Written Answers Nos. 114-124
114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied that the benefits of Common Agricultural Policy reform are distributed evenly throughout the agri-food sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19139/15]
View answerOne of the main policy changes agreed in the 2013 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy was to give Member States the flexibility to redistribute EU direct payments between farmers with a view to ensuring a fairer and more equitable distribution of these payments. This flexibility allowed Member States to even out anomalies in payment levels while ensuring that the level of redistribution was not of a scale that could have a detrimental effect on the production capacity of their farmers. In Ireland’s case, we used this flexibility to converge the extremely high and extremely low payment levels to a degree that would not jeopardise the achievement of the Food Harvest 2020 objectives.
The reform also made special provision for generation renewal in the farming sector by providing additional supports for young farmers.
I am satisfied that both of these initiatives have served to make the reformed CAP fairer and more equitable, and to ensure that the benefits of the reform are evenly spread throughout the sector.
116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to be satisfied regarding the competitiveness of Irish food exports on the world food market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19141/15]
View answerThe primary indicator of the competitiveness of this country’s food and beverage exports on world markets is the performance of those exports in recent years. The sector’s exports have performed strongly in the last five years, reaching an estimated €10.45 billion in 2014 and consolidating the sizeable increases seen annually since 2010. These have seen the value of Food & Beverage exports rise by 45% since 2009.
The Food Harvest 2020 plan set an ambitious target of 42% growth in such exports by 2020, compared to the baseline, and 27% growth had already been achieved by 2014 (the most recent data available). Nonetheless, I regard it as prudent to continually review the internal and external environment so that we will continue to maximise the opportunities available to this indigenous sector, including in the export sphere. To that end, I have appointed a 2025 Agri-Food Strategy Committee to report back to me by end June with any key recommendations and actions they consider necessary to ensure continued growth both home and abroad.
117. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to maintain and apply traceability and records in respect of the non-thoroughbred horse industry, with particular reference to the need to ensure compliance with best practice and husbandry standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19142/15]
View answerMy Department has introduced a number of regulations in recent years designed to improve the traceability of equines, including horses. The regulations apply equally to thoroughbred and non-thoroughbred horses.
With regard to the identification of equines, Commission Regulation 504 of 2008, which sets down the implementing rules relating to the methods of identification of equines, has been transposed into national law via S.I. No. 207 of 2014. The system for identifying horses for the first time on or after 1st July 2009 is comprised of three elements, namely
(i) a single identification document (equine passport),
(ii) a method to ensure an unequivocal link between the animal and the identification document (transponder implanted by a practising veterinary surgeon), and
(iii) a database recording under a unique identification number which details identification information regarding the animal for which the identification document was issued, to a person recorded in the database.
My Department also introduced legislation in 2014 requiring transfer of ownership details to be notified to the relevant PIO and the central database within 30 days of date of transfer.
In addition, persons in charge of any premises in which horses or other equines (such as donkeys, ponies etc) are kept are required under S.I. No. 113 of 2014 to register their premises with my Department and to maintain records to assist the Department in tracing horses, should a disease outbreak occur.
Furthermore, as part of the identification process for equines resident in Ireland, an owner/keeper who applies to have their horse identified is requested to provide the premises registration number of the holding where the animal will be normally resident to the issuing Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO).
Enforcement of relevant equine legislation is undertaken by authorised officers in my Department, the Garda Síochána, the Local Authorities and other officers appointed by the Minister, as required.
Legislation on the identification and traceability of horses is primarily designed to ensure that horses can be traced throughout their life with a view to ensuring that they comply with legislation relating to animal and public health, including the exclusion of horses, which have been treated with certain medicines, from the human food chain, and animal welfare. While it does not have specific objective in relation to animal husbandry, it can, as with any animal identification system, facilitate the adoption of best practice in relation to husbandry on farms.
118. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the number of persons employed in the fishing industry continues to be monitored, with a view to maximising employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19143/15]
View answerMy Department and Bord Iascaigh Mhara continue to monitor employment in the seafood industry through CSO statistics and other information gathered by BIM in the course of their work with the industry. On 27 March 2015, I announced plans for a new €241 million development programme for the seafood sector for the period up to 2020, co-funded by the EU through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
Our Seafood sector is worth in the region of €850 million annually to our economy, with exports growing by 70% since 2009 to €540 million. Seafood is widely recognised as a high growth area of our economy. Through Food Harvest 2020 and this new Seafood Development Programme, I am targeting growth of the seafood industry to €1 billion by 2020, with growth in employment of 3,000 to 14,000 people employed in our coastal communities. The new Seafood Development Programme will be a key element in achievement of that growth target. It will provide the capital to assist seafood enterprises to sustainably grow their production, add value to our seafood exports and create much needed employment in our coastal communities.
119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to monitor the benefits of the cessation of the dumping at sea of surplus fish catches in excess of quota; the extent to which this continues to improve conservation and observe best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19144/15]
View answerThe dumping of “surplus catch”, or “discarding” as it is most commonly referred to, is a complex global problem where unwanted catches are returned to the sea as a result of a number of factors including quota restrictions, high grading, minimum landing sizes and market conditions.
Ireland has been to the forefront for many years in the drive to reduce and eliminate discards in order to eliminate waste, to protect young fish and to rebuild stocks in order to conserve fish stocks and ensure a sustainable future for the fishing industry.
Finding practical and implementable solutions to the wasteful practice of discarding fish was a major component of the negotiations for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) which were concluded under the Irish Presidency in 2013. Following intensive negotiations, agreement was reached on a practical and phased discards policy or landing obligation commencing from 1st January 2015. The agreed phasing in period, up to 1st January 2019, means that fishermen will have time to adjust and implement changes that will allow for the avoidance of non-target species.
Under the regional decision-making process introduced by the new CFP, Ireland and the other Member States of the North Western Waters Region (Belgium, France, UK, Netherlands and Spain) agreed on a specific discards plan for pelagic stocks which came into effect this year. This Group is continuing to develop a regional discards plan for demersal stocks which is due to be introduced on a phased basis from 1st January 2016. The phasing in of the landing obligation will allow Ireland and the other members of the North Western Waters group to monitor its implementation.
At a national level, I have established a national Discards Implementation Group under the chairmanship of Dr. Noel Cawley, to facilitate the phasing in of the landing obligation. The remit of this Group is to advise me on issues arising in the effective implementation of the new policy and to recommend practical solutions and arrangements that take into account the situation of the Irish industry.
I believe that the ending of the previous high levels of discarding carried out by all EU fleets fishing on stocks of interest to the Irish fishing industry will greatly help over time to underpin the sustainability of the Irish fishing industry and lead to greater conservation of fish stocks to the benefit of all.
121. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Defence the total expenditure on consultancy by his Department; the number of consultants engaged by his Department, in the years 2011 to 2014; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps which have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy, and the reliance on consultants by his Department, in these years, and for the future. [18953/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by my Department since 2011 is set out in the following table. My Department is always mindful of the costs involved in engaging consultants. External consultants are engaged only when there is a clear need for specialised expertise and following a rigorous examination of skills and resources available in-house.
|
Company Name |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
AL Goodbody Solicitors |
€21,169 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Bianconi Research Ltd T/A RITS |
Nil |
€37,872 |
€30,645 |
€44,852 |
|
Central Health & Safety Services Ltd. |
Nil |
€6,273 |
€3,998 |
Nil |
|
Col. E. V. Campion |
€5,000 |
€5,000 |
€5,000 |
€5,000 |
|
Conor Flynn T/A ISAS |
€10,395 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Dr. Eileen Doyle |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€22,500 |
|
Fujitsu (Ireland) Ltd |
€10,262
|
€163,354 |
€63,332
|
€31,016 |
|
Mr. Frank Callanan, S.C. |
Nil |
€51,660 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Mr. Jacques Michaud |
Nil |
Nil |
€20,000 |
Nil |
|
Mr. Maurice Collins, S.C. |
€9,075 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Ms. Sandra McDonald |
Nil |
Nil |
€6,000 |
Nil |
|
Ryan Hanley (Consultant Engineer) |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€60,912 |
|
Version 1 Ltd |
€1,353
|
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
122. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the procedures available to a person who feels abandoned by the legal system in a case of plagiarism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18930/15]
View answerPlagiarism is the taking of another's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. It is a matter of particular concern in an educational setting. While plagiarism per se is neither a criminal offence nor a tort, it can infringe upon intellectual property rights. Depending on the circumstances in which material is plagiarised and is used, e.g. where it is sold in contravention of copyright legislation Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 it can amount to a criminal offence and an actionable tort.
A person who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a legal case should consult with a legal practitioner on the options available.
123. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total expenditure on consultancy by her Department; the number of consultants engaged by her Department, in the years 2011 to 2014; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps which have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy, and the reliance on consultants by her Department, in these years, and for the future. [18958/15]
View answerThe use of consultancy services by my Department is kept under constant review. Wherever possible such tasks are carried out, in - house, by Departmental staff. Specific steps taken to reduce expenditure on external services include the implementation of strict controls over business case requirement and approval process prior to the engagement of such services. In other words a clear business need must be established before expenditure on such services is approved. The details requested by the Deputy for each of the years 2011-2014 was as follows:
|
Year |
Number of Contracts |
Expenditure |
|
2011 |
4 |
€33,888 |
|
2012 |
3 |
€224,826 |
|
2013 |
5 |
€53,794 |
|
2014 |
5 |
€91,395 |
Contracts over the period in question were awarded to the following companies:
Professor Gisli Gudjohnson
Forensic Navigation Services
Byrne O'Cleirigh
LHM Casey McGrath
McCann Fitzgerald
Hibernia Evros
McGill Planning
RITS Bianconi Research Ltd
Derililinx Ltd
Laura Dillon & Associates
The Communications Clinic
124. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by An Garda Síochána; the number of consultants engaged by An Garda Síochána, in the years 2011 to 2014; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps which have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy, and the reliance on consultants by An Garda Síochána, in these years, and for the future. [18966/15]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.
