Written Answers Nos. 42-51
42. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in light of the management of dog pounds going out to tender for the first time, if his Department will conduct inspections to be certain the highest standards are maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25949/15]
View answerUnder the Control of Dogs Act 1986, as amended by the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act 1992, local authorities are responsible for all matters relating to dog control and dog pounds. My Department maintains a close working relationship with the Local Authorities on dog welfare matters. I am informed that regular inspections of dog pounds are carried out by the Local Authority veterinary officers and, in addition, that all pounds have recourse to regular services of private veterinarians to deal with sick animals and emergency cases.
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 is enforced by authorised officers of my Department, by An Garda Síochána and by authorised inspectors of the ISPCA and the DSPCA under service provisions of the Act. The Act also provides for the authorisation by local authorities of persons to carry out functions under the Act. If the Deputy has a concern in regard to a welfare issue at any dog pound, she should contact both the Local Authority and my Department immediately.
My Department works very closely with welfare organisations, local authorities and the Gardai to intervene in cases of animal neglect or cruelty. In addition, my Department operates an Animal Welfare Helpline which the public can avail of to report instances where animal welfare may be compromised.
43. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the level of imports of dairy products from the European Union into China which were reported to be down 40% in 2014; and if this will affect the sector here. [26068/15]
View answerThe development of a dairy and agri-food export market for Irish produce in China has been a priority for me since becoming Minister. I strongly believe that progress to date can only be viewed as very positive, with the added bonus of a huge latent potential remaining to be developed on an ongoing basis, as we increase production following quota abolition.
As Minister for Agriculture, I have headed two trade missions to China, with dairy market development a significant feature in both. Ireland’s dairy offering resonates with Chinese consumers who place safety, traceability and sustainability at the core of their value proposition. The Chinese authorities undertook a detailed inspection visit of our food safety systems and plants in 2014 and Irish dairy plants received a 100% approval rating which we believe to be the highest success rate of any of our competitor countries around the world. As part of my last mission to China in November 2014 I also hosted a highly successful dairy seminar attended by key Chinese buyers and media.
Recently, Chinese buying on platforms such as the Global Dairy Trade auction has slackened somewhat with Chinese stocks of dairy produce reportedly filled to required domestic levels. Obviously this will have impacts globally on the dairy trade given the volume of product which China buys annually. The slowing of the Chinese market has coincided with increased milk output in the main production areas of Europe, New Zealand and the US which have provided a combination of factors contributing to a softening of the market. There is also the announcement last week by the Russian authorities of the extension of their ban on food products of the EU which, while not unexpected, is clearly not good news for a market already under pressure.
The Irish Dairy sector has made extraordinary strides in China in recent years. Ireland has an evolving focus towards, and nonetheless competes at, the higher value end of the Chinese dairy market. In the infant formula sector, Irish based products are viewed as super-premium brands. China is now Ireland’s second largest export market for dairy produce, compared to 13th in 2008. In total, companies based in Ireland exported almost €400m worth of dairy produce to China in 2014. This is an increase from just €104m in 2010 and highlights the huge rate of growth in our dairy exports there in a short space of time. More recently, in the 3 month period to the end of March of this year, dairy product exports to China from Ireland were up over 50% on the same period in 2014, with infant formula the key driver.
Recently, Chinese buying on platforms such as the Global Dairy Trade auction has slackened somewhat with Chinese stocks of dairy produce reportedly filled to required domestic levels. Obviously this will have impacts globally on the dairy trade given the volume of product which China buys annually. The slowing of the Chinese market has coincided with increased milk output in the main production areas of Europe, New Zealand and the US which have provided a combination of factors contributing to a softening of the market. There is also the announcement last week by the Russian authorities of the extension of their ban on food products of the EU which, while not unexpected, is clearly not good news for a market already under pressure.
My focus now is on expanding even further the growth rates which Irish dairy has achieved in China to date and this involves working closely with Bord Bia and industry to build on recent successes, not just in China but in all of the 170 countries around the worked in which Irish dairy produce is sold. In this regard I plan to lead trade missions to China and West Africa, before the end of this year, which as always will seek to find new business opportunities for Irish dairy products.
44. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 467 of 9 June 2015, the reason for the planned closure of Harold's Cross greyhound stadium, particularly in view of reports that it is considerably more profitable than other stadia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26104/15]
View answerThe Indecon report (“Review of Certain Matters relating to Bord na gCon”) which was published in July 2014 contained 27 recommendations, including a recommendation that a plan for asset disposals should be implemented. In accordance with the provisions contained in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and in accordance with the Horse and Greyhound Racing (Betting Charges and Levies) Act 1999, Section 10(18C) Bord na gCon must obtain the consent of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the disposal of any property. I have not received any request for such consent at this point in relation to Harold's Cross greyhound track.
The Indecon report which was published in July 2014 recommended that Bord na gCon actively engage in a programme of asset disposals in order to reduce debt levels. The report listed potential asset disposals that should be considered which include the site at Meelick near Limerick City, the old Henry Street head office in Limerick, land in Cork and the Harold’s Cross track. The report further recommended that the timing of these asset sales should be made in a manner which maximises the value for Bord na gCon and should take account of planning/zoning issues and market developments.
Bord na gCon’s annual report and accounts for the year ending 31 December 2014, are currently being audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. These accounts, which are not yet published, indicate that the BNG’s net bank borrowings at 31st December 2014 stood at €22.4m.
It is of the utmost importance that Bord na gCon should strengthen its overall financial position and reduce its borrowings over time. Bord na gCon assures me that it is progressing with the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Indecon report, including an asset disposal strategy aimed at reducing its level of borrowing. In this regard, Bord na gCon has drawn up a plan for asset disposal with a view to ensuring that the greyhound industry can reach its full potential and prosper into the future.
In according to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, the disposal of assets by State bodies or the granting of access to property or infrastructure for commercial arrangements e.g. joint ventures with third parties, with an anticipated value at or above a threshold level of €150,000, should be by auction or by competitive tendering process, other than in exceptional circumstances. The code further states that the method used should be both transparent and likely to achieve a fair market-related price.
45. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assistance available from his Department for the development of port and harbour infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26070/15]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Ros an Mhíl and Killybegs. This Department is also responsible for North Harbour at Cape Clear Island and for maintaining a range of piers, lights and beacons around the coast in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board Piers, Lights and Beacons Act. The Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme which the Department administers on an annual basis provides for works relating to the maintenance and development of the above located harbour infrastructure. In 2015 I allocated a total of € 14.8 million for the repair and development of Department owned and managed infrastructure.
The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine’s Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme has in previous years provided funding to Local Authorities for small scale development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours & slipways subject to the availability of exchequer funding. In 2015 I allocated €1.6 million to Local Authorities for this purpose.
In addition, I have also allocated €1.4m in 2015 to enable Local Authorities complete storm damage projects approved in 2014, which were unfinished in 2014, due to time and other constraints. It is important to clarify that with regard to Local Authority harbours and piers, these are owned by the Local Authorities themselves and responsibility for their repair, maintenance and development rests with the Local Authority. The parent Department for Local Authorities is the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
46. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the European Union Commission's proposals to implement the ban on discarding white fish catches from January 2016; the position he plans to take on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26051/15]
View answerIreland has been to the forefront for many years in the drive to reduce and eliminate discards in order to prevent waste, to protect young fish, to rebuild and conserve fish stocks and to ensure a sustainable future for the fishing industry. The new Common Fisheries Policy, negotiated to conclusion during Ireland’s Presidency in 2013, provides for a practical and phased discards policy, or landing obligation.
The first part of the landing obligation, the ban on discarding pelagic stocks such as herring and mackerel, came into effect on the 1 January 2015. The landing obligation will be extended to certain whitefish species from the 1 January 2016 and will be fully phased in by the 1 January 2019.
The phasing-in period gives fishermen time to adjust and implement changes that will allow for the avoidance of unwanted catches.
The pelagic discard plan, which came into effect this year, was developed through the regional decision-making process introduced by the new CFP. Ireland worked with fellow Member States in the North Western Waters Group (Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK) on finalising the plan. The Group also worked closely with the Pelagic Advisory Council, involving stakeholders.
The preparation of the Discard Plan for whitefish species was carried out during the period of Ireland’s chairmanship of the North Western Waters Group (January to June 2015). The Member States worked closely with the North Western Waters Advisory Council, representatives of which attended each meeting of the North Western Waters Member States Group since Ireland assumed the Chair.
The ban on discarding, which covers all of the waters around Ireland and the Channel, will apply to the prawn (nephrops) fishery in all waters, the whiting fishery in the Celtic Sea and the haddock fishery in the Irish Sea and in the North West area from the 1 January 2016. The landing obligation will be rolled out to other fisheries in the years leading up to 2019, when it will apply to all stocks.
The Irish industry has been kept fully informed throughout this process through the Discards Implementation Group, chaired by Dr. Noel Cawley. I established this Group to allow the Irish fishing industry to be fully prepared for, and engaged in, the implementation of the discards ban. Agreement on the discard plan for 2016 provides the Discards Implementation Group with a clear blueprint to help prepare the industry for the forthcoming changes.
I am providing funding support to the fishing industry through the new EU Fisheries Operational Programme, which I am currently progressing, for the effective delivery of the new measures. I have made €450,000 available in 2015 to BIM and the MI to undertake a project over the summer period, exploring the potential impact of the landing obligation on commercial fishing activity. This project will follow up on the discard simulation trials conducted last autumn.
47. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the total number of applications made under the new green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme; the number and percentage of farms with commonage lands which have submitted an application under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26103/15]
View answerI welcome the fact that 26,935 applications were submitted in the first tranche of GLAS applications, which is very much in line with the projections I made when launching the scheme. Farmers have shown a keen interest in the Scheme and have worked along with their advisors to apply in significant numbers. In doing so they have committed to actions and farming prescriptions which are expected to deliver substantial environmental benefits in the years ahead. These actions will improve and maintain our water quality, will encourage biodiversity and the maintenance of valuable habitats, while also promoting climate change mitigation. These farmers are the custodians of our farmed landscape and in joining GLAS they are continuing the important conservation work which has already been carried out in previous agri-environment schemes.
The management of our uplands by means of commonage management plans is given the highest priority in GLAS and I welcome the fact 3,934 applications in respect of just under 2,700 commonages, or well over half of all commonages in the country, have been received. This represents 30% of all commonage farmers and is a major step towards the establishment of greatly enhanced management regimes for these upland areas. A similar number of commonage farmers are already managing their commonage lands through AEOS and intend to see out their contracts, confident in the knowledge that they will receive priority access to GLAS when they do decide to join. Others may have waited in order to see if a commonage management plan is commenced on their particular commonage. This option was open to farmers, given that commonage management plans can be joined at a later date and that priority access remains open to these farmers.
While it is clear, therefore, that there are commonage farmers who have not yet applied for the Scheme I am very optimistic that the numbers will increase in due course. A phased recruitment to both GLAS and to the various Commonage Management Plans was specifically anticipated in the scheme design, and specific provision has been made to accommodate these farmers on that basis.
48. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if it is possible for a non-European Union citizen to marry an Irish citizen during the course of being unlawfully present here; the circumstances when this is possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26629/15]
View answerThe solemnisation of marriages in the State is governed by the Civil Registration Act 2004.
The parties to an intended marriage are required to give three months’ notice of their intention to marry. The couple provide evidence to the registrar relating to their identity and capacity to marry, and make declarations that there is no impediment to the proposed marriage. The fact that a person may not be legally resident in the State does not mean they cannot contract a valid marriage.
Section 48 of the Act provides that when the parties to the intended marriage have satisfied the registrar as to their identities and that they have capacity to marry the registrar shall complete a marriage registration form which allows the couple to proceed with their marriage.
The Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 was enacted in December 2014. The Act includes provisions that make it more difficult to broker a marriage of convenience in the State. This is achieved by making a marriage of convenience an impediment to marriage and allowing a registrar the right to investigate.
The Act also provides for increased sharing of information in relation to suspected marriages of convenience between the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Justice and Equality.
A marriage of convenience is defined in section 3 of the Act as “a marriage where at least one of the parties to the marriage:
(a) at the time of entry into the marriage is a foreign national, and
(b) enters into the marriage solely for the purpose of securing an immigration advantage for at least one of the parties to the marriage;”.
The Act provides that if a registrar forms a view that an intended marriage is a marriage of convenience based on a list of criteria set out in section 18 of the Act they can refer the matter to a superintendent registrar. If the superintendent registrar agrees with this opinion based on evidence then no marriage registration form will be issued and the Department of Justice and Equality will be notified.
The various provisions of the Act will be put into operation on the basis of an implementation plan involving both procedural and system changes. This work is being progressed as quickly as possible. It is envisaged that the provisions aimed at combatting marriages of convenience will be commenced in the coming weeks.
49. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reasoning behind issuing revised application forms from her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26464/15]
View answer50. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will support the Irish Postmasters Union in having her Department's revised forms withdrawn and replaced with the previous issues of forms on which the post office is the first option listed and no recommendation is made in respect of a financial institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26465/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 50 together.
Successive Governments and this one most notably, have consistently stated their commitment to maintaining the post office network as set out in the Programme for Government. The post office is seen as a key piece of financial and social infrastructure for both urban and rural areas. Part of the strength of the post office brand, and one of its chief selling points, is that it reaches all parts of the country and can be accessed by anyone. It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community.
My Department’s continuing support for An Post is apparent, both in terms of the cost of postage services and the value of the contract for welfare payments. In this regard, we anticipate this year that we will pay over €50 million to An Post under a contract for cash payment services to welfare customers. This contract is very substantial in terms of its reach, value and impact.
As you are aware my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Alex White, T.D., formally launched the Post Office Network Business Development Group under the independent Chairmanship of Mr Bobby Kerr in February, 2015 to explore potential commercial opportunities available to the post office network.
I understand An Post is anxious to grow its existing levels of services in the light of emerging market pressures which extend beyond the delivery of welfare payments. In this context I am pleased to note An Post has tendered for the provision of a new payment and transaction account. I look forward to that becoming available in the not too distant future as it will provide alternative payment opportunities for my Department’s customers.
In order to recognise the general societal trend toward electronic payments the Department has been changing some of its application forms and I am aware of concerns that have been raised in regard to some of the amended forms.
I want to emphasise that the amendments do not remove the option to be paid at the post office. This option will remain on the forms. Therefore, customers are free to opt to receive their payment at the post office if they wish. I also want to emphasise that the department continuously reviews its forms to ensure that they are amenable and relevant to all customers. In order to ensure that the department’s forms present payment options equally, I have asked the department to update them to ensure that a neutral wording in relation to payment options is provided and to also ensure that one payment option is not favoured over another.
These amendments will be carried out over the next number of weeks. My officials have already commenced preparatory work on this process and I expect this work to be completed in a timely manner. However, given that the department’s forms are integrated into its automated systems the work must be done carefully and properly to ensure uninterrupted service to our customers. I do not wish to cause delays to our customers through loss of our automated systems due to improperly considered changes or modifications.
51. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the age limit for one-parent family payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26470/15]
View answerExpenditure on the One Parent Family Payment (OFP) scheme is estimated to be €607 million in 2015 with almost 70,000 recipients.
However, despite committing extensive funding to lone parent payments since the 1970s, lone parents remain the most at-risk-of-poverty, and their children are at a high risk of poverty. For too long, significant numbers of lone parents have been typecast, and confined to social welfare dependency. The best route out of poverty and social exclusion is through paid employment. The purpose of the reform of the one parent family payment is to maximise the opportunities for lone parents to enter into and increase employment.
In 2004, in the height of the economic boom, lone parents were more than 4 and a half times at risk of consistent poverty (their at risk of consistent poverty rate was 30%) when compared with the population as a whole.
In 2015, lone parents are 2 and a half times more at risk of consistent poverty (their at risk of consistent poverty rate was 23%) compared to the rest of the population. Research shows that being at work reduces the at-risk-of-poverty rate for lone parents by three-quarters, compared to those who do not.
The reforms seek to address the long-term social welfare dependency and poverty experienced by many lone parents by providing them with improved access to the Department’s range of education, training, and employment supports, such as back to education allowance, back to work enterprise allowance, community employment and the recently introduced back to work family dividend (worth €1,550 per child in the first year and €775 per child in the second year).
Access to these services and supports is imperative for lone parents, in order to ensure that their prospects of securing employment and financial independence are improved.
Any reversal of these reforms would delay this critical interaction between lone parents and the Department’s Intreo services and would potentially increase the barriers they face to entering employment in the future. I therefore have no plans to reverse the forthcoming changes to the one parent family payment.
However, I look forward to examining the various supports that are available to all families with children, including one-parent families, in the next Budget. In particular, I will look at the scope for improvements in the child benefit payment as well as in other supports for families that are engaged in both full-time and part-time employment.
The reforms to the one-parent family payment have highlighted the need for child care supports to be available for lone parents who make the transition into employment. On that basis I have introduced the jobseeker’s transitional payment. This payment allows lone parents whose youngest child is aged 7-13 years to balance their caring responsibilities by exempting them from having to be available for and genuinely seeking full time employment.
The Department, in conjunction with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, also introduced the after-school child care scheme and the community employment childcare programme, in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Both of these schemes were funded by the Department from savings from the child benefit scheme and build on the 25,000 subsidised child care places that are provided to low-income parents by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs every year.
In relation to providing extra support for transitioning lone parents who live in rural areas and who are availing of education, the main source of student support nationwide is the SUSI grant – which is provided by the Department of Education and Skills and is available to lone parents on OFP and the jobseeker’s transitional payment. Included in the grant’s qualifying conditions is a clause that determines the level of income support that should be provided to a student in accordance with the distance that they live from their college.
