Written Answers Nos. 154-165
154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a deportation order has been reinstated in view of previous revocation in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19831/14]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that following a comprehensive and thorough examination of his asylum claim and an examination under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), a Deportation Order was made in respect of the person referred to by the Deputy on 1 July 2011. Judicial review proceedings were then initiated challenging the Deportation Order. These proceedings, which related to procedural rather than substantive matters, were settled and the deportation order was revoked. A new proposal to deport letter was then issued.
Following a comprehensive and thorough examination of his application for subsidiary protection, and a detailed examination of the representations he submitted for consideration under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), a Deportation Order was signed in respect of him on 20 February 2014.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will facilitate change of residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19832/14]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person referred to by the Deputy should be advised to make an application to INIS if they wish to have their immigration status changed.
Queries in relation to general immigration matters may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
156. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Defence if he will arrange for the wall separating Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines and Greenfield Place, Dublin 6 to be adequately repaired (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19753/14]
View answerA project is currently underway for the completion of repairs to the boundary wall at Cathal Brugha Barracks. Repairs to some sections of the wall have been completed with other work still ongoing. That portion of the boundary wall referred to at Greenfield Place is included in the next phase of the planned remedial works. The design and specifications for the work are currently being prepared and tenders will be sought on completion of the design stage.
157. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding area aid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19728/14]
View answerThe application was the subject of a Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) eligibility inspection in respect of the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application. The findings of this inspection established that the applicants had over-claimed on some land parcels. A ground inspection confirmed these findings. The total area over-claim was calculated at over 20% of the found area. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, payment cannot be made in cases where the level of over-claim exceeds 20%. The applicant submitted an application to have the findings of the inspection reviewed. The case was reviewed and it was confirmed that there were no grounds for over-turning the original findings.
In order to assist the applicant in understanding the final determined position a further detailed letter has issued from my Department. The applicant has also been informed of her right to appeal the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
158. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid their AEOS 3 payment. [19791/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1st May 2013.
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. These checks are well under way and payments for AEOS 3 in respect of 2013 will commence shortly.
159. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next payment will issue for those on the grassland sheep scheme; the reasons for the delay in payments being issued to farmers cleared for payment; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship this is causing to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19799/14]
View answerPayments under the 2013 Grassland Sheep Scheme commenced in December 2013 and, to date, payments worth €12,798,476 have issued nationally, to some 29,039 applicants, with payments continuing to issue as individual cases are confirmed eligible. An amount of €15 million in total is being incorporated into the Single Payment for sheep farmers under the new CAP.
160. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the provisions in place to assist those who suffer from dyslexia when completing paperwork in respect of farm records, grants and so on; his views having the access officers within his Department trained in dealing with those who suffer from dyslexia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19804/14]
View answerMy Department aims to ensure that the needs of all of its customers, including people with disabilities, are met and that rights to equal treatment are upheld in service delivery. Officers of my Department deal with a wide range of activities and clients with varying requirements. These are managed in a professional manner.
When a person with dyslexia brings his or her case to the attention of the Department’s access officer, that officer advises a senior official in the relevant Division of the situation. Arrangements are then made to contact the individual directly either by phone or in person to go through the paperwork involved and assist / advise the client as appropriate.
161. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date on which China imposed a ban on beef imports from the European Union; if this ban is still applicable to all member states of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19872/14]
View answer162. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the ongoing efforts to have the ban on imports of Irish beef to China lifted; the recent discussions that have been held at political or official level; the likely timescale for the lifting of this ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19873/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.
EU beef is banned from China because of the legacy of BSE and this ban came into force in the year 2000. To date no other EU country has succeeded in having this ban lifted. I have been seeking re-entry to this market for some time and as part of these efforts, we completed a very detailed questionnaire for the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) on animal health risk factors for Irish Cattle and Cattle Source products. This was passed to the MOA in May 2011. A copy was also sent to Chinese Inspection and Quarantine Service (AQSIQ), which I understand will have the ultimate authority to lift any BSE ban. This questionnaire was updated following further questions from the Chinese Authorities in August 2013.
The issue of access for Irish beef has been raised at the highest political levels. The Taoiseach specifically raised the issue with President Xi Jinping during his visit in March 2012 and was advised by him that China is generally positive and confident about the safety of Irish beef. I have also raised the matter with Chinese counterparts whenever the opportunity has arisen, notably in discussions with with Vice Minister Niu Dun (MOA) and Minister Zhi Shuping (AQSIQ) when I visited China in April 2012. The Tánaiste visited China for a four day trade mission in mid August 2013 and also raised the issue of Irish beef with senior officials there.
A significant result of my visit during my meeting with Minister Zhi Shuping (AQSIQ) was the agreement to the establish a working group between my Department and AQSIQ on the issue. This made Ireland the first and only EU MS to proceed to joint working group level. This meeting took place in December 2013 when a team of five senior officials from my Department visited Beijing for high level meetings with representatives of AQSIQ and MOA where they addressed any remaining concerns on the Chinese side regarding the safety of Irish beef.
As an agreed follow-up action to the meeting and in order that the Chinese authorities may verify the information which we have given, my Department has invited a team from the Chinese authorities to visit Ireland where we will be able to demonstrate all the controls which we have put in place. In order to help focus such a visit, we have submitted to the Chinese authorities a draft Protocol for the export of meat to China and also a draft veterinary health certificate, which could accompany consignments of bovine meat to China. Our Embassy in Beijing is now pursuing this matter with the Chinese authorities and we await a formal response from their side to our proposals.
It must be remembered of course that ultimately the gaining of access to the Chinese market for Irish Beef is a matter for the Chinese Authorities. My Department is continuing to engage proactively with those authorities with a view to securing such access.
163. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on a LPIS appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19876/14]
View answerA review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that one of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. As the person named applied for a review of my Department’s decision, a visit by a Department official to verify the position is necessary to resolve the matter. This verification visit will be conducted in the coming weeks and the applicant will be informed of the outcome of the visit as soon as possible.
164. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of the agri-environment option scheme will issue in respect of as person (details supplied). [19884/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2011 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2011 Scheme year.
During a 2012 inspection, the person named was found to have non-compliances in respect of the Species Rich Grassland, Traditional Stonewall Maintenance, Traditional Hay Meadow, Planting of New Hedgerow and Riparian Margin actions. A letter issued to the person named notifying them of the inspection findings and setting out the appeal option. The person named submitted an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office which appeal remains to be determined. Without prejudice to the final outcome of the appeal the file is currently being processed on the basis of the Inspection findings with the intention of issuing the 2012 payment, net of penalty as soon as possible. In the event that the appeal is successful a balancing payment will issue.
Following the issue of payment in respect of the 2012 Scheme year, the application of the person named will be processed in respect of the 2013 Scheme year.
165. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason 25% of an AEOS 2 payment has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim despite being informed last September it was cleared for payment. [19899/14]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1st September 2011and full payment has issued in respect of the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years.
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. This process has been completed for 2013 payments and the 75% payment in respect of 2013 issued on the 28th November 2013.
A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that several of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named with a view to resolving the issue. Once resolved the remaining 25% balancing payment will issue shortly thereafter.
