Written Answers Nos. 51 - 59
51. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking with his European colleagues to ensure agriculture and forestry are considered as interdependent pillars in upcoming European Union climate policy discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21292/16]
View answerIreland has adopted a whole of Government approach to developing climate policy. We have been engaged in intensive discussions with the European Commission - both DG Clima and DG Agriculture - and with our European colleagues to ensure the October 2014 Council Conclusions are fully recognised in the effort sharing proposals.
We have been engaged for some time now with like minded colleagues across Europe with a view to informing the discussion on how best to address the multiple objectives of the agriculture and land use sector, with their lower mitigation potential, and how the LULUCF flexibility could be integrated in the EU Climate and Energy Framework. Part of this engagement resulted in us jointly preparing a paper with our Danish colleagues to inform discussion at the April meeting of the Special Committee on Agriculture.
Since our appointment, my colleague Minister Naughten and I have met with Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy to discuss proposals on the EU’s Effort Sharing Decision and on Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF).
The meeting provided me with the opportunity to restate the commitment of the Irish agriculture sector to improving efficiency and driving down emissions, and to re-emphasise the importance of reflecting the 2014 European Council Conclusions in the proposed effort sharing decision – particularly, in terms of their recognition of the low mitigation potential of the sector and their reference to the inclusion of afforestation and LULUCF as part of future climate and energy policy.
My Department continues to maintain contact at European level pending publication of the proposal on the Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) which is expected on 20 July 2016 to ensure that we influence the proposals in line with the text already agreed in October 2014.
52. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 56 of 8 June 2016, specifically that international trade takes place in a legally complex environment and that national legislation is not legally binding on activities in other states, to impose a ban on the export of greyhounds to China, given that it is not within the power of the Irish authorities to guarantee their welfare once they arrive there and given reports of severe maltreatment of greyhounds in Macau. [21009/16]
View answerThe position as I outlined in my reply on 8 June remains unchanged. All exporters of dogs are required to provide animal health and welfare certification in respect of compliance with identification requirements, fitness for the intended journey, health status and rabies vaccination requirements. Once these animal certification requirements are met, dogs, including greyhounds, may be exported internationally. Exporters of animals are also required to comply with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport.
While a very small number of greyhounds have been exported to Macau earlier this year, it is nevertheless imperative to ensure that the transport of greyhounds over long distances is conducted in a manner which safeguards the welfare of animals being transported and minimises the risk of transmitting infectious diseases. Bord na gCon is responsible for the governance, regulation and development of the greyhound industry in the Republic as well as the well-being of greyhounds. The Bord has developed a comprehensive Code of Practice on the welfare of greyhounds which sets out specific standards that all individuals engaged in the care and management of registered greyhounds are expected to meet. The code emphasises that owners and keepers take full responsibility for the physical and social well-being of greyhounds in line with best welfare practice.
As mentioned in my reply of 8 June, oversight mechanisms in place regarding greyhound exports include inter-agency co-operation, co-operation with fellow members of the International Greyhound Forum and mechanisms relating to intelligence and information which is received from welfare officers during the course of investigations carried out under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. Where any breaches of welfare standards are identified under that Act, Bord na gCon takes stringent actions and prosecutions ensue in accordance with the Act.
Officials of my Department met on 23rd May with representatives of Bord na gCon and the welfare members of the International Greyhound Forum - represented by the ISPCA and Dogs Trust here in Ireland - to consider the issues surrounding the export of greyhounds. I met with representatives of the ISPCA on 29th June last and, on the specific issue of export of greyhounds to Macau, the ISPCA recalled the positive engagement of the Greyhound Forum on this issue.
53. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 8 June 2016, if he will consider watching the film referred to (details supplied); his views on the matters raised in the film; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21328/16]
View answerI have not yet had the opportunity to see the film, Atlantic, referred to by Deputy Barrett and raised last month by Deputy Smith. Therefore I remain unable to comment one way or another upon the matters raised in it. I have noted that two deputies have now brought this film to my attention and I will, therefore, certainly consider watching the film if and when the opportunity presents itself.
I am aware that this documentary raises a number of matters about the use of different natural resources, including fish stocks, in three Atlantic Communities in Ireland, Norway and Canada. I should point out however that there are numerous sources of information regarding the proper use and management of natural resources and, while I am open to all, when it comes to fisheries management I draw on the expert advice of the Marine Institute. I also engage in extensive consultations with the fishing industry and other stakeholders, for example the Environmental Pillar, to ensure that I am fully aware of as wide a range of views on our fisheries management arrangements as possible.
It is important to note with regard to fish stocks and their use as natural resource that, in Ireland, fish quotas are a public resource. The allocation of fish quotas follows regular, detailed consultations.
Ireland has successfully resisted pressure over the years to try and force the privatisation of fish quotas through the imposition of what is known as an Individual Transferable Quota or ITQ system. As Minister responsible, I am determined that our marine resources will continue to be managed for the overall public good.
I would also like to reference the wider world in which we operate, namely the new European Union Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The key objective of the reformed CFP is to ensure that fishing activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term and are managed in a way that continues to deliver economic and social benefits to our coastal communities that are dependent on the sea.
A key tool of the new CFP is the setting of fishing levels on the basis of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). This should lead over time to healthy fish stocks, higher quotas for both Irish and EU fishermen and result in more sustainable fishing patterns.
The CFP specifically calls for the progressive restoration and maintenance of populations of fish stocks above biomass levels capable of producing MSY. The most recent assessment of progress in achieving MSY shows that while challenges remain, there has been steady progress toward the ultimate goal of achieving MSY for all stocks by 2020. There is no doubt that this objective is challenging. However, in the Northeast Atlantic area, the move towards sustainability is both widespread and visible. While in the early 2000s most stocks were overfished, today more than half of the (assessed) stocks are managed sustainably, and this includes many of the largest and commercially most valuable stocks.
My overarching goal as Minister is to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector. These objectives must however be balanced with the need to safeguard fish stocks for future generations. This will ensure that families dependent on fishing can look forward to being part of a vibrant, productive and resilient Irish fishing industry and can expect to continue to achieve a reasonable return for their efforts and investment.
54. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21008/16]
View answerLast year a suite of six new measures were announced under TAMS II. These measures were launched under the new Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020 and are co-funded under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Under the scheme support is provided for the following measures:
- Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme
- Dairy Equipment Scheme
- Organic Capital Investment Scheme
- Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme
- Low Emission Slurry Spreading
- Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme
In relation to the application mentioned, the person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS II Dairy Equipment Scheme. The application has passed all checks and it is expected that a full approval letter to proceed with the investment works will issue shortly. It is expected that the computer facilities to enable applicants to make claims for payment online will be available in the coming weeks.
55. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has any concerns that the strategic plans Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025 could have a destabilising effect on sustainable development in global food security, as highlighted by environment watchdog An Taisce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21329/16]
View answerFood Wise 2025 is an enabling strategy for the sustainable growth of the agrifood sector over the next decade. Food Wise includes more than 400 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectorial recommendations.
Food security is defined by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as: “a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”. At national level, food security is addressed through a range of Government policies providing social protection and supports for low income, disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. At international level, Ireland’s development aid programme has a strong focus on food and nutrition, including through funding from my own Department to the UN FAO and WFP (World Food Programme).
Food Wise aims to grow the Irish agrifood sector in an economic, environmental and socially sustainable manner, building on our strengths in the production of safe, healthy and nutritious food. Ireland is already one of the EU’s most efficient producers of milk and beef, in terms of carbon footprint per unit of output. But under Food Wise we are implementing measures to drive down the carbon intensity of our food production even further, resulting in both economic returns and environmental sustainability. In that regard I am satisfied that the strategy reflects food security considerations.
Ireland’s agriculture is largely livestock based and, clearly, if we are to build on our strengths, this must be the focus of our objectives on food security. However we are developing our seafood industry and our tillage sector.
Food Wise 2025 promotes the use of DAFM’s competitive research funding programmes - FIRM, Stimulus & CoFoRD – to support research that is heavily focused on sustainability all along the food production and processing chain. Accordingly, in addition to research to improve the environmental impact of Irish agriculture in terms of climate, water and biodiversity, a number of on-going projects are focused on:
- improving grass breeding, utilisation and management so as to support Ireland’s low input, grass based livestock production system.
- developing alternative native energy and protein feed sources as substitutes for imported grain
- advancing our understanding of both animal and human digestive processes leading to the development of novel dietary intervention products some of which can be used to assist with hunger alleviation efforts in extreme famine situations.
The ambition that Ireland should be a global leader in sustainable food production, building on our natural advantages, is one that I hope is shared by all, and Food Wise is a blueprint for how this ambition can be realised.
56. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to assemble a cross-Border forum with all farming stakeholders to discuss the possible consequences for farmers North and South of the Border following the Brexit referendum result; the measures being taken by his Department on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21006/16]
View answerThe result of the UK referendum has the potential to give rise to significant challenges for the Irish agrifood sector, particularly in a north-south context. These challenges are very much to the fore of the analysis that my Department has been conducting in the lead-up to, and in the period since, the referendum. Areas that will be affected include the veterinary, trading and animal health arrangements between North and South. There will also be very significant implications for the fishing fleet in both jurisdictions.
I met my Northern counterpart, Michelle McIlveen, MLA, Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs, at the North South Plenary Ministerial meeting which took place in Dublin Castle last week. I agreed with her that our officials should meet at the earliest opportunity to work through some of the potential issues involved, and I am committed to ensuring that our Departments work well together in the coming months in the best interests of farmers and the wider industry.
It is important also to emphasise that the trading relationship remains unchanged, and that the precise impact of a UK exit will not be apparent until the post-exit relationship has been agreed. In the meantime I look forward to ongoing dialogue in the context of the Government’s co-operation with its counterparts in Northern Ireland and in the UK more generally.
57. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider co-funding a cattle underpass grant scheme with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and local authorities to keep cattle off national, secondary and regional roads (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21261/16]
View answerLast year a suite of six new measures were announced under TAMS II. These measures were launched under the new Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020 and are co-funded under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Under the scheme support is provided for the following measures:
- Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme
- Dairy Equipment Scheme
- Organic Capital Investment Scheme
- Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme
- Low Emission Slurry Spreading
- Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme
The construction of underpasses is not currently available under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme suite of measures. The introduction of such a measure would require a formal amendment to Ireland’s Rural Development Programme for 2014 – 2020 and approval by the EU Commission. I have no plans to introduce this measure at this time.
58. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will include a rolling reference year for young farmers and commonage farmers in the proposed sheep scheme to assist young farmers who are trying to build up their flock and also commonage farmers who may have to adjust their flock numbers due to new commonage framework plans. [21285/16]
View answerThe new Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of €25 million to be provided in Budget 2017. This provision in the programme for Government demonstrates a clear commitment of the Government to the sheep sector in Ireland which builds on the existing range of supports to sheep farmers provided by my Department which include the Basic Payment Scheme, GLAS, TAMS and the ANC scheme.
In terms of the details of the scheme my Department is currently working on these in light of both consultations with the farming organisations and discussions with the European Commission.
The Scheme is being proposed as an animal welfare scheme and as such will utilise Article 33 of the Rural Development Regulation. The scheme will require applicants to engage in actions to improve animal welfare conditions in applicant flocks.
Efforts in relation to the design of the scheme are currently concentrated on ensuring that any actions that participants will have to undertake will be acceptable to the European Commission across a range of criteria. These criteria include a requirement that eligible actions are above and beyond standard animal husbandry practices and are verifiable and controllable.
In relation to including a rolling reference year for young farmers and commonage farmers, I am prepared to consider cases where the application of a specific reference period would unfairly disadvantage particular farmers.
However, these are issues that will be considered in the context of the final terms and conditions of the scheme. Any such flexibility must not breach the general principle that the aid cannot provide an incentive to expand flocks, must comply with the provisions of the Rural Development Regulations, and must not have an undue impact on the funding available to other farmers under the scheme.
59. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to encourage farmers to participate in the creation of walking trails by incorporating measures into the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21266/16]
View answerAt present, land used for recreational trails is not eligible land for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). In order to incorporate walking trails into the BPS, it would be necessary to designate such trails as landscape features under the terms and conditions of the Scheme. It should be noted that the nature of these trails would represent a small amount of eligible land for payment.
However, any such designation must be based on clear environmental benefits that would accrue and would also involve maintenance and regulatory burdens for farmers. Accordingly, the inclusion of such trails in the BPS is not currently regarded as a viable option.
As the Deputy may be aware, my colleague the Minster for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has responsibility for the Walks Scheme which is a trail maintenance scheme. A Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment to expand the Walks Scheme, and plans in this regard are due to be developed in 2016 subject to available funding.
