Vol. 790 No. 2
164. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the agri-environment options scheme for 2012 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reasons for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4606/13]
The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st November 2010 and full payments totalling €800.35 and €4,802.45 issued in respect of 2010 and 2011 respectively. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks for 2012 an issue was discovered in relation to the claimed areas on the Natura Owned action. Officials in my Department are currently investigating this issue with the intention of finalising the application of the person named and issuing payment as soon as possible.
165. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 11 December 2012, when payment of single farm headage will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4609/13]
Further to the Deputy’s previous Question on behalf of the person named, to which I replied on 11 December 2012, the issues relating to two of the land parcels declared were resolved following direct contact with the person named, thereby allowing processing of the 2012 Single Payment application, with payment issuing on 14 December 2012. With regard to the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application, as processing has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account. Payment had not issued previously as the holding concerned was only recently confirmed as having satisfied the scheme minimum stocking density requirements. An exercise to take account of December 2012 data, which was recently completed, established the definitive position of the holding.
166. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal on penalties issued on a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4623/13]
In order to comply with EU requirements, the applicant was one of a number selected for inspection. This inspection resulted in findings of an over-declaration in area of between 3% and 20% under the Single Payment Scheme which, under the terms and conditions of the Scheme, resulted in reduced payment. The applicant was notified by letter dated 1st November of this outcome and the reasons for it. An appeal has been received and it is being examined. The applicant will be informed in writing of the outcome.
167. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when mixed stock fishing will be re-opened in Area VIa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4625/13]
Council Regulation (EC) No 1288/2009 of 27 November 2009 established transitional technical measures for the period 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2011. Subsequent measures were established by Regulation (EU) No 579/2011 of 8 June 2011 for the period 1 July, 2011 to 31 December 2012. In Area VIa, an effort regime, restricting the number of days at sea each year in the area is in place to protect cod. The effort levels available for 2013 were rolled over from 2012 and a reduction was not applied. Vessels must have access to fishing effort under the Cod Recovery Plan which is based on historic track record. A prohibition on the use of gillnets in the eastern part of Area VIa under the transitional technical measures Regulation ceased to have legal effect from the end of December 2012.
The Transitional Technical Measures Regulations amended Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles or marine organisms and provided for the continuation of certain technical measures established in Council Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 of 16 January 2009. A new technical conservation measures framework is awaited in the light of the ongoing reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). In the interim an extension of the application of the transitional technical measures is necessary.
In October 2012 following triologues on the issue facilitated by the Cyprus Presidency, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers agreed a new extension to the transitional technical measures. The measures envisaged enable restricted fishing with gillnets including providing for a lesser spotted dogfish fishery, which was a specific request of Ireland. The measures also allow for a gill net fishery south of 59 degrees north. The Parliament has yet to formally ratify the new regulation on transitional technical measures by means of a vote. The measures as outlined in Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 now take precedence in terms of technical conservation measures pending the adoption of the transitional technical measures.
168. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when cray and monk fishing will be permitted in Area VIa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4626/13]
Council Regulation (EC) No 1288/2009 of 27 November 2009 established transitional technical measures for the period 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2011. Subsequent measures were established by Regulation (EU) No 579/2011 of 8 June 2011 for the period 1 July, 2011 to 31 December 2012. In Area VIa, an effort regime, restricting the number of days at sea each year in the area is in place to protect cod. The effort levels available for 2013 were rolled over from 2012 and a reduction was not applied.
The monkfish fishery is subject to a monthly quota limit set following advice from the Whitefish Quota Management Advisory Committee where the industry representatives provide advice to the Minister. In addition, vessels must have access to fishing effort under the Cod Recovery Plan which is based on historic track record. In relation to crayfish fished by means of gillnet, this fishery is also subject to fishing effort restrictions and available effort is severely limited because there is only very limited track record of gill net fishing in Area Via. A prohibition on the use of gillnets in the eastern part of Area VIa under the transitional technical measures Regulation ceased to have legal effect from the end of December 2012.
The Transitional Technical Measures Regulations amended Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles or marine organisms and provided for the continuation of certain technical measures established in Council Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 of 16 January 2009. A new technical conservation measures framework is awaited in the light of the ongoing reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). In the interim an extension of the application of the transitional technical measures is necessary.
In October 2012 following triologues on the issue facilitated by the Cyprus Presidency, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers agreed a new extension to the transitional technical measures. The measures envisaged enable restricted fishing with gillnets including providing for a lesser spotted dogfish fishery, which was a specific request of Ireland. The measures also allow for a gill net fishery south of 59 degrees north. The Parliament has yet to formally ratify the new regulation on transitional technical measures by means of a vote. The measures as outlined in Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 now take precedence in terms of technical conservation measures pending the adoption of the transitional technical measures.
169. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive payment under the suckler cow welfare scheme; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4658/13]
The person named registered one animal in his herd for each year of the Scheme. Payment has already issued in respect of the animals born in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Payment will issue in the near future in respect of the animal born in 2011. The calf born in 2012 was castrated within the four week period before weaning and as this contravenes the Terms and Conditions of this scheme, this animal is ineligible for payment.
