Written Answers Nos. 254-268
254. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of designated boats for live trade in all sectors, in tabular form; the number of boats due for inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2434/17]
View answerThe current details of the number of live trade vessels, both presently approved and those due for inspection, are as follows:
|
No. |
|
|
Dedicated Vessels approved |
4 |
|
Dedicated Vessels due for inspection |
1 |
|
Roll On Roll Off vessels approved |
3 |
|
Roll On Roll Off vessels due for inspection |
1 |
As the Deputy is aware, 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. At present, 9 non-EU markets (Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Montenegro, Serbia and Algeria and most recently Turkey) are currently open to live cattle from Ireland, in addition to the other EU Member States. My Department reached agreement with Egypt last year on a health certificate and is currently investigating the possibility of bilateral health certificates for the export of cattle to Kazakhstan.
I will continue to ensure that Irish livestock producers have the option of exporting to as many global markets as possible and the question of when and where to conduct trade missions to ensure the maximum benefit to Irish agriculture is kept constantly under review.
255. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the tillage TAMS scheme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2435/17]
View answerThe required development work for the new TAMS II Tillage Scheme is under way and it is expected to be open for online applications within a matter of weeks.
256. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the low-cost agri-loan fund will open for applications; the length of time for which the fund will remain open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2436/17]
View answerOne of my priorities has been to address the impact on farmers of the sustained period of lower commodity prices, which has caused cash flow difficulties for farmers in several sectors. The "Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme" was developed by my Department in co-operation with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI). It will provide farmers with a low cost, flexible source of working capital and will allow them to pay down more expensive forms of short-term debt, ensuring the ongoing financial sustainability of viable farming enterprises. The SBCI is aiming to bring the loans to market by the end of January and I hope to make an announcement in this regard shortly.
This innovative loan Scheme will make €150 million available to farmers throughout Ireland at low-cost interest rates of 2.95%. This is supported by €25 million being provided by my Department, including €11 million in EU exceptional adjustment aid. In order to comply with requirements attached to the EU element of funding, it is envisaged that the Scheme will be available until late summer 2017. However there is considerable interest in the Scheme and the loans will be dispersed on a "first come, first served" basis. I am encouraging farmers to consider their cash flow and borrowings situation now, and if appropriate to their circumstances, to be prepared to apply for these loans when they become available.
257. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the countries to which Ireland currently sends live exports by sector in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2437/17]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
Country |
Sector |
|
Algeria |
Bovine |
|
Argentina |
Equine |
|
Armenia |
Porcine |
|
Australia |
Equine |
|
Belarus |
Porcine |
|
Brazil |
Equine |
|
Canada |
Equine |
|
Chile |
Equine |
|
China |
Porcine and Equine |
|
Egypt |
Bovine and Equine |
|
EU Member States and Members of the European Economic Area |
All animals |
|
Hong Kong |
Equine |
|
India |
Equine |
|
Iran |
Equine |
|
Japan |
Equine |
|
Jordan |
Equine |
|
Kazakhstan |
Equine |
|
Kenya |
Porcine |
|
Republic of Korea |
Equine |
|
Lebanon |
Bovine |
|
Libya |
Bovine, Ovine and Equine |
|
Malaysia |
Equine |
|
Montenegro |
Bovine |
|
Morocco |
Bovine and Equine |
|
New Zealand |
Equine |
|
Pakistan |
Equine |
|
Qatar |
Equine |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Equine |
|
Russia |
Bovine |
|
Serbia |
Bovine and Equine |
|
Singapore |
Ovine, Caprine and Equine |
|
South Africa |
Equine |
|
St. Kitts |
Equine |
|
Thailand |
Equine |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
Equine |
|
Tunisia |
Bovine and Equine |
|
Turkey |
Bovine and Equine |
|
U.A.E. |
Equine |
|
Ukraine |
Porcine and Equine |
|
Uruguay |
Equine |
|
USA |
Equine |
258. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the countries to which Ireland currently exports beef, including a breakdown by country, in volume and value in 2016, of total exports in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2438/17]
View answerFull-year figures for beef exports by Country in 2016 are not yet available from the Central Statistics Office. The data provided by the Central Statistics Office show exports of Irish beef in both volume and value for the period January – November 2016. This is outlined in tabular form as follows highlighting the top 20 Countries which imported Irish beef representing 98% of all Irish exports in the period concerned.
Bord Bia's aggregate figures for 2016 estimate that Irish beef exports for 2016 increased by 5% in volume but decreased slightly in value terms reflecting the difficult trading environment for this sector last year. I will continue to work on ensuring Irish pork is exported to as many international markets as possible in 2017, and ensuring that new and meaningful markets are open to Irish beef is top of my priorities for this year.
|
Country |
€000 |
Tonnes |
|
Great Britain |
894,936 |
211,108 |
|
France |
189,645 |
47,751 |
|
Netherlands |
179,798 |
35,755 |
|
Italy |
145,097 |
19,819 |
|
Germany |
118,604 |
15,093 |
|
Northern Ireland |
101,957 |
28,747 |
|
Sweden |
87,379 |
24,385 |
|
Spain |
51,321 |
9,046 |
|
Belgium |
46,529 |
6,852 |
|
Hong Kong |
40,083 |
15,037 |
|
Denmark |
34,964 |
8,561 |
|
Switzerland |
22,442 |
1,939 |
|
Philippines |
19,943 |
12,092 |
|
Czech |
11,805 |
2,243 |
|
Portugal |
11,273 |
2,560 |
|
Poland |
10,402 |
3,954 |
|
USA |
9,240 |
1,659 |
|
Ghana |
7,342 |
7,746 |
|
Japan |
7,185 |
1,275 |
|
Other |
42341 |
19486 |
259. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the countries to which Ireland currently exports lamb, including a breakdown by country, in volume and value in 2016, of total exports in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2439/17]
View answerFull-year figures for sheepmeat exports by Country in 2016 are not yet available from the Central Statistics Office. The data provided by the Central Statistics Office show exports of Irish sheepmeat in both volume and value for the period January – November 2016. This is outlined in tabular form as follows highlighting the top 8 Countries which imported Irish sheepmeat representing 95% of all Irish exports in the period concerned.
Bord Bia's aggregate figures for 2016 are estimating that Irish sheepmeat exports for 2016 increased by 3% in volume and 4% in value terms which is extremely encouraging. I will continue to work on ensuring Irish lamb is exported to as many international markets as possible in 2017, and ensuring that new and meaningful markets are open to Irish lamb is top of my priorities for this year.
|
€000 |
Tonnes |
|
|
France |
92,203 |
17,860 |
|
Great Britain |
47,327 |
12,383 |
|
Germany |
26,240 |
4,226 |
|
Belgium |
23,195 |
3,162 |
|
Sweden |
21,141 |
4,130 |
|
Switzerland |
11,176 |
765 |
|
Denmark |
8,569 |
1,040 |
|
Italy |
6,800 |
1,411 |
|
Other |
15,922 |
6,308 |
260. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the countries to which Ireland currently exports pork, including a breakdown by country, in volume and value in 2016, of total exports in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2440/17]
View answerFull-year figures for pigmeat exports by Country in 2016 are not yet available from the Central Statistics Office. The data provided by the Central Statistics Office show exports of Irish pigmeat in both volume and value for the period January – November 2016. This is outlined in tabular form as follows highlighting the top 25 Countries which imported Irish pigmeat representing 99% of all Irish exports in the period concerned.
Bord Bia's aggregate figures for 2016 estimate that Irish pork exports for 2016 increased by 2% in volume and 4% in value terms which is extremely encouraging. I will continue to work on ensuring Irish pork is exported to as many international markets as possible in 2017, and ensuring that new and meaningful markets are open to Irish pork is top of my priorities for this year.
|
Country |
€ 000 |
Tonnes |
|
Great Britain |
159,105 |
52,028 |
|
China |
111,591 |
68,005 |
|
Denmark |
30,156 |
14,580 |
|
United States |
23,880 |
6,022 |
|
Germany |
22,518 |
14,250 |
|
Japan |
11,874 |
4,034 |
|
Australia |
10,506 |
4,450 |
|
South Korea |
10,371 |
4,732 |
|
Northern Ireland |
8,146 |
2,489 |
|
Sweden |
6,854 |
5,451 |
|
France |
5,276 |
2,174 |
|
Philippines |
5,117 |
4,352 |
|
Czech Republic |
5,061 |
2,078 |
|
Poland |
3,044 |
1,324 |
|
Netherlands |
2,142 |
2,419 |
|
Hong Kong |
2,046 |
1,555 |
|
Canada |
1,954 |
669 |
|
South Africa |
1,802 |
935 |
|
Austria |
1,501 |
592 |
|
Trinidad & Tobago |
1,466 |
575 |
|
Italy |
1,461 |
588 |
|
New Zealand |
1,362 |
612 |
|
Belgium |
1,283 |
2,073 |
|
Vietnam |
1,026 |
759 |
|
United Arab Emirates |
945 |
293 |
|
Other |
6,138 |
3,325 |
261. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of applicants to the new sheep welfare scheme by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2441/17]
View answerThe Sheep Welfare Scheme was launched on 19 December 2016 and has a closing date for receipt of applications of 31 January 2017. Applications are being received on a daily basis and processing of these will begin shortly. The information requested on the Sheep Welfare Scheme will not be available until after the closing date of the scheme when all applications have been received and processed. This information can be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available. At present, approximately 6,000 applications have been received, and my officials are engaged in a series of information sessions for farmers in various locations around the country.
262. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the countries that Ireland exported food and drink products to in 2015 and 2016 including a breakdown in volume terms and in value of total exports, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2442/17]
View answerFrom January to December 2015, Ireland exported 6 million tonnes of agri-food to the value of €11.98 billion. From January to November 2016, it exported 5.7 million tonnes of agri-food to the value of €11 billion.
The countries and the amount exported to them are listed in the following table.
|
Exports |
Exports |
Exports |
Exports |
||
|
Jan-Dec 2015 |
Jan-Dec 2015 |
Jan-Nov 2016 |
Jan-Nov 2016 |
||
|
Country |
€ 000 |
Tonnes |
Country |
€ 000 |
Tonnes |
|
Afghanistan |
2,996 |
1,861 |
Afghanistan |
4,544 |
2,875 |
|
Albania |
775 |
513 |
Albania |
81 |
31 |
|
Algeria |
41,158 |
14,940 |
Algeria |
37,649 |
15,008 |
|
Andorra |
225 |
69 |
Andorra |
452 |
70 |
|
Angola |
6,977 |
3,741 |
Angola |
5,758 |
3,225 |
|
Antigua & Barbuda |
21 |
1 |
Antigua & Barbuda |
0 |
0 |
|
Argentina |
2,475 |
719 |
Argentina |
2,895 |
804 |
|
Armenia |
166 |
63 |
Armenia |
93 |
12 |
|
Australia |
57,567 |
24,871 |
Australia |
46,852 |
19,910 |
|
Austria |
24,044 |
8,668 |
Austria |
24,633 |
9,694 |
|
Azerbaijan |
532 |
82 |
Azerbaijan |
131 |
78 |
|
Bahamas |
1,969 |
497 |
Bahamas |
1,588 |
381 |
|
Bahrain |
8,822 |
2,563 |
Bahrain |
7,427 |
2,479 |
|
Bangladesh |
2,467 |
1,167 |
Bangladesh |
1,950 |
1,223 |
|
Barbados |
705 |
192 |
Barbados |
478 |
120 |
|
Belarus |
1,155 |
534 |
Belarus |
684 |
328 |
|
Belgium |
223,720 |
87,851 |
Belgium |
195,267 |
64,589 |
|
Belize |
52 |
21 |
Belize |
4 |
1 |
|
Benin |
5,142 |
5,200 |
Benin |
4,273 |
4,240 |
|
Bermuda |
311 |
105 |
Bermuda |
334 |
109 |
|
Bolivia |
29 |
5 |
Bolivia |
42 |
5 |
|
Bosnia & Herzegovina |
313 |
105 |
Bosnia & Herzegovina |
297 |
71 |
|
Botswana |
0 |
0 |
Botswana |
0 |
0 |
|
Brazil |
5,460 |
995 |
Brazil |
5,169 |
979 |
|
Brunei |
1 |
1 |
Brunei |
1 |
1 |
|
Bulgaria |
11,577 |
2,646 |
Bulgaria |
10,976 |
2,724 |
|
Burkina Faso |
5,891 |
3,155 |
Burkina Faso |
5,402 |
3,020 |
|
Burma |
35 |
2 |
Burma |
1,669 |
1,059 |
|
Burundi |
2 |
0 |
Cambodia |
1,778 |
186 |
|
Cambodia |
1,067 |
134 |
Cameroon |
2,195 |
1,763 |
|
Cameroon |
22,624 |
22,694 |
Canada |
96,136 |
24,490 |
|
Canada |
92,303 |
23,243 |
Cape Verde |
195 |
75 |
|
Cape Verde |
290 |
100 |
Cayman Islands |
162 |
52 |
|
Cayman Islands |
253 |
78 |
Central African Republic |
23 |
14 |
|
Central African Republic |
50 |
28 |
Chad |
1,432 |
845 |
|
Chad |
1,413 |
857 |
Chile |
7,686 |
2,186 |
|
Chile |
8,643 |
2,221 |
China |
708,533 |
401,779 |
|
China |
611,642 |
440,396 |
Colombia |
17,687 |
2,280 |
|
Colombia |
12,441 |
2,194 |
Comoros |
110 |
51 |
|
Comoros |
68 |
26 |
Congo |
4,850 |
3,414 |
|
Congo |
3,903 |
1,701 |
Congo (Dem Rep) |
12,277 |
7,130 |
|
Congo (Dem Rep) |
13,753 |
7,437 |
Costa Rica |
3,763 |
1,419 |
|
Costa Rica |
4,621 |
1,667 |
Croatia |
680 |
221 |
|
Croatia |
880 |
318 |
Cuba |
652 |
309 |
|
Cuba |
3,345 |
1,497 |
Cyprus |
4,600 |
1,455 |
|
Cyprus |
4,175 |
1,373 |
Czech Republic |
44,386 |
14,668 |
|
Czech Republic |
40,292 |
11,776 |
Denmark |
120,644 |
55,459 |
|
Denmark |
122,199 |
59,356 |
Dominican Republic |
3,599 |
646 |
|
Dominican Republic |
3,616 |
873 |
Ecuador |
3,965 |
394 |
|
Ecuador |
3,029 |
387 |
Egypt |
52,910 |
33,385 |
|
Egypt |
45,064 |
22,546 |
El Salvador |
3,389 |
1,177 |
|
El Salvador |
6,868 |
2,634 |
Equatorial Guinea |
215 |
141 |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
294 |
167 |
Estonia |
2,724 |
1,362 |
|
Eritrea |
4 |
0 |
Ethiopia |
478 |
139 |
|
Estonia |
3,576 |
1,399 |
Falkland Islands |
74 |
21 |
|
Ethiopia |
577 |
187 |
Faroe Islands |
8 |
1 |
|
Fiji |
5 |
1 |
Fiji |
6 |
2 |
|
Finland |
12,776 |
2,218 |
Finland |
9,827 |
1,962 |
|
France |
750,782 |
206,104 |
France |
694,944 |
204,830 |
|
French Polynesia |
326 |
157 |
French Polynesia |
72 |
48 |
|
Gabon |
4,138 |
2,194 |
French Southern Terr |
96 |
75 |
|
Gambia |
1,273 |
654 |
Gabon |
1,826 |
1,290 |
|
Georgia |
2,143 |
996 |
Gambia |
1,179 |
698 |
|
Germany |
615,669 |
205,154 |
Georgia |
1,611 |
1,060 |
|
Ghana |
27,182 |
22,406 |
Germany |
578,769 |
173,628 |
|
Gibraltar |
415 |
133 |
Ghana |
27,948 |
22,048 |
|
Great Britain |
4,365,253 |
2,115,044 |
Gibraltar |
434 |
137 |
|
Greece |
24,482 |
5,007 |
Great Britain |
3,716,306 |
2,026,955 |
|
Guam |
5 |
2 |
Greece |
21,213 |
4,845 |
|
Guatemala |
4,489 |
800 |
Greenland |
1 |
0 |
|
Guinea |
889 |
511 |
Guam |
8 |
5 |
|
Guyana |
81 |
43 |
Guatemala |
9,259 |
1,656 |
|
Honduras |
591 |
49 |
Guinea |
1,223 |
829 |
|
Hong Kong |
144,778 |
23,272 |
Guyana |
548 |
221 |
|
Hungary |
8,124 |
2,645 |
Haiti |
97 |
110 |
|
Iceland |
892 |
431 |
High seas |
16 |
251 |
|
India |
9,741 |
39,044 |
Honduras |
772 |
403 |
|
Indonesia |
20,639 |
18,818 |
Hong Kong |
153,336 |
28,470 |
|
Iran |
4,196 |
1,855 |
Hungary |
8,403 |
2,217 |
|
Iraq |
27,885 |
13,668 |
Iceland |
883 |
477 |
|
Ireland |
46 |
8 |
India |
8,983 |
46,395 |
|
Israel |
28,297 |
6,080 |
Indonesia |
21,808 |
25,348 |
|
Italy |
349,253 |
110,877 |
Iran |
6,693 |
2,437 |
|
Ivory Coast |
7,302 |
8,399 |
Iraq |
30,150 |
13,845 |
|
Jamaica |
1,386 |
675 |
Israel |
31,031 |
5,676 |
|
Japan |
38,640 |
18,819 |
Italy |
309,181 |
114,003 |
|
Jordan |
23,635 |
4,312 |
Ivory Coast |
8,781 |
8,562 |
|
Kazakhstan |
1,878 |
136 |
Jamaica |
1,564 |
983 |
|
Kenya |
3,066 |
1,650 |
Japan |
50,647 |
21,719 |
|
Kosovo |
452 |
215 |
Jordan |
19,639 |
4,081 |
|
Kuwait |
30,985 |
5,303 |
Kazakhstan |
2,025 |
93 |
|
Laos |
29 |
0 |
Kenya |
1,886 |
1,052 |
|
Latvia |
47,284 |
11,433 |
Kosovo |
106 |
31 |
|
Lebanon |
6,970 |
2,078 |
Kuwait |
23,271 |
3,664 |
|
Liberia |
2,594 |
2,469 |
Laos |
1 |
0 |
|
Libya |
8,132 |
3,213 |
Latvia |
38,881 |
10,315 |
|
Liechtenstein |
0 |
0 |
Lebanon |
7,952 |
2,692 |
|
Lithuania |
2,682 |
1,279 |
Liberia |
2,517 |
2,293 |
|
Luxembourg |
3,951 |
285 |
Libya |
6,351 |
2,680 |
|
Macao |
1 |
0 |
Liechtenstein |
0 |
0 |
|
Macedonia |
340 |
99 |
Lithuania |
2,124 |
1,013 |
|
Malawi |
2,791 |
1,181 |
Luxembourg |
4,273 |
593 |
|
Malaysia |
42,769 |
14,694 |
Macao |
9 |
1 |
|
Maldives |
0 |
0 |
Macedonia |
307 |
87 |
|
Mali |
21,680 |
11,695 |
Madagascar |
0 |
0 |
|
Malta |
11,828 |
2,574 |
Malawi |
3,285 |
1,737 |
|
Marshall Islands |
5 |
0 |
Malaysia |
38,662 |
13,763 |
|
Mauritania |
321 |
129 |
Maldives |
42 |
45 |
|
Mauritius |
871 |
184 |
Mali |
22,818 |
13,569 |
|
Mexico |
32,221 |
6,217 |
Malta |
11,265 |
2,657 |
|
Moldova |
13 |
3 |
Mauritania |
568 |
330 |
|
Mongolia |
155 |
52 |
Mauritius |
1,272 |
483 |
|
Morocco |
14,576 |
4,516 |
Mexico |
55,090 |
15,546 |
|
Mozambique |
1,143 |
1,155 |
Moldova |
0 |
0 |
|
Namibia |
372 |
128 |
Mongolia |
81 |
74 |
|
Netherlands |
693,125 |
326,787 |
Morocco |
16,073 |
6,495 |
|
New Caledonia |
93 |
20 |
Mozambique |
778 |
1,061 |
|
New Zealand |
12,678 |
5,026 |
Namibia |
215 |
168 |
|
Nicaragua |
6 |
0 |
Nepal |
94 |
50 |
|
Niger |
93 |
76 |
Netherlands |
669,026 |
320,008 |
|
Nigeria |
169,541 |
115,056 |
New Caledonia |
10 |
0 |
|
Northern Ireland |
749,408 |
1,333,499 |
New Zealand |
11,302 |
5,184 |
|
Norway |
10,403 |
3,152 |
Nicaragua |
0 |
0 |
|
Occupied Palestine |
6,720 |
607 |
Niger |
2,618 |
1,505 |
|
Oman |
9,156 |
1,662 |
Nigeria |
96,351 |
58,769 |
|
Pakistan |
13,387 |
7,007 |
Northern Ireland |
604,807 |
1,194,839 |
|
Panama |
6,609 |
1,380 |
Northern Mariana Islands |
1 |
1 |
|
Papua New Guinea |
12 |
4 |
Norway |
7,570 |
2,016 |
|
Paraguay |
0 |
0 |
Occupied Palestine |
7,909 |
772 |
|
Peru |
11,207 |
1,822 |
Oman |
10,584 |
1,387 |
|
Philippines |
28,955 |
16,026 |
Pakistan |
8,624 |
4,782 |
|
Poland |
158,061 |
55,665 |
Panama |
6,864 |
944 |
|
Portugal |
24,950 |
7,239 |
Papua New Guinea |
7 |
2 |
|
Qatar |
11,072 |
2,828 |
Peru |
12,931 |
2,033 |
|
Romania |
10,754 |
2,523 |
Philippines |
38,583 |
22,123 |
|
Russia |
51,269 |
16,868 |
Poland |
178,295 |
59,873 |
|
Rwanda |
26 |
13 |
Portugal |
27,780 |
7,664 |
|
Samoa |
16 |
23 |
Qatar |
6,980 |
2,825 |
|
San Marino |
29 |
1 |
Romania |
12,948 |
3,138 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
170,528 |
31,761 |
Russia |
64,523 |
21,423 |
|
Senegal |
42,511 |
23,300 |
Rwanda |
848 |
150 |
|
Serbia |
1,047 |
118 |
San Marino |
14 |
1 |
|
Seychelles |
1,148 |
241 |
Saudi Arabia |
125,912 |
23,593 |
|
Sierra Leone |
3 |
0 |
Senegal |
44,757 |
27,041 |
|
Singapore |
26,015 |
6,632 |
Serbia |
2,025 |
188 |
|
Sint Maarten |
559 |
73 |
Seychelles |
1,009 |
175 |
|
Slovakia |
5,616 |
2,091 |
Sierra Leone |
112 |
126 |
|
Slovenia |
1,825 |
675 |
Singapore |
27,701 |
8,916 |
|
Somalia |
396 |
44 |
Sint Maarten |
287 |
41 |
|
South Africa |
54,768 |
32,515 |
Slovakia |
4,410 |
1,794 |
|
South Korea |
41,407 |
16,984 |
Slovenia |
1,964 |
694 |
|
Spain |
226,311 |
67,142 |
Somalia |
538 |
212 |
|
Sri Lanka |
119 |
58 |
South Africa |
51,773 |
34,084 |
|
Stores & Provisions (Intra EU) |
221 |
55 |
South Korea |
37,199 |
11,404 |
|
Sudan |
1,530 |
659 |
Spain |
229,258 |
65,263 |
|
Sweden |
152,348 |
44,126 |
Sri Lanka |
50 |
41 |
|
Switzerland |
50,649 |
7,158 |
Stores & Provisions (Intra EU) |
42 |
13 |
|
Syria |
417 |
143 |
Sudan |
427 |
36 |
|
Taiwan |
17,374 |
2,349 |
Surinam |
80 |
3 |
|
Tanzania United Rep |
3,500 |
1,801 |
Sweden |
148,546 |
42,877 |
|
Thailand |
35,209 |
11,900 |
Switzerland |
48,106 |
6,658 |
|
Togo |
12,672 |
6,968 |
Syria |
627 |
705 |
|
Trinidad & Tobago |
16,060 |
4,669 |
Taiwan |
21,884 |
4,718 |
|
Tunisia |
9,575 |
2,466 |
Tajikistan |
0 |
0 |
|
Turkey |
36,101 |
9,403 |
Tanzania United Rep |
2,531 |
1,459 |
|
Turkmenistan |
4 |
1 |
Thailand |
15,201 |
9,497 |
|
Uganda |
93 |
45 |
Togo |
11,852 |
7,637 |
|
Ukraine |
3,823 |
697 |
Trinidad & Tobago |
10,288 |
3,444 |
|
United Arab Emirates |
54,172 |
15,651 |
Tunisia |
4,432 |
1,595 |
|
United States |
869,757 |
184,936 |
Turkey |
39,097 |
12,085 |
|
Unknown (Intra EU) |
5 |
2 |
Turkmenistan |
12 |
7 |
|
Unknown (Non-EU) |
5,873 |
5,532 |
Uganda |
65 |
25 |
|
Uruguay |
1,864 |
579 |
Ukraine |
4,574 |
1,456 |
|
US Minor Islands |
34 |
12 |
United Arab Emirates |
54,899 |
19,695 |
|
US Virgin Islands |
203 |
36 |
United States |
926,156 |
172,182 |
|
Uzbekistan |
146 |
5 |
Unknown (Non-EU) |
259 |
27 |
|
Venezuela |
4,126 |
490 |
Uruguay |
2,485 |
830 |
|
Vietnam |
39,036 |
10,326 |
US Minor Islands |
809 |
51 |
|
Yemen |
2,767 |
1,040 |
US Virgin Islands |
253 |
47 |
|
Zambia |
1,907 |
999 |
Uzbekistan |
41 |
43 |
|
Zimbabwe |
1,073 |
554 |
Vanuatu |
68 |
22 |
|
Grand Total |
11,984,359 |
6,038,442 |
Venezuela |
703 |
148 |
|
Vietnam |
51,978 |
13,137 |
|||
|
Yemen |
4,734 |
2,679 |
|||
|
Zambia |
943 |
547 |
|||
|
Zimbabwe |
955 |
565 |
|||
|
Grand Total |
11,058,615 |
5,669,050 |
263. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the countries from which Ireland imported food and drink products in 2015 and 2016, including a breakdown in terms of the volume and value of total imports, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2443/17]
View answerFrom January to December 2015, Ireland imported 9.1 million tonnes of agri-food to the value of €8.1 billion. From January to November 2016, it imported 8.8 million tonnes of agri-food to the value of €7.3 billion.
The countries and the amount imported from each are listed in the following table.
|
- |
Imports |
- |
Imports |
||
|
Jan-Dec 2015 |
Jan-Nov 2016 |
||||
|
Country |
€000 |
Tonnes |
Country |
€000 |
Tonnes |
|
Afghanistan |
0 |
0 |
Afghanistan |
0 |
0 |
|
Albania |
28 |
13 |
Albania |
118 |
88 |
|
Algeria |
36 |
26 |
Algeria |
6 |
0 |
|
Anguilla |
548 |
225 |
Andorra |
4 |
1 |
|
Antigua & Barbuda |
11,697 |
39,280 |
Argentina |
168,426 |
627,838 |
|
Argentina |
160,048 |
556,674 |
Armenia |
2 |
0 |
|
Armenia |
3 |
0 |
Australia |
38,834 |
19,794 |
|
Australia |
39,796 |
18,037 |
Austria |
24,390 |
22,861 |
|
Austria |
31,304 |
28,360 |
Azerbaijan |
2 |
2 |
|
Bahamas |
4,048 |
572 |
Bahamas |
4,227 |
598 |
|
Bahrain |
0 |
0 |
Bahrain |
53 |
3 |
|
Bangladesh |
1,187 |
160 |
Bangladesh |
407 |
78 |
|
Barbados |
2 |
0 |
Barbados |
9 |
1 |
|
Belarus |
2,734 |
13,068 |
Belarus |
533 |
3,737 |
|
Belgium |
208,721 |
195,894 |
Belgium |
219,526 |
225,552 |
|
Belize |
15,580 |
28,902 |
Belize |
11,530 |
21,858 |
|
Benin |
0 |
1 |
Benin |
19 |
44 |
|
Bermuda |
30 |
5 |
Bermuda |
0 |
0 |
|
Bolivia |
1,898 |
453 |
Bolivia |
1,265 |
482 |
|
Bosnia & Herzegovina |
172 |
68 |
Bosnia & Herzegovina |
199 |
160 |
|
Brazil |
82,056 |
45,349 |
Botswana |
0 |
0 |
|
Brunei |
4 |
3 |
Brazil |
73,182 |
40,989 |
|
Bulgaria |
19,485 |
82,094 |
Brunei |
0 |
0 |
|
Burkina Faso |
32 |
7 |
Bulgaria |
2,906 |
12,527 |
|
Burma |
219 |
97 |
Burkina Faso |
16 |
14 |
|
Burundi |
47 |
15 |
Burma |
773 |
260 |
|
Cambodia |
88 |
122 |
Burundi |
12 |
3 |
|
Cameroon |
11,804 |
10,705 |
Cambodia |
120 |
132 |
|
Canada |
68,145 |
218,371 |
Cameroon |
11,888 |
11,228 |
|
Cayman Islands |
0 |
0 |
Canada |
60,093 |
222,354 |
|
Central African Republic |
753 |
176 |
Cayman Islands |
0 |
0 |
|
Ceuta |
2 |
0 |
Central African Republic |
938 |
223 |
|
Chad |
0 |
0 |
Ceuta |
10 |
6 |
|
Chile |
64,113 |
22,275 |
Chad |
0 |
0 |
|
China |
48,248 |
20,861 |
Chile |
60,470 |
21,500 |
|
Colombia |
6,069 |
3,737 |
China |
39,840 |
17,079 |
|
Congo |
299 |
264 |
Colombia |
5,354 |
3,879 |
|
Congo (Dem Rep) |
227 |
87 |
Congo |
1,116 |
1,045 |
|
Costa Rica |
27,066 |
45,608 |
Congo (Dem Rep) |
216 |
149 |
|
Croatia |
180 |
81 |
Cook Islands |
7 |
1 |
|
Cuba |
159 |
37 |
Costa Rica |
26,878 |
48,033 |
|
Cyprus |
883 |
471 |
Croatia |
91 |
31 |
|
Czech Republic |
11,555 |
9,367 |
Cuba |
148 |
28 |
|
Denmark |
93,337 |
70,975 |
Cyprus |
1,013 |
2,811 |
|
Djibouti |
1 |
3 |
Czech Republic |
8,488 |
7,734 |
|
Dominica |
20 |
10 |
Denmark |
72,504 |
103,698 |
|
Dominican Republic |
11,205 |
11,923 |
Djibouti |
95 |
667 |
|
Ecuador |
4,306 |
2,570 |
Dominica |
17 |
9 |
|
Egypt |
9,709 |
19,520 |
Dominican Republic |
8,852 |
8,655 |
|
El Salvador |
20 |
5 |
Ecuador |
4,827 |
2,210 |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
0 |
0 |
Egypt |
6,207 |
8,128 |
|
Eritrea |
1 |
1 |
El Salvador |
1,407 |
9,845 |
|
Estonia |
2,341 |
3,126 |
Equatorial Guinea |
0 |
0 |
|
Ethiopia |
748 |
202 |
Eritrea |
0 |
0 |
|
Falkland Islands |
7 |
1 |
Estonia |
1,195 |
1,628 |
|
Faroe Islands |
1,010 |
207 |
Ethiopia |
651 |
236 |
|
Fiji |
2,906 |
1,231 |
Falkland Islands |
29 |
30 |
|
Finland |
35,001 |
43,783 |
Faroe Islands |
2,366 |
1,355 |
|
France |
463,134 |
775,954 |
Finland |
24,192 |
29,440 |
|
French Polynesia |
6 |
5 |
France |
386,196 |
461,986 |
|
Gabon |
8,725 |
3,998 |
Gabon |
1,208 |
564 |
|
Gambia |
8 |
9 |
Gambia |
0 |
0 |
|
Georgia |
111 |
13 |
Georgia |
203 |
186 |
|
Germany |
522,093 |
291,375 |
Germany |
488,099 |
289,216 |
|
Ghana |
738 |
1,296 |
Ghana |
803 |
637 |
|
Gibraltar |
45 |
33 |
Gibraltar |
2 |
0 |
|
Great Britain |
3,257,658 |
2,268,119 |
Great Britain |
2,849,874 |
2,255,228 |
|
Greece |
7,924 |
6,067 |
Greece |
7,257 |
2,863 |
|
Greenland |
4 |
0 |
Greenland |
9 |
1 |
|
Grenada |
19 |
7 |
Grenada |
155 |
57 |
|
Guam |
13 |
19 |
Guam |
26 |
9 |
|
Guatemala |
7,828 |
47,586 |
Guatemala |
3,899 |
16,562 |
|
Guinea |
1 |
0 |
Guinea |
2 |
2 |
|
Guyana |
1 |
0 |
Guyana |
1 |
0 |
|
Haiti |
0 |
0 |
Haiti |
0 |
0 |
|
Honduras |
4,985 |
9,303 |
Honduras |
5,627 |
9,153 |
|
Hong Kong |
992 |
429 |
Hong Kong |
773 |
318 |
|
Hungary |
3,697 |
3,711 |
Hungary |
3,571 |
1,210 |
|
Iceland |
9,188 |
46,395 |
Iceland |
8,522 |
41,235 |
|
India |
30,127 |
19,531 |
India |
33,354 |
23,393 |
|
Indonesia |
17,273 |
64,652 |
Indonesia |
12,826 |
46,840 |
|
Iran |
563 |
301 |
Iran |
399 |
236 |
|
Iraq |
1 |
1 |
Iraq |
1 |
0 |
|
Ireland |
122,557 |
91,726 |
Ireland |
91,031 |
85,607 |
|
Israel |
8,665 |
8,889 |
Israel |
8,749 |
11,535 |
|
Italy |
158,517 |
103,390 |
Italy |
147,494 |
113,236 |
|
Ivory Coast |
12,025 |
5,194 |
Ivory Coast |
12,297 |
4,943 |
|
Jamaica |
594 |
264 |
Jamaica |
258 |
151 |
|
Japan |
1,216 |
256 |
Japan |
1,777 |
524 |
|
Jordan |
49 |
7 |
Jordan |
208 |
59 |
|
Kazakhstan |
5 |
0 |
Kazakhstan |
5 |
0 |
|
Kenya |
20,509 |
6,515 |
Kenya |
18,174 |
6,068 |
|
Kuwait |
0 |
0 |
Kuwait |
0 |
0 |
|
Laos |
8 |
7 |
Kyrgyz Republic |
1 |
1 |
|
Latvia |
25,993 |
98,067 |
Laos |
0 |
0 |
|
Lebanon |
43 |
9 |
Latvia |
24,040 |
87,207 |
|
Liberia |
0 |
0 |
Lebanon |
198 |
71 |
|
Libya |
2 |
0 |
Lesotho |
1 |
0 |
|
Liechtenstein |
27 |
15 |
Liberia |
0 |
0 |
|
Lithuania |
9,848 |
16,982 |
Libya |
8 |
1 |
|
Luxembourg |
5,862 |
5,317 |
Liechtenstein |
7 |
24 |
|
Macao |
28 |
12 |
Lithuania |
9,307 |
22,911 |
|
Macedonia |
67 |
177 |
Luxembourg |
920 |
668 |
|
Madagascar |
14 |
2 |
Macao |
1 |
0 |
|
Malawi |
133 |
87 |
Macedonia |
115 |
189 |
|
Malaysia |
48,393 |
105,085 |
Madagascar |
21 |
5 |
|
Maldives |
4,450 |
918 |
Malawi |
263 |
188 |
|
Mali |
11 |
2 |
Malaysia |
48,293 |
115,417 |
|
Malta |
2,312 |
1,432 |
Maldives |
4,974 |
1,091 |
|
Mauritius |
4,757 |
11,810 |
Mali |
47 |
11 |
|
Mexico |
15,410 |
9,667 |
Malta |
2,993 |
1,278 |
|
Moldova |
78 |
22 |
Mauritania |
3 |
0 |
|
Mongolia |
44 |
64 |
Mauritius |
5,425 |
16,727 |
|
Montenegro |
17 |
4 |
Melilla |
53 |
99 |
|
Morocco |
6,491 |
8,952 |
Mexico |
20,901 |
14,880 |
|
Mozambique |
3 |
1 |
Moldova |
23 |
12 |
|
Namibia |
180 |
94 |
Mongolia |
0 |
0 |
|
Nepal |
3 |
2 |
Montenegro |
6 |
5 |
|
Netherlands |
811,067 |
645,092 |
Morocco |
8,363 |
7,382 |
|
New Zealand |
31,537 |
9,840 |
Mozambique |
8 |
5 |
|
Nicaragua |
3,431 |
6,492 |
Namibia |
224 |
137 |
|
Niger |
1 |
0 |
Nepal |
5 |
1 |
|
Nigeria |
243 |
442 |
Netherlands |
782,715 |
595,758 |
|
Northern Ireland |
567,704 |
1,342,581 |
New Zealand |
33,663 |
11,917 |
|
Norway |
11,102 |
22,626 |
Nicaragua |
2,028 |
714 |
|
Oman |
1 |
1 |
Niger |
1 |
1 |
|
Pakistan |
1,737 |
1,145 |
Nigeria |
1,046 |
9,411 |
|
Panama |
849 |
748 |
Northern Ireland |
484,108 |
1,179,466 |
|
Papua New Guinea |
1,170 |
376 |
Norway |
5,353 |
5,796 |
|
Paraguay |
9,668 |
24,958 |
Occupied Palestine |
2 |
0 |
|
Peru |
14,502 |
8,984 |
Oman |
2 |
0 |
|
Philippines |
2,475 |
864 |
Pakistan |
1,896 |
2,948 |
|
Poland |
143,134 |
105,027 |
Panama |
1,558 |
5,001 |
|
Portugal |
18,752 |
16,490 |
Papua New Guinea |
267 |
96 |
|
Qatar |
96 |
2 |
Paraguay |
12,556 |
31,670 |
|
Romania |
15,967 |
78,266 |
Peru |
13,123 |
6,911 |
|
Russia |
19,048 |
110,090 |
Philippines |
2,691 |
930 |
|
Rwanda |
72 |
38 |
Poland |
132,045 |
87,915 |
|
Saint Barthélemy |
18 |
24 |
Portugal |
18,270 |
15,563 |
|
San Marino |
1 |
0 |
Qatar |
94 |
10 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
922 |
401 |
Romania |
11,827 |
59,536 |
|
Senegal |
55 |
9 |
Russia |
17,435 |
110,116 |
|
Serbia |
298 |
152 |
Rwanda |
13 |
2 |
|
Seychelles |
73 |
14 |
Saint Barthélemy |
86 |
8 |
|
Sierra Leone |
0 |
0 |
Saudi Arabia |
660 |
143 |
|
Singapore |
3,371 |
1,416 |
Senegal |
33 |
18 |
|
Slovakia |
2,196 |
986 |
Serbia |
494 |
204 |
|
Slovenia |
148 |
35 |
Seychelles |
6 |
1 |
|
Somalia |
4 |
3 |
Sierra Leone |
1 |
1 |
|
South Africa |
46,215 |
36,739 |
Singapore |
3,191 |
1,237 |
|
South Korea |
1,433 |
1,105 |
Slovakia |
10,056 |
5,363 |
|
South Sudan |
17 |
6 |
Slovenia |
1,470 |
6,203 |
|
Spain |
203,430 |
142,466 |
Somalia |
7 |
1 |
|
Sri Lanka |
13,376 |
2,215 |
South Africa |
43,721 |
37,429 |
|
St Kitt & Nevis |
0 |
0 |
South Georgia |
10 |
1 |
|
St Lucia |
0 |
0 |
South Korea |
972 |
762 |
|
St Vincent & Grenadines |
0 |
0 |
South Sudan |
4 |
3 |
|
Sudan |
41 |
15 |
Spain |
205,631 |
141,327 |
|
Surinam |
42 |
63 |
Sri Lanka |
12,951 |
2,002 |
|
Swaziland |
454 |
509 |
St Kitt & Nevis |
0 |
0 |
|
Sweden |
37,380 |
68,927 |
St Lucia |
0 |
0 |
|
Switzerland |
30,216 |
10,151 |
St Vincent & Grenadines |
0 |
0 |
|
Syria |
0 |
0 |
Sudan |
2,378 |
16,585 |
|
Taiwan |
1,066 |
201 |
Surinam |
24 |
43 |
|
Tanzania United Rep |
599 |
236 |
Swaziland |
250 |
198 |
|
Thailand |
50,982 |
18,790 |
Sweden |
33,493 |
71,690 |
|
Togo |
19 |
5 |
Switzerland |
32,165 |
8,986 |
|
Tokelau Islands |
0 |
0 |
Syria |
1 |
1 |
|
Trinidad & Tobago |
410 |
68 |
Taiwan |
720 |
157 |
|
Tunisia |
68 |
14 |
Tanzania United Rep |
482 |
134 |
|
Turkey |
16,064 |
10,813 |
Thailand |
51,262 |
20,113 |
|
Turks & Caicos Islands |
63 |
27 |
Togo |
0 |
0 |
|
Uganda |
269 |
89 |
Tonga |
16 |
13 |
|
Ukraine |
53,686 |
298,686 |
Trinidad & Tobago |
275 |
45 |
|
United Arab Emirates |
328 |
416 |
Tunisia |
47 |
17 |
|
United States |
271,676 |
666,420 |
Turkey |
13,391 |
13,605 |
|
Unknown (Intra EU) |
6 |
1 |
Turks & Caicos Islands |
46 |
13 |
|
Unknown (Non-EU) |
5,485 |
3,487 |
Uganda |
308 |
105 |
|
Uruguay |
541 |
475 |
Ukraine |
47,129 |
277,948 |
|
US Minor Islands |
45 |
21 |
United Arab Emirates |
207 |
201 |
|
US Virgin Islands |
44 |
4 |
United States |
284,002 |
932,192 |
|
Uzbekistan |
43 |
39 |
Unknown (Non-EU) |
5,010 |
1,422 |
|
Vanuatu |
10 |
1 |
Uruguay |
750 |
703 |
|
Venezuela |
100 |
5 |
US Virgin Islands |
258 |
9 |
|
Vietnam |
6,146 |
33,396 |
Uzbekistan |
21 |
15 |
|
Yemen |
0 |
0 |
Vanuatu |
10 |
1 |
|
Zambia |
135 |
138 |
Venezuela |
1 |
0 |
|
Zimbabwe |
1,283 |
1,101 |
Vietnam |
5,099 |
17,162 |
|
Grand Total |
8,164,641 |
9,182,535 |
Zambia |
25 |
11 |
|
Zimbabwe |
481 |
368 |
|||
|
Grand Total |
7,372,293 |
8,799,363 |
|||
264. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to protect farmers and domestic enterprises in the agrifood sector following the recent Bord Bia report which showed that food exports to the UK were down over €500 million in 2016 due to devaluation of sterling following the Brexit referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2444/17]
View answerBord Bia's recent report estimated that the value of Irish agri-food and drink exports exceeded €11 billion for the first time in 2016 despite challenging international conditions. This is the seventh consecutive year of growth. Bord Bia estimated the potential impact on the value of agri-food exports to the UK last year arising from Brexit at around €570m, based on the value of sterling falling by 13% relative to the euro in 2016. In fact, exports to the UK fell by €360 million (-8%) to €4.1 billion. By contrast, exports to other EU markets grew by 3%; while exports to international markets grew by 13%, driven by strong growth in the Chinese and US markets in particular. Overall the value of exports grew by 2% to €11.15 billion.
While Brexit is a significant new factor, Ireland, as a small open economy which exports the vast bulk of its food production, has always been exposed to international market volatility. We have seen significant commodity price volatility on world markets over the last few years. However, my Department has ensured that measures are in place to help alleviate the pressures of income volatility:
- Direct payments, estimated by Teagasc at an average of over €17,000 per farm, provide a valuable source of farm income support and act as a hedge against price volatility.
- The adjustment in Budget 2017 to the income averaging scheme for tax purposes will allow farmers to avail of an opt-out in an exceptional year.
- The 'Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme', developed by my Department in cooperation with the Strategic Bank Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), will make €150 million available to farmers throughout Ireland at low-cost interest rates of 2.95%. This is supported by €25 million being provided by my Department, including €11 million in EU aid. The SBCI is aiming to make these loans available by the end of January and I hope to make an announcement in relation to this shortly.
In addition I have made provision for additional funding to Bord Bia both for 2016 and 2017 to address the situation. Indeed the agencies have been active in their response.
- Bord Bia has activated a 4-pillar support strategy for Irish food companies to maintain growth in this period of volatility and over the longer term. These activities are captured under the headings of Managing Volatility, Obtaining Consumer and Market Insight, Deepening Customer Engagement and Extending Market Reach.
- Enterprise Ireland's initial, industry-wide, 5-point plan included provision of information (on improving competitiveness, reducing supply chain costs through the provision of LEAN and R&D/Innovation supports to clients, and accessing funding), market development support and UK market support.
- Both agencies have also been working with individual companies in order to tailor the response in accordance with the particular difficulties being faced, and have been working together on strategic marketing initiatives.
As a consequence of the Brexit referendum I established within my Department a task force who have engaged and will continue to engage, with stakeholders both within Government Departments and the agri-food sector to support and protect our valuable food and drink export industry.
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 for Food Wise, which I chair. 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.
265. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of additional staff to be taken on in all individual State agencies and bodies under his aegis in 2017, including Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the National Milk Agency, Teagasc and the Marine Institute; the total cost of hiring additional staff in each individual State agency or body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2446/17]
View answerThe staffing arrangements for State Agencies are, subject to an overall policy framework, an operational matter for those agencies.
In the case of Bord Bia, the National Milk Agency, Teagasc, The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Marine Institute, sanction to recruit permanent staff up to Principal Officer level has, subject to an upper limit on expenditure on pay, been delegated to the agencies themselves, to afford them a measure of flexibility in filling critical vacancies.
Any proposals to exceed the sanctioned pay limits would require the specific sanction of my Department. In other cases the recruitment of staff must be sanctioned on a case by case basis, while in commercial State Agencies the staffing arrangements are subject to the exigencies of the business.
I have requested the relevant Agencies to respond directly to the Deputy on the specific information requested.
266. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that the farm entitlements attached to a farm (details supplied) are immediately transferred to the beneficiary of the residual estate as set out in the terms of the will and as per correspondence of 2 December 2016 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2451/17]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2016 Transfer of Entitlements application seeking the transfer of entitlements by Inheritance as transferee. A letter issued to the person named on 30 November 2016 seeking additional documentation in order to facilitate the further processing of the transfer application. A representative from my Department has since been in contact with the legal representatives of the deceased who has confirmed that the outstanding documentation will be submitted shortly. Once this documentation is received by my Department the Transfer of Entitlements application will be finalised with a view to payment issuing shortly thereafter.
267. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an AEOS payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2473/17]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS 2 contract on 1st September 2011. Payments have issued for the 2011-2015 Scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must take place. As all AEOS 2 participants will be receiving their final payments under the scheme, re-checks on payments made for all scheme years must be completed before final payment can be processed. Officials are working through these files and payment will issue in this case as soon as possible.
268. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the bilateral meetings he had with his European counterparts outside Council of the EU meetings since the UK referendum to leave the EU took place in which the issue of Brexit and the unique challenges faced by the island of Ireland were discussed, including the name of each European government ministerial counterpart, the meeting location and the date of each meeting, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2511/17]
View answerThe Government is acutely aware of the potential risks and challenges for the Irish economy arising from Brexit, and particularly those that arise in the agri-food sector. An important part of our preparations for the Brexit negotiations is ensuring that our particular concerns are heard and understood across Europe, and engagement with our EU partners and with the EU institutions is therefore critical. Accordingly, an extensive programme of engagement with all other EU Governments and the EU institutions, including the Commission's Brexit Negotiations Task Force, is under way. This engagement is being intensified in 2017.
In addition to the meetings that I have had over recent months with my counterparts Michelle McIlveen and Andrea Leadsom, in Belfast and in London, I have raised Ireland's agri-food concerns arising from Brexit with a range of EU counterparts. This has taken place not only in the margins of Council of Ministers meetings, but also in the context of other Ministerial gatherings such as that in Chambord, France, last September and the regular European People's Party meetings in Brussels, where I have had the opportunity to raise our concerns with Member States such as Germany, France, Poland, Denmark, Belgium, Spain and Hungary. I will be meeting Secretary of State Andrea Leadsom at Berlin Green Week over the weekend and several of my EU counterparts at the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels next Monday.
Senior officials of my Department have also been meeting with counterparts from other Member States such as Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands, and with forthcoming EU Presidencies, with a view to deepening our engagement on this issue and preparing formal meetings at Ministerial level, which will intensify in the coming months in order to ensure Ireland's concerns are fully reflected in the EU position once negotiations commence.
Of course, Ireland will be part of the EU 27 team, and we look forward to working with our fellow Member States in delivering the best possible result for Ireland and for the EU.
