Written Answers Nos. 37-41
37. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if cardiac injection is used in the killing of dogs in dog pounds; if so, how it is compatible with new animal welfare legislation; if this product was used by a pound (details supplied); if so, when was Clare County Council aware of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39337/14]
View answerUnder the Control of Dogs Act 1986, as amended by the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act 1992, local authorities are responsible for all matters relating to dog control and dog pounds. Subsequent to my reply to a Question from the Deputy in July 2014, I referred this matter to the relevant local authority who informed me that the practice of euthanizing dogs in the manner described would no longer be taking place. Any further query on the issue should be referred to the relevant County Council.
38. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when outstanding payments under the single payment scheme and the disadvantaged area based scheme will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay in issuing payments; the outstanding grants owed to the person and the scheme years involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39343/14]
View answerProcessing of the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application of the person named has recently been finalised, with payment due to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named. I can confirm that 50% advance payments under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme will commence on 16 October 2014 as is provided for in the relevant EU Regulations. The application of the person named has been finalised and I expect that payment will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
There are no other outstanding grants due to the person named.
39. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a REP scheme and agricultural environment option scheme payment for 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39346/14]
View answerThis concerns an application under AEOS III. There is no record of any payment due to the person named under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme. The person named commenced in AEOS III on 1 May 2013. However, on 26 July 2013 a request was received by my Department to amend his 2013 Single Payment Scheme application, which in turn underpins the AEOS payment. Unfortunately, no accompanying maps indicating the new parcel divisions were ever submitted, and to date nothing further has been received. Officials from my Department will contact the person named to obtain the necessary maps to allow digitisation of parcels to proceed. Once this is done, the relevant AEOS payment can be processed.
40. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received a response from the Chief State Solicitor on an issue in respect of a person (details supplied) after the matter was referred to the Chief State Solicitor's Office on or before 24 June 2014. [39358/14]
View answerThe issue referred to by the Deputy is still under consideration by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.
41. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 105 of 18 September 2014, his views on concerns that the operation of price-fixing and cartel-like practices seems to be invited and encouraged by the structure and particular characteristics of the Irish beef market; his further views that the Department's ignorance as to ultimate beneficial ownership of individual beef processing plants is an encouragement of price-fixing and cartel-like practices in the Irish beef market; his views on concerns that there is evidence of, or even a tradition of, price-fixing and cartel-like practices in the Irish beef market, to the detriment of both producers and primary producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39367/14]
View answerAs stated in my reply given on 18 September, the ownership of each beef processing plant is a commercial matter for individuals or companies who wish to invest in the industry. Currently there are 32 beef slaughtering plants approved to export from Ireland to local, EU and third country markets and over 195 local authority approved plants that may export locally or to the EU. The details (names/addresses etc) of all of the approved plants are on the websites of my Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). Prices are a function of the market conditions that prevail at a given time. I cannot set the price of beef and neither can any other Minister for agriculture in the EU. There is no evidence whatsoever that department policy or practice contributes to price fixing or cartel practices. Indeed my Department publishes prices for each factory on a weekly basis and earlier this week launched a Beef Pricewatch app, available on phones and other smart devices to increase transparency in relation to beef prices.
With regard to any suspected manipulation of the market, I would ask the Deputy to bring forward any information or evidence she has in this regard to the Competition Authority of Ireland who has the power to investigate such matters. 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.
