Written Answers Nos. 177-185
177. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons that applied for AEOS that have received their total 2016 payment, by county, in tabular form; the number of persons that have passed all payment approval checks and are awaiting their 2016 payment; the total number of AEOS recipients that have yet to receive payment, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14736/17]
View answerAEOS II participants completed their 5-year contracts on 31 December 2016. Under the EU Regulations governing this Scheme and all other area-based payment schemes, a full check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must take place before payment can issue. As all AEOS II 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. All cases cleared for payment are paid on a weekly basis.
AEOS Table
|
County |
Totals |
Paid |
Awaiting Payment |
|
Carlow |
49 |
41 |
8 |
|
Cavan |
244 |
198 |
46 |
|
Clare |
556 |
469 |
87 |
|
Cork |
428 |
337 |
91 |
|
Donegal |
1360 |
1133 |
227 |
|
Dublin |
9 |
9 |
0 |
|
Galway |
1245 |
1026 |
219 |
|
Kerry |
568 |
467 |
101 |
|
Kildare |
39 |
29 |
10 |
|
Kilkenny |
109 |
80 |
29 |
|
Laois |
80 |
55 |
25 |
|
Leitrim |
430 |
366 |
64 |
|
Limerick |
224 |
172 |
52 |
|
Longford |
89 |
70 |
19 |
|
Louth |
41 |
30 |
11 |
|
Mayo |
1399 |
1155 |
244 |
|
Meath |
83 |
68 |
15 |
|
Monaghan |
151 |
108 |
43 |
|
Offaly |
110 |
86 |
24 |
|
Roscommon |
478 |
401 |
77 |
|
Sligo |
335 |
285 |
50 |
|
Tipperary |
245 |
173 |
72 |
|
Waterford |
82 |
69 |
13 |
|
Westmeath |
122 |
89 |
33 |
|
Wexford |
84 |
51 |
33 |
|
Wicklow |
80 |
63 |
17 |
|
Totals |
8640 |
7030 |
1610 |
178. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of cattle over three months of age exported in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14737/17]
View answer179. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of cattle under three months of age exported in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14738/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.
Data from my Department's Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system show that last year a total of 145,570 head of live cattle were exported from Ireland. Of these, 72,740 were aged below three months, and 72,830 were aged three months or older.
The continental market for young calves has traditionally been important for dairy farmers, providing an important source of income and underpinning the market for such stock. Thus far, 2017 has been positive in terms of live exports with strong sales of calves, particularly to the Netherlands and Spain, seeing overall live exports up by 10,689 head, or 35%, compared to last year.
180. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of pigs exported in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14739/17]
View answerThe total number of live pigs exported from Ireland in 2016 was 492,129, down 23% on the previous year.
The majority of live pig exports are destined for slaughter in Northern Ireland, which provides a useful alternative outlet for pigmeat processing.
There is also a small proportion of cross border trade in pure bred breeding swine to Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
181. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of sheep exported in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14740/17]
View answerThe intra EU and importation of animals is recorded on the European Commissions Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES). Data from the TRACES system shows that in 2016, Ireland exported 46,189 sheep in total. 30,630 of these animals went for fattening, 15,420 went direct for slaughter and a total of 139 were exported for breeding. Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands were the main destinations. This represents an increase of approximately 45% on 2015, with the value of live exports rising to approximately €7 million.
182. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether grazing infrastructure should be included under the TAMS II scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14741/17]
View answerThere are no plans currently to extend the list of investments available in the TAMS II Scheme to include grazing infrastructure investments.
Sheep fencing is already included as an investment item.
183. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to protect European consumers on foot of reports of Brazilian beef exports containing contaminated meat; the contingencies in place to ensure any such meat does not enter the EU food chain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14742/17]
View answerThe Brazilian police announced on 17 March that, after a two-year probe, they had discovered evidence that a number of beef and poultry plants allegedly bribed inspectors to overlook improper practices. This facilitated the export of meat unfit for human consumption. 21 Brazilian establishments are concerned. Most of them produce for the domestic market and only 4 of them are approved for meat export to the EU.
My Department is closely monitoring this case through our Embassy in Brasilia who are in direct contact with the Brazilian authorities, and through the European Commission.
As soon as the story broke on Friday, the European Commission asked for clarification from the Brazilian authorities. It is the Commission which approves the Third Countries for export of meat into the EU on behalf of MS.
On 19 March the Brazilian authorities (MAPA) confirmed that they had been informed of the Federal Police Operation on 17 March. Based on information received, they suspended certification from the 4 establishments under investigation that were approved for export to the EU.
On 20 March the Commission requested full information on all exports to the EU from the 4 establishments since 1 January 2017, and asked the Brazilian authorities to recall any consignments in transit. The Commission also suggested the suspension of certification from all other establishments approved for export to the EU, pending the outcome of a full investigation.
On 21 March I wrote to Commissioner Andriukaitis, supporting the suggestion to suspend certification from all other establishments approved for export to the EU.
Food safety is a shared responsibility between national and EU authorities. Food business operators in the EU also carry out their own quality and safety checks in line with their responsibilities to ensure that their products are safe.
My Department is in charge of carrying out controls on imports (at Border Inspection Posts – BIPs). The EU imposes strict hygiene and safety controls on food imports, and in particular on animal products for which documentary, identity and physical checks are compulsory for meat products imports. These are implemented here in Ireland by veterinary staff from my Department at the Border Inspection Posts.
The checks on all Brazilian product are now being intensified in light of current developments.
184. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual volume of Brazilian beef imported into the EU over the 2014 to 2016 period based on latest data; the total amount of Brazilian beef imported into the EU as a percentage of total beef consumed in the EU in this period; the current annual quota of Brazilian beef permitted into the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14743/17]
View answerUsing the latest data available from the European Commission, Brazil exported a total of 421,530 tonnes of beef into the EU during the 2014 to 2016 period. Broken down by year, imports of beef from Brazil were 144,259 tonnes in 2014, 136,705 tonnes in 2015 and 140,566 tonnes in 2016. During this same period of 2014 to 2016, the EU as a whole consumed a total 23.5 million tonnes of beef, therefore 1.8% of the total consumed came from Brazil.
Under the "Hilton Quota" which is the informal name given to the country-specific preferential tariff rate quota regulated by Commission Regulation (EC) No 936/97 of 27 May 1997 for the European Union, Brazil is currently allowed to import 10,000 tonnes of beef per annum tariff free.
185. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual volume of Brazilian beef imported here over the 2014 to 2016 period based on latest data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14744/17]
View answerThe annual volume of beef imported into Ireland from Brazil is relatively modest. In 2014, 116 tonnes, valued at €578,000, was imported into Ireland. In 2015 these import volumes fell to 70 tonnes, at a value of €377,000. A more substantial reduction in 2016 has brought this figure down to 22 tonnes, or €98,000 in value terms. This information is based on the latest available CSO statistics.
