The only persons other than established civil servants from whom advice has been sought or received on a personal basis by me, or the Ministers of State in my Department are two personal advisors. Mr Michael Shovlin was employed by me as press advisor until earlier this year, with a salary of €83,815 per annum. Mr Stiofán Nutty is currently employed by Minister of State Sargent. His salary since appointment amounts to €15,106. Advice on capital projects was not provided by either of the advisors.
Apart from this, as a matter of course, I regularly meet with farming and other representative groups as well as State agencies under my Department's remit in connection with matters appertaining to the operation of the Department. In addition there is frequent engagement with the food industry under the Agri-Vision Action Plan. A research group, chaired by industry, was established by me to advise on high level research priorities. The group includes representatives of third level food research institutions, the food industry and consumers. No fees are paid in any of these cases.
There are many other areas where my Department receives advice. For example, my Department receives advice, in relation to potential disease outbreaks, from BirdWatch Ireland, the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis (CVERA) in UCD and the Avian ‘Flu Expert Advisory Group and, in relation to animal welfare issues, from the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC).
The Department's Audit Committee which comprises non-public service members, officials from other Departments and officials of my Department, also offers advice on an on-going basis on administrative systems and procedures. A per diem rate is payable to non-public service members. A total of €2,800 has been paid in respect of 2007. In the past twelve months, my Department has also engaged the consultants detailed on the following list, who have provided advice on the specific matters indicated.
|
Consultant
|
Project
|
Payment in 2007
|
Implementation
|
|
|
€
|
|
|
Institute of Forest Ecosystem Research
|
National Forest Inventory for 2007
|
47,284
|
Implemented
|
|
UCD Forestry Department
|
National Forest Inventory for 2007
|
3,200
|
Implemented
|
|
Dr. Gerhardt Gallagher (Consultant)
|
National Forest Inventory for 2007
|
3,086
|
Implemented
|
|
John McCarthy (Ag. Consultant)
|
Milk Quota Exchange (Trading Scheme)
|
3,194
|
Implemented
|
|
John Malone Consulting Ltd
|
Sheep Strategy Implementation Group
|
25,000 (Est.)
|
Being Implemented
|
|
Vantage Resources
|
Forestry on-line applications
|
20,421
|
Implemented
|
|
Resources Global Consultancy
|
Integrated Forestry System (IFORIS)
|
9,196
|
Implemented
|
|
Achilles Procurement Services
|
Single Payment Scheme
|
2,240
|
Implemented
|
|
Indecon International Economic Consultants
|
Implementation of EU Re-structuring of Irish Sugar Industry
|
154,670
|
Implemented
|
|
Farrell Grant Sparks
|
Review of Organisational Structure of the Department
|
108,900
|
Not yet finalised
|
|
Surepath Solutions
|
Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor
|
2,986
|
Implemented
|
|
Wright Environmental
|
Quality of Lighting
|
726
|
Completed
|
|
Elmah Sweetman
|
Ergonomic Assessment
|
300
|
Implemented
|
|
Occupational Physiotherapy Solutions
|
Ergonomic Assessment
|
303
|
Implemented
|
|
Achilles Procurement Services
|
Preparation of the Request for Tender for the Provision of Equality and Diversity Training in the Department
|
1,072
|
Implemented
|
|
Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management Ltd
|
Review of Fishery Control Regime in Ireland (Cawley Report)
|
144,000
|
Being Implemented
|
|
Noel Cawley
|
Cawley Implementation Group
|
27,000
|
See entry above
|
|
John Malone Consulting Ltd
|
Study on Forestry Planting Levels
|
NIL
|
Recently commenced
|
