Written Answers Nos. 168 - 176
168. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be further consultation with farming organisations on the details of the qualifying criteria for the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS; if there is scope for elements of the scheme to be altered to benefit farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27719/14]
View answerI announced details of the new GLAS (Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) on 14 January 2014 as part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme. GLAS will provide significant funding to farmers who undertake environmental actions in line with national and EU environmental objectives. It will contribute to the overall public good and will build on the success of previous agri-environment schemes.
Stakeholder consultation has been a central element in the development of the new RDP, and has been ongoing for almost a year. In that time, a number of different formal and informal consultation processes involving the farming organisations have taken place. The most recently completed stakeholder consultation centred on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). As part of this process I published a consultation document on the new Rural Development Programme, which sets out the range of proposed measures in considerable detail. Once the inputs from the final round of public consultation have been assessed, I will move to finalise the detail of the scheme. At that stage I envisage further discussions with the various farm bodies.
169. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he sees that the recently announced seafood sector support funding will assist Kerry seafood operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27724/14]
View answerOn 14 May I launched a package of national measures aimed at supporting and developing Ireland’s inshore fisheries. Inshore fisheries are particularly important to small-scale coastal communities and a significant proportion of Ireland’s inshore fleet operate off the Kerry coast. There are now 2 development schemes dedicated to supporting the inshore fisheries sector which, taken together, represent a package of €1m and provide opportunities to develop in a sustainable way into the future. This funding is in addition to the €600,000 in co-funding by the Government and the European Fisheries Fund available to the inshore sector through the FLAGs and represents a significant investment in the future of Ireland’s rural, coastal communities, right around the coast.
The package includes an enhanced Shellfish Pot Replacement Scheme, building on the scheme I originally announced in February 2014. The Shellfish Pot Replacement Scheme administered by BIM is providing 40% of the cost of replacing these lost pots through fixed payments of €24 per lobster/crab pot and €12 per shrimp pot. Due to the limited uptake of the scheme, I have now more than doubled the pot limits from 50 to 200 for boats less than 12m length and from 100 to 250 for boats from 12 to 15m in length. Existing applicants to the current scheme will automatically be increased to the supplementary pot limits and a call for new applications will be advertised.
In addition to replacing lost gear, our inshore sector needs to be encouraged to develop in a smart, sustainable way, to take advantage of the valuable asset that is Ireland’s coastal waters. How seafood is caught today is an important part of ensuring that responsible inshore fishing is commercially attractive into the future. The new Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Scheme will provide funding for environmentally-friendly fishing gear and equipment, and support for improvements in the areas of quality, hygiene, and standards on board. In addition the scheme will increase the grant aid for voluntary v-notching lobsters from the existing maximum of 55% to a new maximum of 75% to entice more fishermen to participate in this worthwhile conservation activity.
In relation to co-funding from the European Union, Ireland must prepare an Operational Programme in order to avail of co-financing from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. Following months of intense lobbying and negotiation, I announced on 12 June 2014 that I had secured €148 million from the new Fund for the period 2014 to 2020 for the development of the Irish seafood industry and the coastal communities that depend upon it. This funding is more than double the amount that was available to Ireland during the last Common Fisheries Policy and will ensure a strong seafood industry in Ireland that can grow and expand to meet its potential up to 2020.
Ireland’s EMFF allocation is to be provided through 5 discrete funding envelopes, namely €71 million for investment in the seafood industry, €32 million for data collection, €37 million for control and enforcement, €5 million for implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy, and €1.3 million for storage aid. I will be discussing with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the near future Exchequer matching funding, having regard to the general budgetary situation for the coming years.
Many investment measures that may be included within the new Operational Programme have the potential to contribute to job creation in peripheral coastal communities in Kerry, including in particular capital grants to support growth and expansion of seafood processing and aquaculture enterprises and capital allocations to Fishery Local Action Groups for dispersal to projects within their coastal areas. Any allocation to these measures is subject to final decisions on overall priorities for the seafood sector and to ex-ante evaluation by independent consultants of the appropriateness of such measures.
170. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific proposals he has made to the EU trade Commissioner to protect the Irish beef sector in the event of an EU-US trade deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27726/14]
View answerI would start by saying that Ireland is very supportive of an EU/US trade deal. An agreement between the world’s two major trading blocs has the potential to increase growth and grow jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. In the agri-food sector we have strong offensive interests, both in terms of market access and in eliminating some of the irritants that hinder trade. We are seeking substantial market access for our dairy products and in the prepared foods area. We also want to see action to action to address the question of Grade A equivalence for dairy and the licensing system that applies to dairy imports into the US.
Of course we have sensitivities as well. One of these is our beef sector. While we see some opportunities for establishing a niche market in the US for Irish beef, we have concerns regarding the prospect of increased beef imports into the EU. I have raised these concerns on a number of occasions with the EU Commission. I have proposed that Ireland’s sensitivities are reflected in the size and composition of any quota offered to the US. I have argued that the size of the quota should not exceed European market absorption capacity, which is substantially reduced according to the latest forecasts. I have also proposed that the quota should be designed – via end use conditions – to ensure that imports are not all concentrated on high value cuts and I have argued that an in-quota tariff rate should continue to apply to imports within the quota.
171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he is satisfied that all aspects of quality assurance in the beef sector are observed throughout the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27748/14]
View answerThe Bord Bia Beef and Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme (BLQAS) is an integrated scheme involving the producer and the processing plant working in partnership to provide the customer with quality assured product. The scheme describes the essential quality assurance requirements from primary production through factory processing to final despatch which are necessary to meet customer requirements. In addition, the scheme lays down additional standards to be complied with at each step of the production chain.
Producers seeking membership can initially apply directly to Bord Bia or through their meat processor. A special application form will be provided and must be signed by the producer. A producer declaration form will be completed at the audit to establish the proper basis for the audit. The application will then be evaluated and, if appropriate, a full independent audit of the producer will be carried out to evaluate the capability of the applicant to meet all the requirements of the Standard. This audit will be conducted by an independent auditor from a Bord Bia appointed inspection body. When the producer is deemed to have complied with the requirements of the Standard, the herd will be considered for certification under the Scheme. When certified, the producer will be issued with a certificate for the herd which will be listed on the Bord Bia register/database. Before the certification expires, the producer will receive a reminder letter from Bord Bia advising that a further audit is required to maintain certification.
At processor level, the scheme sets out a number of essential requirements covering both product and process. There are procedures covering hygiene, chilling, and product traceability along the production chain. Processors must develop a food safety management plan based on the principles of HACCP. Processors are subject to independent audit during which their compliance with each of the scheme requirements will be assessed. When the processor is deemed to have complied with the requirements of the Standard, the processor will be considered for certification under the Scheme. When certified, the processor will be issued with a certificate for the scope of the process audited and will be listed on the Bord Bia database / register and on the member list.
Currently there are 44,590 producers in the BLQAS which is made op as follows;
- Beef only = 32,349
- Lamb only = 2,529
- Mixed = 9,712
Currently as per Bord Bia’s website there are 53 processors on the members list, with 46 in the Republic and 7 in Northern Ireland. The system is accredited to internationally standard and compliance is independently verified. Where non compliances are detected, the system requires immediate remedial action to be taken. I am confident that the system, which is accredited to internationally accepted standards, is robust.
172. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if evidence of price fixing exists throughout the beef sector in view of the lower prices now being received by producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27749/14]
View answer174. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received suggestions of price fixing in the beef industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27751/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 174 together.
I am not aware of any evidence of price fixing in the beef industry. The Competition Authority is an independent statutory body that enforces Irish and European competition law in Ireland. Its mission is ‘to ensure that markets work well for Irish consumers, business and the economy’. It does this by taking action against anti-competitive practices (e.g. price-fixing) and by blocking anti-competitive business mergers. It also has a role in promoting competition in the economy by identifying legislative restrictions on competition, advising the Government on the implications for competition of proposed legislation, and by providing general information about competition issues.
With regard to any suspected manipulation of the market I would ask the Deputy to bring forward any information or evidence he has in this regard to the Competition Authority of Ireland who have the power to investigate such matters.
173. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of beef processors currently slaughtering animals throughout the country, where one or more such processors have an interest, controlling or otherwise, in more than one slaughtering or processing operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27750/14]
View answerCurrently there are 32 beef slaughtering plants approved to export from Ireland to local, EU and third country markets and over 195 local authority businesses approved plants that may export locally or to the EU. The details (names/addresses etc) of the all the approved plants are on the websites of my Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in the case of local authority plants.
With regard to the ownership of beef processing plants this is a commercial matter for individuals or companies who wish to invest in the industry. As the deputy is aware there are companies that operate multiple plants in Ireland, and I as Minister do not have any legislative power to curtail this nor would I seek to do so as there is a free single market in place throughout the EU.
There are safeguards in place to ensure that there are no monopoly positions amongst the ownership of the plants and these are enforced by the Competition Authority. The Authority is an independent statutory body that enforces Irish and European competition law in Ireland. Its mission is ‘to ensure that markets work well for Irish consumers, business and the economy’. It does this by taking action against anti-competitive practices (e.g. price-fixing) and by blocking anti-competitive business mergers. It also has a role in promoting competition in the economy by identifying legislative restrictions on competition, advising the Government on the implications for competition of proposed legislation, and by providing general information about competition issues.
175. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and percentage of farms in County Donegal that have grazing rights to commonage land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27776/14]
View answerUnder the 2013 Area-Based Schemes, 2,698 applicants from County Donegal declared eligible commonage land in their application forms. This number amounts to some 30% of all applicants under the 2013 Schemes in that County.
176. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farms with commonage grazing rights in County Donegal which are participating in the agri-environment options scheme; the number that have participated or are participating in REP schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27797/14]
View answerThe total number of farms with commonage grazing rights in County Donegal who are participating in the Agri Environment Options Schemes (AEOS) is 866. The number of farms with commonage grazing rights in County Donegal who are participating in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS4) is 507.
