Written Answers Nos. 988-1010
988. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of REP scheme will issue to a herd owner (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16113/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in December 2007 and received payments for the first five years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 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. These checks have now been successfully completed in this case in respect of the 2012 payment and the final year 75% payment amounting to €6582.53 has issued for payment dated 12 April 2013. The 25% balancing payment will issue shortly.
989. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding farm payments in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16128/13]
View answer1003. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal for single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16448/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 989 and 1003 together.
Earlier review processes in this case having been exhausted, an appeal to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office was the subject of an oral hearing held on 7 November 2012. The appeal was unsuccessful and a letter detailing the reasons issued from that Office on the 12 of March 2013 and set out the further avenue available to the applicant, involving reference to the Office of the Ombudsman.
990. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has any plans to introduce a centralised system for the issuing of horse passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16164/13]
View answerThe identification and registration of equidae is governed by EU Council Directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008. The latter regulation, which came into effect on 1 July 2009, provides that equine animals registered after that date must be identified with a passport and a microchip. This regulation also provides that, in the case of equines which are eligible for entry into a studbook, the passport must be issued by the organisation which is officially approved to manage the studbook for the breed in question in accordance with EU Directive 90/426/EEC. There are at present eight such organisations approved in Ireland.
I indicated in the context of my Department’s report on Equine DNA and the Mislabelling of Processed Beef that my ultimate objective is to establish a central passport issuing authority for which the Department would have direct control and under which agents would be approved to issue passports. I also indicated that EU regulations would have to be amended to deliver this centralised arrangement. In the meantime, the EU Directorate General for Health and Consumers has indicated in its recently published Action Plan for dealing with the fall-out from the horsemeat issue that it intends to submit a proposal to the Council and European Parliament for the transfer responsibility for the issuing of passports from Passport Issuing Organisations to the competent authorities. A formal Commission proposal is expected in the second half of 2013.
My Department has commenced consultations with the passport issuing agencies with a view to enhancing the existing procedures relating to equine passports pending the adoption of the proposed amendment to EU legislation.
991. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the rationale for the implementation of the EU Timber Regulation 995/2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16181/13]
View answerThe new EU Timber Regulation (EUTR – Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 ) is now in effect. It is part of a package of measures aimed at ensuring that all products containing wood placed on the market in the EU are from legally harvested timber. It applies to wood and wood products being placed for the first time on the EU market.
It counters the trade in illegally harvested timber and timber products by imposing three key obligations: placing illegally harvested timber and products derived from such timber on the EU market, for the first time, is prohibited; EU operators – those who place timber products on the EU market for the first time – are required to exercise due diligence; traders – those who buy or sell timber and timber products already on the market – are required to keep information about their suppliers and customers to make timber easily traceable.
My Department is currently drafting the appropriate legislation that will oversee and enforce these rules in Ireland. I can assure the Deputy that my Department will lay out effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties, where appropriate, to ensure compliance. Official checks will also be carried out which may include visits to premises to monitor and audit material. It is expected, however, that for the vast majority of those affected, this regulation will involve the reaffirmation of their current business practice. It will require them to ensure that their paper trail is in a format which can be checked to verify compliance. The key change this regulation will bring about is to impose a greater responsibility on those placing timber on the market to ensure that their products have been legally harvested.
992. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway did not receive their suckler cow welfare scheme payment in respect of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16185/13]
View answerThe person named registered 12 animals under the 2012 Suckler welfare Scheme. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme, for herds of more than ten cows, the calves must be weaned in more than one group. In this instance, based on information provided by the person named, all 12 calves were weaned on same date and so are ineligible for payment.
A letter issued from my Department in this regard to the person named on 11 April 2013.
993. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of rural environment protection scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16186/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first four years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 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. Following the administrative check an area discrepancy was discovered between the Single Payment Scheme application for 2012 and the REPS Agri-Environmental Plan in relation to afforestation on lands owned by the person named which has necessitated the need for further clarification. An amended plan was requested on 1 March 2013. To date no plan has been received by my Department. Upon receipt of this amended plan the application will be processed further.
994. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was penalised in relation to their single farm payment in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16188/13]
View answerTo comply with EU requirements, the applicant was one of a number selected for inspection under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme. This inspection resulted in findings of an over-declaration in area of greater than 20%, which under the terms and conditions of the scheme resulted in no payment in respect of 2011. The applicant was notified of this decision on the 16 January 2012.
The applicant requested a review of this decision and the outcome of the review, which upheld the original decision, was notified by letter dated 13 March 2012. The applicant was also advised of the right to appeal the outcome of the review to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within three months of the date of the review letter. My Department understands that no such appeal was lodged, to date.
995. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 21 February 2013, if this case is being re-considered in view of the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Galway provided a copy of the task completion certification from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16275/13]
View answerThe person named was a participant of the 2012 Beef Technology Adoption Programme. Participants were required to attend a prescribed number of discussion group meetings or approved national events, in addition to completing two tasks, chosen from a menu of eight designed to enhance on-farm efficiency. The broad range of available task options allowed participants to choose those best suited to the business needs and particular characteristics of their beef enterprises.
The person named did not qualify for payment because he failed to satisfactorily complete one of two selected tasks – the task related to the completion of a herd health plan in consultation with a veterinary practitioner. Participants who chose that task were required to join the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) eradication programme, a condition of which was that herd owners had to submit tissue samples from all calves born on their holdings in 2012 to one of a number of designated laboratories. Task completion was verified by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) which maintains a database of laboratory results on behalf of Animal Health Ireland. Information received from ICBF indicated that the herd owner in question did not sample any animal born in 2012. While the calves born in 2012 were BVD-tested in January 2013, this does not meet the Task requirement for the 2012 Programme.
It is the responsibility of participants and their facilitators to familiarise themselves with the Programme Terms and Conditions and with the consequences for breaches of the rules. In applying for the BTAP, farmers undertook to comply with the Terms and Conditions of the Programme and accepted that failure to abide by the rules could result in a loss of payment. It was determined following appeal that the individual concerned failed to fully comply with the BTAP Terms and Conditions and, accordingly, no payment is possible in this case.
996. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to the publication by his Department of the recent report on the horse meat scandal, if he will outline the sanctions he intends pursuing against companies and individuals criticized in the report. [16297/13]
View answerThe report on the ‘Equine DNA and Mislabelling of Processed Beef Investigation’, which I published on 14 March, includes details of the companies that came to my Department’s attention during this investigation and the actions taken by the Department. Operations in a total of four plants were suspended in some cases on a voluntary basis for varying periods arising from the investigation.
As indicated in the report, my Department is considering the possibility of instituting legal proceedings where appropriate. It should also be noted that while some of the failures referred to in the report risked reputational damage to the Irish food sector they did not breach EU or national law. The report also points to the necessity to review certain aspects of EU labelling regulations which I will pursue.
997. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way changes to the Common Agricultural Policy will affect the entitlements of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [16310/13]
View answerThe negotiations on reforms to the CAP are still underway and it is impossible to predict with any certainty what the final outcome will be. Thus, I would counsel against drawing conclusions regarding the final outcome at this point in respect of any aspect of the negotiations.
In so far as the value of entitlements is concerned, the Commission has proposed that all Member States move to a national or regional flat-rate payment system by 2019. I believe that this would involve an unsustainably large transfer of payments between Irish farmers and have argued for an alternative, more measured, approach that acknowledges the need to move from historic references while not going as far or as fast as envisaged by the Commission.
In order to avoid the very significant transfers of payments that would result from the Commission’s proposals, I proposed an alternative, partial, convergence model based on the principle that Member States should have the flexibility to move away from historically-based systems in a more measured way that respected their individual farming conditions. I am very pleased that the Council last month endorsed this principle and agreed to include the Irish model in the options available for the distribution of direct payments. This enhances the prospect of a more reasonable level of transfers of payments between farmers than would be the case under the Commission’s flat-rate proposal.
Of course, this issue still has to be negotiated further, and the reality is that the final outcome will be somewhere between the Commission proposal and the Irish proposal.
998. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of a forestry grant will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16311/13]
View answerThe forestry premium payment for this applicant has been processed and the payment will be lodged to his bank account in mid-April 2013.
999. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will legislate to impose a limit on the amount of farm payments accruing to one individual once an agreement has been concluded. [16370/13]
View answerThe EU Commission proposals on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy have been the subject of negotiations at official and political level in the Council of Ministers over the past 18 months culminating in an agreed Council position which was reached at Council on 18/19 March. Under the proposals agreed by the Council of Ministers, Member States have the option to reduce the amount of direct payments granted to a farmer where such payment exceeds €150,000.
The final phase of negotiations, the aim of which is to reach agreement between the three European Institutions i.e. the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the Commission, has now started. It is not possible to speculate on the final outcome of these negotiations and on what form the final capping of direct payments will take.
I am open to considering a limit on the amount that any person or company could receive in one year under the Single Farm payment and have already indicated my support for the capping provision as in the current Council position.
1000. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their herd number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16404/13]
View answerApproval was granted for the issue of a herd number on 21 March 2013. A herd number was created on 3 April and a letter issued on 10 April notifying the herd owner of the details and conditions attached to the herd number.
1001. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the report of the Irish Timber Council which sets out views on the proposed sale of Coillte's harvesting rights; if he has considered the contents of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16444/13]
View answerThe Chairman of the Irish Timber Council sent me a copy of the report, namely “The impacts on the sawmill sector arising from the proposed sale of Coillte’s harvesting rights" by EPS Consulting, at the time of its publication in February. The report, commissioned by the Irish Timber Council, is appreciated as it clearly outlines the concerns of the timber processing sector about the proposed sale of Coillte harvesting rights and makes a useful contribution to the ongoing analysis.
As the Deputy may be aware, further to the Government’s decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, the National Treasury Management Agency, via its NewERA Unit, engaged with Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of a potential transaction. Substantial work has been undertaken to date on the identification of the forestry assets involved, the determination of their value and the consideration of a number of issues associated with the proposed sale of the harvesting rights. One issue of particular importance to the sector as a whole is the continuity of supply of timber to the processing industry. As part of the consideration process outlined above, the Coillte State Assets Steering Group, comprising of representatives from NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department, met with representatives of the Irish Timber Council on 13 March 2013 at which the industry expressed their concerns regarding the proposed sale of Coillte harvesting rights. I am aware that the Council’s main concerns are the continuity of supply of timber to the sawmill sector, the potential prices of timber and the overall implications for their businesses and jobs. In addition to this meeting, the Steering Group is also considering the report, to which the Deputy refers.
The outcome of the overall analysis on the proposed sale of Coillte harvesting rights will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion and no decision has been taken as yet.
1002. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a REP scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16447/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in May 2008 and received payments for the first four years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 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. Following these checks an area discrepancy was discovered between the Single Farm Payment for 2012 and the REPS Agri-Environmental Plan which has resulted in the need for further clarification. This issue has now been resolved and payment in respect of 2012 will issue shortly.
1004. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding agri environment option scheme applications in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Donegal; when payments will issue in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16492/13]
View answerApplications under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the persons named were received in my Department on 6 December 2012 and acknowledgement letters have issued in each case. The processing of all applications is nearing completion and I expect to be in a position to inform all applicants of the outcome in the next few weeks. In the event that any queries arise on the applications of the persons named during this process officials in my Department will be in direct contact with the persons named. Payments will be dependent in the first instance on an applicant’s acceptance into the scheme and subsequently on compliance with the scheme Terms and Conditions.
1005. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a cross-compliance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [16525/13]
View answerAn oral hearing by the independent Agriculture Appeals Office was held in this case on 5 March 2013. Following this hearing, the applicant was requested by that Office to submit particular information in relation to the case. My Department understands that this information has yet to be provided and in its absence the appeal cannot be concluded.
1006. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment for REPs scheme will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16529/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in February 2009 and received payments for the first three years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any year 4.25% balancing payment amounting to €1118.85 issued on 12 April 2013.
1007. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Irish Seafood National Programme 2007-2013 effective moratorium on increased salmon farming where it stated that the targets for the increased productive capacity for salmon will now have to be deferred until after 2013 or until such time as the sea lice issue has been satisfactorily resolved is still in place; if not, if the sea lice issue is now resolved; if the decision that the sea lice issue was resolved was agreed by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and Inland Fisheries Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16540/13]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 216 of 28 March 2013, wherein I stated that the matter of the temporary restriction on grant aid to the marine salmon farming sector is being kept under review with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources but is still in place. The position remains unchanged.
I would reiterate that this temporary restriction relates only to grant aid and is not a moratorium on the commercial development of the salmon farming sector.
1008. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue in relation to a REP scheme application as the applicant is most anxious to have the matter finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16558/13]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in October 2009 and received payment for the first two years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and accordingly is subject to EU Regulation which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. As a consequence of a change in the system of farming and the creation of a milk partnership by the person named an adjusted plan was required. This plan was received by my Department eleven months after the creation of the milk partnership and officials in my Department are currently examining the adjusted plan with a view to an early resolution and payment in respect of 2012.
1009. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to his proposal that all dog owners have to pay €50 to microchip their dogs, his views on whether this proposal will put struggling farmers to another expense in particular in the cases where they may have a number of dogs in order to carry out their day-to-day work; his further views on whether it is practical to ask vets to carry out the work at cost price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16566/13]
View answer1029. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the mandatory microchipping of dogs will result in the abolition of dog licences; if the chipping of dogs will be held in a central database in his Department or in some other agency; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that when introduced the mandatory microchipping of dogs and the legal requirement to have a dog licence will be duplication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16756/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1009 and 1029 together.
My Department will carry out a public consultation on the issue of micro-chipping of dogs in the coming months. I have already received a number of submissions on the issue and my Department will examine all views to ensure that the detailed proposals are practical and effective. With regard to the cost of micro chipping, my intention is to ensure that the cost is kept to a minimum and that the policy is affordable to all members of society. There are currently no plans to do away with the current dog licensing system.
1010. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that there is no grass growth and tight silage supply available to farmers and it is causing a fodder crisis, his plans to introduce a measure to alleviate the hardship on our struggling farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16568/13]
View answer1026. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce an emergency scheme for the thousands of farmers that are experiencing exceptional feed shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16715/13]
View answer1043. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to help farmers who are experiencing severe financial hardship at present due to bad weather in 2012, this late spring and the resultant fodder crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16995/13]
View answer1044. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the bad weather of last year and this year's late spring which has left farmers experiencing extreme fodder shortages and in massive debt, if he will review the Food Harvest 2020 targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16999/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1010, 1026, 1043 and 1044 together.
I am acutely aware of the difficulties being experienced by some farmers as a result of recent unseasonable weather. Difficult conditions experienced on farms last summer have been compounded by an extended winter. Harsh weather this Spring has led to delayed grass growth, and increased demand for fodder and feed as animals which in normal conditions would be on grass at this time of year have been kept indoors.
While it is important to record that the outlook for our livestock sectors remains positive and that prices are relatively strong, it is clear that the conditions prevailing at present have resulted in short term but significant additional management challenges, including cash flow and credit issues for affected farmers faced with the burden of fodder shortages and additional feed costs.
In relation to the measures which can be taken to alleviate the problems on farms, I would urge farmers to contact their local Teagasc advisor. Where winter fodder is limited, Teagasc is providing specific advice and assistance on how to cope with the consequences of the weather conditions experienced this Spring. Staff at all Teagasc offices are available to provide advice to farmers over the phone and the fodder situation is a constant topic of focus at Discussion Group meetings and other farm walks and events. Agricultural advisers are equipped and ready to outline the options open to farmers facing difficulties and to make a plan that best suits their situation.
Teagasc has also made extensive use of national and local media to provide farmers with advice and has coordinated with farm organisations, marts, local authorities, co-ops and other industry partners and suppliers to provide targeted advice to all who need it. In addition, Teagasc network has enabled farmers who have fodder deficits to be connected with those who have surpluses. Advice for farmers on coping with fodder shortages has also been published, including guidelines to dairy and drystock farmers with little or no grass on feeding this spring.
I note also that the farm bodies have urged farmers to assess whether they have surplus fodder in stock and whether they are in a position to make some available to others in difficulty.
It is also the case that farmers have increased the usage of concentrates to fill the fodder “gap”. The sales of concentrate feed are significantly up this Spring. Whilst addressing the fodder issue, this has, in some cases, resulted in problems with cash flow and access to working capital on farms.
In response to farmers’ concerns in this regard, I have already written to the banks, and will meet them shortly to highlight the extreme challenges facing farmers as a result of the weather, and to urge them to take a flexible approach to dealing with short term credit issues.
It is important that financial institutions would take into consideration the fact that while the current difficulties may cause cash flow pressures for farmers, the overall outlook for the sector is favourable.
I have also announced an extension to 15 May, 2013 for closing off of Traditional Hay Meadow in Agri – Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) allowing a deferral of one month to the closing off date. This will help to maximise grass utilisation in this critical recovery period as the weather improves and grass growth resumes.
There is no doubt that the availability of forage on farms is an on-going challenge. The improvement in soil temperatures over the last week is very welcome and should see a return to more normal growth rates for grass and crops alike, and this, together with relatively positive market conditions should see a significant improvement in the situation on farms over the coming weeks.
Agricultural production by its nature is subject to fluctuations in yield and value due the exigencies of the weather as well as global commodity prices. This was recognised when the Food Harvest targets were being developed and currently in my view there is not a need to review the Food Harvest 2020 targets as at end 2012, the value of primary agricultural production had increased by 21% vis-à-vis the Food Harvest target of achieving a 33% increase in value by 2020.
