Written Answers Nos 92-97
92. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will have a penalty under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme waived on foot of the genuine explanation issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12276/15]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first six years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Following the administrative checks in 2013, issues were discovered in relation to area-discrepancies in the lands claimed in the period 2008 to 2013 which resulted in application of a clawback of monies paid.
However, on foot of a request from the person named a comprehensive review of this case is now underway and should be completed in the next week or so. The person named will be notified of the findings immediately and if not satisfied with the result of the review, he will have the right to have the case examined by the independent Agriculture Appeals Office.
93. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contracts a person's businesses and-or subsidiaries (details supplied) have with his Department; the value of these contracts; their length; and the other companies who entered the tendering process that resulted in this person's companies winning the contract. [12348/15]
View answerMy Department is not in a position to provide a reply to this question as the details supplied are not sufficient to provide an accurate and complete response to the Deputy. If the deputy would like to provide details of the companies in question I will provide any information available.
94. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average age of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially owned State companies, State bodies, semi-State bodies and State agencies under the aegis of his Department on the State's payroll; the number of directors on the board of more than one such body; the number of women; and his plans to make savings from this area. [12550/15]
View answerAge is not one of the selection criteria for appointment to a board of any of the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department and therefore my Department has no information in this regard.
Of the total number of board members across the twelve State Bodies one member serves on the boards of both Teagasc and Bord Bia.
There are a total of nineteen female board members across the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department.
Wherever and whenever possible I will, as a matter of course, reduce costs in the area of Board membership.
95. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially owned State companies, of State bodies, of semi-State bodies and of State agencies under the aegis of his Department on the State's payroll; the total cost to the State from the payout to these non-executive directors including fees, travel and other expenditure; his plans to reduce the number of these chairpersons or directors. [12600/15]
View answerThere are a total of one hundred and one chairpersons and non-executive directors on the boards of state bodies under my aegis.
The authorised fees to the chairpersons and board members are outlined in the attached table. If no board member waives their fee, the total cost to the state bodies would be €783,572. No fees are payable to serving public servants.
The travel and other expenditure is an operational matter for the state bodies themselves.
I do not have any plans to reduce the numbers of chairpersons or members.
|
Body/Agency |
Authorised Board Fees per Annum |
|
Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board |
Chair: €8,978 Board member: €5,985 |
|
An Bord Bia |
Chair: €20,520 Board member: €11,970 |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
Chair €11,970 Board Member €7,695 |
|
Bord na gCon |
Chair: €21,600 Board member: €12,600 |
|
Coillte |
Chair: €21,600 Board member: €12,600 |
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
Chair: €21,600 Board member: €12,600 |
|
Irish National Stud |
Chair: €12,600 Ordinary member: €8,100 |
|
Marine Institute |
Chair: €11,970 Board Member: €7,695 |
|
National Milk Agency |
Chair: €8,978 No remuneration is paid to Board members, only expenses. |
|
Teagasc |
Chair: €20,520 Board member: €11,970 |
|
Veterinary Council |
No remuneration is paid to Board members |
97. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Defence if genetic tests for the gene G6PD (Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency) were carried out on all Irish soldiers who returned from duty in Africa; and if so, if permission was given for the tests by those tested. [12300/15]
View answerI am advised that Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (or G6PD) deficiency is an enzyme deficiency for which all inductees (Recruits and Cadets) are now tested at their induction medical. If the result is normal, then there is no need for these personnel to be tested again.
Defence Forces personnel who are to deploy to a malarious area and who have not previously been tested for G6PD deficiency are tested for same prior to being found fit for deployment overseas. Personnel need only be tested once for the deficiency.
Defence Forces personnel sign an undertaking at attestation stating that they are willing to be vaccinated, re-vaccinated, inoculated and to have blood or other body fluids extracted under medical supervision for any purpose including blood grouping, blood transfusion, HIV testing and drugs screening.
