Written Answers Nos. 560-584
561. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department continues to monitor the health insurance sector with a view to ensuring that the public continue to have access to competitive rates of health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30980/16]
View answerInsurance companies operate as commercial providers and as Minister for Health, I have no legal power to intervene in relation to any insurer’s prices. The cost of private health insurance is influenced by a number of factors such as the number of persons in the market, the age profile of those holding private health insurance and ongoing medical innovations. Each of these are contributors to the cost of care, the cost of claims and therefore the cost of premia payable.
A community-rated health insurance market depends on inter-generational solidarity and requires a constant influx of young healthy members to support the older, less healthy members. Lifetime Community Rating and "Young Adult" rates of premium were introduced last year to encourage young people into the market. Following on from their introduction, the number of people now holding private health insurance is 2.133 million, or 46% of the Irish population, which includes an increase of over 104,000 from January 2015 to January 2016. This upward trend has continued in 2016 when the market grew by a further 11,000 to end-June. An increase in the numbers taking out health insurance helps to control premium inflation, thereby keeping health insurance more affordable for those who wish to avail of it.
We have a highly competitive insurance market. Many consumers can make savings on their health insurance premiums by taking advantage of promotional offers and by reviewing their level of cover to ensure that their needs are being met, without being over-insured. The Health Insurance Authority website offers a clear price comparison and can be accessed at www.hia.ie. All of the health insurers provide plans at a variety of price points, which provides scope for consumers to find value in the market and to access the level of cover appropriate to their individual or family needs.
562. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department monitors expenditure throughout the various structures of the health service with particular reference to the need to identify areas incurring over-expenditure habitually; the action taken to date to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30981/16]
View answerMy Department’s Financial Performance Unit is responsible for monitoring and review of health service expenditure.
As part of the service planning process, the HSE prepares an annual budget for each service area, broken down into a monthly profile.
On a monthly basis the HSE reports, by service area, actual spend to date, profile and any variance, along with a commentary. For some areas, further analysis is provided (e.g. PCRS). These reports are examined and variations or trends are discussed with financial colleagues in the HSE.
In addition, my Department has a monthly meeting with senior HSE staff to review ongoing performance issues and the effective implementation of remedial actions.
The HSE’s Performance and Accountability Framework makes explicit the responsibilities of managers in relation to the four equally important domains of the Balanced Scorecard which are Access to services, the Quality and Safety of those Services, doing this within the Financial Resources available and by effectively harnessing the efforts of the Workforce.
A key change which has been made under the enhanced and strengthened Performance and Accountability Framework is the move towards the more visible exercising of personal responsibility and accountability at the primary service delivery unit level. Health service managers, designated as accountable officers, are explicitly and personally accountable for performing within their budgetary allocation. Accountable officers are named for each Hospital Group and Community Health Organisation and for the National Ambulance Service, Primary Care Reimbursement Service and Nursing Home Support Scheme.
The HSE has allocated maximum expenditure levels at this level and accountable officers are now fully responsible and accountable for managing the performance of services within their allocated budget. To facilitate this, the accountable officer is responsible for preparing a financial plan in line with their Performance Agreement with the National Director setting out the actions they will take to meet the agreed performance targets across the four domains of Access, Quality & Safety, Finance and Human Resources, within the financial allocation. This plan is required to be signed off by both the accountable officer and HSE senior management.
Commitment to the plan and associated targets and actions is formalised as part of the individual’s personal targets under their individual Performance Agreement. The sign-off of the plan includes clarity on the process of support, intervention and sanction, with specific reference to the sanctions that may be imposed where a situation of inadequate performance is not rectified.
The revised framework provides for public reporting of services which are the subject of escalation and, in particular, the named accountable officers whose services are the subject of escalation. In addition and as appropriate, senior HSE managers may be required to attend relevant Oireachtas Committees to account for service delivery, quality and financial performance issues.
563. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which steps have been taken to eliminate MRSA or other such infections throughout the hospital service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30982/16]
View answerThe prevention and control of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) continues to be a significant, long-standing patient safety and public health priority for the Department of Health. A wide range of initiatives has been put in place in the Irish health system over several years in response to the rising incidence of AMRs and subsequent risk of contracting a HCAI. These include:
- improved surveillance of infections and prescribing;
- infection prevention and control processes;
- antimicrobial stewardship initiatives;
- public and professional awareness raising, with a significant emphasis on the education and training of healthcare professionals;
- A current review and update of National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC) national Guidelines on MRSA (2013) and Clostridium difficile (2014) for healthcare professionals;
- a current review and update of HIQA's National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs) (2009).
Over the past decade Irish microbiology laboratories serving all acute hospitals have systemically monitored key clinically important bacteria known to cause potentially serious infections, such as bloodstream infections (BSI). There has been almost complete reporting of AMR data on BSI to the Health Service Executive's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) where data is analysed and reported back directly to participating laboratories and hospitals on a quarterly basis.
The HPSC also published reports on the latest available national BSI AMR surveillance data and hospital level AMR surveillance data on its website at:
www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/MicrobiologyAntimicrobialResistance/InfectionControlandHAI/Surveillance/HPSCSurveillance/
and
www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/MicrobiologyAntimicrobialResistance/EuropeanAntimicrobialResistanceSurveillanceSystemEARRS/ReferenceandEducationalResourcematerial/SaureusMRSA/LatestSaureusMRSAdata/.
There has been a marked decrease in the rates of MRSA reported for Irish acute hospitals since 2007, both in the number of cases and as a percentage of overall bloodstream infections reported (which have also decreased):
- In 2007 the HPSC reported 536 cases of MRSA infection from a total of 1,393 overall 'isolates', representing 38.5% of cases;
- In 2015 the HPSC reported 199 cases of MRSA infection from a total of 1,082 overall isolates, representing 18.4% of cases.
- Provisional HPSC data for 2016 (Quarters 1 & 2) shows the downward trend in cases of MRSA infection continuing, with a small increase in overall bloodstream infection rates. However, the HPSC cautions that provisional data is subject to change and it cannot be assumed that quarterly data yet to be reported will mirror data as reported in previous quarters.
On foot of concerns about outbreaks of Multi-Drug resistant Organisms (MDROs) in recent years a National Taskforce on AMR to address the issues of managing and reducing AMR and HCAI was established by the HSE in 2015. The Taskforce's remit is to direct and coordinate an effective system-wide response to the issue of HCAI/AMR.
The Taskforce is a multi-disciplinary high-level group that supports and advises HSE Divisions on reducing incidences of MDRO through ensuring rational antimicrobial use across all healthcare settings, providing effective diagnostic support for infection, improving professional education, training and public engagement to promote wider understanding of the need for appropriate use of antibiotics, ensuring compliance with the National Standards for the Prevention and Control of HCAI across all healthcare settings and ensuring implementation of national guidelines across all healthcare settings.
Ireland also fully supports the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2015) and recent Council Conclusions on AMR (June 2016). The Council calls on Member States to have in place before mid-2017 'a national action plan against Antimicrobial resistance based on the 'One Health' approach and in line with the objectives of the WHO Global Action Plan'. (The 'One Health' concept is a worldwide strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment). The WHO is working with countries to support the development and implementation of their national plans, and will report progress to the World Health Assembly in 2017.
Through the Interdepartmental AMR Consultative Committee, established and co-chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of this Department and the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and endorsed by both respective Ministers, Ireland is addressing the Council's requirement for all Member States to have in place an Intersectoral co-ordination Mechanism to develop a national action plan against AMR to encompass both the human and animal sectors, agriculture and the wider environment. The Committee was launched on European Antibiotic Awareness Day in November 2014 and has a clear role and mandate across the human and animal health sectors. Committee membership consists of representatives of both Departments and of the relevant HSE and veterinary specialist agencies, including other relevant bodies with a remit across the two sectors; membership is representative of major stakeholders. The Committee meets bi-annually and its most recent meeting took place on 13 April 2016.
A key action for the Committee's work during 2016 is the development of Ireland's AMR national action plan. This plan will cover the use of antimicrobial medicines in animal health and agriculture, as well as for human health. This work is continuing and the Committee is scheduled to meet again in late 2016 to assess progress on this major agenda item.
The prevention and control of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and AMR has been a significant patient safety and public health priority for the Department of Health Ireland for numerous years. Ireland as a whole is fully committed to and engaged in addressing resolution of the problem of AMR and will continue to collaborate at international, EU and national levels to this end.
564. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in respect of the primary care building programme; the total number of such centres already in place, those planned and the schedule for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30983/16]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government commits to a decisive shift towards primary care so that we can provide better care close to home for communities around the country. Primary Care Centres are an integral part of this because of the range of multi-disciplinary services they can provide and the role they can play in keeping people who don't need to be in an acute setting out of hospital.
I can advise the Deputy that 93 Primary Care Centres are already operational, of which 50 were opened from 2011 to date in 2016.
At present, there are 48 locations where primary care infrastructure is under construction or at an advanced planning stage, under three different methods of delivery: 14 by direct build, 14 by Public Private Partnership (PPP) and a further 20 by operational lease.
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the progress of planned and proposed Primary Care Centres.
565. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which central procurement and generic prescribing have been each identified and assessed for potential to reduce health service costs without in any way affecting the quality and efficacy of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30984/16]
View answerMy Department has created a new Community Pharmacy, Dental, Optical and Aural Policy unit to bring a renewed focus to the development of policy in relation to community pharmacy and the issues associated with achieving maximum benefit to patients.
Driving further efficiencies and savings on the cost of medicines for the State is a key focus for my Department and the HSE. The HSE has recently established a Drugs Management Portfolio, which has already identified a range of projects to optimise value in the Primary Care and Hospital settings which includes examining issues such as the standardisation of procurement practices.
The Portfolio also includes the work of the HSE's Medicines Management Programme which introduced the preferred drugs initiative to facilitate more cost-effective prescribing particularly in relation to high-cost medicines. It continues to engage with general practitioners to reinforce the message around safe, effective and cost-effective prescribing including generic prescribing.
In addition generic substitution and reference pricing continues to be rolled-out contributing to higher penetration rates for the use of generics. As part of the Troika programme, Ireland was set a target of 70% generic penetration of the off-patent market by volume by end of 2016. In Q2 of 2016 generics accounted for approximately 74% of the total off-patent market by volume and almost 52% by value. Therefore we are already ahead of our target for the end of 2016. The implementation of generic substitution and reference pricing has delivered savings of €47 million in 2014 and €94 million in 2015.
Generic substitutions and referencing pricing is being progressed incrementally and forms part of the HSE’s Medicines Control Plan for 2016. 50 substances were identified for inclusion in the lists and 47 have been included to date. I have recently requested that the HPRA review an additional 15 substances for inclusion on the interchangeable lists.
566. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the application for grant aid for the installation of a slatted unit, tranche 2, will be approved for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30204/16]
View answerThe applicants in question have applied under the Young Farmer's Capital Investment Scheme under tranche 3 of TAMS II and their application has passed the administrative checks.
All of the eligible applications received in this tranche will go through the ranking and selection process very shortly. If selected, the application will be examined by the local office of the Department to ensure that all technical aspects of the application are in order before approval issues.
567. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to bring about a ban on aversive training devices for animals considering significant research indicating the physiological long term effects they pose to animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30251/16]
View answerUnder the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 a person is prohibited from causing unnecessary pain or suffering or endangering the health and welfare of any animal. The Act also provides that a person having possession of an animal must ensure that the animal is kept in a manner that safeguards its health and welfare.
S.I. No. 108 of 2014 provides for a ban on electro-immobilisation by means of any electrical equipment of an instrument which applies a sustained electric current or impulse directly to a live animal. This legislation was originally enacted subsequent to a report to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Animal Health and Welfare which concluded that the use of electro-immobilisation causes distress and should be banned. Electrical stimulation or shock collars for training dogs are designed to produce stimuli lasting milliseconds rather than produce a sustained electric current.
If the Deputy is aware of any specific complaints relating to the welfare of animals arising from the use of these devices, he should bring them to my Department’s attention.
568. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to strengthen the laws around animal cruelty, including the provision of greater enforcement, more resources and annual inspections of premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30252/16]
View answerIncidents of animal cruelty are totally unacceptable and my Department devotes considerable resources to protecting animal welfare and dealing with breaches of animal welfare legislation. The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 has modernised the legal framework relating to the welfare of animals. Sections 11 and 12 of the Act 2013, which contain the main principles relating to the welfare of animals and cruelty to animals, provide that a person having an animal in his or her possession or control must safeguard and not threaten the health and welfare of the animal. In addition, it is an offence for a person to cause unnecessary suffering, endanger, neglect or be reckless regarding the health or welfare of any animal.
In order to ensure its effectiveness, the Act provides for increased levels of penalties for offences committed under the Act. For major cases taken on indictment, the maximum penalty has been increased from €100,000 to €250,000, with a maximum custodial sentence of five years imprisonment. Section 58 of the Act also provides that a person convicted of an offence under the Act may be disqualified from keeping, owning or working with an animal. These penalties are in keeping with Irish jurisprudence and therefore I do not envisage further changes.
There have been thirteen successful prosecutions taken nationally in the last twelve months. Thirty eight prosecution files are currently being processed. In terms of resources devoted to the enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, in addition to staff employed by my own Department and by the local authorities, a number of officers of certain NGO’s have been given Authorised Officer status under the Act and this has facilitated the more effective enforcement of the legislation.
However, my Department will continue to assess court outcomes in cruelty cases and will take account of these in any future review of the Act.
569. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of individual greyhounds available for racing on the racing management system in the periods July to December 2014, January to December 2015 and January to August 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30266/16]
View answerBord 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 information requested by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon.
570. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds that were injured during trials at Irish Greyhound Board tracks; if there is a veterinary surgeon present for trials; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30267/16]
View answerBord 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. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon.
571. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when tier three of GLAS will be open for applications; if there are to be any changes to the eligibility criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30306/16]
View answer584. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when tier 3 of the GLAS scheme will be open for applications; if there are to be any changes to the eligibility criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30353/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 571 and 584 together.
Some 38,000 farmers have been approved into the first two Tranches of GLAS, 26,500 in GLAS 1 and 11,500 in GLAS 2. It is anticipated that the third tranche of GLAS (GLAS 3) will be launched in the coming weeks.
572. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for emergency funding for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30307/16]
View answerMy Department has been working with the Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA) to provide some support for the industry. The IHRA are beneficiaries, for the first time, of an Equine Infrastructure grant scheme operated by my Department. Under the Scheme, the IHRA has been approved for grants totalling €21,704.
My Department has commenced the process of tendering for an independent evaluator to complete an economic evaluation of the potential of the Harness Racing sector in Ireland. This evaluation is being progressed as a priority and it is hoped that an evaluator will have been appointed by early December.
On publication of the Economic Valuation report, I will further consider the request for funding for this sector.
573. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the greyhound industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30312/16]
View answerBord 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 details requested by the Deputy are an operational matter for Bord na gCon.
574. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total annual amount of funds originally allocated for each of the years 2014 to 2020 under the rural development programme 2014 - 2020; the total actual expenditure incurred in 2014, 2015 and to date in 2016; if the total 2016 budget allocation will be fully realised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30341/16]
View answerThe information is contained in the following table.
Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020
|
2014 allocation |
2014 Expenditure |
Original Budget for 2015 |
Post Supplementary Budget for 2015 |
Expenditure for 2015 |
2016 allocation |
2016 Outturn – end Sept. |
- |
|
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
2017 Allocation €000 |
|
379,000 |
393,928 |
397,550 |
392,550 |
366,220 |
494,060 |
230,097 |
601,000 |
575. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown between total expenditure incurred to date in 2016 and the annual amount of funds originally allocated to each scheme under the rural development programme (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30342/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
Of the schemes listed by the Deputy the Horticulture Industry and Development of the Organic Sector schemes are not in the RDP 2014-2020 while Knowledge Transfer Scheme has no expenditure in 2016. Below are the allocations in Estimates 2016 and outturn to end September 2016 for those other schemes listed by the Deputy that are part of the RDP 2014-2020. The majority of expenditure will take place in the coming weeks and full drawdown is expected, except in TAMS where some savings are expected.
|
Subhead |
Title of Scheme/Programme |
2016 allocation €000 |
2016 Outturn – end Sept. |
|
A.12 |
Beef Data and Genomics Programme |
52,000 |
24,047 |
|
C.3.1 |
Rural Environment Protection Scheme including Agricultural Catchment Programme |
2,194 |
2,527 |
|
C.3.2 |
Agri - Environment Option Scheme |
40,850 |
13,264 |
|
C.3.3 |
Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme |
142,000 |
4,852 |
|
C.3.4 |
Locally Led Environmental Schemes |
1,200 |
1,198 |
|
C.3.5 |
Organic Farming Schemes |
10,000 |
2,514 |
|
C.4 |
Land Mobility-Early Retirement Scheme |
5,016 |
3,475 |
|
C.5.1 |
Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme |
35,800 |
3,851 |
|
D.4 |
Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme |
202,000 |
174,369 |
|
Totals |
494,060 |
230,097 |
576. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of dairy farmers participating and not participating respectively, in the sustainable dairy assurance scheme per county, in tabular form; the expected duration of the scheme; the consequence to farmers who do not join the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30343/16]
View answerThe following table outlines the details of the total number of farmers that have applied to join the SDAS and the total that are currently certified members of the SDAS on a per county basis. The scheme is administered by Bord Bia and their aim is to have every dairy farmer certified under the scheme in the coming months.
This is a voluntary scheme and as such there are no direct consequences for not joining. However it should be noted that certification under the scheme also meets the EU regulatory requirements in respect of hygiene on the farm. Non participants must have these requirements separately verified by their Milk Purchaser
|
County |
Number of Applicants |
Number of Certified Farms |
|
Carlow |
166 |
131 |
|
Cavan |
587 |
427 |
|
Clare |
619 |
440 |
|
Cork |
4101 |
3199 |
|
Donegal |
211 |
146 |
|
Dublin |
23 |
15 |
|
Galway |
475 |
352 |
|
Kerry |
1493 |
1111 |
|
Kildare |
138 |
107 |
|
Kilkenny |
876 |
765 |
|
Laois |
415 |
352 |
|
Leitrim |
46 |
39 |
|
Limerick |
1452 |
1076 |
|
Longford |
140 |
109 |
|
Louth |
133 |
103 |
|
Mayo |
355 |
290 |
|
Meath |
459 |
279 |
|
Monaghan |
479 |
360 |
|
Offaly |
333 |
259 |
|
Roscommon |
105 |
73 |
|
Sligo |
158 |
140 |
|
Tipperary |
1639 |
1339 |
|
Waterford |
764 |
683 |
|
Westmeath |
256 |
202 |
|
Wexford |
769 |
638 |
|
Wicklow |
212 |
164 |
|
Total |
16404 |
12799 |
577. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total penalties imposed on farmers under the CAP schemes in 2014 and 2015, on a county basis for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30344/16]
View answerThe extensive information requested is not yet available but is currently being compiled. It will be forwarded to the Deputy directly as soon as it is finalised.
578. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to open GLAS 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30345/16]
View answerSome 38,000 farmers have been approved into the first two Tranches of GLAS, 26,500 in GLAS 1 and 11,500 in GLAS 2. It is anticipated that the third tranche of GLAS (GLAS 3) will be launched in the coming weeks.
579. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to market the forecasted increase in Irish cattle and beef supplies being promoted by processors and others at viable prices to producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30346/16]
View answerThe Beef Forum at its meetings has been monitoring the expected numbers of cattle to be slaughtered this year. We estimate that an extra 60,000 to 80,000 cattle will be slaughtered in Ireland towards the end of the year. Currently the kill is up 51,000 head or 4.3%.
In these circumstances it is critically important that the industry exploits all possible market opportunities to maximise the value of this output. My Department and its agencies can of course play a significant role in the promotion of Irish produce and in ensuring that Irish exporters have access to as many markets as possible worldwide. For example, just this week I attended the SIAL event in Paris, which is one of the largest food fairs in the world. I also met with leading UK retailers to assure them of the continued commitment of the Irish food sector, including the beef sector, to trade in the UK.
In September, along with Minister of State Andrew Doyle T.D., I lead a major trade mission to China, Vietnam, South Korea and Singapore, and market access for Irish beef was a focus of the political and technical discussions countries during that mission. My Department's market access unit is engaged with a number of other third countries with a view to providing wider market opportunity for Irish exporters.
My department also provides the funding for Bord Bia's activities in this area. Bord Bia has a crucial role to play in providing strategic market development, promotion and information services, informed by fresh market insight, to assist companies in identifying and development of new business. It has have been very proactive in recent years in its promotion of Irish Beef in Europe and further afield. Irish beef is now stocked in over 75 major retailers across Europe and this number will hopefully continue to grow.
In Budget 2017 I have provided additional funds for Bord Bia for market development measures to assist companies to maintain positions in existing markets and to identify new market opportunities. Two new Bord Bia offices were opened this year, in Singapore and Warsaw, strengthening our position in these markets. All Bord Bia activities, including market research, promotion of quality products, trade fairs, assisting companies with business opportunities, making new connections, promotion networks and clusters, will be focused on achieving good outcomes for companies facing great challenges and radically changed trading conditions.
Live exports are also a priority for me given the crucial role this outlet can play for our beef producers. Next month, I intend to lead a Trade Mission to Morocco and Algeria, with a focus on live cattle exports amongst other things. Live cattle exports to Turkey also commenced last month following our recent approval to export live cattle there.
580. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans on market access setting out the planned volumes in view of the fact that the UK is Ireland's largest export market and given the Brexit referendum decision; his plans to return beef prices to viable levels of €4.00 to €4.50/kg as set out by Teagasc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30347/16]
View answerOverall Irish agri-food exports have increased from less than €8 billion in 2010 to an estimated €10.8 billion in 2015. The target in Food Wise 2025 is to increase the overall value of agri-food exports by 85% to €19 billion by 2025. As an exporting country, accessing new markets is crucial to the long-term sustainability of our agri sector. 2015 was a very successful year for beef exports. According to the CSO, overall exports of beef totalled some €2.2 billion. Beef exports to the end of July 2016 are running at some €1.3 billion.
My Department works very closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Bord Bia, the industry and the European Commission on a wide range of market access issues. 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. I am acutely aware of the need to develop new and alternative markets, given the changing global demographics and emerging economies in Asia and elsewhere. Indeed this is a crucial component of the Food Wise 2025 Strategy and has been given an added impetus by the outcome of the UK referendum. My Department had been preparing for the possibility of Brexit since well before the June 23 vote, including in relation to the impacts on the beef sector.
I will continue to work with stakeholders to try and more generally 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 Minister Doyle and I lead a successful Trade Mission to China, Vietnam, South Korea and Singapore in September to further promote Irish food and drink in the region. This Mission resulted in positive progress in relation to the next steps in terms of gaining beef market access to China, South Korea and Vietnam, including inter alia a commitment by Chinese officials in AQSIQ to expedite consideration of a technical inspection report from their visit to Ireland earlier this year as well as the submission of detailed beef questionnaires to the relevant authorities in South Korea and Vietnam.
Next month, I intend to lead a Trade Mission to Morocco and Algeria, with a focus on live cattle exports. Live cattle exports to Turkey also commenced last month following our recent approval to export live cattle there.
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 has expanded its network of offices abroad, with a focus on new and emerging markets, including in South East Asia. This will also enhance our identification of new markets abroad.
Budget 2017 financially underpins the Department’s mitigation efforts through strategic investment in key areas of the Department, in its agencies and in the agri-food sector. It provides for €52 million for the Beef Data and Genomics Programme in 2017 to continue its commitment to suckler beef farmers. However, my role in relation to the beef sector is to create a policy and support environment that will allow it to flourish in line with normal market principles. Questions of price are ultimately matters to be determined between the purchasers and the sellers of cattle. It is neither appropriate nor possible for me or any other Minister for Agriculture in the EU, to intervene directly on these issues. Cattle prices are determined by supply / demand dynamics which are in turn influenced by the seasonality of production, the length of the production lifecycle and market conditions such as retail promotions, consumer confidence, competition with other meats and the overall macroeconomic situation.
581. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to promote the live export trade for cattle and sheep; his views on the trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30348/16]
View answerLive exports serve a very important purpose as a means of satisfying market demand for live animals and providing alternative market outlets for Irish cattle and sheep farmers. I attach enormous importance to the live export trade, and my Department, along with Bord Bia, has been proactive in encouraging and facilitating such exports.
In recent weeks, almost 1,700 head of cattle have been exported to Turkey and I anticipate further shipments of cattle to Turkey in 2016.
The markets currently open to live cattle from Ireland include Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Montenegro, Serbia and Algeria and most recently Turkey, in addition to the other Member States of the European Union. Animal health restrictions and geopolitical instability have impeded previously large-scale exports to Belgium and North Africa respectively, though small numbers of breeding cattle have recently been exported to Morocco. My Department has agreed health certificates for the export of live cattle to Turkey, Egypt, Serbia and Algeria in 2016 and is currently investigating the possibility of bilateral health certificates for the export of cattle to Kazakhstan.
The exploitation of market outlets, once opened, is a commercial matter for the live export sector, and is affected by the usual variables, including the cost of animals at marts, domestic demand for live cattle, the relative cost of beef on the domestic and international markets, currency exchange rates, transport costs and other factors.
I will continue to ensure that Irish meat and livestock producers have the option of exporting to as many global markets as possible for both processed meat and live sheep and cattle. Next month, I intend to lead a Trade Mission to Morocco and Algeria, with a focus on live cattle exports amongst other things. I will be announcing further details on this in the near future.
582. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the development in the beef and sheepmeat sector; his further views on whether the development will add or take from competition in the beef and lamb sectors; the view his department conveyed to DG Competition in Brussels on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30349/16]
View answer583. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department provided any detail, statistics or knowledge on rendering and factory feed lots in the context of a joint venture (details supplied) to DG Competition in Brussels as part of their investigations into this development; if his Department was asked to provide any of this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30350/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 583 together.
I am very much aware of the importance of competition in the beef and lamb sector. For this reason it is critically important to have a robust legal basis for the evaluation of proposals for mergers and acquisitions.
I noted the outcome of the European Commission's decision last week on this particular case. I also noted that the proposal has been analysed in accordance with the established procedure under competition law rules and am satisfied that the European Commission took into account the impact of the merger on competition in the beef and lamb sector.
My Department provided statistical data on the beef and sheepmeat sectors to DG Competition in the form of a questionnaire submitted to stakeholders.
I would like to reiterate that if evidence emergences of practices by this or any other entity which are contrary to competition rules, the possibility of the matter being taken up with the relevant Competition Authorities remains open.
