Written Answers Nos. 126-133
126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which pig and poultry producers have been able to upgrade their accommodation in line with animal welfare regulations; if any specific issues remain outstanding in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41997/15]
View answerAt the time that the new Animal Welfare Regulations were being introduced, Pig and Poultry producers were able to avail of grants designed to improve the standards of animal welfare in sow housing and for poultry production. These schemes were co-funded by my Department and the EU under the Rural Development Programme. Pig farmers were able to convert loose housing for sows and poultry producers were assisted in the conversion to enriched cages, free range or barn systems to meet the standards laid down in the relevant EU directives on animal welfare.
The new TAMS II Scheme which is funded under the Rural Development Plan 2014 - 2020 includes a specific scheme for Pig and Poultry Producers which supports farmers wishing to purchase new equipment for the upgrading of pig and poultry units on their farms.
127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which new markets for beef, lamb, pig meat, and poultry, or products thereof continue to be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41998/15]
View answerA strong global demand for meat exists and my role as Minister is to facilitate market access so that Irish exporters can take advantage of market opportunities as they arise. My Department engages on an ongoing basis with many third countries, in collaboration with Bord Bia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Irish embassy staff, the meat industry and the European Commission on various market access issues.
Since taking office I have led trade missions to a wide variety of destinations, including China, the United States, Algeria, Japan and the Gulf States, in order to promote Irish food and beverages, including meat exports, and to open up new markets abroad. These initiatives have led to several notable successes in securing agreement to export Irish beef to Japan, Singapore, Egypt, Iran, the US, Canada and Oman; to export sheepmeat to Singapore, South Africa, the Philippines, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Canada and Oman; and to export pigmeat to Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Serbia.
In relation to China, the ban on boneless beef from Ireland has been lifted for animals under 30 months. Further work is required before trade will commence, and my Department is at present engaging with the Chinese authorities on these technical details. The beef market in the US was opened in January 2015 and as of the start of November 2015, an estimated 1,300 tonnes valued at €8.5 million has already been exported. This is a strong start to this trade considering that the first exports only went in March 2015 and some of the plants were only approved for export as recently as September. In relation to the Philippines, Ireland has now become their second-largest supplier of beef, and Ireland supplied around 20% of their beef imports during the first quarter of 2015.
Irish beef is now listed with more than 75 high-end retail chains across the EU. This wide portfolio of customers has contributed significantly to higher returns for Irish beef in recent years and reflects the success of Bord Bia’s differentiation and premiumisation strategy, which focuses on the main attributes of Irish beef: environmental sustainability, grass-based production systems, full traceability, quality assurance at all stages and superior eating quality. Among Bord Bia’s key initiatives in 2015 is the continued development, global promotion and marketing of the Origin Green initiative, which establishes Ireland as a world leader in sustainably produced food and drink. Over 200 companies are currently working with Bord Bia to develop and commit to sustainability plans setting out clear targets in emissions, energy, waste, water, biodiversity and corporate social responsibility activities.
The sheep sector is an important component of our agriculture sector and the third largest farming sector in Ireland with over 34,000 producers and an output value of over €230 million in 2014. Sheepmeat exports in 2014 totalled some €210 million. The market in Hong Kong opened for exports of sheepmeat in 2014 and exports of sheepmeat were valued at almost €9 million in 2014.
The poultry sector plays an important role within the Irish agricultural economy, accounting for approximately 2% of gross agricultural output and supporting around 5,000 jobs, mostly in rural areas. Export values for poultry meat have increased steadily in recent years to c. €310 million in 2014, growing by 20% in the last year alone, as the value of trade was driven by larger shipments of processed products. A high proportion of these exports are destined for the UK and redirected to international markets through agents for ‘fifth quarter’ product like chicken feet. Strong fundamentals increased demand in almost all regions of the world in 2014. This is expected to continue in 2015, although some easing in global poultry prices is expected.
The development of a viable pigmeat sector is a priority for me, given the crucial role which the industry plays in supporting approximately 7,000 jobs including production, slaughter, processing, feed manufacture and services. In 2014 export volumes jumped by approximately 7%, with growth to the UK, Continental Europe and International markets. Export values were up by 3% and are in the range of €570 million, continuing the steady growth seen in recent years. Although the increase in Irish pigmeat exports to international markets in recent years has been negatively impacted by the restrictions of the Russian trade ban, this has been offset by the opening of alternative markets such as Vietnam and the Philippines. These Asian markets will continue to provide valuable opportunities for Irish pork producers into the future.
128. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy and frequency of checks and inspections in respect of food and food-product labelling in this country and throughout the European Union, with particular reference to the need to preserve the integrity of the food industry, and to recognise its importance to this economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41999/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I attach huge importance to the food and drink industries' exports and their contribution to our economic recovery. Agrifood exports account for 7% of GDP and continue to grow year on year.
My colleague, the Minister for Health, has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation and new EU food information regulations which were adopted by the Council of Health Ministers in December 2011. However, my Department plays an important role in the enforcement of this legislation under service contract to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Primary responsibility under EU law for the safety and traceability of food placed on the market lies with food business operators. The role of National Competent Agencies is to verify compliance with this requirement. This is done via a combination of inspecting establishments and auditing the food safety management systems which operators have in place. These controls are applied at different stages in the food supply chain. Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002 sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law and stipulates that food business operators must, at all stages of production, processing and distribution within their business, ensure food law requirements are satisfied. In regard to traceability, the regulations require that food business operators have systems to identify any person who supplies the business with a food, and a system to identify other businesses to which their product has been supplied. This is referred to as the ‘one step forward, one step backward’ traceability system. There are additional requirements for certain fishery and aquaculture products under the Control Regulation (Regulation 1224/2009 and Implementing Regulation 404/2011) from first sale to subsequent stages of production, processing and distribution up to retail.
My Department has a permanent veterinary presence at all its approved slaughter plants. Controls at plants only engaged in secondary processing are carried out at a frequency based on an annual risk assessment. An annual audit of imported products is carried out in each Department-approved plant, including checks on physical identity, labelling and documentary checks for product originating in EU Member States and third countries. Labelling and documentary checks are routinely conducted by the Department.
The import of products of animal origin from third countries is governed by a comprehensive and robust legislative framework laid down at EU level, controlled by Member States in the first instance, and audited by the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), to ensure compliance with all of the relevant food safety standards. The legislation imposes health and supervisory requirements designed to ensure that imported products meet standards equivalent to those required for production and trade between Member States. Border Inspection Posts are operated by my Department. Import control procedures on products of animal and fish origin are highly prescriptive and strictly audited by the FVO to ensure compliance. Inspection finding reports are published on the FVO’s website.
129. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the strength of the beef herd, with particular reference to the need to ensure the availability of sufficient calf production to meet the current and future market requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42000/15]
View answerWhile the state provides significant support for the beef sector, the volume of production is ultimately a function of commercial factors such as the price of beef, the cost of farm inputs, market demand, consumer preferences, disposable income and the demand for other meats and sources of protein. The average price received by producers for an R 3 steer in 2015 to date is €4.01, over 10% higher than the 2014 average.
In 2015, I have rolled out a number of supports for Beef farmers. The BDGP involves an investment of over €300 million in suckler farming over the next 6 years under Ireland’s Rural Development Plan (RDP). The scheme aims to improve the genetic merit of Irish beef cattle, which will in turn lead to increased returns for beef producers and improve the environmental sustainability of the beef herd. The scheme also aims to reverse the decline in the maternal index seen in recent years in the Irish beef herd. This investment is a huge vote of confidence from the government in the Irish Beef herd’s potential into the future.
Beef farmers can also avail of my Department’s Knowledge Transfer Programme and my Department provides significant funding for bodies such as Teagasc, Bord Bia, ICBF and AHI, which are a vital part of the support infrastructure for beef.
Participants in the programme will receive a payment of €142.50 for each of the first eligible 6.66 hectares and €120 for each of the remaining hectares up to the maximum payable area. The maximum payable area is based on the number of calved suckler cows in each herd in 2014. The payment rates provide for a higher payment linked to the first 10 animals on each herd as I felt it was important to favour smaller herds through this programme. The payment rate of €142.50 is the maximum amount which could be provided based on the cost incurred and income foregone associated with the actions under the BDGP, as negotiated with the European Commission. The BDGP is the only animal based scheme in the Rural Development plan.
Ireland is a major exporter of beef, supplying more than half a million tonnes annually to a wide array of European and International markets. Irish beef is now purchased by more than 85 EU supermarket chains, along with numerous high-value food service and manufacturing customers. The Origin Green sustainability programme is central to Bord Bia's promotional strategy for Irish beef, alongside the Beef and Lamb Quality Assurance scheme (BLQAS). One of the fundamental elements of Origin Green relates to the sustainability survey carried out at the time of the farm audit. With over 47,000 certified farms in BLQAS, Ireland is the first country in the world to measure on-farm sustainability on such an extensive basis. The programme has already proven to be a unique advantage in communicating with key customers, and is the envy of other major beef producing countries. Earlier this year, Ireland became the first European country authorised to resume exporting beef to the US market and this market is already worth almost €9m. Similarly, China offers future huge potential for Irish beef exports and my Department is working with the Chinese authorities to have the final technical issues resolved before trade can commence.
131. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will release his response to letter UA(2015)1842458 from the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development on the implementation of the Leader programme. [42013/15]
View answerI have forwarded a copy of the response to this letter directly to the Deputy.
132. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments under the areas of natural constraint scheme and the basic payments scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42024/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payments/Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes was received from the person named on 29 May, 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes has been finalised and payment has issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
133. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the Ash tree disease; the total number of Ash trees destroyed; the action he is taking to eliminate the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42025/15]
View answerThe first confirmed finding of Ash dieback in Ireland was at a forestry plantation site in County Leitrim in October 2012. Surveys led to further findings of the disease. The first step was the introduction of national legislative measures in November 2012 under the Destructive Insects and Pest Acts 1958 and 1991 which listed the disease as a pest and which also regulated the import of ash seed, plants and wood. In December 2012 ash was delisted from the list of tree species approved under the afforestation grant schemes and thereafter the Department also delisted ash for the trees species approved under the agri-environment options scheme (AEOS and now GLAS). The National Roads Authority agreed in 2013 to suspend the use of Ash in any roadside plantings and since then it uses alternative species.
Also in December 2012 the Department introduced a new scheme to restore forests affected by ash dieback, by supporting the removal and destruction of trees and leaf litter affected by the disease and the replanting of the forest with an alternative species. The number of individual ash trees destroyed as part of this exercise is not recorded, however to date 713 hectares of ash has been removed under the scheme. In addition, over the same period, the Department has overseen the removal of several thousand ash plants and trees in nurseries and from along roadways.
An “All Ireland Chalara Control Strategy” was launched by Minister of State Tom Hayes and Minister Michelle O’Neill on 9th July 2013. This strategy, developed jointly between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland (DARD) establishes an all island framework for the policy of identification, control and eradication of the causal agents of ash dieback.
Surveys have been conducted by the Department year on year since the first occurrence of the disease in Ireland was confirmed. Similar surveys are undertaken by authorities in Northern Ireland. The systematic and targeted plant health surveys in relation to the disease undertaken by the Department over this summer (2015) and the associated laboratory tests were completed in October. The results were collated earlier in November and show there has been a significant increase in confirmed findings in forest plantations, an increase in confirmed findings in hedgerows and roadside plantings, as well as an expansion in its known geographic distribution.
There are now confirmed findings of the disease in some 110 forest plantations distributed over 18 counties, findings of the disease have been made in native hedgerows in 13 counties, and findings of the disease have been made in roadside plantings in 11 counties.
Further to the results of the summer surveys north and south, within the framework of the All-Ireland Chalara Control Strategy of July 2013, a comprehensive review is now being undertaken by the Department and DARD of policy options in relation to the disease.
