Michael Healy-Rae
Question:700. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the Morris report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21960/16]
View answerGreyhound Industry
Questions (700)
Written answers
Bord na gCon has informed me that the Morris Report was published on Friday 15 July, 2016.
I understand that Bord na gCon has already taken a number of actions on foot of its recommendations, and my Department is examining it at present to inform its deliberations on the Heads of a Bill which I intend to bring to Government in the Autumn.
Greyhound Industry
Questions (701)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:701. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the accounts for the Retired Greyhound Trust; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21961/16]
View answerWritten answers
Bord na gCon is a commercial State body, established in 1958 under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.
The status of the accounts for the Retired Greyhound Trust is an operational matter for Bord na gCon. I understand that these accounts for 2015 are at present being prepared and will be lodged with the Charities Regulatory Authority as soon as the Office of the C and AG has concluded its audit.
TAMS Applications
Questions (702)
Pat Breen
Question:702. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 281 of 23 June 2016, when he will process an application (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22009/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS II Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme. A letter of approval to carry out the investment works issued to the person concerned on 12 July 2016.
TAMS Applications
Questions (703)
Tony McLoughlin
Question:703. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will approve a project under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 for a person (details supplied); if a payment under the young farmers scheme will issue to the person in 2016 given that the person was accepted into the scheme; if so, when he will issue payment; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22010/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned is an applicant under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme and an application was submitted under the tranche of the scheme that closed on 24 June 2016. Processing of applications under this tranche will commence shortly. A payment claim may be submitted in due course when the approved investment works have been completed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme. Under the provisions of the Scheme an applicant has three years to complete the works following the issue of an approval letter.
The person named was a successful applicant under the 2015 Young Farmers Scheme and received payment on 21 January 2016. He has also applied for the Young Farmers Scheme in 2016. Payment on foot of activated entitlements under the Young Farmers Scheme for 2016 is due to issue later in 2016 following the advance Basic Payment Scheme payment.
Greyhound Industry
Questions (704, 716)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:704. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding directors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22015/16]
View answerMichael Healy-Rae
Question:716. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which new appointments were made for the boards of the Irish Greyhound Board-owned tracks (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22154/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 704 and 716 together.
Bord na gCon is a commercial State body, established in 1958 under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.
The appointments to the boards of race tracks, which are owned by Bord na gCon, is an operational matter for Bord na gCon.
Greyhound Industry
Questions (705)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:705. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22018/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is responsible for the identification and registration of greyhounds in the Irish Greyhound Studbook. It is the controlling authority for the breeding and coursing of greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon under Section 26(2) of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 (the Act). Bord na gCon is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing.
Detailed rules governing the practice of the artificial insemination of greyhounds were set down in the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations, 2005, (S.I. No. 561 of 2005), which were made by Bord na gCon under Section 39 of the Act.
The Regulations included a two year limit on the use of semen for artificial insemination following the death of a stud dog, thereafter any unused semen had to be destroyed.
As a result of the operational difficulties in the implementation of certain provisions of the Artificial Insemination of Greyhound Regulations, 2005, Bord na gCon invited industry stakeholders in March 2014 to submit proposals regarding the suitability of the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005, in the context of meeting current industry requirements.
After a detailed consideration of submissions received, Bord na gCon decided in September 2014, having consulted with the ICC, to remove the two year limit on the use of semen following the death of a stud greyhound. Arising from this decision, and with the consent of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, new regulations were introduced by Bord na gCon which came into effect on 1 November 2014 removing this two year limit on semen from an expired sire.
To assist the board in relation to policy development in this area Bord na gCon have commissioned a scientific study into inbreeding in Irish Greyhounds. This study has now been completed and a report on the matter is currently being considered.
Agriculture Scheme Eligibility
Questions (706)
Brendan Griffin
Question:706. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the impact the installation of solar panels on farms can have with regard to AEOS, the basic payment scheme and other farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22036/16]
View answerWritten answers
Support under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is payable upon activation of an eligible hectare per payment entitlement. In general terms an eligible hectare is one that is used for an agricultural activity or, where the area is also used for a non-agricultural activity, is predominantly used for such activities. An area is predominantly used for agricultural activity if that activity can be exercised without being significantly hampered by the intensity, nature, duration and timing of the non-agricultural activity.
While cases involving solar panels will be examined on an individual basis, the European Commission has advised that the area covered by the solar panels will be deemed ineligible for the purposes of claiming BPS. Furthermore, in line with the Department’s current approach on land eligibility, where the area of a parcel covered by solar panels is 70% or greater of the overall parcel, that parcel will be wholly ineligible. If less than 70% is covered by solar panels and the agricultural activity is not hampered by the presence of the solar panels, the area not covered by solar panels may be eligible.
From an Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) perspective the area must initially be designated and subsequently must be available for agricultural purposes in the same way as is required for BPS. Participants in AEOS must continue to deliver the actions that they have included in their contract with the Department for the full duration of that contract. Anything that would affect the delivery of such actions in their entirety could have negative consequences for their AEOS payments, depending on the individual circumstances.
The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has informed me that before a final decision is taken on introducing a new support scheme - which may include support for solar PV - that Department will run a public consultation, which will give all interested parties an opportunity to participate in the development of the scheme. Details of the next public consultation will be advertised on their website www.dcenr.gov.ie. Before any such scheme could be introduced, it would have to secure Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission.
Agriculture Scheme Payments
Questions (707)
Pat Breen
Question:707. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there has been a change in value in payments to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22093/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment replaced the Single Payment Scheme at the end of 2014 and a new set of BPS entitlements has been allocated to all eligible applicants under the scheme. The number of BPS entitlements allocated was determined by the number of eligible hectares declared by a farmer in 2013 or 2015, whichever was the lesser, and the value of entitlements allocated was based on a fixed percentage of the value of Single Payment Scheme entitlements owned by the farmer in 2014 and any payment received under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme.
The person named held 32.47 entitlements valued at €243.60 each in 2014 giving him a payment of €7,909.69 in 2014. These entitlements expired on 31 December 2014 and he was then allocated 33.29 Basic Payment Scheme entitlements based on the eligible land declared in 2015. These entitlements are valued at €156.96 each in 2015. The value of the payment received by the person named in 2015, including his Greening Payment, which totals €7,524.57, shows a marginal reduction on the value of his payment in 2014. This is consistent with the marginal reduction to all farmers’ payments in 2015 based on the reduced national ceiling allocated to Ireland under CAP 2015-2019. The value of the entitlements held by the person named will increase under convergence each year from 2015-2019 as set out in the Definitive Statement of Entitlements issued to the person named in early June 2016.
TAMS Administration
Questions (708)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:708. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when rubber slat mats will become eligible for grant aid under targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 as per the programme for Government commitment; the date live applications can be submitted under such a scheme; when eligible participants will receive payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22097/16]
View answerWritten answers
The possibility of the inclusion of rubber slat mats as an investment item under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme II is being examined. Under the Scheme applicants must receive approval for an investment item before any works or investment is undertaken.
EU Regulations
Questions (709)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:709. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered with other agencies under his remit examining the possibility of offering national certification to EU organic standards emanating from European regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22098/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under the EU regulations governing organic production and labelling, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the competent authority in Ireland. In accordance with the governing EU regulations, the Department has delegated the inspection and certification of organic operators to five Organic Control Bodies.
At this point, I have no plans to alter current arrangements but will keep the matter under review.
Fish Landings
Questions (710)
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
Question:710. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total catch landed in tonnage, and the value of the catch landed at all regional ports on an annual basis for the period 2010 to 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22100/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority is the body within the State responsible for data recording and reporting on the landings of sea fish by Irish Sea Fishing Boats. I have asked the Authority to respond directly to the Deputy with the data requested.
Animal Slaughtering Standards
Questions (711, 712)
Clare Daly
Question:711. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if officals from his Department are present on every occasion that members of the Defence Forces engage in the culling of animals. [22117/16]
View answerClare Daly
Question:712. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a vet is present on every occasion that animals are culled by members of the Defence Forces. [22118/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 711 and 712 together.
A Protocol is in existence between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces concerning the emergency culling of animals by the Defence Forces. The criteria in the Protocol stipulates that a request for the assistance of the Defence Forces for the emergency culling of animals will be made only in circumstances where all possibilities for normal humane methods of culling have been exhausted. On the rare occasions when the Protocol is invoked officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are always present.
Greyhound Industry
Questions (713)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:713. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on employment in the greyhound industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22139/16]
View answerWritten answers
The most recently available report on the employment contribution of the greyhound sector is that published in April 2010 by Jim Power Economics, on behalf of Bord na gCon. That report indicated that the industry employed 10,300 people directly and indirectly, that the gross wage bill generated by that employment was €207 million per annum and that the tax contribution from that employment was €21 million, and that much of this economic activity was generated in rural areas.
While the sector has operated through extremely challenging times over the past several years, the Indecon report, commissioned by my predecessor, sets out a road map for its development, which is being implemented by Bord na gCon. In addition, I will be shortly bringing forward the heads of a Bill to improve governance and regulation in the sector.
The economic and fiscal difficulties in recent years resulted in a reduction of the contribution of the Horse and Greyhound Fund to the sector to €10.8 million in 2014, from a peak of €15.257 million in 2008, and the Government has endeavoured to restore this contribution over time as the economy recovers, in order to ensure that the sector can continue to make a valuable contribution to economic and social activity in rural Ireland.
Greyhound Industry
Questions (714)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:714. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the appointment of a person to the board of the Irish Greyhound Board (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22148/16]
View answerWritten answers
I will be bringing forward the heads of a Greyhound Industry Bill shortly to deal with issues relating to governance, regulation and enforcement. This legislation will include, inter alia, defined periods for board appointments and a process of board rotation and renewal as outlined in the Indecon report.
The appointment referred to by the Deputy was conducted through a competitive process managed by the Public Appointments Service.
Greyhound Industry
Questions (715)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:715. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Irish Greyhound Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22149/16]
View answerWritten answers
This was an error on the State Boards website which has now been rectified.