Written Answers Nos. 198-217
198. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford to apply for a single payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19551/15]
View answerThe above named herdowner was issued with a guide to the number and value of entitlements he may be allocated under the Basic Payment Scheme 2015 to 2019. The number of entitlements is based on the number of hectares declared by him in 2013 but if he declares less land in 2015, the lesser number will apply. As he did not own any Single Payment Scheme entitlements in 2014, he has no reference value to carry forward to the new scheme. The projected value of the entitlements is therefore starting from zero and converging upwards over the five years of the scheme to a minimum of 60% of the national average unit value.
He also received a pack in March 2015 with an application form and maps enclosed along with a copy of the Terms and Conditions applicable under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme. In order to apply under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015 completed application forms should be returned to the Direct Payments Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois or submitted online to the Department no later than mid-night on FRIDAY 29 May 2015. This is the latest date allowed under EU rules and therefore cannot be extended. It is not permitted to submit an application form through a Local Office, or any other office of the Department.
If a pack was not received he should contact Co-ordination Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois to request a reprint.
199. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the review taking place of the regional veterinary laboratories. [19553/15]
View answerMy Department is currently undertaking a Strategic Review of its Laboratories as part of an Integrated Reform Delivery Plan agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to consider the best means of delivering laboratory services to customers.
This review is considering all of the Department’s laboratories, including the central laboratory complex at Backweston and eight laboratories (including five Regional Veterinary Laboratories) located at other sites around the country. An extensive consultative process was initially undertaken with stakeholders. A Working Group was then convened, under an external chairman, Professor Alan Reilly, with the following Terms of Reference:
1. To define the laboratory services and expertise that the Department requires at present and in the foreseeable future;
2. To consider how these laboratory services and expertise can best be delivered; and
3. To outline an implementation plan, including timescale, for proposed changes.
The first meeting of the Working Group took place on 6 January 2015. The working group is considering various proposals at present. A report from this group is expected in due course.
200. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the review contains a recommendation for the closure of regional veterinary laboratories in counties Sligo, Limerick, Cork and Kilkenny. [19554/15]
View answerThere are no plans to close any of my Department’s Regional Veterinary Laboratories. A working group has been established to review the best way to provide laboratory diagnostic services to farmers and this continues to be our priority. As would be expected they are looking at a range of options on how best to do this and will make their recommendations in due course. However, as I have publicly stated previously, I do not intend to close any regional veterinary laboratories.
201. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish the review containing a recommendation for the closure of regional veterinary laboratories in counties Sligo, Limerick, Cork, and Kilkenny. [19555/15]
View answerA working group was established in January 2015 to undertake a Strategic review of my Department’s Laboratories and to report back to me with a series of recommendations. A report from the working group is expected in due course when my senior officials and I will give it appropriate consideration. However, as I have publicly stated previously, I do not intend to close any regional veterinary laboratories.
202. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reassure the current laboratories that their existing status is secure. [19556/15]
View answerA working group was established in January 2015 to undertake a Strategic review of my Department’s Laboratories and to report back to me with a series of recommendations. A report from the working group will be finalised in due course when my senior officials and I will give it due consideration. However, as I have publicly stated previously, I do not intend to close any regional veterinary laboratories.
203. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that the regional veterinary laboratories in counties Sligo, Limerick, Cork and Kilkenny will be retained in their current form. [19557/15]
View answerMy Department has no plans to change the current form of any of its Regional Veterinary Laboratories. All of these Regional Veterinary Laboratories will continue to operate as heretofore, providing a range of laboratory diagnostic support services to the farming community through private veterinary practitioners.
204. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of employment of the workers at the regional veterinary laboratories in counties Sligo, Limerick, Cork and Kilkenny. [19558/15]
View answerThe status of employment of the workers employed in my Department’s Regional Veterinary Laboratories in counties Sligo, Limerick, Cork and Kilkenny remains unchanged. All of these workers are Civil Servants serving in various different roles.
205. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria in force for bovine and equine animals being processed at the same time in the same plant. [19572/15]
View answerUnder EU law, primary responsibility for compliance with food safety and species segregation requirements rests in the first instance with food business operators. Slaughter plants producing meat for human consumption must meet the requirements set out in detailed EU regulations generally referred to as the ‘Hygiene Package’. These regulations are implemented in Ireland under the European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations, S.I. No. 432 of 2009.
Regulation (EC) No. 853 of 2004 makes specific reference in relation to species segregation, and provides that where establishments are approved for the slaughter of different animal species or for the handling of carcasses of farmed game and wild game, precautions must be taken to prevent cross-contamination by separation either in time or in space of operations carried out on the different species.
My Department as the competent authority implements official controls designed to verify ongoing compliance by food business operators with the relevant Regulations and with their own Food Safety Management Systems and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans.
206. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing the licence to an equine processing plant owner (details supplied) in County Kildare. [19573/15]
View answerAn application from the company concerned for approval to operate an equine slaughter plant is under active consideration by my Department. All slaughter plants producing meat for human consumption must meet the requirements set out in detailed EU food safety regulations, generally referred to as the ‘Hygiene Package’. These regulations are implemented in Ireland under the European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations, S.I. No. 432 of 2009. Large scale slaughter plants and all plants involved in equine slaughter operate under the supervision of my Department.
Officials from the Veterinary Public Health Inspection Service of my Department have carried out a number of inspections and scoping visits at the proposed premises. A request to provide further documentation in relation to a Food Safety Management System and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan has been made to the applicant and a response is awaited. The granting of approval to operate will depend on the outcome of the ongoing assessment and the completion of any upgrading that may be required by the applicant to meet the regulatory standards.
207. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Limerick, who commenced farming in October 2013, will be entitled to entitlements under the Scottish derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19579/15]
View answerThe provision known as the Scottish Derogation makes available entitlements to those persons who never held entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme and who actively produced an agricultural product in the beef, dairying, sheep or arable sectors. Such production must have been in place on the 15 May 2013.
I can confirm that the person named never held entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme. However, based on the information provided, I note that his herdnumber was allocated in October 2013 and he commenced his farming at that time. If this is the case, the person named does not meet the production criterion and therefore would not be eligible under this provision.
208. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Laois, whose appeal against his Department's decision failed as the medical evidence provided was deemed to be insufficient; if he will reopen the case, as it is clear that the person was treated badly and unfairly by his Department; and if he will expedite a reply. [19604/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2014. Payment has not issued to the person named as the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme minimum eligibility requirements namely, the submission of the annual sheep census form prior to the extended closing date of 14 February 2014. The person named unsuccessfully applied for the late acceptance of the form on the grounds of force majeure. The person named has been advised of the option to submit an appeal to the Agricultural Appeals Office should he so wish.
209. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to recruit additional permanent staff to a college (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19617/15]
View answerOn 12 March 2015, I received a request from Bord Iascaigh Mhara for sanction to recruit 21 additional staff, including 3 positions with the National Fisheries College, of which 2 relate to Greencastle. This request by BIM for a very significant increase in staff resources must be considered by my Department in the context of the ongoing constrained budgetary situation and the staff resource constraints being experienced by my Department and its agencies. The BIM staffing request will be considered within the context of existing Government procedures for the assessment and consideration of such staffing requests.
210. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the revelation that over 4,000 farmers fall under the category of forgotten farmers, namely young farmers under the age of 40 who established their farm holding prior to 2008 and qualified for no, or low, entitlements, if he will immediately establish a working group of all the stakeholders in order to develop a strategy, not only to look at the entitlements issue but also at other on-farm supports for such a large number of young farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19621/15]
View answerOfficials from my Department met with representatives of the Forgotten Farmers Group on 1 April 2015. This group represents farmers under the age of 40, who established their holdings prior to 2008 and who hold low value entitlements. At this meeting the main request of the group was to increase the value of entitlements for farmers who are under 40 years to the National Average value of entitlements in 2015. It was estimated that this group would comprise of no more than 300 farmers.
Following the meeting my Department carried out analysis of the group of farmers involved. It has been established that 3 ,900 farmers fulfil these criteria. An estimation of the cost of increasing the value of existing entitlements to the National Average for these 3,900 farmers stands at €12.288m. Under EU Regulations governing the distribution of funding under the National Reserve, priority must be given to young farmers who commenced farming in the past 5 years and new entrants to farming who commenced in the last 2 years. Given the number of applications received under these two priority categories, it is not envisaged that there will be available resources to cater for this large additional group of farmers who commenced their farming activity prior to 2008.
Many of the farmers in this group will benefit from an increase in the value of their entitlements under the convergence process between 2015 and 2019. Farmers who hold entitlements that have an Initial Unit Value that is below 90% of the Basic Payment Scheme national average will see the value of their entitlements increase gradually over the five years of the scheme. By 2019, all entitlements for all farmers in Ireland will be at least 60% of the National Average value.
With regard to access under Pillar 2 to the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) for young farmers who established their holdings prior to 2008, I intend to prioritise their applications under TAMS, with grant-aid payable at 40%.
211. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of plans for an all-island animal health regime, and single country of origin food label; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19622/15]
View answerI have been a strong proponent of origin labelling as a means of providing consumers with clear and transparent information about the food they consume, including as regards the origin of that food.
The rules on origin labelling are determined at EU level and I recently signed into law an SI to give effect to the new European Regulations for country of origin labelling of meat from sheep, pigs, poultry and goats. These mandatory rules require a label to state the Member State where the animal was reared and slaughtered. They do not operate on a regional, multi member state or all-island basis.
The requirement at EU level applies only to pre-packaged meat. However, I believe this information should also be made available to consumers purchasing meat sold loose through butcher shops and deli counters. As a result, I have asked my officials to work with the Department of Health to extend these rules to “loose meat” and work is progressing well in bringing this to fruition.
With regards to Northern Ireland, I have been in regular contact with my counterpart Minister Michelle O’Neill on labelling issues that affect both jurisdictions on the island. There is also considerable engagement at official level and, only last week, my Department met with officials from DARD Northern Ireland to discuss the practical implementation of the new country of origin labelling requirements, including any impact which these may be having on the trade in lambs from Northern Ireland.
Ultimately, these issues are a function of the market and are driven by customer specification. This is borne out by the fact that live export of beef animals to the North is nearly 50% higher than it was at this time last year and this has been achieved without any change to the beef labelling rules. This shows that a true picture of the market forces impacting on the market takes time to become apparent and the situation for lamb this year is no different, particularly since the new rules have only been introduced from 1 April.
Of course, it is important that we continue to monitor the impact of labelling rules carefully. I will continue to work to ensure that mandatory labelling laws provide clear and transparent information to consumers, are practicable, and do not negatively impact on Ireland’s agri food exports.
As regards an all-island animal health regime, there is already a substantial degree of harmonisation of the veterinary regimes on the island of Ireland, particularly in view of the fact that the bulk of the animal health and welfare measures implemented on the island are based on EU legislation. However, the incidence of cattle disease is not uniform on the island, particularly in the case of Bovine TB and Brucellosis, resulting in different eradication programmes on both sides of the Border. This aside, there is ongoing good co-operation between the veterinary services North and South in the context of delivery of the All-Island Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Action Plan under the North/South Ministerial arrangements.
212. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive a herd number; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19631/15]
View answerAn application for a herdnumber from the person concerned is currently being processed by the Regional Veterinary Office of my Department. The case is at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that a herd number will issue at an early date.
I should clarify that, where an applicant under the National Reserve priority categories of ‘young farmer’ and ‘new entrant’ had not been issued a herd number or added to a herd number by the closing date of 31 March 2015, their application under the National Reserve will be accepted once they had applied for a herd number or to be added to a herd number prior to 31 March 2015. Similarly, applicants under the Young Farmers Scheme who have not been issued a herd number or added to a herd number by the closing date of 29 May 2015 will have their applications under the Scheme accepted once they have applied for a herd number or to be added to a herd number prior to 29 May.
213. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the concerns of those in the farming community regarding the online publishing of payments received by persons in relation to the possible targeting of these persons by criminal elements, especially as many are in rural locations and some are living alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19652/15]
View answerIn accordance with EU legislation (Regulation EU No: 1306/13) the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is obliged to ensure annual ex-post publication of all of the beneficiaries of CAP funding - both legal and non-legal persons. In accordance with the regulation the Department must, by the 31 May 2015, publish:
- The name of the beneficiary (unless the amount of payment under CAP funds is less than €1,250 in which case the individual will be identified by a code).
- The municipality where the beneficiary is resident.
- The amount of payment corresponding to each measure received by a beneficiary, and
- The nature and description of each measure.
I am aware of farmers’ concerns about the publication of CAP beneficiary data, however, the requirements imposed by an EU Regulation are directly applicable and binding in their entirety on a Member State and the Department does not have any discretion in the matter.
Work on developing the CAP beneficiaries’ database is ongoing in my Department and it is intended that all appropriate information will be published in the required format by the 31 May deadline.
214. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on concerns regarding the high rate of interest charges for farmers, and the agribusiness sector; the reason for Ireland's disproportionately high rates of such charges, in comparison to the European average; if he will address such concerns to the Central Bank of Ireland for urgent attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19686/15]
View answerIn recognition of these issues, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) was established last year by the Government as a state development bank. The SBCI aims to deliver lower cost, long-term, innovative and accessible funding to Irish SMEs, by offering tailored flexible products through its lending partners.
With regard to agriculture specifically, my Department and I have been active in exploring new and more competitive sources of funding and will continue to do so in the context of evolving market requirements. The recent announcement by the SBCI of a new product, ‘Agriculture Investment Loans’, is a welcome addition to the sources of funding currently in the market. This credit is available, subject to qualifying criteria, at favourable terms (i.e. longer term and lower interest rate) for investments by agricultural SMEs involved in primary agricultural production, the processing of agricultural products or the marketing of agricultural products.
In relation to accessing finance and credit terms generally, I have recently been in contact with the main banks. I emphasised that this is a critical phase in Ireland’s dairy expansion and that the increased investment and output from production and processing will have significant downstream benefits across the economy generally, including for the banking sector. In order to support the on-going development of the dairy sector and to mitigate any potential difficulties caused by milk price volatility, I asked them to explore the full range of potential measures that could serve to alleviate the loan repayment burden facing farmers and offer maximum flexibility for dairy farmers in what may be a difficult year ahead. I believe that it is essential that short term cash flow difficulties are not allowed to undermine prudent investment plans or the longer term competitiveness of their operations. I will continue to communicate with the main banks on issues affecting the sector.
215. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position Ireland is adopting, as part of the current European Union negotiations, on formulating new organic farming regulations; the contribution such farming makes to the overall agri-sector here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19688/15]
View answerThe EU Commission’s proposal on formulating new Organic Farming Regulations was first introduced in 2014. While there are many elements in this proposal that are welcomed, every Member State, without exception, had issues of concern.
The main elements of the proposal are as follows:
- Introduction of a risk-based control regime and the proposal to remove the requirement for the annual inspection by the Organic Control Bodies.
- Harmonisation of residue sampling, analysis and action thereby establishing a minimum threshold for pesticide residues above which the product cannot be sold as organic.
- The removal of the current flexibility where a farm can, under very specific conditions of separation, produce both organic and non-organic products on the same holding.
- Severe restriction in the reduction of the conversion period.
While, in principle, Ireland is supportive of many aspects of the text we feel that the proposal overall is too ambitious and does not sufficiently reflect the varying stages of development of the organic sector at individual Member State level. The proposal, as formulated, could curtail the development of the sector in Ireland and may act as an impediment to farmers wishing to convert to organic production.
Organic farming makes a significant positive contribution to the overall agri-sector in Ireland both from an environmental and economic perspective. Organic farming involves farming in an environmentally friendly and sustainable fashion within a closed system with very restrictive lists of permitted inputs which include the non-use of soluble fertilizers (synthetic fertilizers) and pesticides.
Bord Bia research has shown that there is a market demand for Irish organic beef, lamb, fruit, vegetables and cereals and currently the sector is contributing over €100 million to the Irish economy. However, a significant percentage of the Irish organic food market is comprised of imports. The organic sector therefore offers real opportunities for Irish farmers and food processors in the form of import substitution in areas where Ireland is under-producing at present, and the large export markets such as the UK and Germany.
216. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address concerns relating to the mandatory six-year contract requirement which is part of the new beef data and genomics programme; his views on concerns surrounding the complexity of the programme; the efforts his Department is making to effectively communicate the benefits of it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19689/15]
View answerThe Government has made a provision of €52m for the BDGP in 2015. It forms part of the country’s draft Rural Development Programme and will have a budget of approximately €300m over a period of 6 years. The BDGP will accelerate improvement in the crucial area of environmental sustainability in the national herd through the application of genomic technology and will bring about long-term strategic improvements to the sector by fundamentally improving the genetic quality of the beef herd. It will also position Ireland as a global leader in the application of genomics technology and confirm our reputation as one of the most important and renowned export focused beef producing nations in the world.
Participants in the programme will receive a payment of €142.50 per hectare for the first 6.66 payable hectares under the scheme, and €120 per payable hectare after that. Payment to scheme participants is on the basis of costs incurred and income foregone for each of the actions undertaken. All of the costs to the farmer, including in terms of time and effort, have been factored into the payment for the farmer as agreed with the European Commission. The payment includes a cost associated with the tissue tag sample and subsequent processing, and this will be deducted at source from the farmer’s payment.
The BDGP builds on the schemes operated by my Department in recent years and all of the actions will already be familiar to most farmers entering the scheme, including the data recording elements and the genotyping requirements. There has been some concern regarding the requirement to join the scheme for a 6 year period. This multi-annual approach is required for all EU funded agri-environmental schemes and, in any event, should facilitate long term planning on individual farms. We have also included force majeure clauses in the Terms and Conditions to deal with situations where a farmer has to withdraw from the programme due to circumstances beyond his or her control.
The replacement strategy is the other main new element of the BDGP. The need for genetic improvement in the Irish suckler herd is widely acknowledged, and the adoption of genomic technology is a critically important tool in increasing production efficiency and ultimately farmer margins. This scheme is putting €300 million into accelerating genetic improvement and so the requirement for farmers to move towards using 4 and 5 star rated stock bulls and heifers is essential to its objectives. I am fully aware that these requirements will take time which is why there is a 5 year lead-in time.
Finally, I would like to add that both my Department and the ICBF have published Questions and Answers documents to address queries being raised by farmers and these will be updated regularly as other queries arise. I also issued some updated information on the contents of the scheme only yesterday. In addition, farmers can consult the Department’s website for more information and I would encourage them to contact the Department’s helpline if they have any further questions.
217. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the use of teflubenzuron-based pesticides, which are being used in Irish salmon farms, in view of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency's recent decision to ban them, and order the removal of such pesticides from the market by their manufacturers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19695/15]
View answerThe use of a teflubenzuron-based medicine (Calicide) as an in-feed medication for the treatment of sea-lice on farmed salmon is authorised by the Health Products Regulatory Authority. Under the National Residues Control Plan for Aquaculture (as part of the overall National Residues Control Plan), the Marine Institute tests for residues of veterinary medicines, including teflubenzuron, in fish at harvest stage:
- to ensure farmed fish are fit for human consumption and do not contain substances exceeding their maximum residue limit, as laid out in the EU Residues Directive (96/23/EC) and
- to promote good practice in aquaculture with respect to the use of therapeutic treatments.
The results from this monitoring show consistent low occurrence of residues in farmed finfish, with 0% non-compliant target residue results for the period 2006-2014.
In furtherance of my Department’s policy of best practice in respect of aquaculture operations, I will keep the matter under review.
