Written Answers Nos. 170-179
170. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an agri-environment options scheme 1 2012 payment will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4827/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2010 and full payments totalling €608.11 and €4,195.14 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. The application was also selected for a Cross Compliance inspection which resulted in a penalty of 20% being imposed. Officials in my Department are finalising the application of the person named on this basis with the intention of issuing payment for the 2012 scheme year as soon as possible.
171. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will supply figures relating to fish extracted from waters under Irish jurisdiction by EU and non-EU vessels since 2002 broken down by weight, by monetary value, and by International Conference for the Exploration of the Sea Areas in each year during the period stated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4846/13]
View answerThe waters around Ireland contain some of the most productive fishing grounds and biologically sensitive in the EU. In 2010, an estimated 1.3 million tonnes of fish were taken by the fishing fleets of EU member states from the waters around Ireland (ICES Sub-areas VI & VII). Ireland landed 259,500 tonnes of these fish or 23% of the international landings. The main fish species caught were mackerel, horse mackerel, boarfish, blue whiting, herring, cod, whiting, haddock, saithe, hake, megrim, anglerfish, plaice, sole and Nephrops. The Irish authorities are not responsible for compiling data on landings or the value of landings of fish by non Irish fishing vessels, except those landing into Irish fishing ports. Landing data is the responsibility of the flag Member State. Landing figures for Member States are publically available on the Eurostat website at the following link. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/fisheries/data/database.
172. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the number of organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department that have vacancies on their board; the length of time any such vacancies have been unfilled; the number of vacancies that have been advertised; the number of applications to fill such vacancies that have been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4852/13]
View answerSince May 2011, a notification has been placed on my Department’s website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. On 7 September 2012 last, I placed an advertisement in the National Newspapers inviting expressions of interest. All expressions of interest lapse at the end of the calendar year.
In making any board appointments, I am not necessarily confined to those who make such expressions of interest but ensure that all of those appointed have the relevant mix of knowledge and expertise to contribute to the relevant board. In the case of a number of bodies, some board appointments, while made by me, are not at my sole discretion and, instead, individuals are nominated for appointment by me by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute. These are the Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board, Bord Bia, Teagasc, National Milk Agency, Veterinary Council of Ireland and Horse Racing Ireland. The information sought by the Deputy is outlined in the table below as at 31 January 2013:
The number of vacancies on State Boards as at 31 January 2013
|
Body/Agency |
Number of vacancies |
Length of vacancy |
Number of applications |
|
Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board* |
3 |
3 October 2012 1 January 2013 x2 |
2 |
|
An Bord Bia |
1 |
23 March 2012 |
3 |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
2 |
20 February 2011 15 December 2012 |
4 |
|
Bord na gCon |
0 |
- |
2 |
|
Coillte |
3 |
1 November 2012 27 November 2012 x2 |
1 |
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
0 |
- |
3 |
|
Irish National Stud |
Chair announced |
- |
2 |
|
Marine Institute |
4† |
18 April 2012 x3 11 June 2012 |
2 |
|
National Milk Agency |
0 |
- |
1 |
|
Sea Fisheries Protection Authority |
0 |
- |
0 |
|
Teagasc |
1 |
27 September 2012 |
2 |
|
Veterinary Council |
0 |
- |
0 |
* Nominated by prescribed organisation
† One appointment currently being finalised
173. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an agri-environment options scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4869/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 and full payment totalling €790.92 issued in respect of 2011. 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. Payments in respect of the 2012 Scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process which includes verification of capital investment through checks on receipts. These checks have been successfully completed and I expect that 75% payment in respect of 2012 will issue shortly to the person named. The balancing 25% payment will issue shortly thereafter.
174. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when REP scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4870/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in November 2009 and received payments for the first three years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. This process is nearing completion in respect of the person named and I expect that payments will issue shortly.
175. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on an disadvantaged area scheme appeals committee in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4873/13]
View answerThe decision of the DAS Appeals Committee is awaited in this case; immediately that Committee has adjudicated on this appeal, the person concerned will be notified of its decision, in writing.
176. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a disadvantaged area scheme appeals committee in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4874/13]
View answerWhile the person named successfully applied for derogation in regard to the 2011 stocking density, payment has not issued as the holding does not as yet satisfy the 2012 Scheme minimum stocking density requirements. However, following direct contact by my Department, it is understood that the applicant will furnish additional documentation, with a view to confirming compliance with the stocking requirements of the Scheme. Immediately on receipt of the documentation, the application will be further progressed.
177. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding that was allocated to dairy discussion groups per annum since 2010; the reasons funding will only be available to new entrants in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4882/13]
View answerThe Dairy Efficiency Programme was introduced in 2010, as a three year Programme (2010, 2011 and 2012) with the aim of encouraging, through participation in professionally facilitated discussion groups, the adoption of technology and best practice by participating farmers. In 2010 some 5,916 farmers qualified for payment totalling €5,363k, while in 2011 5,584 received €4,972k. Payments to successful applicants for the 2012 Scheme will issue towards the end of February. The intended three year period of the programme expired at the end of 2012. Nonetheless, and in order to ensure the maximum impact from the scarce resources available, I have decided to focus a new programme on encouraging milk suppliers who did not take part in the earlier DEP and potential new entrants to the sector to participate in the Programme. The closing date for applications to this new Programme is 15 February 2013 and details can be obtained from my Department’s website at (www.agriculture.gov.ie) under ‘Farming Sectors/Dairy Farming/Development Programme for Dairying ’.
178. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contacts that have taken place with Polish authorities regarding the inclusion of horse meat in beef product; the investigations which are taking place into the source of the contamination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4894/13]
View answer179. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that are being taken at EU level to ensure the integrity of its licensing regime following the identification of horse meat in beef product sources in Poland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4895/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.
Test results received late on Friday 25th January, during the intensive investigation into this matter by my Department and the FSAI, showed a significant positive result for equine DNA in frozen beef trimmings which had been imported from Poland as raw material for the production of burgers at Silvercrest Foods. Furthermore it was established that these trimmings were used in the manufacture of burgers which the Department had found to contain significant amounts of equine DNA. The investigation had therefore established a direct correlation between burgers in which a high level of equine DNA was detected and this raw material product. Further tests of the Polish ingredient concerned also showed significant positive results for equine DNA. I am confident that these findings point to a firm conclusion that the raw material in question was the source of equine DNA introduced into burgers manufactured at Silvercrest. Tests on samples taken from Irish food ingredients were negative.
Under EU single market rules, meat products from EU approved plants can be traded freely within the Community. EU rules set down harmonised conditions for approval of meat plants in EU Member States. The onus of compliance with EU food safety regulation rests in the first instance with food business operators. This is subject to a series of official controls, which are the responsibility of the competent authorities in the Member State concerned. The authorities in Poland have been informed of the findings of the investigation relating to equine DNA and are conducting their own enquiries. Official contact was via the Polish Embassy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Chief Veterinary Officer.
