Written Answers Nos. 260-272
260. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding transitional agreements for pig and poultry farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38245/16]
View answerThe European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014 are the responsibility of the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. The current arrangement negotiated with the Commission in Ireland’s action programme for Nitrates whereby the intensive sectors (Pig, Poultry and Mushroom composts) are allowed to apply manures in excess of crop requirement (and thereby limiting the amount of land required to spread this material) is due to expire at the end of the year. The arrangement was put in place in 2006 to assist the industry move towards compliance with the nutrient balance requirements of the Directive over a 10 year period. Any extension of this arrangement would have to be agreed with the Commission as part of Ireland’s negotiations for a derogation of the Directive’s livestock manure nitrogen limit.
In 2017, Ireland will embark on a review of its Nitrates Action Programme with the European Commission, with a view to having in place by 2018 an agreed Programme that will run from 2018 to 2021.
261. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers to date who have applied to join GLAS III, and in each respective tier, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38258/16]
View answerTo date some 11,000 applications have been created on the GLAS 3 online system. The breakdown of the information requested by the Deputy will not be available until after the scheme closing date at which time all applications will be assessed.
Given the large volume of applications being created applicants would again be encouraged to adopt actions that will promote them from Tier 3 to a higher tier, thus increasing their chances of selection into the scheme.
262. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views regarding tillage farmers and the criticism surrounding the min-till requirement, which is acting as deterrent from enrolling in GLAS plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38259/16]
View answerI am aware of concerns raised by some farmers and my Department issued a circular on 24 November 2016 to GLAS Advisers clarifying the criteria in respect of combining Minimum Tillage and Catch Crop actions to qualify for GLAS plus payment. I believe this clarification addresses concerns raised.
263. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that supermarkets and retail multiples do not repeat below-cost selling of vegetables in the run up to the Christmas period as occurred previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38260/16]
View answerThe legislative powers to tackle the matters mentioned are under the auspices of my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, together with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. The Commission, which was established on 31 October 2014, is the statutory body responsible for enforcing consumer protection and competition law in Ireland.
During 2014, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation introduced the Competition and Consumer Protection Act (No 29 of 2014). The Act provides for the making of provisions for regulating certain practices in the grocery goods sector.
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has also implemented the Grocery Goods Regulations under this legislation, in February 2016, applying to sales and supply contracts for groceries, including vegetables, renewed or entered into by producers and growers with their retailers and supermarket multiples, with effect from 30 April 2016. These new provisions will, I hope, guide the supermarkets in how they deal with our producers in a fair and reasonable manner.
The price levels struck by growers with retail outlets are entirely a commercial matter. Whilst it is not my role to set supermarket prices for agricultural products or to be involved in price negotiations between growers and retailers, I very much encourage greater co-operation and discussion between all parties in order to ensure the viability of the largest number of Irish vegetable growers possible.
264. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the latest discussion at EU level regarding EU 2030 GHG emissions targets and the role of agriculture in contributing to carbon sequestering. [38261/16]
View answerIreland has adopted a whole of Government approach to climate policy discussions, which are being led by my colleague the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. We have been engaged in intensive discussions with the European Commission - both DG Clima and DG Agriculture - and with our European colleagues to ensure the October 2014 Council Conclusions are fully recognised in the effort sharing proposals.
The recently released proposal for an Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) contains a number of proposed flexibilities. Under the proposal Ireland has potential to use 2.7 Mt CO2 eq per annum from LULUCF in order to meet its emission reduction requirements, based on a combined contribution of net afforestation and cropland and grassland management activities.
Collectively the Irish Government has agreed its approach to responding to these proposals and will take advantage of the opportunity to raise the matter at European Parliament and at Working Group level which are ongoing at present.
Our forests sequester carbon by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and then storing it in trees, other vegetation and in soils. Farm practices such as the establishment and maintenance of landscape features which can assist with achieving carbon sequestration benefits are supported through our Rural Development Programme. We are also engaging in research focussed on the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural soils.
It should also be noted that Ireland is one of a small number of EU countries to have elected to report on cropland and grazing land management activities under the Kyoto Protocol (KP). This would allow Ireland to take advantage of any sequestration benefits that may be allowed in the future from these activities.
265. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers under the areas of natural constraint scheme and basic payment scheme that have yellow card cases and are awaiting approval from the Commission before processing of their 2016 payments can take place if approved, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38262/16]
View answerThere are no cases under the Basic Payment Scheme that are awaiting processing due to the implementation of the new yellow card rules.
Payment under Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme commenced on the third week of September as agreed under the Farmers Charter. To date 87,038 beneficiaries have received in excess of €188m with payments continuing to issue as further cases are cleared.
Of those cases outstanding awaiting payment, a number have been identified as having an area over claim and therefore require the application of the new yellow card penalty regime Whereas clarification in relation to the implementation of the new penalty regime for BPS was received at an early date, clarification on the implementation of this new penalty regime under ANC was only recently received from the Commission and my department is now making the necessary changes to the computerised payment procedure to allow further processing of these cases. These cases have been prioritised for clearance.
To date 1566 cases have been identified as having an ANC area over declaration. The county breakdown is contained in the following table.
|
County |
Yellow card ANC cases |
|
Carlow |
17 |
|
Cavan |
55 |
|
Clare |
114 |
|
Cork |
104 |
|
Donegal |
117 |
|
Dublin |
5 |
|
Galway |
178 |
|
Kerry |
104 |
|
Kildare |
3 |
|
Kilkenny |
28 |
|
Laois |
20 |
|
Leitrim |
58 |
|
Limerick |
41 |
|
Longford |
37 |
|
Louth |
17 |
|
Mayo |
231 |
|
Meath |
15 |
|
Monaghan |
60 |
|
Offaly |
38 |
|
Roscommon |
97 |
|
Sligo |
40 |
|
Tipperary |
75 |
|
Waterford |
18 |
|
Westmeath |
34 |
|
Wexford |
28 |
|
Wicklow |
32 |
266. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers under the areas of natural constraints scheme and basic payments scheme that have yellow card cases that have been approved or declined by the Commission by county in tabular form; the total number of approved cases where 2016 payments have issued to date or will issue before the end of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38263/16]
View answerThere are no cases under the Basic Payment Scheme that are awaiting processing due to the implementation of the new yellow card rules.
Payment under Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme commenced on the third week of September as agreed under the Farmers' Charter. To date over 87,000 beneficiaries have received in excess of €188m with payments continuing to issue as further cases are cleared.
Of those cases outstanding awaiting payment, a number have been identified as having an area over claim and therefore require the application of the new yellow card penalty regime Clarification on the implementation of this new penalty regime under ANC was only recently received from the Commission and my department is now making the necessary changes to the computerised payment procedure to allow further processing of these cases. These cases have been prioritised for clearance.
To date 1566 cases have been identified as having an ANC area over declaration. The county breakdown below of these cases is set out in the following table.
|
County |
Yellow card cases |
|
Carlow |
17 |
|
Cavan |
55 |
|
Clare |
114 |
|
Cork |
104 |
|
Donegal |
117 |
|
Dublin |
5 |
|
Galway |
178 |
|
Kerry |
104 |
|
Kildare |
3 |
|
Kilkenny |
28 |
|
Laois |
20 |
|
Leitrim |
58 |
|
Limerick |
41 |
|
Longford |
37 |
|
Louth |
17 |
|
Mayo |
231 |
|
Meath |
15 |
|
Monaghan |
60 |
|
Offaly |
38 |
|
Roscommon |
97 |
|
Sligo |
40 |
|
Tipperary |
75 |
|
Waterford |
18 |
|
Westmeath |
34 |
|
Wexford |
28 |
|
Wicklow |
32 |
267. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress on introducing financial instruments under the Common Agriculture Policy; when will the ex ante evaluation will be completed; the approximate timeframe for operationalising such instruments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38264/16]
View answerThe contract for an ex-ante assessment for the use of Financial Instruments (FIs) within Ireland’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programmes was awarded to Indecon on 31 August, 2016. The Assessment is well underway and the final ex-ante assessment Report will be completed by end December, 2016.
Once an ex-ante assessment is complete a decision can be made on whether or not to implement a FI. If a decision is made to proceed with FIs then an agreement must be reached between the Department and any other potential stakeholders/financial institutions on a clear investment strategy that is developed from the gaps, if any, identified in the ex-ante assessment. Following this, an appropriate amendment would have to be made to the Rural Development Programme.
268. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers who have applied to the EU voluntary milk reduction scheme, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38265/16]
View answerThe following table outlines the breakdown by County of applications for the Voluntary Supply Management Scheme or VSMS. These figures include applicants in both Phase I and II of the scheme. The scheme is now closed as the allocated budget is now fully committed. This scheme is one of a range of measures adopted at EU level to mitigate market volatility in the Dairy sector.
|
County |
Total Applications |
|
Carlow |
20 |
|
Cavan |
200 |
|
Clare |
272 |
|
Cork |
1,341 |
|
Donegal |
67 |
|
Dublin |
16 |
|
Galway |
152 |
|
Kerry |
827 |
|
Kildare |
39 |
|
Kilkenny |
99 |
|
Laois |
59 |
|
Leitrim |
13 |
|
Limerick |
551 |
|
Longford |
47 |
|
Louth |
33 |
|
Mayo |
95 |
|
Meath |
113 |
|
Monaghan |
225 |
|
Offaly |
54 |
|
Roscommon |
40 |
|
Sligo |
55 |
|
Tipperary |
387 |
|
Waterford |
121 |
|
Westmeath |
42 |
|
Wexford |
6 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
|
Total |
4,876 |
269. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review Food Wise 2025 following the recent ESRI report, the Product and Sector Level Impact of a Hard Brexit across the EU; the way in which Irish exports to the UK would be the most exposed in the EU in a WTO tariff scenario post-Brexit with food in the highest tariff category and with beef potentially facing an 80% tariff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38266/16]
View answerFood Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agri-food sector, was published in July last year. It 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 sectorial recommendations.
In light of the UK vote to leave the EU, Brexit has been included as a standard item on the agenda of each meeting of the High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC) and will be fully factored into all the work of the State Agencies and the private sector in pursuing the sustainable growth ambitions of the Food Wise strategy. It is clear that driving the implementation of the Food Wise recommendations, particularly those related to market development, competitiveness and innovation, will assume even greater importance in the light of the UK decision.
The recent report from the ESRI examines a WTO scenario for post-Brexit UK-EU trade. The report shows that Ireland will be the most severely affected EU Member State in this scenario. This is in the main due to the high tariff rates imposed on agri-food products. Given that up to 43% of our agri-food products were exported to the UK in 2015, their decision to leave the EU reinforces the need for Ireland to continue to diversify and seek growth opportunities into other markets in order to minimise our dependence on any one market. Indeed this principle of market development is already a key component of Food Wise. We have been very active in recent years in efforts to diversify markets, and in aiming to respond to consumer demands in emerging markets.
In September, I led a very successful trade mission to China and Singapore, while my colleague, Minister of State Andrew Doyle led a Trade Mission to Vietnam and South Korea. I believe that these activities will prove very valuable in developing the rapidly growing Asian markets as important export destinations for the Irish agri-food sector. I also led a trade mission to Morocco and Algeria earlier this month. These trade visits will continue to play a key role in our efforts to provide as many markets as possible for Irish agri-food products.
270. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of legal fees paid by his Department in respect of tribunals of inquiry established by the State and any resulting legal action; if he will provide these broken down by tribunal and by year for 2006 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38450/16]
View answerThe Legal Fees paid by my Department in respect of tribunals, broken down by Tribunal and by year 2006 to 2016:
|
Tribunal |
Year |
Amount Paid |
|
Beef Tribunal |
2006 |
€147,403.62 |
|
2007 |
- |
|
|
2008 |
- |
|
|
2009 |
- |
|
|
2010 |
€15,500 |
|
|
2011 |
- |
|
|
2012 |
- |
|
|
2013 |
- |
|
|
2014 |
- |
|
|
2015 |
- |
|
|
2016 to date |
- |
271. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 566 of 11 October 2016 (details supplied), if a suitable source of funding is available within his Department that may be applicable to supplement a green energy project as previously detailed to his office, considering that the person has already been granted REFIT approval; if any such funding will be available through his Department at a future date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38101/16]
View answerWhile I cannot comment on an individual Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) application, I can confirm that it is normal practice that successful REFIT applicants cannot avail of any additional grant aid under European Commission State Aid rules.
I have asked my officials to follow up with the REFIT applicant referred to by the Deputy.
272. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding solar farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38115/16]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects in Ireland. This builds on the Energy White Paper published in December 2015 and recognises that solar also has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future. With this in mind, Solar Photovoltaics (PV) is one of the technologies being considered in the context of a new support scheme for renewable electricity generation which is under development.
The first Technology Review public consultation on a new renewable support scheme was published in 2015 and following the completion of detailed economic analysis on the viability and cost effectiveness of supporting a range of renewable technologies - including Solar (PV) - a second public consultation will be published in early 2017. Details of the next public consultation will be advertised on the Department's website www.dccae.gov.ie.
Before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission. The new support scheme for renewable electricity is expected to become available in late 2017.
