Written Answers Nos. 1-26
13. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the inclusion of young farmers that are new entrants to farming in the animal welfare sheep scheme as the payments are based on average ewe numbers possessed in 2014 and 2015; and when, in the case of an entrant to farming in 2016, they will be included in such a scheme. [37722/16]
View answerThe Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of €25 million. I have made provision for this in Budget 2017. The inclusion of this provision in the programme for Government reflects a commitment by the Government to ensuring the continued viability of the sheep sector in Ireland.
The sheep sector makes an important contribution to the agrifood economy generating an output value of €320 million and exporting in excess of €230 million in 2015. Furthermore the sector also makes a vital contribution to the economy supporting over 34,000 farm families directly in addition to providing several thousand jobs indirectly in rural areas also.
My Department has engaged in extensive consultation with farm organisations to discuss the proposed new scheme in the context of the specific requirements of the Rural Development Programme.
As a result of these consultations my Department has proposed an animal welfare scheme for the sheep sector as part of its second amendment to Ireland's Rural Development Programme. This proposed amendment is currently with the European Commission for examination and my Department awaits the outcome. I intend to ensure that the scheme will be made available to as many sheep farmers as possible and that it will provide for participation by both hill and lowland flock owners.
In relation to the specific terms and conditions of the scheme, we have to wait for final approval from the Commission for the scheme before these can be finalised fully. I am sensitive to the needs of new entrants and subject to the commission approval, and it is my intention to facilitate the group of farmers referred to by you. In this context we propose to make provision in the terms and conditions of the scheme for those new entrants to farming in 2016 who would not have been in a position to have ewes in the reference year. Full details on this will be announced when the details of the scheme are finalised.
14. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers participating in the beef data genomics scheme that have completed a beef carbon navigator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37706/16]
View answerThe completion of a carbon navigator is a central requirement of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) in 2016. The carbon navigator is an online farm management package developed by Bord Bia and Teagasc. It quantifies the environmental gains that can be made on each farm by setting targets in key areas such as grassland management. It is a very useful and simple tool which will allow applicants to look at changes which can be made on their farm in areas such as the length of the grazing season or average calving rate. It will then illustrate what such changes would mean in terms of reduced Green House Gas emissions from the herd and the increased profitability associated with such a change. From 2017 participants must subsequently submit data annually to allow for an update of the carbon navigator.
My Department has provided for the training of advisors in the completion of the carbon navigator. The list of trained advisors is available on the Department’s website at www.agriculture.gov.ie. Those BDGP participants who have not already completed the carbon navigator should immediately make contact with the advisor of their choice and make an appointment to complete their 2016 carbon navigator. Payment for completing the carbon navigator is incorporated into the farmers’ annual BDGP payment while the advisory cost will be paid directly to their chosen advisor by the Department upon successful completion.
Failure to complete the carbon navigator by the 30 November will result in penalties being applied to payments, and, if not completed by 30 April will result in exclusion from the BDGP with any payments already made being recouped.
As of 28 November almost 22,000 participants in BDGP have completed a carbon navigator. I recently extended the deadline for completion by a month until 30 November to allow farmers greater time for completion. My Department has been in regular contact with those farmers who have not yet completed the carbon navigator over the last few weeks to remind them of this requirement.
15. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether, with the advent of digital mapping, that to penalise farmers for overclaims, which were not deemed to be overclaims in the past, by freezing their whole payment and not just the portion in question, is harsh at a time when many farmers are facing a cash crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37694/16]
View answerUnder the Terms and Conditions of the Direct Aid Schemes, which include the Basic Payment Scheme(BPS), farmers are obliged to declare only eligible land when making their annual applications, and are to exclude ineligible features such as roads, buildings, farmyards, dense scrub, etc. These claims are then recorded on the Department’s Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS). Given the importance of the LPIS database in underpinning direct aid payments worth in excess of €1.5 billion annually, my Department is obliged under EU Regulations to ensure its accuracy.
Consequently, all BPS and Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme applications are subject to robust administrative checks prior to payment. The main element of the administrative check is an area assessment. This is achieved by using the LPIS which currently records some 1 million individual land parcels. Such eligibility checks are required to protect the annual drawdown of the EU funds and to avoid disallowances. Only valid applications under the BPS and ANC that fully comply with the requirements of the EU legislation are paid.
In relation to over-claims specifically, the procedure in place is for the application to be processed for payment using the area determined during the digitising process. Any deductions arising on foot of an over-claim at that stage are made at the time and the remainder of the payment due is made to the applicant. The applicants concerned are advised of the outcome and offered the opportunity to appeal. The Department updates its data in relation to issues such as possible over-claims on an ongoing basis to ensure the continued accuracy of its systems.
Payments under the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme commenced on 17th October, which is the earliest date allowed under the EU legislation. To date payments in excess of €792m have issued to over 120,000 applicants under the BPS. My Department is prioritising the processing of all outstanding cases and preparations are also now being finalised for the issuing of the balancing payment of the BPS from 1 December.
16. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether production levels are getting too high for the markets Ireland currently has; the actions planned to prevent a price collapse in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37564/16]
View answerIreland is a small open economy which exports the vast bulk of its main agricultural commodities. Therefore producer prices in Ireland are largely determined by commodity prices on world markets, rather than by production levels within Ireland itself. We have seen significant commodity price volatility on world markets over the last few years. However, there are measures in place to help Irish farmers through these periods. Direct payments, estimated by Teagasc at an average of over €17,000 per farm in 2015, provide a valuable source of farm income support and act as a hedge against price volatility.
Food Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agrifood sector, identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector, and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. 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 sectoral recommendations.
Food Wise is not just about expanding production, I believe that moving up the value chain where possible, in terms of the type of products sold and how they are produced, is an important hedge against volatility.
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. The committee reviews progress on detailed actions on a quarterly basis, in order to identify and solve problems quickly. Stakeholders regularly present to the committee meetings on their priorities for particular sectors or themes and by the end of this year, the HLIC will have reviewed in detail progress on the five cross-cutting themes and the twelve individual sectors outlined in Food Wise 2025.
Since taking up office, one of my priorities has been to address the impact of the sustained period of lower commodity prices on farmers. I met with a range of stakeholders in advance of the recent Budget and I have been engaged, both at National and EU level, to address the issues involved and to ensure that we continue to have a sustainable and resilient sector. As part of the recent Budget, I announced a “three pillar strategy” to alleviate the pressures of income volatility through:
- Lower Cost Finance: I announced plans for an ‘Agri Cashflow Support Loan’ fund of €150 million, which will support highly flexible loans at an interest rate of 2.95%, for amounts up to €150,000 and for terms up to six years.
- Tax Measures: I agreed with my colleague the Minister for Finance an adjustment to the current ‘Income Averaging’ system, allowing for an opt-out in an exceptional year.
- Farm Payments: Spending on farm schemes through the Rural Development Programme will see €601 million go directly to farmers in 2017, including a new €25 million sheep welfare scheme and increased participation in GLAS, BDGP & TAMS. This is on top of €1.2 billion paid through the Basic Payments Scheme.
My Department will continue to engage with the Department of Finance on key agri-taxation policy objectives, including responses to income and price volatility.
17. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason, under the GLAS scheme, common framework plan, farmers within GLAS are now expected to inform on their non-GLAS commonage neighbours with regard to stocking density or be penalised. [37695/16]
View answerThe objective of the Commonage Management Plan (CMP) is to ensure that farming activity on commonages is carried out at environmentally sustainable levels to prevent both under grazing and over grazing and if necessary to set out collective actions such as controlled burning.
My Department provided specific training for approved Commonage Advisors assigned to prepare these plans. Detailed information is published on the Department Website for each commonage and includes the names of all shareholders, the indicative minimum and maximum stocking levels each commonage can carry and also the indicative minimum and maximum stocking density for each shareholder within a commonage irrespective of whether the shareholder is a GLAS applicant or not. The information available to the advisor preparing the plan should be sufficient in most cases but on assessing the commonage on the ground it may become evident that the indicative figures need adjustment because of the vegetative condition of the commonage.
To prepare the best possible plan to ensure continued delivery of sustainable practices and to support GLAS scheme payments for commonages it is in the interests of all farmers using the commonage that the total grazing compliment be established. This is important for all shareholders because if the commonage land is not maintained in an eligible condition payments under CAP Pillar 1 could be affected to the detriment of all shareholders. The only requirement that the Department has is that a sustainable management plan for all the commonage be prepared and it is in shareholders own best interests that the person drawing up the plan is provided with the best possible information. The question of GLAS penalties will only arise where on inspection non compliance is found and where further degradation of the commonage continues.
18. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to implement Recommendation 10 of the Report on Promoting Sustainable Rural Coastal and Island Communities which recommends that the Government examine the feasibility of the issuance of heritage licences to facilitate traditional fishing practices in rural coastal and island communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37713/16]
View answerI note that the Deputy refers to a report published by the former Joint Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Fisheries in January 2014 which put forward 29 recommendations on a wide range of issues concerning the functions of a number of Government departments and state agencies. The Deputy has drawn specific attention to the recommendation concerning heritage licences for traditional fishing practices in rural coastal and island communities. The intended objective of such heritage licences was, according to the report, to optimally facilitate traditional fishing practices in conjunction with the establishment of a producer organisation representing vessels under a certain length overall in those designated areas.
There have been some important changes in the landscape since this report made its recommendations, and particularly in terms of representation of rural coastal communities in sea-fisheries policy making. The National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) and Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums (RIFFs) were established in May 2014 and have now been up and running for 2 years. The Forums are consultative structures which provide arenas for inshore fishermen to develop proposals on inshore fisheries management, including compliance and data gathering. The Inshore Forums are representative of the inshore fishing boats, generally less than 12m in overall length and focus on sea-fisheries management in the coastal waters within 6 nautical miles.
To date, from its first meeting in January 2015, the National Inshore Fisheries Forum has met 8 times. These meetings have led to very constructive two-way conversations on issues of mutual concern, industry priorities, emerging policies & initiatives. As a result of the successful discussions with the Forum, NIFF members have been included in a number of sea-fisheries consultative platforms namely: the SFPA Consultative Committee, the Quota Management Advisory Committee, the Bord Bia/BIM market advisory group, the EMFF Operational Programme Monitoring Committee (which oversees implementation of the EMFF in Ireland), the Fisheries Industry Science Partnership (chaired by the Marine Institute) and the Celtic Sea Herring management advisory committee. This gives the inshore sector a role in making recommendations on the allocation of Ireland’s quotas, on market development initiatives, on data collection and scientific research and, perhaps most importantly, on how funding is utilised.
In addition, the NIFF is taking the industry lead in setting priorities for the policy development for the inshore sector and I give consideration to recommendations from the NIFF. In our meetings, we have discussed a whole series of practical things we can do to help the inshore sector, including the development of artisan fisheries, funding for inshore sector projects and management measures for shellfish fisheries, such as the restrictions on recreational potting that were introduced in February.
Recommendations such as those in the former sub-committee’s report regarding heritage licences and producer organisations are matters which the NIFF may wish to consider and, if deemed appropriate, bring forward. Any proposals however must be examined in the context of a discussion with the overall fishing industry and within the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy.
19. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the Food Wise 2025 strategy addresses climate change and sustainability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37724/16]
View answerFood Wise 2025, the ten year strategy for the agrifood sector, identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. 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 sectoral recommendations. In July this year, I launched the first annual progress report of Food Wise 2025: Steps to Success 2016. Food Wise Steps to Success showed that, 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. I believe that this is a good start and I will press on to get as many actions as possible completed within the next year. Environmental sustainability is at the heart of Food Wise, which states that “environmental protection and economic competitiveness are equal and complementary: one cannot be achieved at the expense of the other”. An Environmental Sustainability Subgroup was established under the auspices of HLIC to monitor and drive the sustainability actions outlined in Food Wise 2025. Ireland’s whole of Government approach to sustainability includes development of coherent and cost-effective policies to meet the twin challenges of sustainable food production and climate change in the agriculture and land use sector. The national policy position is based on an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production. Officials from my Department work very closely with other Departments and in particular, with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment which is the lead in this area. Through the deployment of innovative and efficient practices at farm level, combined with the application of emerging scientific knowledge, Ireland is taking the necessary steps towards addressing the challenge of greenhouse gas emissions in the Irish agriculture sector. Nevertheless, we cannot afford to be complacent, and I acknowledge that meeting our international commitments on climate change will be challenging. That is why the Rural Development Programme, worth almost €4 billion over 7 years, is strongly targeted towards environmental benefits, including knowledge transfer programmes, which will bring the latest innovative sustainability research and practices direct to farmers. My Department is also contributing to the National Mitigation Plan, which is being prepared under the 2015 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act. The work on the national plan is overseen by Government through a hierarchy of committees and sub-groups, with independent advice from the Climate Change Advisory Council. These committees and groups include the Cabinet Committee and the Senior Officials' Group on Infrastructure, Environment and Climate Action, a Technical Research and Modelling Group and a Domestic Climate Finance Group. DAFM is a key stakeholder in the implementation of the National Regulations referred to as the Nitrates or the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) Regulations. These regulations protect water through the implementation of specific controls and are aimed at minimising the loss of Nutrients from Agriculture. Substantial investments has been made both by my Department and the farming community to implement the GAP measures under the Nitrates Action Programme since their introduction in 2006. Additionally, under our Agri-environment scheme, GLAS, farmers in areas of high water status and vulnerable water bodies have priority entry to the scheme whilst measures such as 'Fencing of Watercourses' within the scheme are designed specifically to enhance water quality. The scheme is therefore very much targeted at improving water quality and this objective is supported by both the Knowledge Transfer and the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes.
20. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to deal with the forthcoming increase in stock in the dairy sector and its inevitable impact on the beef market. [37696/16]
View answerI am very aware that following a positive start to 2016, beef farmers have faced a number of challenges as the year has progressed. The immediate impact of Brexit has been seen in our currency exchange rates and has affected our primary major export market. Beef production is also up here and in the UK in 2016.
Looking at the market outlook for the remainder of the year it is estimated that the total number of cattle available for slaughter at export plants for the year 2016 is expected to be between 70,000 and 80,000 greater than 2015. Figures for the year so far to the week ending 20th November 2016 show that approximately 71,000 extra cattle have been slaughtered so far this year compared to the same period in 2015, an increase of 5.2%.
I am very much aware of the impact that the expansion in the national dairy herd will have on the Irish beef herd and this matter was discussed by all stakeholders at the most recent meeting of the Beef Roundtable. The true impact any increase in the number of cattle in the national herd will have on the beef market will be determined by different factors such as slaughter dates which will vary depending on the system of production on different farms. I have also asked Teagasc to undertake some analysis on the routes to market for the increased number of dairy calves and they have recently completed this work. We will now analyse it with the relevant stakeholders and consider some next steps.
One of the key elements in coping with an increased supply in Irish beef is ensuring that there is a market for such beef. There is a strong demand for meat globally including beef and figures from the European Commission's most recent Short Term Outlook for meat markets show a projected growth of per capita beef consumption of 2.1% for 2016. Whilst we exported approximately 97% of our beef exports in 2015 to the UK and EU I am very conscious of the importance of growing international markets as a valuable outlet for any increased Irish beef production. Indeed this is a crucial component of the Food Wise 2025 strategy. Very significant progress has been made in this context in recent years and my Department is currently in the process of attempting to secure beef access to a range of Third Countries including China, South Korea, Ukraine, Thailand and Vietnam. This builds on the opening of some major markets in the last two years including the US, Canada and Japan. This is a vital means of providing Ireland’s beef sector with as many commercial opportunities as possible for Irish beef in addition to our existing European markets.
I am also very conscious of the vital role that live exports play in providing an alternative market outlet for Irish farmers especially in an environment where the number of calf births has increased in recent years. The recent opening of the Turkish market for live cattle exports has seen over 8,000 cattle make the trip so far, a number which will increase further by the end of 2016. I also note that exports of live cattle to Libya have recommenced which is a positive and welcome development. My Department is also currently actively examining the possibilities of bilateral health certificates for the export of cattle to Kazakhstan, Montenegro and for breeding cattle to Morocco. I remain actively committed to ensuring that Irish beef producers have the option of exporting to as many markets as possible.
One of my priorities now, particularly in the context of Brexit is to further increase the market opportunity for Irish food and drink internationally. We are after all an exporting nation with 90% of our food produce leaving the island. It is for this reason I led a major trade mission to four Asian Countries in September and one to Algeria and Morocco at the beginning of November. It is only through further increasing our footprint internationally that we will help to mitigate the effects of Brexit and develop our agrifood sector to realise its full potential.
My Department and state agencies such as Bord Bia will continue to work to ensure that any increase in production from the Irish beef herd can deliver a viable return to the Irish Beef sector and the primary producer. I allocated additional funding to Bord Bia in Budget 2017 for the specific purpose of dealing with the impact of Brexit which help to support Irish food and drink exports in 2017. This, in addition to the opening of a new office by Bord Bia in Singapore this year, will ensure that exports of Irish beef are promoted effectively to provide viable export markets for any increases in Irish beef production.
21. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans in place to update the baseline scientific studies carried out by the Marine Institute in relation to the Natura designated bays across Ireland in view of the fact that the scientific data is already a few years old and in need of updating due to the time lapse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37712/16]
View answerMy Department has a limited role in relation to this matter. The baseline data referred to by the Deputy in respect of designated Natura 2000 areas (i.e. areas protected under EU Birds-Habitats Directives) is prepared by the Marine Institute in conjunction with the National Parks and Wildlife Service which comes under the remit of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DAHRRGA). This enables NPWS to prepare Conservation Objectives in respect of the relevant bays.
The Conservation Objectives are a necessary precursor to the preparation of Appropriate Assessments by the Marine Institute of the same bays in order to facilitate aquaculture licensing. The Appropriate Assessment process arises from a European Court of Justice (ECJ) Judgment against Ireland in 2007.
My Department is not aware of any requirement for a further update of the baseline data. Furthermore, the Programme of Measures by Ireland to ensure full compliance with the ECJ Judgement is updated biannually by NPWS in conjunction with a number of Government Departments including DAFM.
The Appropriate Assessments take all aquaculture licence applications into account for each bay at a particular point in time. Appropriate Assessments have now been received by my Department in respect of twenty bays, Bannow Bay; Ballycotton Bay; Castlemaine Harbour; Clew Bay; Donegal Bay; Drumcliff Bay/Cummeen Harbour; Dundalk Bay; Dungarvan Harbour; Galway Bay; Gweedore Bay; Kenmare Bay; Kilkieran Bay; Lough Swilly; River Barrow & River Nore; Roaringwater Bay; Sheephaven Bay; Trawbreaga Bay; Valentia Harbour/Portmagee Channel; West of Ardara / Maas Road; Wexford Harbour.
In all the circumstances, my Department is satisfied that the present measures fully meet the requirements of the ECJ Judgment and every effort is being made to expedite the conclusion of this process.
22. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to significantly increase the national afforestation programme from its current levels in view of climate change mitigation objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37725/16]
View answerThe National Forest inventory of 2012 estimated forest cover at 731,650ha or 10.5% of the total land surface of the country. In terms of total forest cover the target is 18% by 2050. The inventory is repeated every 5 years and the 2017 inventory is currently underway.
The current Forestry Programme, covering the period 2015-2020, ensures continued State support for the two key objectives of increasing forest cover and wood mobilisation. Almost €500 million of investment over the six year programme period will facilitate an increase in forest cover by almost 44,000 hectares over the period of the Programme. The level of afforestation grant and premiums, allied to the tax treatment of income from forests provide good incentives for land-owners to plant a proportion of their holding. Forests established in the period since 1990 are forecast to remove up to 4.5m tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide over the period 2021-2030.
In addition to carbon sequestration following the creation of new forests, climate change mitigation also occurs when forest-based biomass replaces fossil fuels for heating or power generation. This helps to reduce the dependence on imported fossil fuels. The new Forestry for Fibre scheme allows landowners to plant fast growing species for fuel supply into local heating markets and for CHP and other energy uses. Support for thinning and forest road building will also help mobilise forest-based biomass for heat and power uses.
23. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department has made the decision since 2015 not to fund new entrants into the organic farming scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37723/16]
View answerThe new Organic Farming Scheme has proved extremely successful, attracting more new applicants than any scheme before, and encouraging a significant number of Irish farmers to convert to organic farming systems.
This is a co-funded scheme, supported jointly through the Rural Development Programme by the EU and the Irish Exchequer. At this point in time, the budget allocated to the new scheme in Ireland’s Rural Development Programme has been fully committed and all targets set for the scheme within the RDP have already been achieved.
However, my Department keeps a close eye on expenditure under all headings of the RDP and if it appears that additional funds are likely to become available, I will consider the possibility of reopening this scheme in a very targeted fashion.
24. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether fishermen who are undocumented and whose employers are not engaging in the regularisation scheme should be given the right to a work visa here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37686/16]
View answerA high level inter-departmental Task Force was set up by Government in November 2015 following reports of alleged abuses of migrant workers on board Irish fishing vessels. The remit of the Task Force was to examine the issues raised by these reports and to formulate a co-ordinated and effective cross-Government response.
The Task Force delivered its report on this matter in December 2015 and its work is now concluded.
The key outcome of the work of the Task Force is the establishment of a sector-specific Atypical Worker Permission system, which is an extension of the existing Atypical Worker Permission schemes administered by the Department of Justice and Equality (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service - INIS).
The Scheme provides a structured and transparent framework for the employment of non-EEA workers within defined segments of the Irish commercial sea-fishing fleet, minimising the risk of exploitation and ensuring that these workers are guaranteed all appropriate employment rights and protections during their period of employment.
In making its recommendations, the Task Force was of the view that the best way to ensure that abuses are minimised is to introduce specific arrangements which ensure that such workers are covered by the protections afforded to employees.
Consequently, the permissions granted under the scheme are confined to those crew members who are engaged under a contract of employment by a vessel licence holder. This is to ensure that such workers have a right to a minimum regular wage and statutory conditions of employment. It will also support the various enforcement agencies’ ability to intervene effectively to address alleged abuses of employment or other regulations.
Therefore, the approach suggested by the Deputy would undermine the intention of the scheme.
Individuals who have particular concerns regarding employment issues should contact the Workplace Relations Commission which is the appropriate authority in such circumstances.
25. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the emergency funding that will be made available to tillage farmers in view of recent severe weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37709/16]
View answerI fully acknowledge and accept that there are ongoing difficulties being experienced by the farming community, not least by our tillage farmers. This sector is a very important area in the agricultural economy but it has been a challenging year both in terms of market returns and variable weather conditions experienced during the harvest.
Only last week, I corresponded in detail with the Deputy on this issue and I wish to re-state the position again today in the House. You will be aware that I recently chaired a meeting with the main stakeholders in the tillage sector. As I said at the time and I wish repeat, this meeting provided a platform for the stakeholders to express their views and concerns on the challenges they are facing but equally to discuss the opportunities that lie ahead for the industry
At that meeting, I outlined that one of my chief priorities was to provide low-cost more flexible finance to the sector and in this regard, I was happy to announce on Budget Day, my plans for a €150 million Agri Cash Flow Loan Support Scheme. This financial instrument has been developed in conjunction with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), by leveraging EU and Exchequer funding totalling €25m from my Department, to deliver a total loan fund of €150 million, which will support highly flexible loans for up to six years, for amounts up to €150,000. The interest rate applying is 2.95% and the product will be available to livestock, tillage and horticulture farmers.
Loans to tillage and horticulture farmers will be provided in line with the EU’s agriculture State Aid de minimis requirements. This is a cash flow support facility, to improve the working capital position of farmers and other viable primary agriculture SMEs. The loans are primarily to pay down expensive forms of credit such as merchant credit and other short-term financing facilities such as overdrafts. I also recently welcomed the SBCI “Open Call” for financial intermediaries to deliver the Scheme, which will be operational as early as possible in 2017.
The loan scheme is part of a “three pillar strategy” in response to income volatility that I announced in the recent Budget, along with additional tax measures and farm payments. Among the tax measures, I agreed with my colleague the Minister for Finance, for an adjustment to the current ‘Income Averaging’ system, which will allow for an opt-out in an exceptional year. This will be available immediately, for this year’s tax liability, and this will go some way towards addressing current cash flow concerns.
As an additional support to cash flow on farms, including Tillage farms, I also confirmed that advance payments would be made this year in respect of the Basic Payment and Greening Payment schemes. Advance payments commenced on the 17th October last, the earliest possible date by which payments can begin under the governing EU Regulations. Up to last week, €791.7 million has been paid out to 120,224 farmers and payments are ongoing.
I was also pleased to note that the processing of the Areas of Natural Constraints payment scheme is on schedule and payments have already commenced during the third week in September. It is expected that approx 96,500 will fulfil the scheme eligibility requirements. My Department will also be opening a TAMS Schemes specifically for the Tillage Sector.
I also stressed at the recent Tillage stakeholders meeting and I want to restate my view to the House, that in this changing landscape we need to take a fresh look at our tillage industry, to ensure that it is best positioned to withstand possible future threats and to avail of the new opportunities which may present themselves.
26. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the representations he has made to his equivalent in the UK in relation to the potential serious implications of Brexit on fishing in reciprocal territorial waters across the island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37710/16]
View answerBrexit poses enormous challenges for the Irish agri-food sector as a whole but there are additional and unique challenges for our fishing industry potentially, depending on what the UK seeks to do. Reciprocal access to fishing grounds and shared stocks is one of those key issues.
Fish stocks are a shared resource managed under the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union. Nearly all of the main commercial stocks upon which the Irish fisheries sector is reliant are shared to some degree with the UK. In addition, many of our traditional fishing grounds lie within UK waters. Any change to the existing situation could have very serious negative consequences for our fleets.
With regard to territorial waters, that is those waters up the 12 mile limit, the UK and Ireland share certain access rights in the 6-12 mile zone. From 0-6 miles the only reciprocal access relates to vessels from Northern Ireland, which has been subject to a recent Supreme Court judgement. It is not known, at this time, how all of this could be effected by Brexit.
In that overall context, there has been regular engagement at official level with the UK and I will be discussing fisheries with the UK Secretary of Sate, Andrea Leadsom tomorrow in London. Of course, it is important to note that no negotiations can take place until such time as the UK invokes Article 50.
My Department, together with its agencies and stakeholders, has been considering all of the potential impacts, looking at the areas where the greatest risks will arise and on which we will need to focus when the negotiations begin. Ensuring that our fishing interests are reflected in the overall EU negotiating position will be a key priority.
I will remain in close contact with fisheries stakeholders as the issues develop and work with them and my fellow fisheries Ministers in the EU to ensure that we are all fully prepared for what are likely to be extremely complex negotiations.
