Thursday, 14 Dec 2017

Written Answers Nos. 551-564

Livestock Issues

Questions (551)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

551. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average number of livestock units per hectare on land by category (details supplied). [53654/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The information sought by the Deputy is currently being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as it is available.

Basic Payment Scheme Data

Questions (552)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

552. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average number of livestock units, excluding tillage farmers, that receive a basic payment scheme, BPS, payment per hectare, by category (details supplied). [53655/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department is in the process of compiling the requested data, and it will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Basic Payment Scheme Data

Questions (553)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

553. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average number of livestock units per hectare of all farmers who receive a basic payment scheme, BPS, payment, by category (details supplied). [53656/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department is in the process of compiling the requested data. The information will be forwarded directly to the Deputy when it is available.

GLAS Data

Questions (554)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

554. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 223 and 224 of 26 October 2017, if the requested information has been compiled by county, in tabular form. [53657/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

2017 advance payments are currently being issued in relation to GLAS 1, 2 and 3. At present staff and IT resources are focussed on ensuring as many of these payments are processed as possible.

The information set out below has been compiled and is correct as of November 30th.

GLAS 1

County	Cases with Commonage	Paid Advance 2016	Paid Balance 2016	Paid Advance 2017
Carlow	52	51	43	21
Cavan	23	23	23	5
Clare	81	78	57	13
Cork	314	309	293	120
Donegal	656	645	611	156
Dublin	12	11	10	5
Galway	644	617	576	80
Kerry	594	589	456	71
Kildare	5	5	5	2
Kilkenny	8	8	8	3
Laois	16	16	14	1
Leitrim	135	132	119	31
Limerick	16	16	10	3
Longford	9	9	7	3
Louth	36	36	33	18
Mayo	773	746	675	181
Offaly	1	1	0	0
Roscommon	28	28	26	7
Sligo	107	106	91	7
Tipperary	89	87	67	22
Waterford	63	61	54	17
Westmeath	1	1	1	1
Wexford	33	33	31	15
Wicklow	68	68	60	28
	3,764	3,676	3,270	810
GLAS 2
County	Cases   with Commonage	Paid   Advance 2016	Paid   Balance 2016	Paid   Advance 2017
Carlow	25	25	19	9
Cavan	23	23	20	1
Clare	53	53	43	9
Cork	237	235	216	83
Donegal	478	474	405	101
Galway	374	359	311	44
Kerry	395	392	311	50
Kildare	14	14	2	0
Kilkenny	4	4	3	0
Laois	10	9	7	0
Leitrim	97	96	82	14
Limerick	4	4	1	0
Longford	9	9	6	1
Louth	31	31	28	9
Mayo	596	571	493	145
Offaly	4	4	4	1
Roscommon	20	20	19	8
Sligo	85	85	69	6
Tipperary	55	51	40	13
Waterford	27	20	14	1
Westmeath	1	1	1	0
Wexford	6	6	5	2
Wicklow	67	66	55	19
	2,615	2,552		516
GLAS 3
County	Cases   with Commonage	Paid   Advance 2017
Carlow	27	13
Cavan	31	2
Clare	75	18
Cork	135	51
Donegal	613	128
Dublin	4	3
Galway	414	64
Kerry	262	50
Kildare	14	1
Kilkenny	1	0
Laois	19	3
Leitrim	108	14
Limerick	9	0
Longford	8	1
Louth	15	7
Mayo	691	226
Meath	1	1
Offaly	10	0
Roscommon	18	3
Sligo	93	8
Tipperary	26	7
Waterford	23	5
Westmeath	1	0
Wexford	16	10
Wicklow	68	26
	2,614	615

Departmental Reports

Questions (555)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

555. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the name of all internal reports and research studies conducted or commissioned by his Department and the agencies under his aegis since June 2016 on Brexit regarding agrifood and fisheries, in tabular form; the publication date of all such studies; the reports and research studies that remain uncompleted; the date they are expected to be completed; and if each publication will be published. [53658/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department has conducted a range of analysis and research activities in relation to Brexit. This work is ongoing, and is primarily concerned with the implications of Brexit for agri-food trade with the UK across different sectors.

For example, both internally and in consultation with the relevant stakeholders through the Brexit Stakeholder Consultative Committee and the All-Island Civic Dialogue process, my Department has established the extent of sectoral reliance on the UK market, the potential implications of Brexit for each sector and the possible responses to the challenges presented. It has also been analysing the potential practical impact on the day-to-day functioning of trade flows, as well as potential WTO tariffs that might be applied to Ireland's agri-food exports to the UK in the event of a 'hard' Brexit.

The agencies reporting to my Department have also undertaken important research in relation to Brexit, with Teagasc publishing reports on, for example, the potential implications for the Irish agri-food sector in overall terms and on the implications for family farm incomes, and Bord Bia conducting important work through its Brexit Barometer.

In addition, my Department is in contact with the relevant agencies and with other Departments to co-ordinate further research on the implications of Brexit for the agri-food industry.

Aquaculture Development

Questions (556)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

556. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address concerns regarding the potential conflict of interest inherent in the fisheries division of his Department which is responsible for both the licensing of aquaculture in addition to the development and growth of the aquaculture and fisheries industries across the country; his plans to reform the current arrangement in order that a healthy distinction is made between the separate roles of regulation and policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53660/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department has five distinct Marine Divisions. These are the Sea Fisheries Administration Division, Sea Fisheries Policy and Management Division, Marine Programmes Division, Marine Engineering Division and the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division. 

The Sea Fisheries Policy and Management Division of my Department is responsible for, among other things, the corporate governance oversight of the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the independent Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board. The oversight role of the Department in this respect is to ensure that each of the marine agencies is and remains compliant with the revised code of practice for the Governance of state bodies (2016).

Aquaculture policy is within the remit of the Marine Programmes Division, a separate Division to the Division that is responsible for corporate governance.   

Aquaculture licence applications are considered by the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division of my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable EU legislation. The legislation provides for a period of statutory and general public consultation in respect of every application.  Decisions on applications are made following the fullest consideration of all environmental, technical, legislative and public interest aspects of each application.  In addition, it is open to any member of the public to appeal the Minister’s decision to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board, an independent authority for the determination of appeals against decisions of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on aquaculture licence applications. A person aggrieved by a decision of the Minister on an aquaculture licence application, or by the revocation or amendment of an aquaculture licence, may make an appeal within one month of publication (in the case of a decision) or notification (in the case of revocation/amendment). The secretariat of the board is located in Kilminchy Court Dublin Road Portlaoise Co. Laois. Email: [e-mail].

I believe that the separation of functions sought by the Deputy is already clearly in existence. 

Marine Institute

Questions (557, 558)

Clare Daly

Question:

557. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has confidence in the Marine Institute after it issued a statement on 8 December 2017 about the viral disease he identified in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 8 November 2017 (details supplied). [53694/17]

Clare Daly

Question:

558. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will instruct the Marine Institute to issue a correction of equal prominence to its erroneous statement on 8 December 2017 claiming that only salmon contract cardiomyopathy and inform the public of the highly transmissible nature of the cardiomyopathy virus as made clear in peer reviewed published research. [53695/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 557 and 558 together.

The Marine Institute advises my Department on scientific matters associated with aquaculture regulation. My Department has been advised by the Institute that the scientific publication referred to by the Deputy is not at variance with the Statement issued by the Institute on 8 December concerning salmon losses at Connemara fish farms.

Marine Institute

Questions (559)

Clare Daly

Question:

559. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he plans to take to ensure that the Marine Institute is properly staffed to guarantee that information provided to the public is scientifically accurate. [53696/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Following the lifting of the moratorium on recruitment by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in 2015, the Marine Institute has delegated sanction in relation to recruitment within the parameters of its core pay vote. In 2017, my Department provided a total of €31.563m in exchequer funding to the institute which included €7.8m for current pay costs. The figure for 2018 is currently being finalised.

I am confident that the institute is properly resourced and doing an excellent job in providing scientifically accurate information to the public.

Animal Diseases

Questions (560)

Clare Daly

Question:

560. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the recent regulation (EU) 2016/429 on transmissible animal diseases (details supplied); and if he will reconsider his refusal to release information with regard to the outbreak of cardiomyopathy resulting in 200,000 mortalities of farmed salmon and numerous wild mackerel reported to Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Macroom office by a member of the public on the afternoon of 21 September 2017. [53697/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Marine Institute is the Competent Authority for the implementation of aquatic animal health legislation. The Institute has advised my Department that the Regulation referred to by the Deputy which shall apply in EU Member States from 21 April 2021 does not envisage the listing of Cardiomyopathy Syndrome.

Animal Diseases

Questions (561, 562)

Clare Daly

Question:

561. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the virus cardiomyopathy has been found in the lice that infect farmed salmon. [53698/17]

Clare Daly

Question:

562. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the cardiomyopathy virus revealed by him in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 8 November 2017 is not now nor will become transmissible to human beings. [53699/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 562 together.

My Department has been advised by the Marine Institute that the virus referred to by the Deputy has been reported as occurring in sea lice in one Norwegian report. The report reference is as follows:

 Hellebø, A., Stene, A., and Asphaug, V. (2014). Potensielle reservoarer for SAV og PMCV p_a marine akvakulturanlegg, (In Norwegian). Ålesund, Norway: Møreforskning og Høgskolen i _Alesund. 1–23.

The Marine Institute has also advised, in accordance with its Statement of 8 December, that this disease has no impact on human health.

Island Communities

Questions (563)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

563. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the recommendations of the 2014 report on promoting sustainable rural coastal and island communities by the Oireachtas joint sub-committee on fisheries that have been implemented; the recommendations of the report that remain to be implemented; the reason for the delay in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53727/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Sub-Committee report to which the Deputy refers made a number of recommendations which concerned a range of Government policies including natural resources, marine safety and social protection. I intend to address progress on aspects relevant to my remit as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

A number of the recommendations have been superseded by initiatives which have taken place.

In relation to representation structures for the industry for instance, the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) and Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums (RIFFs) provide arenas for inshore fishermen to develop proposals on inshore fisheries management, including compliance and data gathering. The NIFF is representative of the fishing boats of less than 12m overall length in the fishing fleet. The focus on the NIFF work programme is on fisheries management in the coastal waters within 6 nautical miles. The NIFF is taking the lead in setting priorities for policy development including ongoing work in developing a dedicated strategy for the inshore sector.

To date, the twelve NIFF meetings have led to very constructive two-way conversations on issues of mutual concern, industry priorities, emerging policies & initiatives. NIFF members are now included on a number of fisheries consultative structures including the Quota Management Advisory Committee, the Industry Science Fisheries Partnership, the SFPA Consultative Committee, the EMFF Operational Programme Monitoring Committee and BIM/Bord Bia Market Advisory Group. This gives the inshore sector a role in making recommendations on range of fisheries policy matters including on allocation of Ireland’s quotas, on data collection and scientific research. Perhaps most important of these is that the NIFF now has a say on how funding is utilised including through the Inshore Fisheries Conservation Scheme.

The Sub-Committee’s report refers to managing the lobster and shrimp fisheries. Changes came into effect in 2014 regarding the management of these fisheries, following on from an extensive consultation process. In more recent times lobster in particular has been a feature of the agenda of the meetings which I have had with the NIFF and I look forward to a discussion with NIFF on the review of the effectiveness of the current conservation measures in 2018.

With regard to the mackerel quota, there has been a change to the way this is allocated. For 2017 and future years, the 87% to 13% share out of the quota between the Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW) pelagic fleet and polyvalent segment of the fleet will remain unchanged. Where Ireland’s quota exceeds 90,000 tonnes, the quota shall be shared on a 80% to 20% basis between the pelagic and polyvalent fleet. A minimum of 2% of the mackerel quota, or 1,000 tonnes, whichever is the greater will be deducted annually for demersal swaps before any share out between segments is undertaken.

There is an open mackerel fishery for vessels under 18 metres in length. An amount of 2.5% of the overall polyvalent Mackerel Quota has been set aside for this fishery and a monthly catch limit is used. This catch limit is recommended each month by the Whitefish Quota Management Advisory Committee which consists of fishing industry representatives. For 2017, under 18m Boats may fish 5 tonnes per month. In the last number of years much of this quota has remained under-utilised.

The sub-committee made a recommendation with regard to “minor fishing infractions”. In November 2014, my Department published a public consultation document in the form of a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) of a proposal for a Bill to amend the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 to provide for, inter alia, a system of fixed penalty notices (“on the spot” fines) for minor fisheries offences. This provided the possibility of creating a subset of minor offences which are legally suitable to be dealt with by way of fixed penalty notices.

In summary, the process suggested in the RIA involved giving a person who was alleged to have committed a minor offence an option to pay a fixed payment which would mean that a prosecution would not be taken in the Courts. If the payment was not received within 28 days, the prosecution would be initiated in the courts and on conviction it was expected that a higher fine would be applied.

A number of industry submissions received under the RIA on the implementation of fixed penalty notices raised concerns that these would be used in place of verbal or written warnings. Other comments raised concerns regarding potential inequalities in the application of the system between different Sea Fisheries Protection Authority Port Officers and Naval Service personnel. There were also comments regarding the constitutionality of applying sanctions in the absence of a Court decision and others seeking a fully administrative system. In light of the comments submitted in respect of the above proposal on a fixed penalty system, it was decided not to proceed with the introduction such a system.

With regard to fishing infrastructure, it is important to say that my Department owns, maintains and directly manages six Fishery Harbour Centres. The network of Harbours, located at Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl , An Daingean, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth, are a valuable and vital resource to the Irish fishing fleet. The Fishery Harbour Centres provide state of the art facilities and infrastructure for the increasingly mobile and large scale Irish and EU fishing industries.

In 2017, I allocated a total of €3.8 million to the Local Authority Programme. This vital funding targeted 67 approved Local Authority projects with a wide geographical spread, 55 of which are harbour development requiring funding of €2.94 million and 12 relate to marine leisure requiring funding of €879,750. The infrastructure supported will be of great benefit to many rural coastal and island communities.

With regard to progress on aquaculture, in May 2017 I published the report of the Independent Review Group on aquaculture licensing which contained 30 key recommendations across a full range of activities. Additional staff have been assigned to the Aquaculture licensing division of the Department so as to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations.

My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme is the vehicle for financial supports to the seafood sector up to 2021. The Programme delivers a wide range of supports for aquaculture, fisheries and seafood processing through a suite of 15 schemes including specifically in relation to Fisheries Local Action Groups. Individual schemes are administered by BIM and I will ask BIM to update the Deputy on recommendations relevant to its remit.

In summary, there are a number of recommendations not relevant to the remit of my Department and I have endeavoured to give the Deputy an update on relevant matters, including policy developments, which have occurred since the report was published. I would like to assure the Deputy that this Government is fully commitment to the seafood sector and the coastal communities who are dependent on fisheries and aquaculture.

Fishing Vessel Licences

Questions (564)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

564. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on issuing heritage licences by his Department for rural costal and island communities as recommended in the report on promoting sustainable rural coastal and island communities by the Oireachtas joint sub-committee on fisheries; if legislative changes are needed to issue such licences; and if his Department carried out work on issuing such licences including costs that would be incurred. [53728/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 transferred the functions of sea-fishing boat licensing to the Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats, which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in that Act and Ministerial Policy Directives.  As a result as Minister I am precluded under Section 3(5) of the 2003 Act from exercising any power or control in relation to individual cases, or a group of cases, with which the Licensing Authority is or may be concerned.  Licences issued by the Licensing Authority are issued to the owners of sea-fishing boats to licence the vessel concerned. 

It is important to point out that the existing licensing legislation and procedures are available to and apply to islanders engaged in commercial sea-fishing.  Island fishermen therefore already have access to a licensing regime which recognises their commercial sea-fishing activities.  I would like to stress that the existing legislation in this area provides an independent licensing process for sea-fishing boats and contributes to managing Ireland’s fishing fleet within EU rules.  

I understand that certain groups intended that heritage licences would extend to fishing for salmon.  Legislation governing licences for commercial fishing for salmon comes under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment.