Charlie McConalogue
Question:225. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a proposal (details supplied). [18289/19]
View answerAnimal Identification Schemes
Questions (225)
Written answers
The farmer data accessible to Food Business Operators (FBO) from my Department's Animal Identification Movement System (AIM) is limited to what is required under Council Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 to ensure traceability. Traceability details of these animals, all of which are also available on the unique bovine passport that accompanies each animal, include the date of birth, breed, gender, and disease history.
Historical aggregated data on the bovine herd population is published in my Department’s annual AIM reports across a range of metrics:
https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/animalidentificationmovement/cattle/
Animal Carcase Disposal
Questions (226)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:226. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason farmers are not paid for the fifth quarter, that is, the remaining pieces of an animal carcase that are not used for meat production and which processors use for export business. [18290/19]
View answerWritten answers
I am very conscious of the role played by livestock farming in sustaining the rural economy and rural communities across Ireland.
I am aware of the current challenges facing beef farmers in particular, with a sustained period of low prices, following on from additional costs last year arising from the unprecedented weather events, and with significant Brexit uncertainty still overhanging the sector.
However, as Minister, I cannot intervene directly in any commodity price, including in relation to meat offals. Factory prices are a matter for the processing industry and the farmers who supply it. Cattle and other livestock prices are influenced by a variety of factors such as the level of consumer demand, production levels and exchange rate differences at any point in time.
Animal Carcase Disposal
Questions (227)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:227. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the volume and value of offal exports in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019 to include all data for such exports that include remaining pieces of an animal carcase which are not being used for meat production in tabular form. [18291/19]
View answerWritten answers
The data requested by the Deputy is set out in the table - these figures have been sourced from Central Statistics Office (CSO) trade data.
The data is based on Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes which are a tool for classifying goods, set up to meet the requirements both of the Common Customs Tariff and of the EU's external trade statistics. There is in excess of 50 such codes relating to specific offal types described by species and make-up. Some CN codes include both the terms meat and/or offals.
As such, it cannot be determined whether this data refers exclusively to offals and parts of the carcass that are not being used for meat production. It is likely that the above figures overstate the exact amount of our offal exports due to these classification categories.
|
- |
2015 |
2015 |
2016 |
2016 |
2017 |
2017 |
2018 |
2018 |
Jan-Feb 2019 |
Jan-Feb 2019 |
|
|
Value €000 |
Volume Tonnes |
Value €000 |
Volume Tonnes |
Value €000 |
Volume Tonnes |
Value €000 |
Volume Tonnes |
Value €000 |
Volume Tonnes |
|
Beef |
380,403 |
139,435 |
378,164 |
144,678 |
406,146 |
155,227 |
395,392 |
138,610 |
57,982 |
20,024 |
|
Pigmeat |
122,778 |
42,054 |
112,313 |
44,993 |
123,922 |
39,976 |
123,443 |
40,085 |
19,365 |
7,159 |
|
Poultry |
233,244 |
69,543 |
175,739 |
60,905 |
184,733 |
61,538 |
195,847 |
63,336 |
25,534 |
7,835 |
|
Sheepmeat |
9,312 |
5,552 |
10,865 |
7,272 |
11,346 |
6,690 |
11,087 |
6,711 |
2,865 |
1,932 |
|
Fish |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
5 |
3 |
12 |
5 |
|
Other Meat and Meat Produce |
47,004 |
25,214 |
47,160 |
28,215 |
48,963 |
30,722 |
45,719 |
24,523 |
6,133 |
3,643 |
|
Total |
792,741 |
281,798 |
724,241 |
286,065 |
775,110 |
294,153 |
771,495 |
273,268 |
111,893 |
40,598 |
Fishing Industry
Questions (228)
Brendan Smith
Question:228. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had at EU level on the need to protect the fishing and seafood industry in view of the problems that will arise with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18295/19]
View answerWritten answers
This Government welcomes the decision of the European Council last week which prevented a no-deal outcome on 12 April and provides the UK with more time to ensure an orderly withdrawal. However, we are continuing our preparatory work to take account of all possible outcomes due to the ongoing uncertainty.
The Government published a Contingency Action Plan on 19 December, setting out its approach to dealing with a no-deal Brexit. It has already introduced a range of measures to deal with the short-term impacts of Brexit. In terms of dealing with Competitiveness issues, my Department introduced a €150 million low-cost loan scheme and increased funding under the Rural Development and Seafood Development Programmes in the 2017 Budget. In Budget 2018, I, along with my colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, introduced a new €300m “Brexit Loan Scheme” to provide affordable, flexible financing to Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or who will be in the future - at least 40% of which will be available to agrifood and seafood businesses.
Our enterprise agencies are continuing to work with seafood companies to help them to deal with Brexit through making them more competitive, diversifying market exposure, and up-skilling teams.
My priority has been, and remains, to maintain existing levels of access to waters and resources. However, in a worst case scenario of a disorderly departure we can expect that those reciprocal arrangements will be impacted, at least in the very short term.
In recent months, I have continued to have regular meetings with my European colleagues, especially those from the group of 8 Coastal Member States whose fisheries are potentially most impacted by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, as well as the European Commission. I am also working closely with key stakeholders in the Irish fishing industry and am pleased at the level of unity on these key issues.
The EU has adopted two contingency measures in the area of fisheries to cover all scenarios under a no-deal Brexit. On the one hand, the EU has created the appropriate legal framework in a no-Deal Brexit situation to allow UK vessels reciprocal access to EU waters throughout 2019, if the UK grants such access to EU vessels in its waters. On the other hand, the EU has also adjusted the eligibility criteria of the Fisheries and Maritime Fund, to ensure that fishermen who have to cease their activities – in case the UK does not grant continued access to its waters – can receive compensation. In such a case, it would be essential that Member States adopt a coordinated approach to ensure a level-playing field between EU fishermen in different Member States and to protect marine resources.
The EU Commission last week issued a Brexit Contingency Plan, agreed with Ireland and seven other impacted Member States, which sets out how fisheries would be managed in a no-deal Brexit. It identifies the need for mitigation measures and, in particular, compensation for temporary tie up of fishing vessels. It gives the EU Commission a strong co-ordination role.
This communication reflects the high level of planning by Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden working closely with DG Mare. When I met Commissioner Vella last February, I emphasised the real risks of a concentration of fishing into Ireland’s 200 miles fishing zone by EU fleets if they are excluded from UK waters. I pointed out that inevitably this would lead to displacement of our own fleet and depletion of fish stocks if no action is taken.
I stressed to the Commissioner the need for a European approach to addressing this issue and agreed with him that the key Member States and DG Mare needed to put in place a contingency plan. I have been working intensively over recent weeks, and have kept the fishing industry informed of the work to ensure that we are ready for this worst case situation, while always hoping that we will never need to call upon these plans.
We now have identified and agreed, co-ordinated and fully prepared measures that will be immediately available to address a no-deal Brexit situation, if the UK were to decide to deny EU vessels access to UK waters. I am seeking additional EU funds to support this mitigation measure if they become necessary. If we need to call on these arrangements, it will be essential, as we have now agreed at EU level, that all involved EU fleets must co-operate under these structured arrangements to manage the situation. We have now agreed that the Irish fleet would not be disproportionately impacted and have ensured that each Member State impacted would take a fair share of the pain.
However, we remain firmly of the view that the best way to ensure an orderly withdrawal and fully protect the Good Friday Agreement, is to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement. A disorderly departure, that included a loss of access to UK waters, would have very serious consequence for our seafood industry. I am satisfied that, in cooperation with our stakeholders and EU partners, we are doing all that we can to plan to mitigate the potential impacts.
GLAS Eligibility
Questions (229)
Brendan Smith
Question:229. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers whose agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, contracts have expired will be enabled to participate in GLAS; if the scheme will be reopened for such applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18326/19]
View answerWritten answers
The Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) opened in three tranches commencing in 2015 following the closure of the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). All AEOS participants were given the option of joining the GLAS scheme should they have wished to do so. The GLAS scheme is now fully subscribed with GLAS 3 participants in their third year of participation in the five year GLAS scheme.
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.
Agrifood Sector
Questions (230)
Brendan Smith
Question:230. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the most recent discussions he has had at EU level on the need to relax state aid rules and have adequate measures in place to assist the agrifood sector in the event of severe market disturbance arising from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18327/19]
View answerWritten answers
I have recently held bilateral discussions with Commissioner Hogan on the economic impact of Brexit, including on the margins of the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels on 18 March. I have stressed the need to be ready to deploy a range of measures to mitigate the impact on the sector, including through traditional EU market supports and exceptional aid provisions under the CAP's Single Common Market Organisation regulation, as well as through increased flexibility under State Aid regulations. Commissioner Hogan has confirmed that the EU is ready to respond positively, and my officials remain in regular contact with Commission officials in this regard.
The Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting on 18 March was an important opportunity to highlight to the Council, the Commission and to my fellow Ministers, the impacts of a no-deal Brexit on the agrifood sector in Ireland and the potential knock-on effects across the EU market as a whole. During the discussion on the meat market, I outlined the exposure of the Irish beef sector in particular and called for the full suite of measures available under the Common Market Organisation, including targeted support for farmers, to be deployed rapidly in the event of a no-deal Brexit. I also referred to the need to protect the EU beef sector in trade discussions with Mercosur, against the background of the significant uncertainty arising from Brexit. In addition, I highlighted the exposure of the Irish fisheries sector, and the need for careful joint EU management of fisheries resources, as well as financial supports for fishermen and their communities.
Earlier this week, at the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Luxembourg, I followed up these efforts with a further call for acknowledgment of the impact of Brexit on the beef sector through the making available of exceptional aid for the sector, despite the avoidance of a hard Brexit on 12 April.
With regard to State Aid, I welcome the recent announcement by the European Commission, with effect from 14 March 2019, that the maximum threshold limits under the agriculture de minimis regulation will increase. Under the revised rules, aid of up to €20,000 can be paid to a beneficiary on a rolling three year basis i.e. the current fiscal year and the two previous fiscal years. Once a beneficiary has reached this limit they may not receive any further aid in excess of this limit under de minimis rules within the rolling time period.
In order to avoid any potential distortion of competition, each EU Member State has a maximum national limit, which they cannot exceed. Under the revised rules, Member States' national ceiling is increased to 1.25% of their annual agricultural output over the same three-year period. This represents a 25% increase in the national ceiling.
The revised rules permit a Member State to increase the individual de minimis aid limit up to €25,000, once the Member State does not spend more than 50% of its total national aid envelope on one particular agricultural sector. In these circumstances, the national limit is increased to 1.5% of the annual output. This represents a 66% increase in the ceiling per farmer and a 50% increase in the national ceiling.
This increase in threshold of de minimis aid will allow for greater flexibility and efficiency, notably in times of crisis and situations demanding a swift response by the public authorities.
I have said that the State will not be found wanting when it comes to supporting the Irish agrifood sector and farmers to deal with the impact of Brexit. The increase in the agriculture de minimis limits is a very important first step in this regard.
In addition, my Department, working in close co-operation with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland, has received approval from the EU Commission for an Irish state aid application, allowing an Irish company to receive state aid funding for the diversification of its activities. The potential for this approval to act as a template for assistance for agrifood enterprises and exporters within state aid rules and regulations is currently being examined.
Agrifood Sector
Questions (231)
Brendan Smith
Question:231. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are ongoing discussions with the authorities in Northern Ireland on the need to protect the agrifood sector and deal with issues that may arise from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18328/19]
View answerWritten answers
The best way to protect the agrifood sector is for the UK to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement. I welcome the decision of the European Council last week which prevented a no-deal outcome on 12 April and provides the UK with more time to ensure an orderly withdrawal and fully protect the Good Friday Agreement.
Indeed, among the priorities set by the Irish Government at the outset in relation to the Brexit negotiations was the protection of the Good Friday Agreement.
As part of the operation of that Agreement, and as is the case with all Departments, officials of my Department engage on a regular and ongoing basis with counterparts in Northern Ireland on matters relating to North South Co-operation.
Departmental Staff Data
Questions (232)
Barry Cowen
Question:232. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons employed at each level of the Civil Service from Secretary General to cleaner each year since 2016; the number of those at each level that are female in each year since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18343/19]
View answerWritten answers
One of the goals outlined in my Department's current Statement of Strategy is to continue to develop a highly skilled, diverse and gender-balanced workforce. My Department is committed to supporting a positive working environment for all staff, one that provides equality of opportunity and supports work-life balance.
Staff in my Department work in various locations around the country and the workforce is made up of over 100 grades, including specialist grades in addition to the standard civil service grades. The number of persons employed in my Department in each year since 2016, both male and female, is outlined in the attached table, sorted by Civil Service "Job Code Equivalent" which gives relative comparators with standard civil service grades.
Broadband Service Provision
Questions (233)
Eugene Murphy
Question:233. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a broadband service will be provided to a public library (details supplied); the reason for the delay in establishing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18213/19]
View answerWritten answers
According to my Department’s high speed broadband map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie the premises is in a BLUE area. The BLUE area represents those areas where commercial providers are either currently providing, or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. Where a premises in a BLUE area is unable to obtain a high speed broadband service, I would encourage them to email my Department at broadband@dccae.gov.ie with their Eircode and details of the service providers they have contacted and the issues encountered in respect of accessing high speed broadband.
Digital Hub Development Agency
Questions (234)
Timmy Dooley
Question:234. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the average first and full year cost of establishing a digital hub under the Digital Hub Development Agency; the number of digital hubs in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18144/19]
View answerWritten answers
The Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) was established in 2003 under the Digital Hub Development Agency Act 2003 to support digital entrepreneurship through the creation of a cluster of enterprises focussed on digital content and technology in the Liberties area of Dublin 8. I have no statutory function in relation to the establishment of other digital hubs and my Department does not have a list of the digital hubs operating throughout the country.
The DHDA offers digital companies flexible property solutions, facilities, and technology transfer with peer-to-peer collaboration within the wider digital sector. To date, over 375 digital companies have progressed through the enterprise cluster generating more than 2,000 jobs during their time at the Hub. There are currently 71 digital media companies employing 660 full time staff located in the Digital Hub. The DHDA also runs a number of digital and technology Community learning initiatives.
An initial investment of approximately €74 million was made by the State for circa nine acres in the Thomas Street area to provide accommodation for digital enterprises and related activities of the Hub. The Agency’s property portfolio consists primarily of protected structures, including vacant and derelict buildings which must be maintained pending their redevelopment. Over 50% of the campus has been developed and there are currently nine properties available to let to digital enterprises.
The DHDA currently meets its running costs through a combination of its commercial income and Exchequer funding. From 2003 to date the Agency has received Exchequer subventions of approximately €31.4m to assist it meeting its operating and capital expenditure costs. The aim of the Agency is to fulfil its functions from its commercial income and to ultimately remove its reliance on Exchequer funding.
Electric Vehicles
Questions (235)
Thomas Pringle
Question:235. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a list of all high-power multi-charger sites and new faster charger sites for electric vehicles by county will be provided; the timeline for the instalment of the recently announced new charging hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18165/19]
View answerWritten answers
Providing adequate charging infrastructure is critical to ensure continued growth in electric vehicles.
Home charging is the most cost-effective way to charge an electric vehicle and is the primary method of charging for the majority of electric vehicles both internationally and in Ireland. A Government grant of up to €600 is available, via the SEAI, to the purchasers of new and second-hand electric vehicles to support the installation of home chargers.
There are currently over 650 standard public charge points and 78 fast chargers as a part of the ESB eCars network. In addition there are public chargers provided by local authorities, retail outlets and private companies.
Under the first call for applications from the Climate Action Fund, I approved funding of up to €10 million to support ESB eCars to develop a nationwide, state-of-the-art electric vehicle fast charging network. This project successfully completed the assessment stage and the validation stage is now underway.
The project includes the installation of 90 high-power chargers each of which will be capable of charging two vehicles simultaneously, upgrading 50 existing standard chargers to fast chargers and replacing over 250 existing standard chargers with next generation high reliability models. This is a multi-annual project and is expected to be fully completed by 2022.
The locations of the chargers has not been finalised. However, a provisional map of the planned network, showing indicative locations, was developed by ESB eCars and has been published on my Department’s website. ESB eCars is currently identifying the most appropriate locations for the chargers to be sited. The sites will be identified using the latest software mapping techniques, taking account of information on current charge point usage, traffic volume, accessibility, amenities and grid capacity at the sites.
My Department, in conjunction with the SEAI, is also working on how best to support the provision of greater levels of on-street public charging.
Cybersecurity Policy
Questions (236, 237, 238)
Brendan Smith
Question:236. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps and progress made in 2018 and to date in 2019 in building the capability of the national cyber security centre and achieving the high level of security for computer networks and critical infrastructure as set out in the National Cyber Security Strategy 2015-2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18219/19]
View answerBrendan Smith
Question:237. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the specific measures he is taking to develop civil and military co-operation on cyber security as set out in the National Cyber Security Strategy 2015-2017; the number of meetings between his Department, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces in which this issue was on the agenda in the past 18 months in tabular form; the meetings he has had with the Minister for Defence to discuss this commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18220/19]
View answerBrendan Smith
Question:238. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the webpage on the national cyber security strategy on the website of his Department informs persons that there will be a new, updated national cyber security strategy published in 2018; the reason for the delay in producing this strategy; the progress made in 2019; the status of the strategy in view of the fact that the deadline for public consultation submissions is 1 May 2019; if the 2018 strategy will be published before the end of 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18221/19]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 to 238, inclusive, together.
The Government fully recognises the critical importance of protecting the State against cyber security threats and has invested heavily in recent years in strengthening the State’s capacity in this area. This has included the significant development and growth of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The response team within the NCSC gained international accreditation in 2017.
The NCSC works with An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and other Departments and State Agencies in relation to the security of IT infrastructure and critical national infrastructure. The operational details of these activities are not made public for security reasons
Moreover, since the transposition of the EU Network and Information Security Directive last year, the NCSC has a series of formal powers around the security of a range of critical national infrastructure, including a set of binding security requirements and an incident reporting requirement.
My Department is leading in the development of a new National Cyber Security Strategy and chairs a Steering Group with representation across a number of Government Departments. A public consultation on the Strategy was launched on 19 March 2019 and will remain open until 1 May. This public consultation poses a series of questions around how we might better (1) protect critical national Infrastructure and services from Cyber Security related risks, (2) develop our skills base and industrial capacity in this field, and (3) engage nationally and internationally on cyber security matters, both to build awareness and to ensure that our international policy position takes cognisance of developments in cyber security. My Department has also established 5 expert stakeholder groups to comment on the various aspects of cyber security policy to ensure that the Strategy process is fully informed by a mix of public, private sector and academic expertise. These groups have already met once, and will meet again after the public consultation phase is completed. The new strategy will be in place mid-year.