Written Answers Nos. 64 - 87
64. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if cross-Border procurement has increased; and if so, the amount by which it has increased since the Office of Government Procurement began operating. [13511/15]
View answerUnder EU and national rules, the public procurement of works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. The aim of these European rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. It would be a breach of the rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular bidders on grounds of nationality and there are legal remedies which may be used against any public body infringing these rules.
The Office of Government Procurement has been operational since January 2014. Statistical information in relation to above-EU threshold tendering activity by the Irish public sector is collected and provided to the European Commission for each year. These EU statistics for 2013 and 2014 are not yet available and therefore we do not have the data to perform trend analysis on that tendering activity. The OGP plans to issue an annual report on spend and tendering analysis for 2014 similar to that recently published on 2013 data. Content of the report will be subject to data collected.
The 2013 Spend and Statistics Report mentioned above and issued by the OGP analysed a subset of total procurement spend for government. The OGP is confident that the data set is representative of public service spend and that the collection and reporting methodology is robust. The procurement expenditure that has been classified and analysed for this report is €2.742 billion across 35,827 suppliers. Of this €2.742 billion 93% went to Supplier accounts in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) and 7% went to Supplier accounts outside the RoI. It must be noted that the data set for 2013 used in this report is not complete and that as more data is collected and analysed, and business profiles for Suppliers are received, the statistics may change.
The reform of public procurement across the public service is on-going and will continue to provide opportunities to the SME sector to win business. My Department continues to introduce changes to assist SME's in competing for government contracts. In April 2014, I introduced Circular 10/14 which provided guidance to contracting authorities on measures to reduce barriers for SMEs in tendering for public contracts. In addition, the Office of Government Procurement continues to engage with industry bodies through the SME Working Group to identify issues in public procurement and implement solutions.
The public procurement market in the EU is estimated to be valued in excess of €2.4 trillion. It is important to remember that open tendering is a two way street and that it provides Irish companies with opportunities to compete abroad.
65. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department will soon be in a position to approve the application by Wicklow County Council for remedial coastal protection works at the South Beach Arklow Golf Club in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13512/15]
View answerIn February 2015, Wicklow County Council (WCC) submitted an application for funding under the Office of Public Works (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for coastal protection works to alleviate coastal flooding at South Beach, Arklow that affects a factory and a commercial office premises.
Following discussions between the OPW and WCC officials, the Council undertook to submit further information to enable the application to be assessed under the relevant eligibility criteria of the Scheme, which include a requirement that any works must be cost beneficial. The OPW is awaiting this further information and, when received, the assessment of the application will be finalised. I will ensure that a decision is notified to the Council as soon as possible.
66. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 315 of 24 March 2015, the way the Industrial Development Agency’s digital marketing campaign works in marketing the midlands region for potential investors; the specific campaign content, specific messaging, specific target countries and demographic, and specific outcomes and targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13603/15]
View answerIDA Ireland devised a digital marketing initiative for attracting inward investment by highlighting the specific attributes of individual regional locations throughout the country. The Midlands region is one of seven regions to be included in the initiative. ‘Invest in Midlands’ is a digital marketing tool, which provides an interactive experience designed for use on tablet, smartphone and PC. Information on location, education, lifestyle and existing IDA client companies and indigenous companies is provided through rich images, video and text, which are continuously updated.
The Midlands region comprises the counties of Laois, Offaly, Longford, and Westmeath, the region has a population of 476,178 residing within a 60 minute drive radius from Athlone. IDA companies in the Midlands permanently employ approximately 4,000 people. Its strategic location provides unparalleled national interconnectivity on the national rail and road network, and is within 90 minutes of international airports and ports. The website allows IDA executives, both overseas and in Ireland, to showcase the Midlands to potential clients in face-to-face meetings.
For reasons of client confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, IDA Ireland does not disclose either the specific targets or the outcomes from such a campaign but rest assured that the Agency constantly monitors the effectiveness of its advertising campaigns.
67. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide additional supports for the fishing industry, following the reductions in the haddock quota by 12% and the cod quota by 13%, despite evidence that fish stocks are showing signs of growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13440/15]
View answerDuring last December’s Fisheries Council I worked closely with the fishing industry and other stakeholders to deliver quotas for Ireland that involve reductions only where justified and ensured that a rational and prudent account is taken of the available scientific information to inform the Council’s decisions.
After intensive negotiations, we successfully managed to turn an extremely worrying proposal from the European Commission into a much improved outcome for the Irish whitefish industry.
The most difficult area coming into those negotiations was the Commission proposals for cod and haddock in the Celtic Sea. I successfully resisted very substantial cuts in cod and haddock quotas following extremely difficult negotiations. I was able to bring to the table an Irish industry initiative to introduce new fishing gear in 2015 that will allow more young fish to escape and this assisted me greatly in getting the proposed severe cuts (-64% Cod and -41% Haddock) brought down to more manageable levels of 12% and 13% respectively. This important initiative, it is estimated, will reduce discards of haddock and whiting in the Celtic Sea by some 4,000 tonnes each year - a 30% reduction in total discards of these stocks. It will assist greatly in providing a solid basis for the growth of these fish stocks in the Celtic Sea and should support quota increases in the coming years and the fishing industry should be commended for their initiative.
The overall package agreed for whitefish quotas for Irish fishermen in 2015 represents a successful outcome considering the depth of cuts proposed by the Commission at the start of these Council negotiations and this fact has been acknowledged by the industry. We secured an increase for our vitally important prawn fishery and stability for many of our valuable stocks around our coast. This is a good outcome for the fishing industry and it also supports a sustainable approach to protecting our fish stocks.
In terms of additional supports for the fishing industry, I launched for public consultation a €241 million investment programme for the seafood sector. This investment will assist seafood enterprises to sustainably grow their production, add value to our seafood exports and create much needed employment in our coastal communities.
Over the last two years I was successful in negotiating a doubling for the period to 2020 of the EU seafood development funds available to Ireland. Under this Programme, €147m will be provided to Ireland under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. Government is providing an additional €94 million in co-funding, demonstrating our commitment to growing and developing the sector. The details of exactly how this package will be distributed are contained in a proposal that is currently undergoing a public consultation process at which point I will be considering all views and discussing them with stakeholders.
68. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will have the condition of the erosion damaged pier at Maharees in Castlegregory in County Kerry investigated, as it is disintegrating at the base, and chunks of concrete and re-inforcing rods are breaking off and are a danger to children who swim at the pier and to boats tied up at the pier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13453/15]
View answerMy Department does not have responsibility for the pier at Maharees, which is owned by Kerry County Council. The responsibility for its development, repair and maintenance rests with that Local Authority. I would therefore direct the deputy to contact the Local Authority in the first instance with regard to this matter.
69. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be issued a payment under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13458/15]
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 checking process in respect of the 2013 Scheme year, a query arose in respect of land parcels declared, which required digitisation. A request to digitise the parcels concerned was received by my Department in February 2015, however the information submitted was insufficient. My Department has contacted the person named requesting the additional information required to complete the digitisation process.
Once the digitisation process is completed, the application will be processed with a view to making payment in respect of 2013 at the earliest opportunity.
70. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive a payment under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13460/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013 and payment has issued in respect of the 2013 Scheme year. 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. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and full payment has issued to the person named - 75% payment issued on 30 March 2015 and the balancing 25% payment issued on 31 March 2015.
71. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments due to a person (details supplied) in County Galway in respect of 2014 will issue from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13471/15]
View answerTo be eligible for the 2014 Single Payment Scheme (SPS), or the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS), claimants must have submitted an application on or before the closing date of 15 May 2014. Late applications were accepted, with penalty, up to and including 9 June 2014. My Department’s records do not provide any record of the person named either submitting or attempting to submit an application either electronically or by post in the time specified above. As no application has been received, the person named is not eligible for payment under the schemes mentioned.
72. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish a category of specific disadvantage under the national reserve for young farmers who established their holding prior to 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13477/15]
View answerIn accordance with the EU Regulations governing the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme, a young farmer is defined as a farmer aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme and who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting that application. Priority under the National Reserve is given to ‘young farmers’ and to ‘new entrants to farming’. The Regulations governing the operation of the National Reserve also include an optional provision whereby Member States may use the National Reserve to allocate new entitlements or give a top-up on the value of existing entitlements for persons who suffer from a ‘Specific Disadvantage’.
Following my Department’s consultation with the EU Commission, I recently announced that the group commonly known as “Old Young Farmers”, who established their holding between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2009, and who, due to the timeframe of setting up their holding, did not benefit from either the Installation Aid or the Young farmer category of the National Reserve, can be considered as a ‘group suffering from specific disadvantage’. The result is that this group will be eligible to apply to the National Reserve under Phase 2 which will open for applications in early April.
With regard to the group of farmers to which the Deputy refers who commenced farming prior to 2008, officials from my Department are meeting today with representatives of this group to discuss their particular circumstances.
In establishing the National Reserve I opted for the maximum available 3% of the Basic Payment Scheme financial ceiling, which is estimated at providing a fund of approx. €24 million in 2015. I expect that there will be significant demand for the two priority categories of young farmer and new entrant under Phase 1 of the National Reserve. These two priority categories closed for applications yesterday and the estimated cost of the applications will now be assessed. My Department will then have an indication of the level of resource remaining in the National Reserve to cater for categories under Phase 2 of the Reserve.
73. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to prevent a person (details supplied) in County Galway, who has recently been convicted of animal cruelty, from again taking in animals that are at serious risk of neglect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13478/15]
View answerThe person named is cooperating with officials of my Department and the ISPCA to ensure that appropriate standards of animal welfare and animal husbandry are being maintained on the person's holding. Matters relating to disqualification or having control of animals are set out in the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and are for the courts to determine.
74. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a payment under the forestry premium scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick has not issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13480/15]
View answerAn on-site inspection was carried out by the Forest Service Inspector and based on his inspection report, grant aid has been refused for this application as Shell Marl permeates the site. This decision was notified to the applicant by letter dated 29 January, 2014 offering her the option of lodging an appeal within 30 days but no further correspondence has been received from the applicant.
75. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a payment for 2014 under the disadvantaged areas scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13517/15]
View answerAn application under 2014 Single Payment, Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 7 May 2014. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has not issued to date, as the holding concerned has not yet satisfied the Scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named with a view to resolving the outstanding issue.
76. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the reduction or elimination of import tariffs through an increase in a tariff rate quota under theTransatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13548/15]
View answer77. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the abolition of the milk quota regime under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13549/15]
View answer78. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the Irish agri-food sector under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13550/15]
View answer79. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the low cost of production of beef, pigmeat and poultry in the United States of America (details supplied) under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13551/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 76 to 79, inclusive, together.
I believe that a trade and investment agreement between the European Union and the United States will be good for Ireland and good for Europe. Such an agreement has, in my view, the potential to enhance growth and increase jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. In the agriculture sector, Ireland has substantial offensive interests. We are keen to increase our access to the American market for dairy products, pig-meat, beverages and food ingredients. Now that we have gained access to the US beef market, we want to grow that trade by securing higher quotas and lower tariffs.
Of course we have defensive interests as well. One of these is our beef sector where we are mindful of the potential of increased imports of US beef to have a negative effect on the economics of EU and Irish beef production, particularly beef from suckler cows. We must ensure that the EU market is not undermined by over-supply and our proposals to mitigate the impact of quotas and tariff cuts are well known to the Commission. These defensive interests should be seen in the light of the current high US beef prices which at least temporarily reduce the US competitive advantage, and the recent opening of the US market to Irish beef, with the favourable prospects for capitalising on this through TTIP by further reductions in beef tariffs and the opening of a quota for the EU.
On the dairy side, the focus of our expanded production post-quota is on emerging markets in Asia, and indeed the United States, and we do not see increased imports from the US to the EU as a significant threat. There are also significant market opportunities for Irish pig-meat in the United States and it is important that we balance our defensive interests in this sector against the prospects for increasing our exports.
Finally in relation to food standards, it is a prerequisite in these negotiations and a red line for me that imports from the United States must comply with equivalent standards of animal health, welfare and food safety to those observed by EU producers and processors.
We are at a relatively early stage in these negotiations but I am confident that there is sufficient determination and good will to secure an agreement that will be beneficial on both sides of the Atlantic.
80. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue under the single payment scheme and the agri-environment options scheme for 2012, 2013 and 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13564/15]
View answerThe person named first submitted a Single Payment application form in 2011. This application comprised two plots of commonage land. In the 2012 application of the person named additional lands were added to the claim, including a plot of mountain land and more commonage plots. Officials in my Department are carrying out an investigation into the right to claim these lands by the person named. As soon as this investigation is completed the applications submitted under the claim years 2011 to 2014 will be finalised and the outcome of the investigation will be communicated to the person named.
The person named applied to join AEOS on 7 December 2012. He was informed by letter dated 10 June 2013 that he did not meet the eligibility criteria and was informed of his right of appeal to the AEOS section. The applicant appealed this decision on 13 June 2013. Initially the person named was informed that the appeal would be decided following resolution of the outstanding SPS issues. However the person named was subsequently informed that regardless of these issues the AEOS application would not be successful as the farm size exceeded the 22.06 ha allowed under the AEOS selection criteria. The person named was informed of this and informed of his right of appeal to the Agricultural Appeals Office.
81. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the 2014 disadvantaged areas scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13565/15]
View answerProcessing of the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application submitted by the person named has recently been completed with payment due to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the applicant shortly.
82. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Defence if he has examined the feasibility of selling the decommissioned naval vessel, LE Aoife; if he will report on the discussions with the Maltese authorities regarding the vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13524/15]
View answerLÉ Aoife was decommissioned from the Naval Service fleet earlier this year following 35 years of service. The intention was to sell the decommissioned ship at a public auction.
However, following a formal expression of interest from the Maltese authorities in acquiring LÉ Aoife, and subsequent discussions with my counterpart the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security who informed me that the Maltese authorities require this ship for their armed forces to patrol the Mediterranean Sea to endeavour to deal with the ongoing difficult refugee crisis in the region, the plan to sell LÉ Aoife was reconsidered. Recent tragic events in that part of the Mediterranean have underlined the significant challenges which need to be addressed by the international community, and I agreed to the transfer of ownership of LÉ Aoife to the Maltese Armed Forces on humanitarian grounds.
While the vessel is no longer viable for use in Irish waters it is ideally suited to address a pressing short-term requirement. The donation of LÉ Aoife will contribute additional capability to the Maltese authorities, and especially the Armed Forces of Malta in their humanitarian work.
Discussions between officials of my Department and the Maltese authorities regarding the modalities for the transfer of ownership of LÉ Aoife to the Maltese Armed Forces took place in the Naval Base last week and are expected to be finalised shortly.
83. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Defence if there are any military personnel being trained here by the Defence Forces; if so, the states they come from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13525/15]
View answerI am informed by the military authorities that as of 30 March, 2015, there are 10 foreign military personnel undergoing training with the Defence Forces in Ireland. The personnel in question come from Malta, Germany and the United States of America. 7 Maltese students are in training as cadets and 1 Maltese student is studying on the Junior Command and Staff Course. 1 German student and 1 American Student are studying on the Senior Command and Staff Course. These courses are being run in the relevant schools in the Defence Forces Training Centre, The Curragh, County Kildare.
84. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to the Garda Síochána report that some 1,710 firearms were reported stolen in the years 2010 to 2014, the number that were shotguns stolen from licence holders, where the shotgun was the only firearm held; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13482/15]
View answer85. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to the report by the Garda Síochána that some 1,710 firearms were reported stolen in the years 2010 to 2014, the number of shotguns stolen, where the shotgun was the only firearm held, that were stored in circumstances which were not in compliance with Statutory Instrument No. 307 Firearms (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 2009, that is, that the shotgun was fitted with a trigger lock and was otherwise disassembled with each critical component part stored securely and separately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13483/15]
View answer86. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the report by the Garda of some 1,710 firearms reported stolen in the years 2010 to 2014, the number of shotguns stolen, whereby the shotgun was the only firearm held, that were stored in compliance with Statutory Instrument No. 307 of 2009, Firearms (Secure Accommodation) Regulations 2009, that is, that the shotgun was fitted with a trigger lock and disassembled with each critical component part stored securely and separately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13484/15]
View answer87. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the report by the Garda of some 1,710 firearms reported stolen in the years 2010 to 2014, the number of shotguns which were stolen, where the shotgun was the only firearm held, that were not in fact complete firearms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13485/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 84 to 87, inclusive, together.
I have asked the Garda Commissioner for a report in relation to this matter and will write to the Deputy when I have further information.
