Written Answers Nos. 249-257
249. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing outstanding payments for 2015 under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21612/16]
View answerFor GLAS Tranche 1 applications with a start-date of 1 October 2015 and which have GLAS actions which are payable in 2015 are eligible for a 2015 part-year payment (covering the three month period 1 October -31 December 2015). Under EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administration check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue.
Some 20,400 applicants have successfully completed the pre payment validation checks and have received the first instalment, representing up to 85%, of their 2015 part year payment. However, there are a number of applications, remaining which have not passed all of the Department’s pre-payment validation checks for 2015. The Department is continuing to investigate these issues including the correction of any IT or data issues with a view to all these remaining cases meeting the payment validation checks so that they will be paid the full amount of their 2015 part-year payment at the same time the 2015 GLAS balancing payment which is expected to issue shortly.
250. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a recent court case on land eligibility (details supplied); his plans to review similar type cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21613/16]
View answerThe legal case to which the Deputy refers has not yet reached its conclusion, and as the matter progresses I will be obtaining legal advice as appropriate on the wide range of complex legal issues involved. Accordingly, any issues arising as a result of the legal case can only be addressed following the completion of this legal process.
251. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will open up the locally led agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21614/16]
View answerThe term ‘Locally-Led’ refers to a collection of different Schemes funded under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP) which will endeavour to encourage locally-driven solutions to address the many environmental and biodiversity challenges at local level. Negotiations are on-going with the EU Commission on the precise structure of our proposed Locally-Led Measure. As soon as agreement is reached with the Commission, Ireland’s RDP will be amended and the schemes will then be rolled out.
252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that adequate steps can be taken to ensure the development of the agrifood sector, notwithstanding impositions in respect of carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21635/16]
View answer256. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he expects targets set in respect of Food Harvest 2020 to be achieved, notwithstanding implications arising from carbon emission reduction requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21639/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 256 together.
Food Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agrifood sector published in July last year identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Environmental sustainability is at the core of Food Wise 2025, and the overriding precept of the strategy is that environmental protection and economic competitiveness are equal and complementary and one will not be achieved at the expense of the other.
Realising the ambitious growth projections outlined in Food Wise 2025 will be challenging, but I am confident that they can be achieved.
The implementation process for any strategy is vital for its success. I chair the Food Wise High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC), with high level representatives from all the relevant Departments and State agencies.
Last year, an Environmental Sustainability Subgroup was established, which reports to the HLIC. Its role will be to:
- evaluate and assess the delivery of sustainability and mitigation actions set out in the Food Wise strategy report and Implementation Plan; and
- having regard to other relevant issues as they arise, provide advice, including on developments at international and European levels in relation to climate and sustainability as they relate to the agrifood sector.
I am therefore satisfied that the Food Wise implementation process will be fully informed by environmental considerations, including carbon emission targets to be set at EU and national level.
I launched a first year progress report on Food Wise 2025 entitled ‘Steps to Success 2016’ earlier today. Of the 330 detailed actions which were due to commence in 2015 or 2016, 28% have been achieved or substantial action has been undertaken; and a further 67% have commenced and are progressing well. A detailed report on the status of Food Wise 2025 actions is available on my Department’s website together with the first year progress report.
254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which further overseas markets continue to be identified for Irish meat, dairy and fish products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21637/16]
View answer258. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which his Department continues to monitor the future prospects for the beef, sheep, lamb, poultry and fish sectors here, in the context of global market trends and Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21641/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 258 together.
Irish agrifood exports have increased from less than €8 billion in 2010 to an estimated €10.8 billion in 2015. Dairy exports in 2015 were valued at over €3.2 billion and the dairy sector is by a number of measures the country’s largest indigenous industry. 2015 was also a very successful year for meat exports. According to Bord Bia, overall exports of beef, sheepmeat, pigmeat and poultry increased by €140 million to more than €3.5 billion. Seafood exports also increased in 2015 and are now valued at a further €560 million.
The target in Food Wise 2025 is to increase the overall value of agrifood exports by 85% to €19 billion by 2025. The Department continually monitors trade statistics produced by Bord Bia and the CSO, in order to analyse the destination of exports and, together with industry, to identify new market opportunities. Third Country markets are an increasingly important alternative outlet for the industry. The development of new and alternative markets, given the changing global demographics and emerging economies in Asia and elsewhere, is a crucial component of the Food Wise 2025 Strategy. As an exporting country, accessing new markets is crucial to the long-term sustainability of our agri sector.
In the medium and long term global demographics will result in strong global demand for meat and dairy products and my role as Minister is to facilitate market access so that Irish exporters can take advantage of business opportunities as they arise. Taken together these factors provide a great opportunity for increasing the exports of high quality, safe and sustainably produced Irish meat, dairy and fish production.
I am acutely aware of the need to develop as many market outlets as possible for Irish meat, seafood and dairy products. I will continue to work with stakeholders to raise the profile of the Irish agri-food sector generally, in emerging markets in the Far East, North Africa, the Gulf States and elsewhere. In this context I intend to lead a Trade Mission to China, Vietnam and Singapore in September to further promote Irish food and drink in the region. My Department has also re-configured its network of agricultural attachés abroad, with an enhanced role in relation in agri-food trade and Bord Bia is also presently expanding its network of offices abroad, with a focus on new and emerging markets. This will also enhance our identification of new markets abroad.
257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the most modern laboratory facilities remain available to the agrifood business at Backweston, Celbridge, County Kildare, or elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21640/16]
View answerThe facilities at the central laboratory complex in Backweston and at regional laboratories are capable of meeting the vast majority of my Department’s analytical and diagnostic requirements. While DAFM Laboratories have the capability to carry out most of the tests in these areas, for cost efficient reasons, some low volume, highly specialised reference test methods that are periodically required are still outsourced to specialist centres. Examples of the type of tests still outsourced are the phage typing of bacteria and some confirmatory tests for toxins and chemical contaminants.
Amelioration works in one area, the category 4 containment laboratories, are in progress with a view to bringing that laboratory into operation. The building works are expected to be completed by the end of March 2017 and once commissioned for use, this containment laboratory will provide my Department with the additional containment facilities necessary to undertake testing for the presence of exotic animal diseases that may be introduced into Ireland.
