biodiversity and Engineering Division has responsibility for environmental policy and actions relating to Water, Biodiversity and Soils. The division implements the Environmental Impact Assessment regulations (EIA) provides Engineering Services and leads on Farm Safety. The Division works closely with other Government Departments most notably Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Livestock Breeding , Production and Trade Division is responsible for facilitating livestock breed improvement and rare breed conservation and to support and operate livestock market support and valuation systems, through the implementing of EU and national legislation and the administration of certain schemes and services, towards quality livestock production and as part of the development of an international agri-food sector.
Research and Codex Division contributes to the development of Research & Innovation Policy relating to Agri-Food, Agri-Environment & Climate, Forestry, Food Systems and the Bioeconomy; operates the Department’s competitive research funding programme including the appropriate policy, scientific, technical and financial management; supports the emergence of new bioeconomy value chains in the Irish agri-food sector; facilitates Irish participation in relevant parts of the EU framework research and innovation funding programme (Horizon 2020) including transnational co-fund activities; coordinates policy development of the CAP Agriculture Knowledge & Innovation System and Agri-Digitalisation; and co-ordinates overall Irish involvement in the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
The Pesticide Registration Division (PRD) & Pesticide Controls Division (PCD) are responsible for implementation of the regulatory system for plant protection and biocidal products in Ireland. The regulatory system is divided into an approval and control system and implementation of a monitoring programme. It is designed to ensure a very high level of protection for humans, animals and the environment.
The Horticulture and Plant Health Division (HPHD) of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is responsible for the implementation of EU plant health regulations in Ireland and fulfils the role Ireland’s National Plant Protection Organisation.
The Division is responsible for negotiating and implementing EU legislation on the marketing and safety of feedingstuffs, fertilisers, grain, poultry and eggs.
The objective is to ensure that these commodities are safe and do not present a risk to the food chain and that the required product information (labelling) is given to customers.
Crop Evaluation and Certification Division is responsible for contributing to the sustainable development of the crops sector by formulating and implementing relevant policy and legislation, implementing the statutory agronomic evaluation of new agricultural crop varieties submitted for marketing in Ireland and to carry out the certification of agricultural seed to ensure the highest standards of purity and freedom from disease are met by all agricultural seed marketed in this country.
