Written Answers Nos.610-619
610. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of pelagic trawlers, such as the Annelies Llena and the Naeraberg, that have fished inside the Irish exclusive economic zone in the past 24 months; the timeframe each such vessel spent fishing in the Irish EEZ in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36095/13]
View answerOperational issues in relation to sea fisheries control are a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). I have asked the SFPA to respond directly to the Deputy.
611. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to any infringements or related penalties registered under the national register of infringements against vessels which have been made against a private company (details supplied) in accordance with Article 93 of the EU Control Regulation 1224/2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36667/13]
View answerControl of the fishing within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone is a matter for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, operational issues concerning sea fisheries control are a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. The SFPA has not advised me of any policy issues arising in respect of any infringements set down in the national register of infringement. The prosecution of fisheries infringements are carried out on behalf of the State by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
612. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the expansion of diplomatic presence in emerging markets and the establishment of two new agriculture attaché posts in the Irish embassies in Beijing, China and Moscow, Russia announced in March 2013, in view of the importance Ireland attaches to the growing trade and maturing diplomatic relationships with China and Russia and which will further assist Irish food, drinks, ingredients, genomics, feed and equine sectors; when he expects these two agriculture attaché posts to be filled and by what method; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35983/13]
View answerI took a decision earlier this year to establish two new agriculture attaché posts in the Irish Embassies in Beijing and Moscow respectively. This was a reflection of the growing importance of these markets to exports of Irish agri-food products. Following an internal competition, these posts have now been filled. The agricultural attaché to Moscow will take up duty at the end of August and the attaché to Beijing will take up duty in January of next year.
613. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision on an application for an agri-environment options scheme will be reviewed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36004/13]
View answerAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 29th November 2012.
The process of ranking and selecting all AEOS applicants was clearly set out in the scheme documentation. Acceptance into the scheme was established using the pre-determined selection criteria as follows: 1. farmers in the Boora region of Co. Offaly who chose Wild Bird Cover Option B (Grey Partridge) as one of their selected options; 2. farmers with a minimum of 0.5 hectares of designated land; 3. farm partnerships; 4. farmers who previously participated in REPS commencing with smallest farms; and 5.others based on farm size (again favouring smaller holdings).
The person named was a previous participant in REPS. Based on the funding available farmers in category 4 with 22.06 hectares of utilisable agricultural area and below were successful. As the farm size of the person named is 53.10, the application was unsuccessful. On 27th May 2013, a letter issued to the person named informing him that he was not successful and setting out the reasons. This letter also notified him of a right of appeal within 21 working days but there is no record of any appeal having been received in my Department.
614. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is preparing his Department to adapt to and make maximum use of next generation technologies in information and communications to better enhance the interaction of his Department with the citizen and the internal functioning of his Department; if he intends to conduct a risk analysis in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36098/13]
View answerThe Department provides a range of online services to its customers and partners in the agri-food industry. These services are based on a wide range of modern and efficient IT systems that underpin the Department’s critical business processes.
The Department continues to improve its online services and make maximum usage of next generation technologies in information and communications to better enhance its interactions with its customers and partners.
A prime example of the Department’s success in adopting new technologies is the Single Payment System (SPS) were a total of 73,340 SPS claims were filed on-line in 2013. This represented circa 56% of all SPS applications for the year and was an increase of over 12% on the 2012 applications. The online SPS system of in-built validations significantly reduces the number of errors that can be made, thereby ultimately leading to speedier payment and reduced form filling for Irish farmers.
A new mobile website for the Department has been launched which can be accessed at http://m.agriculture.gov.ie . The new service provides better mobile access to the more popular areas of the Department’s website. This service has been designed to work better across a range of modern mobile devices and is automatically linked into the main website when greater detail is required.
The Department has also recently launched a mobile text messaging service which has been used successfully to notify the Department’s customers and partners of important deadlines and events. This facility has proved very popular with over 90,000 customers and partners already registered for this new service.
In relation to the utilisation of cloud computing the Department will follow the approach as set out in the Government’s Cloud Computing Strategy and will continue to liaise with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with regard to the evolution of this technology and its use by the Department.
615. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the key elements of the action plan for a maritime strategy in the Atlantic area, achieved under the Irish EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36179/13]
View answerDeveloping and supporting Blue Growth was one of the priorities of the Irish Presidency of the European Union. Specifically, we aimed at concluding an Action Plan for the Maritime Strategy for the Atlantic Ocean area and obtaining European Council endorsement of that Plan. We were successful in both objectives. The Irish Presidency also managed to achieve the first step in internationalising the Atlantic Strategy, with the signing of an Atlantic Ocean research alliance between the EU, Canada and the US, at a high-level meeting in Galway on 24 May.
The Action Plan for the Atlantic Strategy identifies priority areas to tackle common challenges in the Atlantic area and deliver smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and jobs across the economic, environmental, research, innovation, safety and security dimensions of the Atlantic maritime region involving Ireland, France, Portugal, Spain, and the UK. Specifically, objectives have been proposed to deliver on the priorities of promoting entrepreneurship and innovation; protecting, securing and developing the potential of the Atlantic marine and coastal environment; improving accessibility and connectivity; and creating a socially inclusive and sustainable model of regional development.
A copy of the Atlantic Action Plan together with detailed further information is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/policy/sea_basins/atlantic_ocean/index_en.htm .
616. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the agreement on non-commercial movement of pet animals and pet passports, achieved under the Irish EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36180/13]
View answerAgreement was reached during the course of the Irish Presidency on a new regulation to replace Regulation 998/2003, which lays down animal health requirements for the non commercial movement of pet animals, primarily for rabies control.
Under the EU rabies regime pet dogs, cats and ferrets can travel with their owners around the European Union provided they are accompanied by a ‘pet passport’ certifying the pet’s identification, rabies vaccination status and (for travel into Ireland and some other Member States) tapeworm treatment. Rules are also in force for pets brought into the EU from other countries.
Regulation 998/2003 is being replaced primarily for legal reasons with a view to bringing provisions into line with the Lisbon Treaty. The obligations on pet owners have not changed. However, the opportunity has been taken to clarify certain aspects and to make some amendments to improve the practical implementation of the regime including pet owners who have to return to the EU in a hurry (sudden natural disaster, political unrest, severe personal circumstances) will now be able to bring their pets with them under special permit even where the pets have not properly prepared. Difficulties in making travel arrangements will be eased by allowing pets to be transported unaccompanied by their owners where justified. Exemptions from rabies vaccination may be possible between rabies free areas.
As an addition to the strict checking regime for entry into the EU, the new regulation also makes specific provision for official pet passport checks on pet travel between Member States, thus prioritising protection against rabies for all EU citizens.
The new regulation is more user friendly and all Member States will be obliged to provide clear and easily accessible information to the public on the requirements for travel with pets.
617. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an overview of the Presidency led EU position at the UN Forum on Forests that took place in Istanbul, Turkey between 8 - 19 April 2013; Ireland's positions and stances during the forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36227/13]
View answerThe tenth UN Forum on Forests (UN FF10) was held in Istanbul, Turkey from 8th to 20th April 2013 during Ireland’s recent Presidency. This was a world-wide forum with many countries, UN Organisations and NGOs present holding diverse views and objectives. It represented a major logistical and diplomatic challenge for Ireland which, with the European Commission, acted as lead negotiator and spokesperson for the European Union in the multiple contact groups.
The two week session addressed a range of important issues relating to forests and economic development including means of implementation for sustainable forest management (SFM) and a number of important emerging issues. Long and difficult negotiations were a feature of this session as delegates aimed to reflect the core issues of most importance to them in the overall conclusions. The importance of forests for economic development and on their overall contribution to the green economy was central. This will facilitate a further rollout of SFM at global level. This can only benefit all countries, both in the developed and developing worlds.
A multi-stakeholder dialogue and a high level Ministerial segment took place during the first week of the session. The overall result of the two week session was deemed to be a success by participants and agreement on two action-oriented Draft Resolutions was delivered. Resolution 1 addresses the implementation of the non-legally binding instrument on forests, regional inputs, economic development and enhanced global cooperation. The second resolution dealt with agreement on emerging issues, means of implementation and the UNFF Trust Fund. These will, in due course, go before the UN Economic and Social Council for further action.
The Irish Presidency was particularly challenging in the Forestry arena with many major international events taking place. In the case of the Istanbul event, it involved months of preparation that entailed developing and coordinating very detailed position papers which successfully captured the European position. I can justifiably express a feeling of satisfaction with our Presidency’s achievements in this complex area. Ireland has left a very sound platform for our EU and other colleagues to work from in the coming months.
618. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of each State agency and commercial State company under the aegis of his Department, if he will provide details of the name of each pension scheme; details of the salary percentage contributions made by the employer and the employees; the latest information on the funding position of the scheme; if any changes are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36365/13]
View answerThe details of the pension scheme used by the State agencies and commercial State companies under the aegis of my Department are an operational matter for the bodies concerned.
619. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of miles claimed for and the amount of travel expenses paid to him and each Minister of State in his Department in respect of their functions as a Minister in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36380/13]
View answerThe number of kilometres claimed and total travel expenses paid to the Minister of State and I since March 2011, is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Minister /Minister of State |
Number of Kilometres |
Travel Expenses |
Subsistence Expenses |
|
2011 |
Minister Coveney |
41,806 |
€14,448.84 |
€2,762.85 |
|
2011 |
Minister of State - Shane Mc Entee |
42,171 |
€14313.98 |
€2,385.06 |
|
2012 |
Minister Coveney |
57,617 |
€19,308.94 |
€9,289.67 |
|
2012 |
Minister of State - Shane Mc Entee |
53, 309 |
€18,102.46 |
€1,907.35 |
|
2013 to date |
Minister Coveney |
23,865 |
€8762.35 |
€5,474.16 |
