Written Answers Nos. 527-45
527. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the recourse that will be available to farmers who will not be able to secure milk quotas in the 2014 milk quota purchasing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40481/13]
View answerMy Department is currently running stage I of the 2014/2015 Milk Quota Trading Scheme. The closing date for receipt of applications in this stage is 11 October 2013. Applicants who fail to have their milk quota needs satisfied under this stage will have an opportunity under Stage II which will have a closing date of 7 January 2014. Other options available to milk purchasers who wish to acquire additional quota are: Purchase of land and quota on the open market; Purchase of quota only from a qualified relative; and Lease of land and quota from a qualified relative.
In addition to these options producers may acquire, on a temporary basis, additional quota under the Temporary Leasing Scheme which will run in each milk purchaser’s area both in this milk quota year and in the 2014/2015 milk quota year. I am aware that milk producers are probably experiencing a degree of frustration at present because their production capacity continues to be constrained by the quota regime. I would urge them however to take the necessary steps to ensure they stay within their allocated milk quota, because indications at this stage are that Ireland’s quota may be exceeded at the end of this quota year.
528. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the recent publication in the Journal of Fish Diseases of the comment on Jackson et al Impact of Lepeophtheirus salmonis infestations on migrating Atlantic salmon (details supplied); if he has sought advice on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40482/13]
View answerIreland’s sea lice control protocols are operated by the Marine Institute and are strictly evidence-based. The protocols are considered to be more advanced than those operated in other jurisdictions for the following reasons: The inspection regime is totally independent of the industry; data obtained as a result of inspections is published and made widely available; treatment trigger levels are set at a low level. In 2008, the State introduced a new Pest Management Strategy, supplementing the control regime already in place. This has resulted in a steady decline in average sea lice numbers on farmed salmon since its inception.
529. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the North West Waters Regional Advisory Council meetings in Dublin Castle, which reported on Northern Ireland and Belgian observer programmes for the Irish Sea, if he will outline the level of observer activity in the Irish fishing fleet, with regard to the amount of observer trips by fishery and as a percentage of effort; if there is a robust observer regime in place, sufficient to adequately measure stocks, by-catch and discards, and if he will support fully documented fisheries. [40484/13]
View answerThe Marine Institute conducts a scientific observer programme on the Irish fishing fleet as part of the Irish national programme in accordance with the EU Data Collection Framework Regulation. Scientific observers tasked with monitoring landings, discards and by-catches were on board for approximately 1.4% of all Irish fishing activities in 2012. This percentage coverage varies across fisheries. (A summary of the number of days observed in 2012, the most recent year with completed data, in relation to fishing days of the fleet by fishery is provided in the table below.)
Data collected on Irish observer trips are used by ICES to estimate the discard volumes for most of the key commercial species fished by the Irish fleet. Ireland has led the way in a European context by transparently reporting the results of discard monitoring in a ground breaking discards atlas. The recent CFP reform set out a number of key objectives in relation to the elimination of discards. This will require new approaches to the monitoring of catches. The regulation stipulates that “The use of modern, effective technologies should be promoted in the framework of the Union system for control, inspection, and enforcement “and that “Member States shall ensure detailed and accurate documentation of all fishing trips and adequate capacity and means for the purpose of monitoring compliance with the obligation to land all catches, including such means as observers, CCTV and other appropriate tools”. I am fully supportive of implementing appropriate measures to achieve the objectives set out in the CFP reform. The new Common Fisheries Policy reform agreement will bring real and meaningful reform to how EU waters are fished in the future. The agreement is designed to ensure the long term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters, utilising best scientific advice as a key determinant in setting annual fishing quotas in the future.
Table 1. Summary of Irish discard observer effort, fishing effort and percentage of effort by fishery in 2012 (Source: Marine Institute).
|
Fishery |
Observer Days |
Fishing Days |
Percentage Effort |
|
Pots Fishery |
34 |
8,827 |
0.4% |
|
Pelagic Trawl Fishery |
148 |
3,169 |
4.7% |
|
Demersal Otter Trawl Fishery |
393 |
23,750 |
1.7% |
|
Demersal Seine Nets |
14 |
1,585 |
0.9% |
|
Shellfish Dredge Fishery |
31 |
3,263 |
1.0% |
|
Demersal Beam Trawl Fishery |
23 |
2,533 |
0.9% |
|
Gill net Fishery |
29 |
2,499 |
1.2% |
|
Other Gears |
- |
1,637 |
0.0% |
|
All Gears |
672 |
47,263 |
1.4% |
530. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the remit of the economist employed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara; if it will include the gathering of socioeconomic data to address the social problem, that is the undocumented and hidden fish discards of modern fishing in Ireland; if he will give an assurance that they will be subject of targeted measures in a drive to recovery of fisheries and coastal communities [40485/13]
View answerDeployment of BIM staff and their roles and responsibilities within that agency is an internal operational matter for BIM. I have no role in relation to that matter. That said, I launched BIM’s new strategy for the seafood sector for the period 2013 – 2017 was launched on 17 July this year. The strategy is called Capturing Ireland’s Share of The Global Seafood Opportunity. The strategy sets targets for the creation of 1,200 additional jobs and is aligned to a total sales value of €1 billion (including €650m from exports) by the end of 2017. BIM’s vision for the future, as set out in this new strategy, is designed to deliver on the Government’s targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 and to underpin the growing importance of the seafood sector to the Irish economy.
My Department’s Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013, co-funded by the European Fisheries Fund, presently makes available funding through the Fisheries Local Area Development Scheme to coastal traditional fishing communities to foster employment and diversify their economies to lessen their dependence on the catching sector. Six Fishery Local Action Groups (FLAGs) were established in 2012, covering our full coastline. These FLAGs have been working to develop strategies for their respective regions and this year have started to make funding available to projects. The FLAGs themselves select projects for funding. Approximately €1.5 million is available to the FLAGs for the remainder of the Programme for eligible projects.
My Department is also working on the preparation of the next Seafood Development Programme for the period 2014 to 2020. Submissions were invited by 27 September from interested parties. I expect that the Fisheries Local Area Development Scheme will feature in that next 7 year programming period. I will carefully consider any submissions received relevant to this issue and to what extent it should be prioritised in that next programme relative to other investment priorities for the seafood sector.
Additionally, the newly reformed CFP, brokered by the Irish Presidency and due to come into force from the 1st of January 2014, will allow for the rebuilding of fish stocks in European waters and will allow for significant quota increases for Irish fishermen through long term management of stocks, reducing and eliminating discards where possible and rebuilding stocks to Maximum Sustainable Yield. All of these measures hold the potential to substantially increase catches by Irish fishermen in the short and medium term. The reforms agreed will govern the nature and operation of Irish and EU fisheries for the foreseeable future and are designed to usher in a new era of more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable fishing across EU waters.
531. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements put in place by his Department to ensure compliance with the Official Languages Act, specifically requirements for signage in departmental offices, schools, third level institutions; details of any assessments undertaken by departmental staff to assess requirements; the number of signs assessed; when any corrective actions were put in place; if any or all of the actions taken by his Department were within the designated timeframes set out in legislation, and if not the reasoning for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40539/13]
View answerAn Coimisinéir Teanga is currently conducting an audit of my Department’s signage and the results are awaited. An Irish Language Scheme 2006 – 2009 has been published under Section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003. This sets out the responsibilities of my Department under the Act and remains in place until the publication of a new scheme. Copies of the Scheme have been circulated to all Department offices and it is also available on the Department’s website.
An Irish Language Unit, located in Portlaoise, was established as part of Corporate Affairs Division. The purpose of the Unit is to provide help and assistance to staff in meeting the requirements of the Act.
532. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of the Acts or specific provisions of Acts under his Department that have not yet been commenced; if it is intended to commence the provision in each case; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40592/13]
View answerThe recently passed Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013 will be commenced shortly in conjunction with a package of secondary legislation necessary for the Act to have full effect. Section 98 of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction 2006 Act has not been commenced. At this point in time there are no plans to commence this provision. Section 5 of the FISHERIES (AMENDMENT) ACT 2003 (which is part of the 2006 Act) has not commenced with respect to an application for an authorisation or permit. At this point in time there are no plans to commence this part of the provision.
533. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of compliance with European Union directives within his ministerial areas of responsibility; the current fines resulting from non-compliance and potential fines resulting from current non-compliance to which the State is or may be exposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40628/13]
View answerMy Department seeks at all times to ensure that it is fully compliant with the implementation of European Union Directives, and in this regard I can confirm that no fines have been levied against the Department by the European Commission for non-implementation of Directives. The Commission has raised a number of questions with my Department in respect of two Directives relating to transport of animals and sow housing. Officials from my Department are working closely with the Commission to resolve these issues.
534. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide aids to navigation including a leading light to Ardgroom Harbour, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40664/13]
View answerMy Department currently has responsibility for the maintenance of the leading line beacon structures in Ardgroom Harbour as they were constructed under the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902. While there are no immediate plans to upgrade the beacons my Department is currently in discussion with a number of coastal Local Authorities with a view to handing over responsibility for lights and beacons constructed under the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902. As part of the process a review of the structural and other upgrading requirements will be carried out in conjunction with the relevant Local Authority.
535. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive a decision on their appeal against a decision to remove their disadvantaged areas scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40860/13]
View answerThe person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases were impacted by the requirement to have achieved a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare, and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. The person named subsequently appealed unsuccessfully to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee who advised of the option to pursue the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman; the person named subsequently availed of this right. The case is currently under consideration by that Office.
536. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will be informed whether they have been accepted into agri-environment options scheme 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40861/13]
View answerAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 26 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 28.18, the application was unsuccessful. On 27 May 2013, a letter issued to the person named informing him that he was not successful and setting out the reasons. The person was also informed of his right of appeal to AEOS Section. An appeal was received from the person named and he has been advised that his appeal was unsuccessful. He has been informed of the right to appeal this decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
537. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason correspondence (details supplied) regarding a proposal to deal with annuitant arrears has not been replied to; if same will now be addressed and the proposal therein accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40939/13]
View answerThe correspondence in question is being dealt with. The proposal therein has been examined and is considered acceptable. A reply to this effect will issue shortly.
538. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding fishing quotas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40942/13]
View answerThe current management arrangements in place for this fishery, were recommended by the Celtic Sea Herring Management Advisory Committee (CSHMAC). The Committee comprises representatives of industry and processors and is chaired by the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO). Quota allocations with weekly catch limits will be set following consultation with the CSHMAC for each management period, taking consideration of numbers and size of vessels booked-in. There is a requirement that official log sheets be returned to the SFPA within 24 hours of landing. The experience in this fishery in recent years indicates that many vessels have not complied with this requirement and a follow up of outstanding log sheets is necessary. Therefore to ensure that all qualifying vessels are included in the second fishing period it is necessary to allow sufficient time to follow up on late log sheets, re-calculate the revised amounts and issue the necessary documentation. This will also give sufficient time to any fisherman who has not qualified for the second period to query the matter with the Department.
539. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will respond to correspondence (details supplied) regarding the new regulations on the movement of cats and dogs to and from the UK. [40943/13]
View answerEU law relating to the protection of citizens from rabies provides that dogs, cats and ferrets moving between EU Member States must be accompanied by EU Pet Passports certifying microchip identification and rabies vaccination. Given that Ireland and UK have traditionally operated a rabies free zone, both States agreed, on a risk analysis basis, that border compliance checks would not be undertaken.
However, an increased focus by authorities within the UK on illegal puppy imports from elsewhere in the EU has lead to two recent incidents of dogs from Ireland being seized/detained in Britain, and the risk of further such incidents is likely to increase. In view of this, any person travelling with dogs to Britain is being advised by this Department to ensure that their exports are compliant with EU law as soon as possible.
While Ireland and the UK have been rabies free for many decades, Western Europe is now also free of rabies. The harmonised EU system under which passports and rabies vaccinations are required allows dog owners to bring their pets into and out of Ireland without a compulsory and lengthy quarantine. While both Ireland and the UK sought and achieved a legal provision providing the possibility of a derogation from rabies vaccination for non commercial pets movements from 2015, this was not extended to commercial traffic which includes any change of ownership. I understand that one charity is undertaking significant capital investment which should to some extent relieve the concerns expressed by some small charities about the cost of complying with EU rules.
540. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or his officials have had discussions with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and-or the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on the possible impact of the proposed wind farms across the midlands on the thoroughbred industry; if he or his officials have raised any concerns regarding any possible impact on this vital industry; if he will indicate that response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40963/13]
View answerIreland is the 4th largest breeder of thoroughbred horses in the world, and the industry makes a significant contribution to rural employment and the economy generally. I have regular contact with the sector and I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to its growth and development as a flagship industry for Ireland, including through the development of overseas markets for the sector in places like China and the Gulf States. In relation to proposed wind farms in the midlands, my Department has not received any representations regarding the possible impact on the Irish thoroughbred industry. Neither my Department nor I have had any discussions with the parties referred to by the Deputy in his question in relation to this matter.
541. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40986/13]
View answerI have arranged for an official of my Department to make direct contact with the person named to resolve the outstanding error on this application which relates to a forestry parcel.
542. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the refusal of the agri-environment options scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40991/13]
View answerAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 28 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; 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 28.44, the application was unsuccessful. On 27 May 2013, a letter issued to the person named informing him that he was not successful and setting out the reasons. The person was also informed of his right of appeal to AEOS Section. An appeal was received from the person named and he has been advised that his appeal was unsuccessful. He has been informed of the right to appeal this decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
543. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has received reports of the re-emergence of warble fly during the summer period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41003/13]
View answerMy Department investigated a suspected case of warble fly infestation in July 2013 which proved to be negative. Warble fly infestation is a notifiable disease in cattle and owners and keepers of cattle should notify the Department if they suspect the presence of this disease in any of the cattle in their care. The Department, through its network of Local Offices and Regional Veterinary Laboratories, maintains the capacity to investigate suspect cases of notifiable disease and monitors patterns and frequencies of different diseases, including parasitic diseases in farmed animals; the latter is reported on an all-island annual basis and these reports are available to download from the Department’s website.
544. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the introduction of paid parking in Howth, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41024/13]
View answerThe position is that a proposal to introduce pay-parking within the Fishery Harbour Centre at Howth has been under consideration for some time. A broad and complex range of factors must be considered in coming to a decision and I am examining all aspects of the matter at present.
545. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payment of the sheep fencing grant has not issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41076/13]
View answerThe person concerned is an applicant for grant-aid under the TAMS Sheep Fencing/Handling Scheme and has received approval to proceed with the investment works concerned. To date, my Department has no record of having received a payment claim in relation to the application concerned.
