Written Answers Nos. 881-905
881. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of bovines that failed an on-farm tuberculosis skin test but passed a tuberculosis blood test in each of the years 2015 to 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6177/20]
View answerThe gamma interferon blood test being used is part of the quality control of TB testing and has a correlation rate of approximately 65% with skin testing, meaning that on average around 65% of skin test reactor animals will test positive on the quality control gamma interferon test. If this correlation level is not achieved, the Veterinary Inspector managing the case investigates the matter further.
My Department ensures that on-farm TB testing of cattle by Veterinary Practitioners is carried out to the highest standards. The quality control system has a number of different strands - potency testing of tuberculin batches, testing equipment maintenance requirements, audits on labs and maintenance providers, analysis of testing data for each testing veterinary practitioner, inspections of veterinary practitioners testing, examination of reactors and blood testing of reactors.
882. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of bovines that passed an on-farm tuberculosis skin test but on inspection subsequent to slaughter killed out with lesions in the year of their final tuberculosis test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6178/20]
View answerThe following table shows the number of bovines that passed a TB skin test and which were subsequently sent for routine slaughter at which they were found to have lesions which were confirmed to be bovine TB following laboratory analysis, in the years 2015 to 2019:
|
Year |
Animals with clear TB skin test with subsequent TB lesions |
|
2019 |
1,654 |
|
2018 |
1,612 |
|
2017 |
1,552 |
|
2016 |
1,311 |
|
2015 |
1,550 |
883. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the overclaim assessed against a farmer (details supplied) in County Galway; the penalty imposed by scheme and scheme years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6180/20]
View answerMy Department reviews all agricultural land parcels in the country on a rolling basis with the whole country reviewed over a three-year period. Imagery is reviewed and any ineligible features identified within a land parcel are removed. The area of the parcel is reduced and, if appropriate, any overpayment is addressed. Applicants are notified accordingly and are given the option to seek a review of any overclaims arising from this process.
In this regard, land parcels submitted under the 2018 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) by the person named were subject to the process outlined above. Following the imagery review, the Maximum Eligible Area (MEA) of 19 land parcels were reduced which created overclaims on the parcels.
A letter issued to the person named on 9 July 2019 outlining the position and the options available to him. These overclaims resulted in a reduction of his 2018 BPS payment and an overpayment of €896.63 was applied. The person named replied on 20 December 2019 stating that he did not agree with the reduced MEA applied to all 19 parcels.
A review was carried out taking into account the particular landscape of the area and is now completed. The review made adjustments to the MEAs of the parcels but overclaims still exist for him under his 2018 BPS. However, the adjustments made to the MEAs reduced the overall level of overclaim applied to his case and a refund of €415.57 issued to the person named on 13 March 2020.
The 2019 Basic Payment Scheme/Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme application of the person named was selected for a Ground Eligibility inspection. This inspection identified an over-declaration in area amounting to 0.48ha. The person named was notified of the outcome of the original inspection on 28th November 2019 and chose not to submit any comments on the inspection findings. The inspection was finalised and a Final Notice letter issued on 13th December 2019. My Department has no record of a request for a review of the inspection findings being submitted by the person named.
This over-declaration in area resulted in the application of a reduction/penalty totalling €132.02 under the 2019 Basic Payment Scheme.
884. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider further extending the completion deadline for TAMS projects. [6185/20]
View answerMy Department introduced changes to the TAMS II scheme deadlines on 1 April 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Flexibility was provided on completion deadlines with a 3 month extension on all projects due to completed (or approvals due to expire) between 1 March and 1 July.
As this is a constantly evolving situation, my Department is monitoring the situation closely and will implement further changes if and when they are needed.
885. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if plans will be put in place to test all workers in meat plants each day for Covid-19. [6186/20]
View answerA national Outbreak Control team has been established by the HSE to deal with all issues relating to Covid 19 in meat plants. My Department is represented on this committee and it is expected that recommendations, including any in relation to testing, will issue from this group in due course.
Any clusters of cases in individual meat plants, in common with clusters in other workplaces, are dealt with by local HSE-led outbreak control teams.
886. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans being put in place to provide workers in meat plants with full PPE equipment. [6187/20]
View answerMy Department supplies PPE to its own staff and contractors in Food Business premises. It does not supply PPE to Food Business personnel. Food business have put in place a range of protective practices and equipment to protect employee safety and these include measures such as the reduction of throughput rates at the plant, temperature checks on entry into the plant, the extension of operating hours and other safeguards such as “podding”, the provision of additional PPE, the use of perspex screens and the provision of additional facilities to support physical distancing measures.
A national Outbreak Control team has been established by the HSE to deal with all issues relating to Covid 19 in meat plants. My Department is represented on this committee and it is expected that recommendations, including any in relation to testing, will issue from this group in due course. Any clusters of cases in individual meat plants, in common with clusters in other workplaces, are dealt with by local HSE-led outbreak control teams.
887. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the HIQA will carry out inspections of all meat plants here. [6188/20]
View answerA National Outbreak Control Team has been established, chaired by the HSE, to co-ordinate the response to COVID 19 outbreaks in meat plants in Ireland. My Department is represented on that Committee. I expect that policy in relation to all aspects of dealing with Covid 19 outbreaks in meat factories will be guided by the output from this Committee. I am not aware at this time of any plans for HIQA to carry out inspections of meat plants here.
888. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider reopening the organic farming scheme. [6189/20]
View answerUnder Ireland's current Rural Development Plan (2014 -2020) the amount of land under organic production has seen an increase of nearly 50% to nearly 74,000 hectares. A budget of €56m was allocated to fund the Organic Farming Schemes opened during the period 2014 to 2020 which was the largest allocation ever to an Organics support scheme. This allocation of funds is now fully consumed.
The Organic Farming Scheme was re-opened on a targeted basis last year to new farms wishing to convert. However, as the scheme is part of our overall Rural Development Programme (RDP) and as our RDP funds are fully committeed to the end of the programme, funding is not available for a further re-opending of the scheme.
The consultation process on the next RDP as part of the next CAP is already underway and I would welcome stakeholder views on this and the shape of any future Organic Farming Scheme.
889. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the availability of grants for farmers to provide a herd wide tuberculosis test following positive tests in recent years which would allow trace whether the source is internal or external to the herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6281/20]
View answerUnder the Bovine TB Eradication Programme, every herd in the country must undergo at least one herd test annually. All eligible cattle on the holding, regardless of ownership, must be presented for testing.
Primary responsibility for arranging and paying for this annual test rests with the farmer. Where TB is found in a herd, a suite of supplementary testing is initiated by my Department which may include blood testing. For the most part, all supplementary testing is paid for by my Department and allied with this, an epidemiological assessment or investigation is carried out to determine the source of the infection.
890. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason donkeys cannot satisfy 100% of the stocking rate requirement for ANC grants; and if he will consider increasing the current ratio of 50%. [6365/20]
View answerThe change to the stocking density rules relating to donkeys under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme was introduced following consultation with the farming bodies and other relevant stakeholders. Applicants can now only use donkeys to fulfil 50% of their stocking requirements under the scheme. This change was introduced on foot of consideration of issues relating to animal welfare concerns and the role of the scheme in supporting active farming in eligible areas.
Following the agreement of this change with the farm bodies, the change in the requirements for the 2020 scheme was signalled to all applicants in the 2019 Scheme terms and conditions. This was in order to give applicants a full year to adapt their stocking practices where required. The remainder of the stocking requirement can be made up using cattle, sheep, goats, horses or deer.
891. Deputy Norma Foley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding will be made available for the extension of Renard pier, Cahersiveen, County Kerry by at least 30 metres in order to allow bigger and deeper trawlers land their catches. [6366/20]
View answerMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.
Renard Pier is owned by Kerry County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development rests with that Local Authority in the first instance, and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government thereafter.
As my legislative remit does not extend to Renard Pier, and given that the ownership of, and overall responsibility for Renard Pier rests with the County Council, it is the Council who will decide if it wishes to carry out any further development, repair or maintenance.
My Department does however provide limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities. Since 2014, my Department has provided funding to the value of €335,235 to Kerry County Council for development and maintenance works at Renard Pier.
I have allocated funding of €3.1m for the Local Authority element of my Department’s 2020 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme with funding of €251,250 allocated for three projects in Kerry under this programme at Ventry, Glen Pier Ballinskelligs and Tarbert.
No application for funding in relation to Renard Pier was received under this year’s programme. Should any application be submitted by Kerry County Council in relation to Renard Pier under any future programme, it will be given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached by the Council and available funds.
892. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will have their appeal heard against the refusal of an afforestation application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6421/20]
View answerThe Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) is operationally independent of my Department.
The FAC schedule their own cases for hearing and will be in touch directly with the person named regarding the scheduling of this hearing.
893. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to extend the GLAS scheme until a new scheme is established under the next CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6430/20]
View answer894. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if participants of the current GLAS scheme will be automatically included in an extension of the GLAS scheme; if they will be allowed to opt out of an extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6431/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 893 and 894 together.
In relation to the continuation of existing schemes under the Rural Development Programmes, as there is no certainty at EU level on the budget or on the timeframe of the transitional measures, it is not therefore possible to make decisions on the continuation of RDP schemes such as GLAS, until clarification is available. Ireland has pressed for the earliest possible adoption of this legislation, so that we can provide certainty to farmers and rural communities and plan for the transitional period with legal and financial certainty as soon as possible
Any extension to these schemes, would be dependent on the appropriate budget being available, as well as sufficient time being available from the adoption of the legal framework to allow administrative provisions to be put in place. The Department is currently considering these matters in the context of giving effect in due course to the transitional arrangements should they be adopted.
I should clarify that as GLAS is a voluntary scheme, farmers in GLAS will not be obliged to participate in any transitional arrangements which are put in place once they have completed their existing five year contract.
895. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the estimated number of cubic metres or hectares in respect of felling licences in the forestry industry are currently under appeal; when normal felling and the auctions for the felling of timber can resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6447/20]
View answerFirstly, I am aware that there are currently delays to issuing forestry licences and I acknowledge that this is causing difficulties for some in the sector. The current licensing difficulties are as a result of the changes made to internal Appropriate Assessment Procedures (AAP). The Habitats Directive (Article 6.3) requires that where a plan or project is likely to have a significant effect on a Natura site, either individually or in-combination with other plans or projects, it must undergo an appropriate assessment of its implications for that Natura site. The changes now introduced were in response to important Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decisions and their subsequent interpretation by the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) and others. These changes are unavoidable and are largely beyond the control of my Department.
Notwithstanding this, the situation with regard to felling licences has significantly improved since the start of 2020. Since January, 685 felling licences were issued up to 15th May. These licences cover over 6,000 ha and a volume in excess of nearly 1.7 million m3 . My Department continues to issue new felling licences on a weekly basis.
I accept the current changes to procedures are very significant and significant resources have been devoted to introducing a robust and workable system, which meets the legislative requirements. My Department is now meeting those needs as follows:
- New forestry inspectors and additional administrative staff have been assigned to licensing. More forestry inspectors will be recruited in 2020.
- Two new ecologists have joined the Department ecology team, with four more to be appointed shortly.
- We have engaged external ecological expertise to help with the backlog of files. Four local ecologists have also been contracted to provide extra support. Further, an ecology contract with 5 new ecologists is due to be signed very soon.
- Additional administrative staff have been assigned to the Agriculture Appeals Office to assist with the increased workload of the Forestry Appeals Committee.
- Three planning officers have been contracted in to work with the Forestry Appeals Committee.
- A specialist mapping expert has been assigned to forestry issues.
My Department is the forestry licence consent authority and, since 2017, all licence applications are subject to a statutory public notification system. All forestry licence decisions are subject to appeal by those dissatisfied with the decision and appeals must be lodged in writing within 28 days to the Forestry Appeals Committee, which is an independent body. Most appeals have been in connection with the Appropriate Assessment (AA) procedures. There are 2,262 hectares of felling licences currently under appeal with the FAC. It is worth noting that licences, once granted, are valid for a period of up to 10 years.
The timing of auctions of felled timber is a matter for the licence holders concerned and my Department has no role in relation to this.
896. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funds will be reallocated from the Irish Greyhound Board to animal welfare charities; if not, if such charities will be supported through other means (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6467/20]
View answerBord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The welfare of greyhounds remains a priority for Bord na gCon and is a key consideration during the suspension of racing activity. From 24th March 2020, Bord na gCon has implemented a Covid-19 greyhound care payments scheme costing approximately €357,000 per month. Since the cessation of racing and the absence of any other income, Bord na gCon is solely reliant on the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund for its operational costs.
Animal welfare charities do invaluable work, which the State could never replicate, by virtue of their voluntary nature. My Department will give careful consideration to how we will support these charities in future, given the challenges they are facing and the loss of voluntary support because of the lockdown. We have provided advice to them regarding the care of animals and livestock, which includes the care of companion animals etc. I appreciate, however, that this is an area that will require ongoing vigilance.
897. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to include aquaculture vessels, for example, mussel dredgers under the terms of the voluntary fleet support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6541/20]
View answerI announced on 8 May a Covid-19 Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme for fishing vessels in the Polyvalent, Beam Trawl and Specific segments of the fleet, to be implemented under Ireland’s European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme 2014-20, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. The purpose of the scheme is to address the supply of fish to market so as to better balance the supply of fish from these vessels to the available market demand for these fish. The Scheme will be operational from 1 June and will allow vessel owners of fishing vessels to voluntarily opt to tie up for a maximum of two months over the period June to August.
The Scheme will support the fixed costs incurred by the vessel owners and is designed to complement the Covid-19 wage supports and loan arrangements already being provided by Government to the fishing sector and indeed other sectors of our economy. The supports to fixed costs available under the Scheme range from €6,000 per month for a maximum of two months for the very largest vessels over 24 metres, to €500 per month for a maximum of two months for the very smallest vessels under 6 metres in length. More details available at the following link
https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/press/pressreleases/2020/may/title,142520,en.html
The Scheme is implemented under article 33 of the EMFF Regulation (508/2014) which allows aid to fishing vessels only for temporary cessation of fishing activities. Vessels in the aquaculture segment of the fleet are not included in the scope of the Regulation and, accordingly, their inclusion in the Tie-up Scheme is precluded.
898. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to avoid future cancellations of live cattle consignments following the recent cancellation of a consignment to Algeria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6552/20]
View answerThe export of live animals is a matter for private operators. In the case of the export in question, as with all other exports, the function of my Department was to ensure that all of the conditions of certification are met prior to export. These conditions relate to the health and welfare of the animals, and are generally set by the country of import.
In this case, my Department has worked closely and constructively with the exporter to ensure that the conditions of certification can be met.
Without the work of my Department, and its strong reputation for enforcement and integrity, there would be no live trade to Algeria or anywhere else. My Department has worked hard to negotiate a certificate for the livestock trade with Algeria, and these efforts included a trade visit to the Country in February 2020. The Department will continue to work constructively with exporters and to ensure that the conditions for export certification are met.
During my tenure as Minister, live exports numbers have doubled.
899. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to Covid-19 support at meat processing plants. [6554/20]
View answerThe information with regard to the numbers of workers tested or positive in meat plants is a matter for the personnel, the Food Businesses and the Health Service Executive.
My Department supplies PPE to its own staff and contractors in Food Businesses. It does not supply PPE to Food Business Personnel. Food business have put in place a range of protective practices and equipment to protect employee safety and these measures may vary slightly from plant to plant, but may include the reduction of throughput rates at the plant, temperature checks on entry into the plant, the extension of operating hours and other safeguards such as “podding”, the provision of additional PPE, the use of perspex screens and the provision of additional facilities to support physical distancing measures.
A national Outbreak Control team has been established by the HSE to deal with all issues relating to Covid 19 in meat plants. My Department is represented on this committee and it is expected that recommendations, including any in relation to testing, will issue from this group in due course. Any clusters of cases in individual meat plants, in common with clusters in other workplaces, are dealt with by local HSE-led outbreak control teams.
900. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown in respect of the figures printed in the Annual Report 2018 of his Department in relation to the item marked other on the chart on page 10 in respect of agri-food sector imports and also in respect of item marked other on page 11 of the report in respect of prepared consumer food imports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6555/20]
View answerData on agri-food sector trade in my Department's Annual Report is broken down into 26 categories identified and agreed by my Department and the Central Statistics Office. Products and Raw Goods are categorised using combined nomenclature (CN) codes, a European harmonised system used to classify goods for customs and trade. These categories include non-edible agri-food items such as Forestry and Animal Hides & Skins along with traditional food and beverage products.
The chart on page 10 of the Annual Report depicts the imports of agri-food products by category for the calendar year 2018. The "Other" category in this chart is comprised of Pigmeat, Forestry products, Fish, Live Animals, Vegetable Oils & Fats, Crude Animal & Vegetable Material, Wood Based Products, Beef, Other Meat & Meat Produce, Oilseeds & Oleaginous Fruit, Sheepmeat, Flax, Wool & Animal Hair, Eggs, Animal Oils & Fats, Animal Skins & Furs and Cotton.
Data on Prepared Consumer Foods (PCF) trade is a subset of agri-food trade and it is divided into 15 categories.
The following table gives a breakdown of agri-food and PCF imports for 2018 and 2019. The figures have been updated in line with the latest available datasets.
Chapter 6 of the Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2019 (https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/agri-foodindustry/agri-foodandtheeconomy/economicpublications/aro2019/) provides more detailed data on Ireland's agri-food and PCF trade.
901. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the requirement that donkeys can only make up a maximum of 50% of the stocking density requirement for payments under areas of natural constraint will be deferred in view of the fact that many farmers are unable to purchase extra stock due to marts remaining closed and or due to restrictions in relation to travel distance from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6625/20]
View answerThe changes to the stocking density rules relating to donkeys under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme were brought in following consultation with the farming bodies and other relevant stakeholders. Applicants can now only use donkeys to fulfil 50% of their stocking requirements under the scheme.
Following the agreement of this change with the farm bodies, the change in the requirements for the 2020 scheme was signalled to all applicants in the 2019 Scheme terms and conditions. This was in order to give applicants a full year to adapt their stocking practices where required.
My Department has been engaging with a number of marts in relation to the facilitation of the sale and purchase of livestock and mechanisms have been put in place by a number of mart owners which fully respect HSE guidelines in relation to physical distancing while also supporting the orderly sale of animals necessary to support the essential business of farming. Direct farm-to-farm sales are also permitted.
It should be noted that while donkeys can now only be used to fulfil 50% of a farmers stocking requirements under the scheme, the remainder of the stocking requirement can be made up using cattle, sheep, goats, horses or deer, providing flexibility for applicants to use animals other than cattle to reflect the nature of their holding requirements.
902. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that will be taken to ensure that the proposed An Bord Bia farm sustainability platform development will not impose further demands on farmers for meeting further quality and environmentally friendly requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6627/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that all issues relating to the Bord Bia Sustainable Quality Assurance Programmes are an operational matter for that organisation.
However, I have been advised by Bord Bia that the primary objective of the proposed platform is to enable the Irish agri-sector to quantify and co-ordinate the totality of sustainability activity on Irish farms, and enable the recognition and quantification of the work that is already being done by farmers through their participation in existing programmes.
I understand that Bord Bia has decided that the tender process for a service provider to the Farm Sustainability Programme will be postponed by a minimum of two months to allow for further consultation.
903. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to deal with the surplus of potatoes here which are only suitable for processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6628/20]
View answerThe majority of the potatoes grown in Ireland are produced for supply to the fresh retail market.
I am fully aware of the challenges posed by the closure of the food services sector, however it is well established that there has been particularly strong demand for potatoes at retail level in recent months. It is hoped that, in line with the Government’s Roadmap for “Reopening Society and Business”, demand will increase for potatoes in the catering and processing sectors also and there is some evidence of this already.
Of course, to address the particular challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government, in conjunction with relevant state agencies, has introduced a range of measures to aid businesses that may be suffering short term financial problems. Bord Bia has also introduced a range of options to aid the horticulture sector. These range from financial support in the form of grants, to training and advice on how best to sustain businesses during this pandemic. There is a particular emphasis in these supports on opportunities to develop different markets, including through online sales.
904. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure the enforcement of horse welfare regulations, in particular for horses in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6634/20]
View answerLegislation relating to the welfare of horses, like that pertaining to the welfare of all species, is grounded in the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The legislation is applied by authorised officers based in my Department’s network of regional veterinary offices, officers of the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as well as an Garda Siochana. On occasions, officers of Customs and Excise may also be called upon. The Chief Executive of a local authority may also appoint persons to act as authorised officers to enforce the provisions of this Act
There is a clear legislative distinction between matters relating to animal welfare and matters relating to control of horses. Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, a local authority may make bye-laws to control activities involving horses in its functional area and may prohibit the keeping of horses in specified areas.
My Department has also taken a proactive approach in tackling challenges that arise in the case of horses by developing facilities for urban and traveller horse populations and in educating young people among these communities in the care and welfare of horses. This work is done in close collaboration with the local authorities involved.
905. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role his Department played in the events that resulted in the postponement and potential cancellation of a shipment of cattle exports to Algeria; if his Department will play a constructive role in facilitating future shipments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6647/20]
View answerThe export of live animals is a matter for private operators. In the case of the export in question, as with all other exports, the function of my Department was to ensure that all of the conditions of certification are met prior to export. These conditions relate to the health and welfare of the animals, and are generally set by the country of import.
In this case, my Department has worked closely and constructively with the exporter to ensure that the conditions of certification can be met.
Without the work of my Department, and its strong reputation for enforcement and integrity, there would be no live trade to Algeria or anywhere else. My Department has worked hard to negotiate a certificate for the livestock trade with Algeria, and these efforts included a trade visit to the Country in February 2020. The Department will continue to work constructively with exporters and to ensure that the conditions for export certification are met.
During my tenure as Minister, live exports numbers have doubled.
