Written Answers Nos. 221-230
221. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a herd number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12245/16]
View answerAn application for a herd number was received from the person in question in the Regional Veterinary Office on 11 May 2016. Officials have been in contact with the applicant to arrange an inspection and the application will be progressed once this has been completed.
222. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12274/16]
View answerThe persons named submitted a Private Contract Clause application to my Department seeking the transfer of land and entitlements by lease, with the first person named as transferor. This application has been processed and payment under the Basic Payment Scheme will issue shortly.
The person named also submitted applications to my Department under the ‘young farmer’ category of the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme. Once the Basic Payment Scheme payment has issued, the applications under the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme can be finalised with a view to payment shortly thereafter.
223. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will immediately overturn the decision to allow greyhounds to be airlifted to the Canidrome track in Macau in China and ban this practice. [12316/16]
View answerAll exporters of dogs are required to provide veterinary certification in relation to (i) their compliance with identification requirements (Microchipping and pet passport where appropriate) (ii) their fitness for the intended journey (iii) their health status (iv) rabies vaccination requirements. Once these animal health and welfare certification requirements are met, dogs, including greyhounds, may be exported internationally.
Bord na gCon is responsible for the governance, regulation and development of the greyhound industry in the Republic of Ireland. The well-being of greyhounds, including their physical and social environment, is at the core of Ireland’s greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is totally committed to the welfare of greyhounds and the promotion of the highest standards of care throughout the industry. In particular, Bord na gCon’s Code of Practice in relation to the welfare of greyhounds clearly sets out specific standards that all individuals engaged in the care and management of registered greyhounds are expected to meet. The Code of Practice emphasises that owners and keepers must take full responsibility for the physical and social well-being of greyhounds in line with best welfare practice.
Oversight mechanisms in place regarding greyhound exports include inter-agency co-operation, co-operation with fellow members of International Greyhound Forums and from intelligence/information which is received from Welfare Officers during the course of investigations carried out under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 (the Act). Where any breaches of welfare standards are identified under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011, Bord na gCon takes stringent actions and prosecutions ensue in accordance with the Act.
My Department has recently met with the Bord na gCon and the welfare members of the International Greyhound Forum (represented by the ISPCA and the Dogs Trust) to consider the issues surrounding the export of greyhounds. Bord na gCon advises all owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the expected levels of greyhound care and management as defined in the Code. I strongly endorse this view.
224. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received and approval issued under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12331/16]
View answerThe number of applications received in Tranches 1 and 2 of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme is 5,205. Part approvals have issued in 1,100 cases. Full approvals have commenced this week and will continue on an ongoing basis for eligible applications.
225. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding provided in his Department's Estimates for 2016 and the expenditure to date under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12332/16]
View answerThe budget allocation for TAMS II for 2016 is €28 million. There has been no expenditure to date as final approvals have just commenced following the checking, validation, ranking and selection of the applications received in Tranche 1 of the scheme. The applications received for Tranche 2 are currently being examined.
226. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will meet with animal rights campaigners (details supplied) who will be in Ireland in early June 2016 and who have requested a meeting to discuss the export trade of greyhounds to the Macau Special Administrative Region in China. [12335/16]
View answerBord na gCon is the body responsible for the governance, regulation and development of the greyhound industry in the Republic of Ireland.
The well-being of greyhounds, including their physical and social environment, is at the core of Ireland’s greyhound industry. I understand that Bord na gCon is totally committed to the welfare of greyhounds and the promotion of the highest standards of care throughout the industry. In particular, Bord na gCon's Code of Practice in relation to the welfare of greyhounds clearly sets out specific standards that all individuals engaged in the care and management of registered greyhounds are expected to meet. The Code of Practice emphasises that owners and keepers must take full responsibility for the physical and social well-being of greyhounds in line with best welfare practice.
Oversight mechanisms in place regarding greyhound exports include inter-agency co-operation, co-operation with fellow members of International Greyhound Forums and from intelligence/information which is received from Welfare Officers during the course of investigations carried out under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 (the Act). Where any breaches of welfare standards are identified under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011, Bord na gCon takes stringent actions and prosecutions ensue in accordance with the Act.
With regard to the suggested meeting, my Department has recently met with the Bord na gCon and the welfare members of the International Greyhound Forum (represented by the ISPCA and the Dogs Trust) to consider the issues surrounding the export of greyhounds. Bord na gCon advises all owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the expected levels of greyhound care and management as defined in the Code. I strongly endorse this view.
227. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the 2015 private contract clause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12337/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an appeal to my Department in response to a Private Contract Clause application that was unsuccessful. On 22 April 2016 my Department issued correspondence in response to an enquiry from the registered agent acting on behalf of the person named. This correspondence advised that the person named should contact my Department in writing regarding the ownership status of certain land parcels. This action was required in order to further process the appeal. There is no record of subsequent contact with the relevant section of my Department from the person named or from the agent acting on behalf of the person named.
228. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) under the Scottish derogation scheme. [12339/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the ‘Scottish Derogation’ measure of the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme and also applied to transfer entitlements from the person named to the person named and another.
Under EU Regulations governing the Basic Payment scheme, processing of ‘Scottish Derogation’ and Transfer applications involves administrative and on farm checks and verification of land details submitted. After verification of these checks the applications concerned were deemed to be successful.
The Client Registration detail of the above herd number has recently been amended. The Transfer of Entitlements has taken place and payment in relation to the ‘Scottish Derogation’ measure will issue in the coming days.
229. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) under the agri-environment options scheme including when he will issue payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12340/16]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS 1 contract on 1 November 2010. Payment has issued for the 2010-2014 scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System must take place. As all AEOS 1 participants will be receiving their final payments under the scheme, re-checks on payments made for all scheme years must be completed before final payment can be processed. Officials are working through these files and payment will be made in all cases as soon as possible.
230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, as part of an application and examination prior to engagement in veterinary practice, a person (details supplied) may be eligible for attendance at a veterinary practice or college as a means of advancing the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12349/16]
View answerIn accordance with the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) is the competent authority for the recognition of qualifications of veterinary practitioners from EU and Third Countries.
The Veterinary Practice Act provides for the mutual recognition of qualifications in veterinary medicine within the EU and for mutual recognition agreements between the VCI and relevant bodies in non-EU States.
The Veterinary Council specifies and approves programmes of education necessary for the purposes of registration as a veterinary practitioner. The person concerned should contact the Council to discuss their position.
