Written Answers Nos. 276-289
276. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their outstanding agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, payments; the reason for the delay in processing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6932/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from the 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. During these checks in respect of the 2013 Scheme year issues were identified in relation to the Natura action. It is expected that these issues will be resolved shortly and the application will then be processed for payment in respect of 2013.
Following the issue of the 2013 payment, the application will be processed in respect of 2014 with the intention of issuing payment as soon as possible.
277. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in introducing legislation for country-of-origin labelling for all meat, including meat as an ingredient. [6950/15]
View answerRules on the labelling of meat and meat products are laid down in EU legislation.
For beef, compulsory labelling rules have been in place for many years, and require food business operators to label fresh, frozen or minced beef with specific information to enable the product to be traced back to the animals from which it was derived. This must include details of the slaughterhouse and de-boning hall in which the animal was processed, as well as the country in which it was born and reared.
In 2011 the European Union passed the Food Information for the Consumers (FIC), Regulation 1169/2011, which has updated the requirements for consumer information and labelling in a number of areas. In particular, the FIC Regulation extends mandatory origin labelling to meats other than beef for the first time. The implementing provision is Commission Regulation No. 1337/2013, which introduces mandatory origin labelling for meat from pigs, poultry, sheep and goats from 1st April 2015. Under this regulation labelling is required to identify the Member State or third country of rearing and the Member State or third country of slaughter for these meats. The term 'Origin' can also be used where the country/member state of birth is the same as the country of rearing and slaughter. A Statutory Instrument is being prepared by my Department to ensure that the necessary provisions are in place to implement this mandatory labelling requirement from 1st April 2015. Ireland has been a strong proponent of such rules.
The FIC Regulation also refers to the more complex issues of origin labelling meat as an ingredient, and instances where the country of origin of a food is given and it is not the same as that of its primary ingredient. In the case of these provisions, the Commission was required to prepare reports on the impact of mandatory country of origin or place of provenance rules. In the case of the use of meat as an ingredient, the Commission may accompany these reports with legislative proposals.
In relation to the labelling of meat as an ingredient, the European Commission published a report in December 2013 which was subsequently discussed at a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in March last year. There were diverging views among Member States as to the introduction of mandatory provisions for meat as an ingredient, with a number of Member States calling for further analysis from the Commission. The report has also been considered by the European Parliament which, only last week, passed a resolution calling for the Commission to come forward with legislative proposals.
During the discussions in Council, I expressed the opinion that given the complexity of the issue I believed that further analysis is required before such measures can be finalised. Issues requiring further attention include the potential additional cost to consumers, the additional regulatory impact and cost on industry, the extent to which potentially detailed and complex origin labels that might result would add to clarity and transparency for consumers, and the potential impact on intra community trade. I await the Commission's response to the discussions in the Council and in the European Parliament, which should provide the opportunity to address all these outstanding issues.
278. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a payment under the single payment scheme for 2012 following recent contact by his Department officials to this person. [6995/15]
View answerAn application under the 2012 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2012. Following processing, an error was identified in respect of a previous year's ground inspection. This error has recently been resolved. In order to expedite the outstanding payment, I have arranged for a manual payment to issue. This will shortly issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
279. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the suckler welfare scheme 2012 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7011/15]
View answerThe person named registered seventeen animals born under the 2012 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment was made in respect of two of the animals that died and had been removed to a Knackery. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme, for herds with more than ten cows, the calves must be weaned in more than one group. In this case, according to the data submitted by the person named, all 15 remaining animals were weaned together on 1 May 2013. In addition submission of all data was required within twelve months of the date of birth of the calves. The data in relation to these animals was not received until 23 October 2014 when all of the calves were at least twenty four months old. Therefore, no further payment is due to the person named under the Suckler Welfare Scheme.
While he was allocated entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme, the person named entered into a sale of all entitlements in 2008 after which time he no longer participated in that Scheme.
Under the Basic Payment Scheme that will be established in 2015, new entitlements will be allocated to persons who received a direct payment in 2013. The person named received a payment under the Beef Data Programme in 2013 and consequently holds a right to establish new entitlements in 2015. The number of entitlements that will be allocated will be based on the number of eligible hectares declared in 2013 and 2015, whichever is lower. The person named declared 25.19 eligible hectares in 2013 and, if he declares 25.19 eligible hectares in 2015, he will be allocated 25.19 entitlements in 2015.
The value of new entitlements in 2015 will be based on the value of entitlements owned by the farmer in 2014 plus the value of any payment received under the Grassland Sheep Scheme. As the person named did not establish any 'value' in 2014, the value of his entitlements will be established at the first level of the convergence process and will converge upwards over the five years of the Scheme. In 2019 his entitlements will have reached at least 60% of the National average value of entitlements.
280. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department has put in place to prevent fraudulent claims being made under the rural environment protection scheme; if his attention has been drawn to claims made in respect of lands that did not belong to the claimants; if he will provide, in tabular form, the details of same; if there are officials in his Department currently investigating such fraudulent claims; and if so, the counties in which claims are being investigated; and the number of cases. [7016/15]
View answerDetailed rules for the implementation of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme, which is a measure under the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme, are set out in Commission Regulations 1974 and 1975 of 2006. The framework for the implementation of these rules is set out in a document titled Terms and Conditions of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme and the Natura 2000 Scheme as required under Council Regulation 1698 of 2005. The eligibility criteria for admission to the scheme and the annual requirements to remain in the scheme are also set out in this document.
All applications for admission to the Scheme and subsequent payment claims are subject to administrative checks and any other controls deemed necessary. Applications have been cross-checked with records held under the Department's Single Payments System and Animal Identification and Movement System. Prepayment checks and on-farm inspections are carried out annually.
Where an applicant knowingly makes false or misleading statements or withholds essential information in support of any claim for payment, their participation in the scheme may be terminated and all or part of any aid already paid must be returned.
My Department has no evidence of any widespread breaches of land-ownership requirements under the Scheme and is not carrying out formal investigations in this area at this point in time. However, if such information exists, my Department would be glad to receive further details.
281. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a payment under the grassland sheep scheme. [7063/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on 2nd May 2014. Processing of the application has recently been finalised and payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
282. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an interdepartmental group has been established by him to bring forward proposals to support economic development in rural Ireland; the date the group was established; the membership of the group and the way each member was selected; the number of meetings held to date; the progress being made; if the threatened closure of bus route 7 by Bus Éireann in County Kilkenny and other counties has been assessed by the group in the context of the likely damage to the local economies, jobs, health care appointments, access to education and social mobility; if he will impress on Bus Éireann the absolute need to continue the service; if the Government will fund a service should the operator pull out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7076/15]
View answerLast July the Government appointed Ann Phelan, T.D. as Minister of State with specific responsibility for implementation of the CEDRA report. Minister Phelan established the CEDRA Interdepartmental Group in August involving all the main departmental actors dealing with the 34 CEDRA recommendations. The selection was made on the basis of departmental expertise and three meetings were held in 2014 under the aegis of this Department. An initial evaluation and assignment of each recommendation has been made in line with statutory responsibility and a multi-sectoral CEDRA work programme with specific actions is being finalised.
Last December, the Government assigned primary responsibility for implementing the CEDRA report to the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and issues relating to its implementation are now appropriate to that Department and not the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question of threatened closure of Bus Route 7 is appropriate to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I understand that it was raised with that Minister in a Topical Issue on 12 February last.
283. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 25 November 2014, if he will provide a copy of the terms of reference, scoping information or direction provided for this programme of risk assessment undertaken by the Marine Institute in respect of species protected under the annexes of the habitats directive, which was referred to in the response; if he will provide a copy of any reports, findings and recommendations and all outputs the Marine Institute prepared in the execution of the risk assessment for species protected under the annexes of the habitats directive, which was referred to in the response; when the risk assessment was conducted; the resources that were made available to the Marine Institute to execute this study; if he will provide a copy of the guidance from the Commission, which he referred to in his response; if he will provide a copy of the programme of measures, which he referred to; the priorities identified; the way these have been prioritised; the way their delivery is being addressed, and the resources that are involved; the persons responsible for the programme of measures he referred to; if any report on the programme of measures is available; if he will provide a copy of same, or if he will indicate when it will be available; if the programme of measures referred to the judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union on case c-183/05 or if he will specify what the programme of measures is in response to; when the further programme of measures and outcomes referred to, as being necessary, are going to be specified; if he will specify what they pertain to; if he will provide a copy of same, if they are available; if he will provide a copy of the Commission opinion on the programme of measures which he referred to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7098/15]
View answerThe European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats) (Sea-fisheries) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 290 of 2013 as amended by S.I. 565 of 2014) provides processes for the assessment and management of sea-fisheries activities to ensure that the activities are compatible with the objectives of the Birds and Habitats Directives. A number of assessments have been concluded to date in accordance with the regulations and Fisheries Natura Declarations have been introduced to manage certain sea-fisheries, taking account of the conclusions of these assessments. I understand that the Marine Institute has conducted these assessments in accordance with best scientific practice and recommended methodologies where available.
In response to the ECJ judgment in case C-418/04, multi-annual funding was made available by both my Department and the former Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to undertake data collection and baseline studies. This work is now substantially complete and my Department continues to provide funding for, inter alia, assessments of the interactions of sea-fisheries and aquaculture with marine Natura 2000 sites. The allocation of other resources involved is an operational matter for the Marine Institute. The Programme of Measures responding to case C-418/04 sets out the actions taken to date by Ireland in response to the Judgment of the Court together with commitments for further action to ensure that remaining issues have been dealt with. The preparation of the Programme and monitoring of its implementation is led by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The majority of the marine Natura 2000 sites concerned are coastal and located within Ireland's 12 nautical mile limit. I established the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF), built on a network of Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums (RIFFs), specifically to give inshore fishermen and their communities a voice in policy making and decisions on inshore fisheries management and to work with the Department and the marine agencies in developing robust, scientifically sound measures to support sustainable fisheries into the future. The first meeting of the NIFF took place on 15 January and the delegates received a presentation from the Marine Institute on the processes involved in the preparation of the assessment reports.
In addition to those assessments already published, the Marine Institute has recently submitted an assessment of sea-fisheries in all marine Special Areas of Conservation on the south and west coasts which is currently under active consideration in my Department. A prioritised approach is necessary to address an assessment of this scale and I am particularly conscious of the need for stakeholder engagement at all stages of this policy development in accordance with EU environmental legislation and the Common Fisheries Policy. For this reason, my Department is working closely with the Marine Institute, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and an Bord Iascaigh Mhara to prepare a draft prioritised approach which I look forward to publishing with the assessment report for public consultation and for discussion with the NIFF.
A number of the documents requested by the Deputy are publically available on websites including the Department's fishing portal website and the websites of other organisations. For the Deputy's ease of reference, the current links are listed in the following table.
|
Title |
Web |
|
Assessments and other documents concerning the management of sea-fisheries interactions with Natura 200 sites |
http://www.fishingnet.ie/sea-fisheriesinnaturaareas/ |
|
Programme of Measures for case C-418/04 submitted to the EU Commission |
http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Heritage/ProgrammeofMeasuresbyIrelandtoensurecomplianceintheECJBirdsCase/ |
|
Guidance on management measures and methodology for assessment sea-fisheries impact on marine Natura 2000 sites |
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/marine/index_en.htm |
284. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7116/15]
View answerThe detailed consideration of Ireland's Draft Rural Development Programme (RDP) by the EU Commission is now at an advanced stage and GLAS is a key component of that Programme. I expect to be in a position to announce the opening of GLAS very shortly, once agreement is reached with the EU Commission.
285. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a payment under the single farm scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7123/15]
View answerThe Department's records indicate that in 2013, the amount of nitrogen from livestock manure applied to land on the holding of the person named above (including that deposited by animals) was 305 kgs per hectare, which exceeded the limit of 250 kgs per hectare set down in the Nitrates Regulations for farmers who have availed of the National Derogation allowing more intensive stocking rates subject to certain conditions.
The person named was notified of this decision on 14th October 2014, and of his right of appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office, but it is our understanding that the named individual has not availed of this option.
The 100 per cent penalty was applied because of repeated breaches of the Nitrates Regulations in three consecutive years – 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Records available to the Department confirm that the person named submitted an incomplete record of movement of organic fertiliser (Record 3) form with his 2013 Fertiliser Accounts on 31st March 2014. As the form was submitted after the 31st December 2013 deadline, it was not accepted.
286. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary has incurred a 100% penalty under the nitrates directive scheme; and the options to appeal, or otherwise, available to that person [7141/15]
View answerThe Department's records indicate that in 2013, the amount of nitrogen from livestock manure applied to land on the holding of the person named above (including that deposited by animals) was 306 kg's per hectare, which exceeded the limit of 170 kg's per hectare set down in the Nitrates Regulations.
The person named was notified of this decision on 14 th October 2014, and of his right of appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office, but we understand from that office that he did not avail of this option.
The 100 per cent penalty was applied due to the repeat breach of the Nitrates Regulations within a three year period – 2011 to 2013, following on from a similar breach in 2010.
287. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position at the end of 2014 regarding the targets for growth set for each sector in Food Harvest 2020, published in July 2010; the estimated number of jobs created in each sector following expansion; the increase in production and export growth for each sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7154/15]
View answerCSO Trade statistics for 2014 were released last week. These show that the Food and Beverages categories (less tobacco) showed an increase of 5.8% in exports compared to 2013, demonstrating the continuing strong performance of agri-food exports relative to overall export growth (By comparison, overall merchandise exports increased by just 2.4% compared to 2013).
Food Harvest targets were for value increases to 2020 for primary production, value added and exports and details of the progress achieved is set out in the following table.
Food Harvest 2020 – Progress to Date
|
Headline Targets |
Baseline (2007-2009 Average) |
FH2020 Target |
Latest (2014) |
|
Primary |
€4.596 billion |
€6.275 billion +33% |
€5,977 million + 30 % |
|
Exports |
€8.298 billion |
€ 12 billion + 40% |
€ 10,574 million + 27 % |
|
Gross Value Added |
€6.053 billion (2008 baseline) |
€8.568 billion + 40% |
€7,450 million + 2 3 % (2012, most recent data) |
|
Milk Output Value |
€1.465 billion |
+50% |
+ 44 % |
|
Cattle Output Value |
€1.552 billion |
+20% |
+ 27 % |
|
Pigs Output Value |
€309 million |
+50% |
+ 54 % |
|
Sheep Output Value |
€172 million |
+20% |
+ 32 % |
|
Dairy Exports |
€2.198 billion |
+ 60% |
+ 39 % |
|
Beef Exports |
€1.526 billion |
+25% |
+ 35 % |
|
Pigmeat Exports |
€334 million |
+40% |
+ 71 % |
|
Sheepmeat Exports |
€172 million |
+25% |
+ 2 7 % |
|
Seafood Exports |
€334 million |
+40% |
+ 62 % |
Based on the latest CSO data (Quarterly National Household Survey, Q3 2014), employment in the agri-food sector overall now stands at 168,600, or 8.8% of total employment.
288. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in implementing the Bord Iascaigh Mhara strategy 2010 to 2012, Delivering on the Potential of Irish Seafood, and the Irish seafood national programme 2007 to 2013; the level of investment in the sector under these programmes; the number of jobs created; the growth in exports of seafood products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7155/15]
View answerThe Seafood Development Programme (SDP) 2007-2013 is the framework programme for public investment in the seafood industry, co-funded by the Exchequer and the European Fisheries Fund. The SDP has been operational since 2008 and will end in December 2015 at the latest. The SDP provides for total public investment of €66 million in the fishing fleet, aquaculture, seafood processing, marketing and promotion of seafood, fishery harbours, and the economic development of fisheries communities. By the end of 2013, a little over €45 million had been invested under the SDP.
The Irish Seafood National Programme 2007-2013 is a complementary Exchequer funded framework programme for a small number of investment measures that were ineligible under the main EU co-funded programme or where there was insufficient funding available under that programme to implement all planned investment measures. By the end of 2013, approximately €8 million had been invested under the National Programme.
The seafood sector provides employment for approximately 11,000 people around the coast of Ireland. Employment levels have remained broadly stable over recent years, despite the recession.
The value of seafood exports has been increasing rapidly in recent years, despite the recession. Seafood exports increased in value by 70% between 2009 and 2014, rising from €315 million to €540 million. Taking exports and the home market into account the Irish seafood sector is now worth €800 million annually. There is significant scope for further value expansion in our seafood sector in the years ahead.
In relation to Bord Iascaigh Mhara's achievements in implementing its 2010-2012 Strategy 'Delivering on the Potential of Irish Seafood', that is an operational matter for the Board of BIM. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to BIM for direct response. The Deputy may wish to note that in 2013 BIM launched its present five year strategy for 2013-2017 – 'Capturing Ireland's Share of the Global Seafood Opportunity ' and that is ongoing.
289. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Defence the projected cost to his Department to convert to using Eircode; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7604/15]
View answerCurrently my Department envisages that it will not incur any significant material costs during implementation of Eircode.
