Written Answers Nos. 281-296
281. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the implications for Irish food exports of the Chinese currency devaluation; the steps being taken to try to insulate the food sectors from further currency devaluations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10416/15]
View answerRather than the Chinese currency devaluing against the euro, in fact the euro has devalued against the Chinese yuan over the last year. The current rate of the euro against the Chinese currency is around 1 euro equal to 6.80 Chinese yuan renminbi, a 22% reduction compared to the highest rate in recent years of almost 8.69 yuan renminbi in May 2014. The euro’s exchange rate with the yuan has followed a very similar path to the euro’s exchange rate with the US dollar.
Most international trade with China is in any case carried out in US dollars or in euros. The effects of the euro devaluation against the yuan and the US dollar would offer a boost to Irish food exports to China by making them more competitive.
282. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) in County Kerry regarding donkeys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10431/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 24 March 2014. Following processing of this application issues relating to the verification of compliance with the minimum stocking density were identified. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named regarding this matter.
283. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria used by his Department's inspectors during inspections under the land parcel identification system to determine whether sufficient agricultural activity is present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10437/15]
View answerApplicants under the Direct Payment Schemes and other area based schemes are obliged to carry out an agricultural activity on the land declared for aid. The governing EU regulations define an agricultural activity as the production, rearing or growing of agricultural products, including harvesting, milking, breeding animals, and keeping animals for farming purposes and maintaining an agricultural area in a state which makes it suitable for grazing or cultivation. In practical terms this means growing a crop for harvesting, growing hay/silage for use on the farm or for sale or grazing the land with farm animals. It can also include topping of the vegetation on the land.
All parcels of land declared for aid must be fully utilised by means of such agricultural activities. Where it is determined that land parcels or parts of parcels are not subject to an agricultural activity, they cannot be accepted as eligible for payment.
284. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria used by his Department's inspectors in determining under-utilisation when carrying out inspections under the land parcel identification system and land eligibility inspections on sites with Natura 2000 designations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10438/15]
View answerApplicants under the Direct Payment Schemes and other area based schemes are obliged to carry out an agricultural activity on the land declared for aid. The governing EU regulations define an agricultural activity as the production, rearing or growing of agricultural products, including harvesting, milking, breeding animals, and keeping animals for farming purposes and maintaining an agricultural area in a state which makes it suitable for grazing or cultivation. An applicant is free to choose an activity that best suits their farming enterprise and if s/he so wishes can choose to just top the land
Where an officially approved environmental management plan under the Birds or Habitats Directives requires certain management practices to be conducted on agricultural areas, such management practices will take precedence in determining the level of agricultural activity to be conducted on agricultural areas declared for payment.
285. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department did not carry out the appropriate assessment process in advance of making significant reference area reductions on Cloghaun, Kilbeg, Kilnagappagh, Gortnaglea, Derrybrien West, and Keelderry commonages, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10439/15]
View answerIn excess of €1.5 billion is paid annually to approximately 130,000 farmers in Ireland under the EU funded or partially funded Direct Payments and Agri-Environment Schemes. Under the governing EU Regulations, all applications must be subjected to verification checks to ensure their accuracy and their adherence to the requirements of the EU Regulations. The Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) database is used to verify the accuracy of the areas declared for payment. My Department has an obligation to ensure that the data stored in the LPIS database in accurate.
The findings of ground/satellite eligibility inspections, LPIS ortho-imagery assessments and map changes submitted by individual farmers are used to update the LPIS database. The commonages referred to were assessed for the reasons outlined. Determinations were made on the area declared in order to establish the level of ineligible features and areas where no farming activity was being conducted. The claimants on the commonages in question have been informed in writing of the outcome of the assessments and their right to seek a review or appeal of the findings.
286. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the precedence of two scenarios in respect of the European Union birds and habitats directives (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10440/15]
View answerApplicants under the Direct Payment Schemes, including the Basic Payment Scheme, are required to comply with the provisions of the EU legislation giving rise to these payments. All applicants are required to comply at all times with the provisions provided for under Cross Compliance for each Statutory Management Requirement, including the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. Applicants are also required to comply with the standards required under Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition on their agricultural area.
Where an applicant is found not to be in compliance with a Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition standard and a requirement under a Statutory Management Requirement in respect of the same issue, the non- compliance under the Statutory Management Requirement takes precedence.
Applicants are also required to conduct a sufficient level of agricultural activity on all agricultural areas declared for aid. Such activities include the production, rearing or growing of agricultural products, including harvesting, milking, breeding animals, and keeping animals for farming purposes and maintaining an agricultural area in a state which makes it suitable for grazing or cultivation.
Where an officially approved environmental management plan under the Birds or Habitats Directives requires certain management practices to be conducted on agricultural areas, such management practices will take precedence in determining the level of agricultural activity to be conducted on agricultural areas declared for payment.
287. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment, under the 2014 agri-environment options scheme will issue, in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10444/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3 ) with effect from 1 May 2013.
During the processing of this person’s non-productive capital investment claim an issue arose, which has now been resolved. The claim is now being examined in the context of the various other checks required under the EU Regulations, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, all of which must be completed before any payment can issue. These checks are under way at present with a view to issuing payment as soon as all have been successfully completed.
288. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to make it a condition of any new forestry grants that forests where deer are kept will have stock-proof fencing that will ensure the deer do not leave the forest and stray onto private land where they cause major damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10457/15]
View answerThe Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, along with my colleague, Minister of State Tom Hayes T.D., Minister for Forestry, has recently published a report titled, “Deer Management in Ireland – A Framework for Action” and they have announced membership of a Deer Management Forum. This report lists a number of recommendations which will be examined by the Deer Management Forum including issues associated with the management of wild deer populations. The report is available at: http://www.npws.ie/news/publication-report-deer-management-ireland
Under the afforestation scheme, forest owners are required to protect newly planted forests from damage by deer and other animals. Grant aid for the establishment of new forests provides funding for fencing to keep animals out of the newly planted forest until the young trees are successfully established. Funding may be provided for cattle, sheep, deer and rabbit fencing. Each new site proposed for afforestation is examined on a case by case basis and appropriate fencing is considered.
289. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the benefits and entitlements that will accrue to young farmers engaged in partnership farming, including those in partnership contract with a parent, under the Department's Common Agricultural Policy reform proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10538/15]
View answerThere are benefits accruing to young farmers in partnerships under both Pillar I and Pillar II of the Common Agricultural Policy. With regard to Pillar I the following is relevant:
Pillar I
In accordance with relevant EU Regulations to be eligible under the Young Farmer priority category of the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme an applicant must meet the following conditions:
- S/he is participating in the Basic Payment Scheme in the year in which s/he submits an application;
- S/he is aged no more than 40 years of age at any time during the calendar year in which s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme;
- S/he has successfully completed a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC level 6 or its equivalent. Alternatively s/he must commit to commencing such a course by 30 September 2016;
- Has a gross off-farm income that does not exceed €40,000 in one of the tax years 2013 or 2014;
- S/he is setting up an agricultural holding for the first time or has set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of the Basic Payment Scheme application.
Young farmers farming in a partnership, including a partnership with a parent, who fulfil the conditions set out above are eligible for participation in both the National Reserve young farmer priority category and the Young Farmers ’ Scheme. Successful applicants will potentially be eligible for an allocation of entitlements at the National Average value on land for which they hold no entitlements (on the basis of 1 entitlement for 1 hectare of eligible land declared). In respect of existing owned entitlements with a value below the National Average, they will potentially receive a top up whereby the value of those entitlements will be increased to the National Average value. The allocation of entitlements and the top-up to the value of existing entitlements is subject to a maximum of 90. A successful applicant under the Young Farmers Scheme will receive payment under the Scheme for a maximum period of five years based on their date of setting up the holding.
With regard to Pillar II the following is relevant:
Pillar II - Rural Development Programme
One of the proposals in Ireland’s draft Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020, which is now with the EU Commission for approval, is an enhanced capital investment scheme for young farmers under the TAMS measures. The new scheme will offer a specific grant rate of 60 per cent compared to the standard grant rate of 40 per cent which will be generally available under other on-farm investment schemes. The specific areas of investment available to young farmers will include animal housing, slurry storage, dairy equipment, specialised slurry spreading equipment, animal welfare and farm safety, and specialised pig and poultry investments, as well as capital investments for organic farmers. In addition, young farmers will be able to avail of grant-aid for construction of new dairy buildings. Young farmers farming in a partnership, including a partnership with a parent, registered with my Department will also be able to avail of the full suite of investments under this Scheme and also avail of a doubling of the investment ceiling. The EU Commission approval referred to above will be required before any new national measures are introduced on the basis of the Programme. It is expected that approval from the EU Commission will issue shortly.
Areas of Natural Constraint
Under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, which has replaced the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, special provision is made for applicants, who are in a partnership, registered under Irish National Regulations. The payment to the partnership under that Scheme will comprise of total of individual calculations based on the area of ANC land each partner contributes to the partnership. Individual threshold limits will apply at measure level for individual partnership members.
290. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of his recent statement on RTE radio that he was cautious regarding the salmon farming industry, and that he was seeking very detailed scientific and environmental advice on the Galway Bay licence application, if he will act responsibly and suspend licence decisions for all salmon farms, including applications for renewal of licences, and commission a fully independent scientific examination of the environmental effects of salmon farms. [10559/15]
View answerApplications for aquaculture licences are considered by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act.
The assessment process takes full account of all national and EU legislative requirements and reflects the full engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of each application. I can see no basis for suspending licence decisions which are based upon such a rigorous and legally sound assessment process.
The application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish in Galway Bay is under active consideration by my Department as part of the statutory process and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the application at this time.
291. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contacts his Department has had with Marine Harvest Ireland since the company applied for a licence for a giant salmon farm at Shot Head, Bantry Bay, County Cork; and if these contracts undermine the public's confidence in his Department's impartiality as a licence regulator. [10560/15]
View answerMarine Harvest Ireland submitted an application to my Department for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish at Shot Head, Bantry Bay in June 2011. Since then the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division of my Department has met with the company on 15 occasions. These meetings are part of a long-standing and ongoing series of co-ordination meetings held to discuss general operational matters relevant to the company’s activities.
On 30 January 2014 I met with representatives of Marine Harvest Ireland. The meeting was chaired by an Taoiseach. Officials from the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department were also in attendance. The meeting was held at the request of the company to discuss licensing and industry development issues associated with the company’s operations in Ireland.
On 6 March 2014 I met with representatives of Marine Harvest Ireland in Bergen, Norway on the margins of the North Atlantic Seafood Forum.
At the above meetings no discussion took place which would conflict with my role or the role of my Department in relation to aquaculture licensing.
292. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 96, and 97 of 15 January 2015, notwithstanding the protocols and legislation he cited in his reply, if the communications, instructions and-or advice, formal or informal, referred to in those parliamentary questions occurred. [10561/15]
View answerAs advised in the previous replies, from time to time I receive allegations or such allegations are sent to the Department in relation to illegal fishing activity. In every instance, these allegations are sent to either the SFPA and/or An Garda Síochána, as appropriate, for investigation. This is the only instruction and/or advice given in respect of any such allegation. In respect of the letters received in 2014, in relating to allegations of illegal fishing from three persons, I arranged to have all three letters referred to an Garda Síochána and to the Chair of the SFPA and asked that an Garda Síochána examine all matters set down in the letters as appropriate and asked that the SFPA work, as appropriate, in conjunction with an Garda Síochána in this examination.
As Minister, I do not have a role in operational matters in relation to sea fisheries control under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006. In the event that policy issues arise in respect of this examination or any other such instance, I expect to receive a report in accordance with Section 43.1(e) of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006 and in relation to any corporate governance issues that may arise. I have not received to date any report from the SFPA in respect of these allegations.
293. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 77 of 11 February 2015, the way the expenditure for aquaculture under the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013 achieved any value for money in view of the decline in production during the same period, the minimal direct employment created, the increasing public concern regarding the damage to the environment caused by this industry and the far greater benefit that would have accrued to our coastal communities if the funding had been made available to the tourism and angling sectors. [10562/15]
View answerAs set out in response to Question No. 77 of 11 February, 2015 ex-post evaluation of the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013 is by law a matter for the European Commission.
The amount of investment in aquaculture under the Programme was modest, so no radical change in the sector was to be expected as a result. However, Bord Iascaigh Mhara advise me that the value of the sector held steady over the period, as did the overall employment. While production volumes of some species fluctuated over the period, there are many reasons for this, including in particular adverse weather events and fish diseases. I understand that production volumes are now growing again and activity levels in the sector are increasing, driven by strong demand for the products from our processing industry and from export markets.
All significant measures to be included in the new Seafood Development Programme 2014-2020 will be subject to ongoing economic evaluation in line with the requirements of EU law and the Public Spending Code.
294. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline procedures regarding aid to the civil power duties at Shannon airport with particular reference to whether Defence Forces personnel operate under instruction from gardaí, and if gardaí are required to be present at all times. [10089/15]
View answerPrimary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State, rests with An Garda Síochána. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.
On occasions, the Defence Forces are deployed to Shannon Airport in an ATCP role in support of An Garda Síochána. When deployed in an ATCP role, Defence Forces personnel remain under the operational command of a Defence Forces Officer at all times. For security and operational reasons, it is not considered appropriate to make any further comment in relation to how such operations are conducted.
295. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Defence the number of army personnel currently located at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, County Galway; the way this number has changed since his announcement of the reorganisation of the Permanent Defence Force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10105/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, arising from the comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 9,500 personnel. Resulting from the revised strength ceiling, a major re-organisation of the PDF was initiated. Key aspects of the reorganisation included the consolidation of three under-strength Army Brigades into two full strength Brigades, the consolidation of under-strength units into a smaller number of full strength units, a reduction in the number of headquarters and the associated re-deployment of personnel from administrative and support functions to operational units.
The following table below sets out the number of personnel located in Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa as on 30 November 2012 and as on 28 February 2015:
|
Date |
Strength |
|
30 November 2012 |
239 |
|
28 February 2015 |
450 |
296. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence if he will facilitate a request in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, a former member of the 12th Battalion Pipe Band, for a part of the uniform used in a period during the 1970s, as four members of that person's family served in the same battalion. [10134/15]
View answerIt was not possible to reply to the Deputy in the time available. My Department is making ongoing enquiries into the matter and I will reply directly to the Deputy once a reply comes to hand.
