Written Answers Nos. 93-96
93. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor the breeding, management and husbandry of the non-thoroughbred horse sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43479/14]
View answerMy Department currently approves 7 organisations to maintain 11 studbooks for registered equidae in the non-thoroughbred sector which covers the following breeds:
- Irish Sport Horse, Irish Draught Horse, Irish Sport Pony and Irish Cobs maintained by Horse Sport Ireland;
- Connemara pony maintained by the Connemara Pony Breeders Society;
- Irish Piebald and Skewbald and Irish Donkey maintained by Leisure Horse Ireland;
- Irish Warmblood maintained by the Irish Warmblood Studbook
- Irish Riding Pony maintained by The Irish Pony Society;
- Kerry Bog Pony maintained by The Kerry Bog Society;
- The Irish Appaloosa maintained by The Irish Appaloosa Association.
As part of their approval process each organisation is required to submit a detailed application and is inspected by my Department.
Each approved studbook keeping organisation is required to operate a breeding programme for their respective breed. The principles of the breeding programme are set out in EU legislation and include elements such as the characteristics of the breed, the objectives of the breed, the sections within the studbook, the eligibility criteria for entry and the use of performance data relevant to the breed’s objectives.
Any changes to the studbook rules during their three year period of approval are required to be notified to my Department.
The main role for my Department is to ensure that the studbook rules of each studbook comply with EU legislation and are implemented accordingly. In that regard, my Department inspects each studbook keeping organisation at least once every three years, and more frequently if required.
My Department allocates significant funding to the non-thoroughbred sector for various initiatives. In addition, the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which my Department submitted last July to the European Commission for approval, contains a proposal to establish Knowledge Transfer Groups in the equine sector. It is proposed that these Knowledge Transfer Groups would focus on breeding management and husbandry aspects of the equine farm enterprise in order to encourage and support the development of the knowledge base in the sector.
94. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which full traceability now applies to the non-thoroughbred horse sector; the extent to which care and management is being applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43480/14]
View answerThe identification and registration of equidae is governed by EU Council Directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 of 6 June 2008. The EU legislation has been transposed into national legislation via S.I. No. 207 of 2014 - European Union (Identification of Equidae) Regulations 2014. Regulation 504/2008, which came into effect on 1 July 2009, requires three elements of identification to be fulfilled in respect of each equine – i.e. a single lifetime passport, a method to ensure the unequivocal link between the animal and the passport (transponder) and a database which records the identification details of the animal under a unique identification number which relates to the animal for which the passport was issued and the person responsible for identifying the animal. Furthermore the Regulation provides that if an equine animal has not been identified properly within six months of the date of its birth, or by the 31 st of December in the year of its birth, whichever date occurs later, it cannot be admitted to the food chain.
Equine identification legislation is complemented by mandatory requirements which I introduced in recent years to register equine premises and notify change of ownership. Before verifying the eligibility of equines for slaughter for human consumption, my officials at the slaughter plant must be satisfied that the animals in question have originated from premises that is registered with my Department . Keepers from outside the State are accommodated through the use of a generic herd number.
My Department established a central equine database for equines last year on the Animal Identification and Movement [AIM] system. The central equine database is now used to supplement the checks carried out by Department staff in slaughter plants, in particular to check that horses presented for slaughter are identified correctly and eligible for the food chain. Aside from the usual veterinary checks, the passport of an animal presented for slaughter is examined to ensure eligibility for the food chain, absence of evidence of tampering and that the markings recorded on the passport match the animal.
I strengthened equine identification legislation earlier this year with the signing of S.I. 207 of 2014 - European Union (Identification of Equidae) Regulations 2014 - which consolidates previous secondary legislation in this area and which further reinforces my powers in relation to the seizure and detention of documents and equine animals.
In addition, there has been an increase in enforcement of legislation relating to the identification of equines at sales, marts, fairs , etc, and I acknowledge the successful collaboration between other agencies and my Department in this area.
With regard to the application of care and management, primary responsibility for safeguarding the health and welfare of their horses rests with owners. Owners are also encouraged to adhere to best practice in disposing of their horses when they no longer fulfil the purpose for which they were bred, as such actions prevent the emergence of long-term animal welfare problems.
I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to maintain ongoing vigilance in relation to official controls on the identification of horses at marts and other sales venues, in meat factories and at points on entry to the country.
95. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his vision for the future development of the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43481/14]
View answerThe new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework for the long term sustainability of fish stocks around our shores, the continued economic viability of our fishing fleet and fish processing while supporting the communities that depend on a vibrant fishing industry. My plans for the development of the overall seafood sector in the very short term are set out in the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013, and the complementary Irish Seafood National Programme 2007-2013, which identify the investment priorities for the development of the sector up to 2015. The Seafood Development Programme includes the overwhelming majority of initiatives for the development of the sector. That Programme is co-funded by the European Union under the European Fisheries Fund. It was considerably updated in 2012, following an interim evaluation of its progress and further updated again in 2014 to include additional investments in the 6 State owned Fishery Harbour Centres. The Programme identifies the development needs of the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors and the measures that will be implemented to address those needs. The complementary Irish Seafood National Programme is the framework programme for a small number of measures that are not included in the Seafood Development Programme or are not eligible for EU co-funding.
My Department is presently preparing a new Seafood Development Programme for the period 2014-2020 under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. Earlier this year, following months of intense lobbying and negotiation at EU level, I announced on 12 June that I had secured for our industry €148 million from the new EU Fund. I followed up on that announcement in Budget 2015 with the announcement of national co-funding that will bring the total Fund available for the new Seafood Development Programme to €241 million. This is a doubling of the investment funds available compared to the previous Programme and will ensure a strong seafood industry in Ireland that can grow and expand to meet its potential up to 2020. I expect to publish a draft of the new Programme for public consultation before the end of this year and to see new support measures being launched from 2015 onwards.
I have also launched measures to focus development of Ireland’s inshore fishing sector, which I see has a key role to play in sustaining rural, coastal communities. The measures include the establishment of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum based on a network of regional forums to give inshore fishermen and their communities a direct voice in developing their sector. The first Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum meetings have taken place and I look forward to meeting their representatives at the National Inshore Fisheries Forum at the start of December. I have also committed up a total funding programme for inshore fishermen in 2014 worth up to €1m. This is aimed at providing financial assistance for sustainable, environmentally friendly fishing practices and the recent safety equipment and training initiative.
From the outset of the Common Fisheries Policy revision process, Ireland’s overarching goal was to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to safeguard fish stocks for future generations. This will ensure that families dependent on fishing can look forward to being part of a vibrant, productive and resilient Irish fishing industry.
96. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Defence if a person (details supplied) who served in the Irish Army is entitled to an Army pension and if on their death that pension is transferred to their widow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43409/14]
View answerUnfortunately in the time available, and without more information, it has not been possible to identify and retrieve the relevant records on the person in question. These would be required to establish the pension entitlements, if any. If the Deputy wishes to make contact directly with the Pensions Administration Section of my Department and provide further information such as an army number, rank on discharge and length of service the matter will be examined further.
