Written Answers Nos. 92-97
92. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and the name of the countries he is in discussions and negotiations with regarding the opening up of new markets for the live export of Irish cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2406/16]
View answerThe markets currently open to live cattle from Ireland are Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Russia and Tunisia, in addition to the other twenty-seven Member states of the EU. Responsibility for exploiting market outlets following market access is a commercial matter for the live export sector.
Accessing new markets to add to this list is, and has been, a key priority of mine as I am always anxious that Irish meat and livestock producers have the option of exporting to as many global markets as possible. In this regard my Department is currently investigating the possibilities for agreeing bilateral health certificates for the export of fattening and slaughter cattle to Egypt and Algeria and breeding cattle to Kazakhstan, Morocco, Algeria and Turkey.
93. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied at the level of competition in the lamb processing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2415/16]
View answerThere are currently 10 sheepmeat plants approved by my Department and these are owned by 9 different groups and in various locations throughout the country. The 5 biggest plants accounted for 86% of the overall throughput of the DAFM-approved plants in 2015. The average factory price increased by 1.5% in 2015 which would indicate that there is sufficient competition, as there was no significant change in the number of animals slaughtered in 2015. The State, through the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, has an existing and well established infrastructure for oversight of competition matters and for dealing with allegations of anti-competitive practices or abuse of a dominant position.
94. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the difference of up to €0.80 per kilogram between beef prices here and in the United Kingdom; the role live exports can play in addressing this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2416/16]
View answerMy role as Minister is to create a policy and support environment that allows the beef sector to flourish in line with standard market principles. I am guided in this context by the long-term sectoral development strategies as set out in Food Wise 2025 and I am confident that these initiatives, in conjunction with the Rural Development Programme, will lead to continued growth in terms of profitability and efficiency of the sector as a whole. As with any Minister for Agriculture in the EU, I can have no role in influencing commodity prices in Ireland. I do note however that 2015 was a relatively positive year for beef prices in Ireland with the yearly average nearly 8% higher compared to 2014.
The primary determinant of prices in any market is the relationship between supply and demand. Price variations in different EU beef markets reflect prevailing conditions in those markets. With regard to the price differential between Irish and UK cattle, a number of factors have been identified to explain why Irish-born cattle command lower prices than their British equivalents. These include a British consumer preference for indigenous product as well as additional transport and processing costs in supplying that market. Last year, Ireland exported approximately 272,000 tonnes of beef, worth in the region of €1.1 billion to the UK. This constituted 54% of the volume and 52% of the value of Irish beef exports and as such, the UK is overwhelmingly Ireland’s most important export market.
I attach substantial importance to the live export trade and my Department has been very proactive during my time as Minister in facilitating both the cross-border live trade and shipments of animals overseas. Live exports serve a dual purpose as a means of satisfying market demand for live animals and providing alternative market outlets for cattle farmers in Ireland. It is expected that 2016 will see an increase in the export of live cattle. Improving economic situations in Italy and Spain are expected to boost demand for Irish cattle and general demand for calves for veal are expected to remain strong.
Last year, live exports to all markets amounted to almost 180,000 head. Geopolitical instability in North Africa, a new veterinary regime in relation to IBR in Belgium and increased domestic prices led to a reduction in live exports. Exports to Northern Ireland, the Netherlands and France rose, while exports to Belgium, Italy, Spain and Britain declined. Bord Bia has forecast that live exports to Italy and Spain, two traditional live export destinations, should increase in 2016 on foot on economic recovery in those economies and disease outbreaks in certain supplier regions.
There are currently three dedicated and three roll on-roll off vessels approved for the carriage of livestock by sea form Irish ports. Three more vessels are currently at various stages of the process for similar approval.
95. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the proposed acquisition by the ABP food group of 50% of the Slaney and Irish Country Meats business; if he will make a submission to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2417/16]
View answerThe State, through the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, has an existing and well established infrastructure for oversight of competition matters and for dealing with allegations of anti-competitive practices or abuse of a dominant position. I understand that acquisitions or mergers of organisations with turnover exceeding certain statutory thresholds are required to be notified to that body or the European Commission which conduct an assessment to determine whether there will be any “substantial lessening of competition”. The acquisition referred to by the deputy will be subject to the relevant statutory requirements under competition law.
96. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry under the young farmers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2423/16]
View answerMy Department received applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme from the person named. These applications are currently being processed, which involves administrative checks and verification of land details submitted under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application. These checks are required under the EU Regulations pertaining to the scheme. Once these checks have been finalised the person named will be notified in writing of the decision with a view to payment shortly thereafter.
97. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of payment to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick and if all moneys will be issued without delay under the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2427/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint scheme application on 30 April 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being finalised with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible. An official from my Department has been in contact with the person named to outline the situation.
