Written Answers Nos. 446-465
446. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken and his plans to deal in a sustainable manner with the significant amount of timber left in situ following forestry clearfell; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9046/19]
View answerIt is general practice that the majority of logs are removed from harvesting sites following clearfell as felled timber is a valuable commodity for forest owners and managers. Indeed, log prices have remained high throughout 2018 with standing timber prices for the first nine months of 2018 up by 34% for Coillte Teoranta and 20% for private sales over the same period in 2017. Thus forest owners and managers have a significant incentive to move their harvested timber from the forest to the saw mill or timber processing factories so as to realise the value of their investment.
As my Department’s Code of Best Forest Practice and Forest Biodiversity Guidelines allows, some wood is generally left onsite following harvesting operations in the form of deadwood and older retained trees. Deadwood and old or veteran trees represent an important resource for biodiversity. Decomposing wood provides a habitat for numerous species of plants and animals which might otherwise be absent from the forest. A small amount of deadwood is normally left in situ after both thinning and final harvesting. Deadwood can be left in the form of standing dead stems or naturally fallen trunks if present or as logs deliberately left behind on the forest floor.
447. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a sheep welfare payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9050/19]
View answerAn application was received under the Sheep Welfare Scheme from the person named on 30 January 2017. Under the terms and conditions of the scheme applicants are required to carry out two actions within the set deadlines.
In the case of this application, it was found that one of the actions undertaken was not carried out within the required deadlines and thus a penalty was applied.
The applicant sought a review of this decision. However, the decision remained unchanged. A subsequent appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office has now been lodged and the person named will be notified of the outcome once the appeal has been finalised.
448. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the terms of reference for the recently announced independent review into forestry in County Leitrim report have been made public; if community groups can make suggestions regarding the terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9060/19]
View answerThe Terms of Reference for the independent study on forestry in Co. Leitrim have been finalised and were published by my Department on Friday 15 February. I am satisfied that these Terms of Reference are more than sufficiently broad to cover the views of all stakeholders and the priority now must be to get on with completing the analysis and the study. I would therefore encourage all stakeholders to engage with the study coordinators in UCD.
As previously announced, the Terms of Reference for the study are:
1. to assess the social impacts of forestry in County Leitrim including inter alia the attitudes to forestry of people living there. This assessment will be based on consultations locally with farmers, non-farmers and other interested parties;
2. to assess the economic impact of forestry for County Leitrim including total employment supported by the sector;
3. to assess the impact of forestry on farm incomes relative to other types of farming;
4. to consider the non-timber outputs of forestry in County Leitrim;
5. to assess the current state of environmental regulation of forestry in County Leitrim.
As public consultation will be a key feature, all interested parties, including community groups, are encouraged to offer input. A dedicated website has been developed for this purpose and is available at https://leitrimforestrystudy.ucd.ie/.
449. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an out-of-date payable order will be reissued to the estate of a person (details supplied); if not, if payment has been refunded to the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9076/19]
View answerTwo payable orders issued to the person named in October 2004, the first for €1,075.92 for the Suckler Cow Scheme on 17/10/2004 and the second for €6,412.00 for the Ewe & Goat Premium Scheme on 19/10/2004. Neither of these payable orders were cashed.
Both schemes were EU-funded and, following the introduction of compulsory electronic payment to bank accounts in 2008, any funds relating to earlier payable orders that remained un-cashed after a maximum 6-year period were, on the direction of the Commission, surrendered back to the EU. My Department cannot, therefore, reissue these payments at this stage.
450. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a grant for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9090/19]
View answerThe applicant applied for a bulk tank under the TAMS II Dairy Equipment Scheme on 29 November 2018. This was Tranche 12 of the Scheme which closed for applications on 7 December 2018. The application is being processed at the moment with the final technical checks before approval currently being carried out.
451. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of operational veterinary inspectors; the number who will be operational on 29 March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9101/19]
View answer452. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of operational phytosanitary inspectors; the number who will be operational on 29 March 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9102/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 452 together.
My Department is participating very actively in the Whole-of-Government approach to preparedness and contingency planning for Brexit. The Government has already sanctioned in the region of €4m for the commencement of a phased process for the recruitment of additional staff across a range of skill sets to carry out increased volumes of import controls and export certification arising from Brexit.
These requirements are significant, and arise in relation to the carrying out of documentary, identity and physical checks on imports of animals, plants, and products of animal and plant origin, as set out in EU legislation.
In general, regarding staffing requirements, my Department will use a combination of options including recruitment, redeployment and temporary flexible solutions where appropriate and as necessary. My Department continues to work with our recruitment partners, the Public Appointments Service, to engage Veterinary Inspectors, Portal Inspectors, Plant Health Inspectors and Administrative support staff. Mechanisms to temporarily redeploy experienced people within my Department have also been initiated and the engagement of contracted temporary service arrangements is also being progressed.
The final staffing numbers to be engaged in response to Brexit contingencies will depend on the nature of Brexit and the trading relationship with the UK that ensues. Should a hard Brexit be confirmed as the probable contingency to be addressed, my Department will, through the mechanisms I have outlined, have the scope to deploy appropriate levels of Phytosanitary and Veterinary Inspectors as may be required. Overall, I remain confident that both the State and my Department will be in a position to deliver the services required in terms of both imports and exports at the appropriate time, be that at the end of March or any other point in the future.
The deployment options being used by the Department are intended to be as flexible as possible, taking the inherent unpredictability of the situation and the need to be prepared for multiple contingencies into account.
My Department will deploy in the region of 230 staff resources as part of its Brexit Response. This number will comprise new recruits, redeployed staff and people on temporary contracts.
Dublin Port will be staffed on a 24/7 basis. Rosslare ports will operate on the basis of two shifts per day, based on ferry activity.
All of these resource levels will be kept under review and will be adjusted in light of developments up to and post-29 March 2019.
453. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the €25 million Brexit loan scheme announced in budget 2018 will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9104/19]
View answerThe €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme developed in cooperation with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), provides working capital support to enable eligible Irish businesses to implement the necessary changes to address the challenges posed by Brexit. The Scheme opened for applications on 28 March 2018 and it will remain open until 31st March 2020. To date it has provided in excess of €17m in finance to over 80 SMEs including 13 operating in the food sector. Further information may be found via the following link: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/agri-foodindustry/agri-foodandtheeconomy/agri-foodbusiness/brexitloanscheme/
The Future Growth Loan Scheme has been developed by my Department and DBEI in partnership with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and the European Investment Fund (EIF). It will be delivered through participating finance providers and make up to €300 million of investment loans available to eligible Irish businesses, including farmers and the agri-food & seafood sectors.
This is a long-awaited source of finance for young and new entrant farmers, especially the cohort who do not have high levels of security. It will also serve smaller-scale farmers, who often do not have the leverage to negotiate for more favourable terms with their banking institution.
The loans will be competitively priced, will be for terms of 8-10 years and will support strategic long-term investment in a post-Brexit environment. There is a minimum loan amount of €100,000 for SMEs or €50,000 for primary agriculture. The maximum loan amount is €3,000,000 and loans of under €500,000 will be made on an unsecured basis.
There will be €50 million to €60 million available initially for farmers, within an overall agri-food package of €120 million. Should demand exceed these levels, this can be reviewed.
The Scheme features a two-stage application process whereby initial application is made through the SBCI website. Successful applicants are issued an eligibility reference number which can then be used in an application to one of the participating finance providers. Approval of loans is subject to the finance providers’ own credit policies and procedures. Further information including a FAQ document may be accessed on the DAFM website via the following link: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/agri-foodindustry/agri-foodandtheeconomy/agri-foodbusiness/futuregrowthloanscheme/.
SBCI recently issued an open call inviting banks and other lenders to become lending partners and this closed on 11 February. SBCI advise that a period of due diligence, which will include the EIF, will now follow. I have urged SBCI to operationalise the Scheme as soon as possible. The Scheme will run for three years from its launch date and further announcements in this regard will be made shortly.
454. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter in relation to payments to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9139/19]
View answerThe Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department. I have been advised that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate that an appeal was received on 8 June 2018 from the person named. The appeal was in relation to the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme. Following a full assessment of the case, a decision letter was issued by an Appeals Officer to the appellant on 11 October 2018.
The appellant was advised in the decision letter that if they believed they had been unfairly treated by the Agriculture Appeals Office, they could raise the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman. It is also open to the appellant to seek a review of the decision from the Director of the Agriculture Appeals Office if they believe the Appeals Officer made an error of fact or law in the appeal decision.
455. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for a new AEOS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9141/19]
View answerThere are no plans to reintroduce the Agri-Environment Options and Natura Schemes (AEOS). The subsequent agri-environment scheme, the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS), opened in three tranches commencing in 2015. It was open to AEOS participants to apply to join GLAS, such applicants were required to exit their existing AEOS contract before a GLAS contract could commence. GLAS is now fully subscribed with the target of 50,000 approved participants met well ahead of target. There are no plans to re-open this scheme to new applications.
Agri-environment policy is included in the CAP reform negotiations currently under way and any future schemes will be dependent on the outcome of these negotiations.
456. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of conferences staff of his Department have attended in each of the years 2017 and 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; the number of staff who attended each conference; the cost of same in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9161/19]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is set out in the table below.
Officials in my Department attend a range of conferences, including veterinary, scientific, economic and regulatory, in discharge of their official functions. Where a conference has a charge or registration fee, attendance is determined based on the benefit to my Department and the wider agri-food sector.
|
Year |
No. of conferences |
No. of staff attended |
Cost € |
|
2017 |
125 |
454 |
98,585 |
|
2018 |
175 |
394 |
59,577 |
|
2019 to date |
22 |
47 |
7,335 |
457. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent in advertising or sponsorship in respect of conferences external and internal, respectively, in each of the years 2017 and 2018 and to date in 2019, by conference; the aggregate amount for each year; the amount available in the remainder of 2019 to fund same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9178/19]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is outlined in the attached table.
There is no specific budget in my Department just for sponsorship of conferences. Such requests are considered on a case by case basis and, where appropriate, are then funded from within my Department's budget for agriculture related trade exhibitions.
2017
|
Conference |
Internal/External Conference |
Advertising costs € |
Sponsorship costs € |
|
Agricultural Science Association Annual Conference |
External |
2,800 |
|
|
Tipperary Energy Agency (Energy in Agriculture) |
External |
800 |
|
|
Ramiran 2017 |
External |
6,150 |
|
|
Environ 2017 Conference |
External |
750 |
|
|
National conference on Minor Conifers |
External |
6,200 |
|
|
International Congress of Meat Science and Technology Conference |
External |
5,000 |
|
|
Total |
21,700 |
2018
|
Conference |
Internal/External Conference |
Advertising costs € |
Sponsorship costs € |
|
Agricultural Science Association Annual Conference |
External |
2,000 |
|
|
European Grassland Federation Conference |
External |
12,000 |
|
|
Energy in Agriculture |
External |
5,000 |
|
|
Bord Bia Poultry and Egg Conference |
1,000 |
||
|
National conference on Forestry and the Bioeconomy |
External |
8,200 |
|
|
Native Woodland Conference |
External |
10,000 |
|
|
International Farm Comparisons Network (JFCN) conference |
External |
6,000 |
|
|
International Dairy Federation (IDF)/International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) Analytical Week |
External |
6,150 |
|
|
Total |
50,350 |
2019 to date
|
Conference |
Internal/External Conference |
Advertising costs € |
Sponsorship costs € |
|
Energy in Agriculture |
External |
5,000 |
|
|
Total |
5,000 |
458. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff in his Department who attended a summit (details supplied) in Dublin in 2017 and 2018, respectively; the cost to his Department or to any agency under the remit of his Department; if his Department or an agency under the remit of his Department undertook advertising or sponsorship in respect of the summit; the cost in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9195/19]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that no staff in my Department attended a summit (details supplied) or undertook advertising or sponsorship in respect of the summit in 2017 and 2018.
As regards the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
459. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a matter will be examined in relation to boat length requirements (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9216/19]
View answerI announced the outcome of the review of trawling activity inside the 6 nautical mile zone on 21 December 2018 following an extensive public consultation period which spanned from 30 April to 11 June 2018. The Consultation attracted over 900 submissions which comprised a wide diversity of views. These submissions have been published on my Department's website.
I carefully considered the issues raised during the public consultation process and following a detailed evaluation, decided to exclude trawling by fishing vessels over 18 metres length overall from inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020.
Based on my assessment, I consider that there is a compelling case for excluding trawling by large vessels in coastal waters inside six nautical miles. I am satisfied that there are sufficient fishing opportunities for these vessels outside of six nautical miles. I also believe that these actions will provide wider ecosystem benefits, including for nursery areas and juvenile fish stocks. I am very conscious of the exclusive reliance of small scale and island fishermen on inshore waters and the benefits this change will bring for these fishermen and I firmly believe that this will, in the medium term, provide ecosystem and nursery stock benefits for all fishermen.
I am also mindful of the opportunity these measures will provide for further sustainable development of the small scale inshore and sea angling sectors, which the Government has committed to in the Programme for a Partnership Government.
I also announced that there will be a transition period to 2022 for vessels over 18 metres targeting sprat. This transition is in order to allow a period of adjustment for these vessels, as this fishery is concentrated inside the six nautical mile zone. I have asked BIM to offer affected vessel owners technical assistance to adjust to other fisheries during the transition period.
Vessels over 18 metres length overall will continue to be permitted inside 6 nautical miles to trawl for sprat only until 2022. A total allowable catch of up to 2,000 tonnes, reflecting a reduction on recent years, will be permitted for these vessels during 2020, reducing to 1,000 tonnes in 2021. All trawling activity by vessels over 18 metres length overall for sprat, inside the 6 mile limit, will end from the beginning of 2022.
Article 2 of Reg (EU) 1130/2017 sets out the Characteristics of Fishing vessels. Regarding Length, it states the following:-
"Length
1. The length of a vessel shall be the length overall, defined as the distance in a straight line between the foremost point of the bow and the aftermost point of the stern.
For the purposes of this definition:
(a) the bow shall be taken to include the watertight hull structure, forecastle, stem and forward bulwark, if fitted, but shall exclude bowsprits and safety rails;
(b) the stern shall be taken to include the watertight hull structure, transom, poop, trawl ramp and bulwark, but shall exclude safety rails, bumkins, propulsion machinery, rudders and steering gear, and divers' ladders and platforms.
The length overall shall be measured in metres with an accuracy of two decimals."
Length overall is the recognised measurement for vessels for Licensing and Registration purposes and the standard measurement for the majority of fisheries (with the exception for historical reasons of polyvalent Horse Mackerel, Celtic Sea Main Herring and North West Herring fisheries only).
460. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to address concerns regarding the porcine genetic industry relative to a Brexit scenario (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9231/19]
View answerIreland remains firmly of the view that the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal and protect the Good Friday Agreement is to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement as agreed between the EU and the British Government. However we will continue our preparations for all outcomes, including for a no-deal scenario. While we do not want this to happen, we are doing all we can to be prepared both at home and in cooperation with our EU partners.
In relation to export requirements, the procedures are determined by the UK. In its Preparedness Notice on importing animals and animal products - last updated on 20 February 2019 and available at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-traces-to-trade-in-animals-and-animal-products?utm_source=03743c17-54c9-4ee9-ae9c-11200f776314&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate - the UK has stated that the existing arrangements will not change with the exception of using TRACES. Importers into the UK will have to use the UK equivalent system when it is operational.
On this basis it is believed that the UK will continue to seek health certification for live animals and certain other animal products including germinal products as mentioned by the Deputy after Brexit.
461. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the procurement process applicable to the granting of the sport horse studbook licence; the status of the recommendation of a report to transfer the sport horse studbook licence to a society (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9276/19]
View answerEquine studbooks are subject to approval by my Department under European Communities (EQUINE) Regulations, S.I. No. 357 of 2011 and Horse Sport Ireland is currently approved to hold the Irish Sports Horse and Irish Draught Horse Studbooks.
The report by Indecon International Consultants “Review of certain matters relating to Horse Sport Ireland” which was published in 2017 recommended that HSI should retain responsibility for national breeding policy but that the organisation’s board should consider the merits of transferring the Sport Horse and Irish Draught studbooks which it currently administers to the Irish Horse Board. This recommendation falls to the Board of Horse Sport Ireland to consider i.e. whether this is the most effective way to achieve the breeding and production objectives.
The Board of Directors of HSI has recently been restructured and I have appointed a new Chairperson and three board members in consultation with my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. It will be a matter for this Board in the first instance to consider the future of the studbooks currently under the organisation’s control.
462. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to update the Forestry Act 1946. [9347/19]
View answerThe Forestry Act 1946 was repealed by the Forestry Act 2014 which updated provisions for the development and promotion of forestry in a manner that maximises the economic, environmental and social values of forests within the principles of sustainable forest management.
463. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional measures he plans to implement to support the farming and agri-food sector in view of the recent comments by the British Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mr. Michael Gove, MP, in relation to the imposition of tariffs on food imports to Britain in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9413/19]
View answerAs part of Brexit planning, my Department has carried out a detailed analysis of the implications for Irish agri-food exports in a worst-case scenario whereby the UK applies the EU’s existing tariff schedule on imports. This analysis found that the estimated cost of potential tariffs for the sector as a whole is €1.7 billion, based on Irish agri-food exports to the United Kingdom of €4.8 billion in 2016. The decision as to how and when the UK might impose tariffs on imports from the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit is a sovereign matter for the UK Government.
I have been working very hard for some time to sensitise other Member States and the European Commission to the potentially very severe impacts of Brexit on the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors, and to the likelihood of specific supports being required in order to deal with these impacts. The institutions of the European Union are very well aware of the likelihood of a significant impact of a no-deal Brexit on Ireland’s economy because this has been part of the discussion from the beginning, and indeed this is explicitly recognised in the Commission’s own communication on contingency planning.
Most recently, I had a bilateral meeting with Commissioners Hogan and Vella to discuss the potential impact of a no-deal Brexit on the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors. We discussed the unique exposure of these sectors to the threat and the challenges that it could present. I stressed the need to be ready to deploy a range of measures to mitigate the potential impacts on farmers and processors, including through:
- traditional market supports and exceptional aid under the CAP's Single Common Market Organisation regulation
- increased flexibility under State Aid regulations
- a common approach to managing fisheries and additional funding under the EMFF.
My officials are in ongoing contact with the Commission and other Member States on these issues as the situation evolves.
464. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to resolve the information technology issues with the processing of GLAS applications in order that a person (details supplied) can receive a 2018 payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9520/19]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017 and has received all payments including GLAS+ in respect of scheme year 2017.
In relation to the 2018 Advance payment, I understand that the original parcel claimed was split into two parcels, one of which contains a building and is therefore ineligible for GLAS. This must be removed and is currently being processed to exclude the ineligible area.
Once the case clears validations the 2018 advance payment will be made. GLAS payments are issuing on a weekly basis.
465. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a TAMS application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9539/19]
View answerThe person in question made an application under the TAMS II Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme on the 19 December 2018. The scheme operates in tranches and the tranche under which this application was made will close for applications on 5 April 2019.
Once the tranche is closed all applications, including the application referenced, will be subject to an administration check prior to the ranking and selection process. Following that, applications are subject to technical checks before an approval issues.
