Written Answers Nos. 137-142
137. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the results of an inspection in relation to disadvantaged areas payment and single farm payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48398/13]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the 2013 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes on 16th April 2013. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases, land eligibility inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
In order to meet the EU requirements, the application concerned was one of a number which was selected for inspection. The application was initially examined via remote sensing (Satellite Inspection). As over claims were determined on some parcels, these were sent for ground inspection. The ground inspection has now been carried out and the results are being finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will shortly be in contact with the person named.
138. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding repayments to his Department in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48403/13]
View answerThe holding of the person named was subject to a Cross Compliance inspection under the Single Payment Scheme on 15 November 2011.
This inspection uncovered breaches relating to Nitrates regulation requirements, specifically the failure to minimise the creation of soiled water, the inadequate collection of farmyard manure and the inadequate management of storage facilities for farmyard manure, resulting in a 5% penalty being recorded against the 2011 Direct Payments.
The person named appealed this decision and was notified of the outcome of the review, which was to uphold the original inspection decision, on 15 June 2012. The person named was also advised that of the right to appeal the outcome of the review to the Independent Agriculture Appeals Office within 3 months of the date of the review letter. My Department understands that no such appeal has been lodged.
As part of the original inspection process the person named was requested to submit to the Department specific records, as required under the Nitrates regulations, within 2 weeks of the date of inspection.
The analysis of these records firstly indicated that the records were submitted after the deadline and secondly that there was insufficient storage capacity on the holding of the person named for the volume of organic fertiliser/livestock manure being generated. As a result the original 5% penalty was increased to 20% penalty. The person named was informed of this decision on 29 August 2013.
The person named has appealed the penalty decision and this request for a review is currently being examined. The person named will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of the review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office within 3 months.
139. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48426/13]
View answerAs processing of the application of the person named has recently been finalised, payment will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
140. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will ensure that Ireland's fishermen will not lose out to Iceland and the Faroes in terms of the proposed increase in mackerel stocks from 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48437/13]
View answer155. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if the proposed increase in mackerel quota of 300,000 tonnes will be allocated to EU countries or countries outside of the EU. [48564/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 155 together.
The overall Total Allowable Catch (TAC) advice from ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) for North East Atlantic mackerel 2013 was 542,000 tonnes. The advice for 2014 is that landings should be no more than 889,886 tonnes.
As the Deputies will be aware, mackerel is Ireland’s most important fishery, and the long running situation whereby both Iceland and the Faeroes have been engaged in unacceptable and irresponsible fishing of this stock has been, and is, a matter of deep concern to me. My approach as Minister has always been to engage in the negotiations between the EU and the other Coastal States (Iceland, Faeroes & Norway) with a view to protecting Ireland’s interests while at the same time being prepared to go some way towards meeting the expectations of Iceland and the Faeroes.
In this regard, I have placed this issue on the agenda of the Council of Fisheries Ministers on numerous occasions, most recently at the meeting held on 17 October. In advance of that meeting, I also held bilateral meetings with Commissioner Damanaki, Spanish Fisheries Minister Canete, UK Minister Eustice and Scottish Minister Lochead to press Ireland’s case. At the Council meeting, I sought information from the Commission (who negotiate on behalf of the EU at the Coastal States meetings) on the current state of play in the negotiations and, in particular, details on the Commissions’ discussion with Norway, a key partner for the EU on this issue.
I have consistently argued that any new offer to Iceland must be jointly agreed with Norway on the basis of equal burden sharing, that Iceland should not be granted access to EU waters as a part of any deal and that any deal must also protect the interests of EU Member States like Ireland who have relied on this fishery for over 40 years. I have always made it clear, however, that I was not opposed to a deal and recognized that Iceland (and Faeroes) should be provided with fair and justifiable quota shares.
In this regard, I asked that the Commissioner and my fellow Ministers give serious consideration to a proposal developed by the European Pelagic Industry that would involve a tiered approach with different percentage shares for each of the Coastal States depending upon the level of the Total Allowable Catch advice from year to year. The core concept behind this proposal is to protect those fleets that have developed and now depend upon the mackerel fishery over a long number of years.
I was pleased that the Commissioner and many of the Member States took away this concept for more detailed examination in advance of the Coastal State negotiations in London on 22 October, and with the positive consideration of all of the points raised by me.
At the negotiations in London on 23/24 October, in addition to my officials, Ireland was also represented at industry level. Unfortunately however, there was little by way of concrete progress. In large part this was due to the fact that a new Norwegian Fisheries Minister had only been appointed the previous week. One positive aspect was that, again at Ireland’s instigation, there was a detailed presentation to, and exchange of views with Member States, from the European Pelagic industry on their proposal.
Another round of Coastal State negotiations is now due to take place in Clonakilty from 18-22 November. Ireland will play a constructive role at those negotiations and will leave no stone unturned in an effort to reach a solution that is balanced and fair to all of the parties.
141. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged areas aid application will be cleared for payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48448/13]
View answerThe person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 and 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases were impacted upon by the requirement to have achieved a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011. The person named failed to meet the Terms and Conditions of the scheme in 2011, and therefore cannot be considered under Disadvantaged Areas Scheme for subsequent years.
142. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the death of a dog from the Longford pound due to go to a new home in the UK which was vaccinated for rabies and which, according to the vet, died as a result of a complication from the rabies vaccine; if he will clarify the need for the introduction of a rabies vaccination process for animals being exported to the UK when the UK has been rabies free since 1902; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48457/13]
View answerI am not aware of this particular case referred to by the Deputy which would be a matter between the private veterinary surgeon and the client. On a general note, the use of rabies vaccine is widespread throughout the world and such vaccines are considered to be safe. As with all medicines any supposed negative effects arising from their use should be reported to the manufacturer.
EU 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, with some additional requirements for commercial exports. This system allows dog owners to bring their pets into and out of Ireland without a compulsory and lengthy quarantine. These requirements also apply to trade between Ireland and the UK.
In view of this, any person travelling with dogs to Britain is being advised by my Department to ensure that they are compliant with EU law.
