Written Answers Nos. 1328-1347
1328. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a TAMS grant payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37974/17]
View answerThe person named was approved for a grant under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II in June 2016. A query letter issued to the applicant in June 2017 in relation to the claim submitted for payment. When the issues raised are responded to by the applicant, processing of the file can resume.
1329. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37984/17]
View answerFollowing the UK referendum in June 2016, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine established a dedicated Brexit Unit within its EU & International Trade Division. This Unit now forms part of a new Brexit & International Trade Division, headed by a full-time Head of Division at Principal Officer level. Brexit will also be a substantial component of the work of the Assistant Secretary General to whom this Principal Officer reports, in addition to EU and international trade matters.
The staff and administrative costs associated with the activities of the unit are paid from the Department’s Administrative Budget as required.
1330. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff deployed full time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38000/17]
View answerFollowing the UK referendum in June 2016, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine established a dedicated Brexit Co-ordination Unit within its EU & International Trade Division. This Unit now forms part of a new Brexit & International Trade Division. It comprises eight staff working full-time on the co-ordination of Brexit issues, including a full-time Head of Division, who in turn reports to an Assistant Secretary General deeply engaged in Brexit issues in addition to discharging other responsibilities. Its work is complementary to that of the Market Access Unit and that of other divisions in the department dealing with trade related issues.
The Unit co-ordinates the ongoing analysis, consultation and engagement activities being undertaken by a large number of administrative, technical and veterinary staff, through an internal Brexit Response Committee comprised of 16 people drawn from the wide range of Divisions affected by Brexit (including, for example, Meat and Milk Policy, Animal Health and Welfare, Food Industry Development, Economics and Planning, and Seafood Policy and Development). It also feeds into the whole-of-Government co-ordination being undertaken by the Department of the Taoiseach.
In overall terms, my Department is continuing to monitor the future workforce needs of both the Department and the Brexit Unit, and will be keeping resource allocations under close review as the negotiations proceed.
1331. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of construction inflation that has been experienced by his Department in the 18 months to September 2017 in respect of construction projects; the way in which he monitors construction inflation and the mechanisms his Department employs to establish this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38016/17]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Ros an Mhíl and Killybegs. This Department is also responsible for North Harbour at Cape Clear Island and for maintaining a range of piers, lights and beacons around the coast in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board Piers, Lights and Beacons Act. The Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme which the Department administers on an annual basis provides for works relating to the maintenance and development of the above located harbour infrastructure.
From January 2016 to August 2017 the Department has invested €16.4m in capital developments on this marine infrastructure. See the following table for details.
|
YEAR |
2016 |
2017 to date |
Total |
|
EXPENDITURE €m |
12.3 |
4.1 |
16.4 |
Capital works and works related services, are generally commissioned by means of an open competitive tendering process achieving best value for money based on prevailing market rates.
Other construction related services and materials are acquired having first considered what is available under the Office of Government Procurement Framework.
My Department is informed in its management functions by the relevant bodies that monitor inflationary impacts on construction projects.
1332. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he, or bodies and agencies under the remit of his Department, plan to make services or payments dependant on the mandatory use and production of the public services card; if so, the services and payments which will now depend on the mandatory use of the public services card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38140/17]
View answerAccess to the full range of the Department’s online services including applications for EU farm payments, forestry, animal identification and movement, and financial self-services, is currently available through the Agfoood.ie web portal where there is detailed information on how to apply for these services. The public services card is not required to access EU farm payments.
1333. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38156/17]
View answerThe person named submitted a GLAS 2 application and following the initial checks the Wild Bird Cover action did not meet the minimum area requirement resulting in the application not being approved as the minimum score of 16.3 was not achieved on the remaining actions.
The person named appealed this decision to the Agricultural Appeals Office and the appeal was allowed.
Department officials are actively working to progress the application on the online system and carrying out the necessary checks with a view to approving the person named into the scheme.
1336. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has conducted an assessment on the impact of the proposed restrictions on advertising, labelling and promotions contained in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 on the sustainability of new entrant and small rural Irish whiskey and Irish gin distillers and on competition and investment generally in the Irish whiskey and spirits industry, with particular reference to protecting ongoing export growth in line with Food Wise 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38325/17]
View answerThe Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Health. My Department has not carried out an assessment of the impact of the proposals in the Bill relating to advertising, labelling and promotion.
My Department works with Bord Bia, trade associations and distillers on developing markets for Irish spirit drinks and with Enterprise Ireland on supports for companies with ambitions for export growth.
1337. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason camper vans are prohibited from the middle pier in Howth Harbour, Dublin; his views on whether this will adversely affect tourism in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38336/17]
View answerPursuant to the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 (as amended), my Department has responsibility for the six Fishery Harbour Centres, including Howth. Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is first and foremost a working fishery harbour and its primary objective is to provide for the needs of fishermen and the fishing industry generally. However, Howth is also a very important tourist and leisure destination as you know, and my Department has to be conscious of balancing the various unique features that pertain in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre.
Parking is permitted within the limits of the Howth Fishery Harbour Centre for visitors and recreational users of the harbour, subject to compliance with traffic management markings and procedures. These procedures are in place to ensure the continued safe and efficient operation of the Harbour Centre. Parking of vehicles, plant or equipment that obstruct operations, block walkways or roadways is not permitted.
1338. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he has taken to date to protect the ongoing sustainability of new entrant and small Irish whiskey and Irish gin distillers; his views on the protection, competition and the need for greater investment in the Irish whiskey and spirits industry going forward; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38354/17]
View answerThe Food Wise 2025 strategy identified further potential to increase exports of alcoholic beverages and to diversify markets. Steps for Success 2017, which reported on progress in the past year, included case studies on growth in Irish Whiskey and Irish craft gin, exemplified by the opening of new distilleries and production plants, the launch of new brands and double digit export growth. Irish Whiskey exports reached a value of €500 million in 2016.
My Department has a regulatory role in regard to spirit drinks geographical indications (GI) under European legislation. A dedicated control system for the three protected Irish spirit drinks GIs (Irish Cream, Irish Poitín and Irish Whiskey) has put in place in recent years by my Department acting with the Revenue Commissioners, the FSAI and the HSE. This provides important support and protection for the industry. Only verified distilleries and production plants are eligible to produce the three spirit drinks GIs. Facilities which have been verified are listed on my Department’s website. My officials are working on an official list of brands to further protect those investing in the spirits industry. They also have regular contact with trade bodies including the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) and the Irish Spirits Association (ISA) as well as individual companies and brand owners.
The state agencies including Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland offer promotional, marketing and investment assistance to companies, including new entrants to the spirits industry, to help them to grow and to diversify markets.
In relation to Brexit, in particular, I hosted a sectoral dialogue meeting in May for all those working in the alcohol and beverage sector.
1339. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual percentage of staff of non-commercial State-sponsored bodies under the remit of his Department who were women, in each of the years from 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [38355/17]
View answerI have requested the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department to respond directly to the Deputy, on the specific information requested, as this is an operational matter for the organisations in question.
1340. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual percentage of public service staff under the remit of his Department who were women, in each of the years from 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [38378/17]
View answerPlease see the percentage of female staff members in my Department (by Head Count) for each of the years requested:
|
Year |
Female |
|
2010 |
46.56% |
|
2011 |
46.78% |
|
2012 |
46.71% |
|
2013 |
45.99% |
|
2014 |
45.76% |
|
2015 |
45.83% |
|
2016 |
45.83% |
|
End June 2017 |
46.26% |
1341. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who will comprise the recently announced high level market access committee in his Department; the number of civil servants who will be allocated to work exclusively on this committee; the number of such civil servants who work on market access exclusively for beef, dairy, lamb, pigmeat and poultry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38450/17]
View answerRegarding the high level market access committee, no civil servants will work exclusively on the committee. Rather they will combine it with other roles they fulfil within the Department. The committee is chaired at Assistant Secretary level.
A market access unit has been in existence within my Department for a number of years and that unit is working exclusively on meat market access issues for beef, lamb, pigmeat and poultry. Its staffing complement has recently increased and the number of people now working in the unit is 7, comprising an Assistant Principal Officer, an Administrative Officer, A Higher Executive Officer, 2 Executive Officers and 2 Clerical Officers.
In addition a veterinary unit with a dedicated international markets focus is currently being established. It is anticipated that this unit will have six staff members.
I am conscious of the need to have access to alternative markets for the Irish meat sector as we approach a period of uncertainty regarding our main export market in Great Britain and the redoubling of our efforts on the third country market access front reflects this concern.
1342. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the review of existing export markets in which conditions of certification present barriers to trade or additional costs for exporters will be completed. [38451/17]
View answerA desk review of the conditions applying to the export of meat to the various third country export markets has been carried out by the market access unit. Those conditions which went beyond the normal conditions which apply in the European Union were highlighted.
Following this exercise, my Department successfully negotiated with the competent authority in a number of third countries the removal of barriers.
For example, the requirement to test cattle aged over 72 months for BSE when supplying the South African market was identified as a barrier. The removal of this condition was successfully negotiated with the South African authorities.
In another case, the Singaporean authorities agreed to accept deboned beef from animals of all ages and bone-in beef from animals aged less than thirty months. Previously they would only accept deboned beef from animals aged less than thirty months.
This review of technical barriers is an ongoing process which includes consultation with industry.
My Department's aim is to negotiate veterinary health conditions for the export of meat and meat products to third countries that do not place an unacceptable high burden on Irish meat exporters.
1343. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new dedicated portal website, which will bring together in one location the full range of open markets and products and the relevant conditions certification in a user-friendly manner, for exporters will be live in 2017. [38452/17]
View answerThe portal website has been developed and content is currently being populated on the site. The site will go live as soon as possible when the full range of content has been added to the site.
1344. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the exports of beef, lamb, pigmeat and dairy to the USA to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38453/17]
View answerCentral Statistics Office (CSO) figures indicate that by the end of June 2017 our overall agrifood exports to the USA were some €520 million, a significant increase from €430 million, found during the same period in 2016. Beverages account for almost half the agrifood exports to the USA.
Dairy exports to the USA in the first half of the year were over 16,400 tonnes (€83.3 million) an increase of 26% on the same period in 2016. Pigmeat exports accounted for €9.1 million (2,273 tonnes) in the first half of 2017.
The latest figures from the United States Department of Agriculture show exports of beef from Ireland to the US amounting to 1,430 tonnes up to and including week 34 of 2017 (week ending 26 August 2017). Exports of beef are running 13% behind last year's level. There were no exports of lamb from Ireland to the US as we do not have sheepmeat access yet.
One of the main factors affecting trade is currency fluctuations and 2017 has seen an unfavourable movement in the exchange rate between the US dollar and the euro.
1345. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress on gaining access for Irish beef, lamb and pigmeat products to the United States; the outstanding stages in the approval process; and the approximate timeframe for all stages to be completed for full access to be granted. [38454/17]
View answerIreland was the first EU Member State to be granted beef market access to the USA in 2015. A total of 10 Irish plants have been approved for the export of raw intact beef to the US, of which 2 are also approved for beef intended for grinding. This enhances our ability to export beef to the US, where a very significant demand exists for beef that will be minced and turned into beef burgers.
Sheepmeat exports from the EU to the US are banned due to the presence of TSE in certain EU MS. Access to the USA will depend on the USA lifting its TSE ban on EU sheepmeat. The final TSE rule has not been published as yet but my Department and I have raised this issue with the USDA on a number of occasions including as part of the Trade Mission in June this year. The sheepmeat questionnaire (SRT) was completed by my Department and submitted during August 2016 in preparation for the lifting of the ban.
Sheepmeat access to the USA is a high priority for my Department and the sheepmeat industry. An encouraging development is that the Food Safety Inspection Service/USDA inspection visit to Ireland in September 2017 will include visits to Irish sheepmeat plants. However, timelines for access are not possible to predict.
Ireland has enjoyed uninterrupted access to the US market for raw pork since the end of the FMD outbreak in 2001. A total of 3 plants are approved for the export of raw pork to the US. We previously also had access for treated or processed pork products. However, this access lapsed earlier this year as no exports had taken place within the preceding three year period.
1346. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the manufactured beef products exported to the United States on an annual basis in 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017, by volume and value, in tabular form. [38455/17]
View answerThere are no manufactured beef products exported from Ireland to the USA as we do not have access for manufactured beef. Ireland enjoys access to the US market in respect of raw intact beef and beef intended for grinding (BIFG) where the plant of origin has the necessary approval. BIFG, also known as manufacturing beef, may go on to be assimilated into a manufactured beef product (e.g. beef burgers) once it is imported into the US but it is not exported as such a product. All meat plants approved for the export of beef are subject to audit by the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), a branch of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
1347. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in receipt of GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 who have received the 15% of their total 2016 payment, by county, in tabular form; the number of persons who have passed all payment approval checks and are awaiting their 15% portion of the 2016 payment; the number of GLAS recipients who have yet to receive this portion of payment, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38457/17]
View answerThe number of participants who have received their 15% balancing payment and who have been cleared for payment is set out in tabular form.
All GLAS participants must submit a nutrient management plan (NMP) before their balancing payment can be released and to date 25,820 have complied with this requirement.
Balancing payments continue to be made on an on-going basis when the NMP is submitted.
|
County |
No. of applicants paid to date |
No. of applicants cleared for payment |
|
Carlow |
272 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
1028 |
7 |
|
Clare |
1649 |
31 |
|
Cork |
2338 |
14 |
|
Donegal |
2211 |
10 |
|
Dublin |
48 |
1 |
|
Galway |
3064 |
48 |
|
Kerry |
1411 |
33 |
|
Kildare |
222 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
394 |
11 |
|
Laois |
421 |
2 |
|
Leitrim |
1004 |
8 |
|
Limerick |
740 |
21 |
|
Longford |
604 |
12 |
|
Louth |
119 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
2754 |
41 |
|
Meath |
357 |
5 |
|
Monaghan |
538 |
8 |
|
Offaly |
426 |
11 |
|
Roscommon |
1446 |
22 |
|
Sligo |
778 |
11 |
|
Tipperary |
777 |
20 |
|
Waterford |
295 |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
529 |
5 |
|
Wexford |
642 |
9 |
|
Wicklow |
273 |
0 |
|
Total |
24340 |
333 |
