Written Answers Nos. 45-66
45. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce total convergence as part of the new scheme replacing the current basic payment and greening schemes under the new CAP 2021-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33546/20]
View answerConvergence is a mandatory provision in the current CAP programme. Since 2015 those with higher value payment entitlements have seen these values reduce while those with payment entitlements with a value less than 90% of the national average payment entitlement value have seen an increase.
Under the proposals for the 2021-2027 CAP, the Basic Payment Scheme will be replaced with a new Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS). The Council General approach agreed at the October Agri-Fish Council proposes that convergence to at least 75% of the national average payment entitlement value will be mandatory for Member States. Under the proposals, increases in the value of payment entitlements must be financed by reducing the value of payment entitlements in excess of the national average. Separately, the European Parliament has proposed mandatory convergence to 100%. Final agreement on the level will depend on the outcome of the trilogue process.
My Department will continue to examine the options presented during the negotiations in order to achieve the best possible outcome for farmers.
46. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree felling licence applications currently awaiting a natural impact status. [33521/20]
View answerI am acutely aware of the challenges which the forestry sector is experiencing in recent times, not least the ongoing difficulties with issuing licences for felling. I know that this is impacting directly on the sector. This is a something I take very seriously as I am aware of how important this sector is to the rural economy and to the delivery of wood products.
To give some context to the current situation the delays in issuing licences originates from recent case law from the European Court of Justice and the High Court . This has changed how the Department implements environmental law and has resulted in the introduction of a revised Appropriate Assessment Procedure for forestry licensing. This procedure aims to protect the integrity of sensitive European Natura sites, which is guaranteed under the Habitats Directive.
These changes in process are very significant requiring new guidelines, standards and protocols and have taken time to develop, and this has led to delays in the issuing of licences. It was important to put in place a robust system to underpin licensing approval, in order that all environmental requirements are met and that applicants may have confidence in approvals granted. The procedure now in place meets all regulatory requirements.
The backlog which arose due to these changes must be addressed and my Department has taken significant steps to do so. We have invested heavily in extra ecologists and forestry inspectors in order to deal with these licences. A project plan, which takes a systematic approach to clearing files, is in operation. It has defined targets and a Project Management Board which meets weekly to monitor progress. In terms of felling licences we are seeing early progress and we expect to issue licences for over 750,000m3 of timber in October which will be highest amount in 15 months.
In relation to your specific question, there are 1,062 private felling files awaiting completion of the Appropriate Assessment process. If these require a 2nd stage Appropriate Assessment , the applicant may provide a Natura Impact Statement or in the absence of that the Department's ecologist will complete an Appropriate Assessment Report.
If an applicant submits a Natura Impact Statement this will significantly reduce the time taken to issue a licence. In addition to private felling there are 1,132 Coillte files on hand. Coillte generally provide a Natura Impact Statement if required, which the Department then assesses by means of an Appropriate Assessment Determination.
I do not underestimate the challenge we face in accelerating the number of felling licences issued or the task of ensuring that adequate appropriate assessment is carried out. The felling of trees is an important resource for our timber industry, and provides income to, among others, the many farmers who invested their land in forestry. My Department is committed to facilitating this mobilisation of timber, while respecting the environmental requirements of Natura sites.
47. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made to develop a dedicated suckler brand; and the plans in place for the development of a dedicated suckler PGI. [33516/20]
View answerThe Beef TaskForce, at its last meeting on 22 October 2020. supported a proposal from Bord Bia for a programme of Suckler Beef promotion and the development of a brand proposition for Irish Suckler Beef, with a budget of up to €6 million over the next three years, subject to annual review of progress.
This annual review, which will be overseen by a monitoring group with majority farmer representation, will assess progress in relation to the creation of market demand for Suckler Beef and the ability of the brand to deliver improved returns. This work will begin immediately.
I welcome the commitment by stakeholders to work together in the development of a suckler brand that resonates in the marketplace and we can all stand over and support.
In addition, the Beef TaskForce also agreed in principle to support an application by Bord Bia for PGI status for "Irish Grass Fed Beef". The Beef Taskforce also agreed that, if successful, a PGI Monitoring Group, with a majority farmer representation, will be established to report on progress to the Beef TaskForce on a regular basis. The draft application seeks to strike a balance between focusing on the unique characteristics of Irish beef production, while allowing the maximum number of farmers to benefit from PGI status if it is achieved.
48. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the way in which a dangerous hand sanitiser was rolled out across the schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33228/20]
View answer
Biocidal products, including hand sanitisers, may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and are entered on the Biocidal Product Register" in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013.
The hand sanitiser Virapro was approved by our Biocides Unit and registered in April 2020 on the basis of a technical specification that it contained 70% ethanol which is a common standard for hand sanitiser products and fully complies with regulations. This product was correctly registered and its product specification was compliant. Therefore the product included on the Department of Education procurement list was correctly registered.
The issue in this instance was that targetted testing of specific consignments of product imported under that brand name indicated that the content of the consignment was not the approved product.
Following international notification of potential issues in respect of a consignment of sanitiser imported into Ireland, the Department took appropriate steps to investigate, detain and conduct tests on this consignment. Laboratory results received on 16th October showed that the products did not meet the standards for approval, particularly with regard to the presence of methanol.
The company was immediately instructed to retain all product in its possession and recall all remaining product under the Virapro name from the market or in use by the public.
My Department is taking this matter very seriously. The consignment involved remained withheld at all times and we will continue to follow up and investigate as appropriate.
The Department is continuing to increase its testing of product on the market to provide reassurance in relation to compliance with approved product specifications. Test results available so far indicate no safety concerns with other sanitiser products sampled.
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49. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if underpasses will be eligible for inclusion under the next tranche of TAMS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33304/20]
View answerThe suite of seven TAMS II measures launched under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 have been very successful to date in terms of uptake with the number of approvals that have issued reaching over 32,000 to date. All of these approvals represent committed expenditure and until such time as these approvals are acted upon or expire the budget for TAMS must include provision for the potential expenditure involved.
Of the applications approved just over 18,000 payment claims have been received to date. Payment claims submitted continue to be paid on an on-going basis. Until the approvals issued to applicants are acted upon and payment claims are submitted or expire without a payment claim being submitted the budgetary position is that additional investment items cannot be accommodated within the RDP budget of €395m.
There are a huge variety of items available under the suite of seven TAMS measures. Cattle underpasses are expensive, relative to other capital investments under the scheme, and any request for new investments can only be considered in light of the overall scheme budget available. I have no plans to add this investment item.
I would point out that payments under TAMS II have now reached €250m with a further €130m committed in approvals. Payments are currently issuing at an average rate of €1.4m per week and I would encourage all participants who have completed approved works to submit their payment claims as soon as they are in a position to do so.
50. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the most recent discussions at the EU Agriculture Council in relation to the funding of the CAP post-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33526/20]
View answerThe Agri-fish Council of Ministers reached an agreed general approach on the CAP Reform Package on 21 October, after more than two years of negotiations. The Council now has a political mandate to begin trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament and Commission. The final shape of the CAP Reform Package will not be clear until this overall agreement has been achieved.
The Council position includes the proposed introduction of mandatory ECO schemes into the system of direct payments, and an enhanced baseline for environmental conditionality. A ring-fenced budgetary amount for ECO schemes of 20% of the direct payment budget would be implemented, and a two-year so-called 'learning' period would be permitted at the start of the CAP Strategic Plan which would allow Member States avoid any loss of unspent funds due to lower-than-expected take-up of ECO schemes.
I welcome the proposed introduction of new ECO schemes. Farmers will access these funds by undertaking additional actions which go beyond the basic environmental requirements. Member States will design schemes based on their own analysis of needs. My officials will consider options for these schemes, and there will be ongoing consultation with all the stakeholders through the CAP Consultative Committee.
As we move closer to the trilogues I am hopeful that agreement will also shortly be reached on the European budget, which will give us the budgetary certainty to finalise plans and begin to implement the new CAP.
51. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when persons operating in the licensed merchant sector will be formally designated as responsible persons with regard to EU Regulation 2019/6. [33513/20]
View answerEU Regulation 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products comes into effect in January 2022. This Regulation is binding in full and has direct effect on all Member States.
Two issues have now arisen
1. The new requirement under EU Law for a veterinary prescription to be issued before antiparasitic products can be dispensed and
2. The question as to whether Ireland can avail of a derogation in the Regulation which permits professionals other than veterinarians to issue veterinary prescriptions.
In relation to the first issue, since 2004 European legislation established a requirement that all veterinary medicinal products that are intended for use in food-producing animals should be subject to a veterinary prescription. However, a 2006 EU Directive allowed for the maintenance of non-prescription status for certain veterinary medicinal products which did not present a risk to human or animal health or to the environment. Ireland availed of the exemption in Directive 2006/130/EC at the time and antiparasitics were allowed to continue to be available without prescription.
There is a similar exemption available under the new EU Regulation 2019/6. However, since that time, our knowledge regarding the impact of extensive use of antiparasitics has changed. Scientific evidence is now available showing that antiparasitic veterinary medicines that are intended for use in food-producing species do not comply with the criteria for derogation from veterinary prescription specified in EU Regulation 2019/6. Therefore, antiparasitic veterinary medicines must require a veterinary prescription before they can be dispensed from January 2022. Ireland has no national discretion on this issue.
On the second issue, there is a separate derogation in the Regulation, which allows professionals other than veterinarians to issue veterinary prescriptions, in limited circumstances, but only if this was provided for in a Member State's national legislation prior to Regulation 2019/6 coming into force in January 2019.
Ireland's national legislation has never permitted anyone other than a veterinarian to issue a veterinary prescription. Therefore, Ireland has no national discretion to now provide for a regime which would permit Responsible Persons in Licensed Merchants or pharmacists to dispense antiparasitic veterinary medicines without a veterinary prescription issued by a veterinarian.
I recognise these legislative changes will result in challenges for all impacted stakeholders. My Department is fully committed to working with all stakeholders in considering how best to implement the new EU Regulations on veterinary medicinal products.
52. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the other products that may be subject to a recall that may have implications for public health [33525/20]
View answerBiocidal products, including hand sanitisers, may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and are entered on the Biocidal Product Register" in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013.
The hand sanitiser Virapro was approved by our Biocides Unit and registered in April 2020 on the basis of the documentary application, including a technical specification that it contained 70% ethanol which is a common standard for hand sanitiser products and fully complies with regulations.
Testing of some consignments of that particular product however, demonstrated that the composition of the registered product was not consistent with the approved specification, and therefore there were concerns around efficacy and public health. The company was instructed to initiate a full recall of all product from the market.
Separately, in the course of examination of this matter, it emerged that some products on the market had not been properly registered, or that the labels did contain the appropriate registration number.
There is no evidence that products in this category are unsafe, but suppliers have been directed to withdraw such products so that they can be properly registered or re-labelled.
My Department is continuing to increase its testing of product on the market to provide reassurance in relation to compliance with approved product specifications. Test results available so far indicate no safety issues with other sanitiser products sampled.
53. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he plans to include farm safety in the CAP negotiation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33554/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the October Agri-fish Council reached an agreed general approach after two days of negotiations on the CAP Reform Package. The Council now has a political mandate to begin trilogue negotiations. These trilogue negotiations, which are the final stage in the process, are expected to start shortly, and I look forward to working closely with my EU counterparts, the Commission and the European Parliament with a view to achieving an overall agreement.
I am also hopeful that final agreement will shortly be reached on the European Multiannual Financial Framework in order to give farmers and Member States alike the budgetary certainty we need to finalise our plans and begin to implement the new CAP.
The legislative proposals for the new CAP provide greater subsidiarity for Member States to design interventions to meet their own particular needs. I wish to advise the House that the specific issue of farm safety is not an issue for the CAP negotiation process but rather an issue for consideration in preparing Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan, which will have to include all interventions proposed as part of the next CAP programme.
Agriculture accounts for 6% of the workforce but accounts for almost 50% of workplace related fatalities so there is a clear need to address the issue of farm safety.
The Programme for Government identified the need to “Invest in enhanced farm safety and wellbeing measures under the next CAP.” This issue is being actively considered in the context of preparation of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan.
54. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to misleading claims being made regarding the environmental effects of methane from livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33419/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government clearly states that we are committed to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This 2050 target being set in law by the Climate Action Bill is to achieve a ‘climate neutral economy,’ that balances emissions and removals within the State, by the end of 2050.
This is a very ambitious target, and every sector, including Agriculture will contribute to meeting this target by implementing policy changes.
The Programme for Government recognises the ‘special economic and social role of agriculture and the distinct characteristics of biogenic methane, as described by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’. This does not let agriculture off the hook. Emissions from agriculture cannot get to zero. But we will have to work with farmers to reduce emissions and maximise sequestration, and we will have to configure future supports to deliver on those objectives.
The target of a “climate neutral economy” by 2050 is a long-term ambition but will require us to start working now to meet it. The Bill sets out several tools to ensure we are on the correct trajectory including a series of Carbon Budgets, Annual revisions to the Climate Action Plan and a series of National Long-Term Climate Action Strategies.
At Farm level, Teagasc has developed the Green House Gas Marginal Abatement Cost Curve which sets out 14 individual mitigation measures for Irish agriculture.
Responsibility for maintaining the national inventory for Greenhouse Gas emissions in Ireland rests with the Environmental Protection Agency operating under the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The Environmental Protection Agency reports on emissions from all sectors of our economy on an annual basis and the metrics used in calculating Greenhouse Gas emissions across all sectors are based in EU legislation.
My Department’s work on climate change and greenhouse gasses that are a product of agriculture in Ireland is based on the best available science and in particular focuses on the work produced by the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the output from validated research in this area.
55. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the beef task force; and his views on criticisms from farming organisations on its slow pace and lack of engagement with farmers. [33600/20]
View answerThe Beef Taskforce established as part of the Beef Sector Agreement of September 2019 provides a forum for detailed engagement on key issues facing the beef sector.
It is particularly important in progressing the commitments made by all stakeholders in the Beef Sector Agreement. It is independently chaired, and includes representatives from a range of stakeholders, including farm organisations, the meat industry, and my Department and its agencies.
The Beef Taskforce offers a suitable platform for strategic engagement by stakeholders on the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. There have been four meetings of the Taskforce this year to date; given the current challenges of Covid-19, three of these have been by necessity virtual meetings.
While there have necessarily been some delays to the work of the TaskForce arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, work has progressed on all relevant actions. For instance, I am pleased that the TaskForce recently reached agreement in principle to support the PGI application for 'Irish Grass Fed Beef', and to support a Bord Bia proposal for a programme of Suckler Beef promotion and the development of a brand proposition for Irish Suckler Beef.
With regard to engagement with farmers, membership of the Taskforce includes 6 farming organisations with 2 representatives each; this comprises the majority of the Taskforce membership. It is the role of these organisations to represent their membership.
In addition, information relating to the work of the Beef Taskforce, including the full text of the agreement of 15 September 2019, the Terms of Reference for the Taskforce and updates on actions arising out of the agreement to date are publicly available on my Department’s website: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmingsectors/beef/beeftaskforce/.
56. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the measures in place to monitor the health and working conditions in meat plants to prevent further clusters of Covid-19. [33599/20]
View answerIn the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, primary responsibility for public health policy and implementation rests with the Department of Health and the HSE. Statutory responsibility for health and safety in the workplace rests with the Health and Safety Authority (under the auspices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment). Responsibility for the Health and Safety of employees lies with the management of each establishment. My Department’s statutory responsibility is to ensure that Food Business Operators (FBOs) within these premises operate in compliance with the EU’s food hygiene legislation, animal and plant health and animal welfare standards.
A national Outbreak Control team has been established by the HSE to deal with all issues relating to Covid 19 in meat plants and my Department is represented on this committee. 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.
My Department continues to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to its own staff and contractors in Food Business premises. PPE for Food Business personnel are supplied by the business itself. Food Business Operators 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.
My Department contributes to the HSE-chaired National Outbreak Control Team as part of the whole of Government response to the pandemic, and is supporting the HSE in the context of local outbreak teams, overseeing a programme of serial testing of workers at larger food plants and other businesses. 42,190 samples have been tested under this programme to date with 219 positives detected – an overall positivity rate of 0.52%. In the week ending 23 October, 8,440 swabs taken with 72 detected cases resulting a positivity rate of 0.85%. As at 23 October, officials from my Department had completed 448 inspections on behalf of the HSA, including unannounced inspections, in DAFM-approved food premises, and these inspections are ongoing. The Department continues to provide any assistance requested by the HSE to facilitate this testing programme.
Additional support is provided by my Department to the HSE and the Health and Safety Authority in monitoring the effective implementation of all relevant guidance in DAFM-approved food plants. In ongoing engagement with the meat industry since the start of the pandemic, my officials have emphasised that the health and safety of workers must be the absolute priority. On 18 September, Meat Industry Ireland and SIPTU agreed a Code of Practice for the safe management of staff in the primary meat processing sector during the pandemic.
57. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to allowing socially distant in-person sales at livestock marts with viewing times for buyers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33556/20]
View answerSince the beginning of the Covid19 crisis, my Department has worked intensively, in cooperation with marts representative organisations, to ensure that marts may remain in operation. My Department has adapted the conditions under which marts must operate since April, to reflect the various measures introduced by the Government to stop the spread of this disease.
I would like to commend the representative organisations for this good and necessary cooperation. I would like to commend also the marts themselves, and farmers around the country, for the resilience they have shown in the face of Covid19, and the speed with which they have adapted to the new circumstances.
On 19th October, the Taoiseach announced that the whole country would move to Level 5 of the Framework for Living with Covid19 for a period of 6 weeks, starting midnight on Wednesday, the 21st. This decision was made on foot of strong evidence presented to the Government of a potentially grave situation arising in the weeks ahead.
The Taoiseach has called on us all to work together to suppress the virus, and to reopen as much of our society and economy as possible when it is safe to do so. The core responsibility of this Government is to protect lives and to protect public health, while also protecting livelihoods and supporting the wider economy and society.
Protecting the agri-food sector and people in rural communities is at the centre of my Department’s direction, on 20th October, that all marts may conduct sales using online platforms only. My Department will continue to monitor the situation, and to adapt measures applied to marts in line with public health guidelines. Buyers are aready permitted to view animals in marts prior to sale, socally distanced and by appointment. There is no consideration being given at present to allowing buyers to congregate and attend in the sales ring while the country remains at Level 5.
Although marts are operating sales online, buyers may view livestock for sale at the mart premises - individual appointment times are allocated to individual buyers to view or collect livestock.
Marts have been using online mart sales systems since April. From a position where few marts had online systems in place in April, there has been a rapid take up of the new systems by marts over recent months. Currently the vast majority of marts have online systems in place and are operating through online platforms. Some remaining marts are in the process of installing online systems. Thousands of cattle and sheep have been bought and sold successfully using the various online platforms. As with any new technology, there have been some glitches and these have been dealt with as they arise.
This is undoubtedly a challenging time. My Department is closely monitoring the situation, and there are seeing some positive aspects of online sales at marts.
Online sales are reaching a much higher number of farmers, dealers, and agents than sales on marts premises did, even prior to the start of Covid restrictions. The number of people loggin in to online mart sales on a dialy basis are many multiples of those that typically attend a mart sale in person. The majority of marts are reporting good clearance rates and robust prices.
58. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to increase the upper limit ceiling in the pig and poultry investment scheme under TAMS II; if so, the new upper limit ceiling being considered; when such changes will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33512/20]
View answerThe Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS) is one of the suite of seven measures available under TAMS II. The full indicative allocation for all TAMS II measures over the course of the Rural Development Programme is €395 million. To date, €250 million has been paid across all the available schemes. A further €130m has been committed to scheme participants which they have yet to draw down. Payments under the PPIS now exceed €1.4m.
The TAMS II budget is part of the overall €4 billion Rural Development Programme. This Programme is fully subscribed and Ireland is second amongst all EU member states in our drawdown of EU funding.
A decision was made to request formal European Commission approval to an amendment to the Rural Development Programme to increase the the investment ceiling for the PPIS (pigs and poultry) from the current investment ceiling of €80k to €200k. The estimated cost of this increase is €12m.
A final decision on if and when to proceed with the implementation of this amendment has not yet been made. Obviously budget considerations are a major factor here. The issue will need to be further considered in light of the available budget when the CAP transitional regulations that will provide the legal basis for the transitional period post-2020 are finalised. As CAP negotiations are ongoing, my Department is pressing for the earliest adoption of EU regulations to facilitate the operation of schemes in the period between the current CAP and the CAP Strategic Plan post-2020.
My Department is currently reviewing the TAMs scheme to see that the comprehensive list of investments continues to align with Government policy goals for agriculture and the environment. This review will serve to inform the TAMs scheme for the transitional phase and beyond. I expect to be announcing more details in due course on the opening of TAMs tranches for 2021.
59. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the investment in research that his Department is making through Johnstown Castle, County Wexford; the way in which this work benefits farmers and agri-food business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33517/20]
View answerJohnstown castle is the centre of environmental research for Teagasc which is supported by my Department through the provision of Grant-In-Aid for Teagasc. In addition to the research investment by way of grant in Aid , my Department has invested over 4.5 million Euros in 15 agricultural research projects which are currently ongoing in Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford. These projects, which are at various stages of completion, are funded through DAFM’s Competitive Research Funding Programmes and are being conducted in collaboration with other eligible research performing organisations such as the Universities and Institutes of Technology.
These projects which Johnstown Castle are directly involved in are very much aimed at benefitting farmers and the agri-food industry through generating knowledge and technologies that facilitate improvements in sustainable agricultural production with a particular focus on greenhouse gas mitigation, farmland biodiversity and agricultural ecology, water quality and soils.
DAFM funded research at Johnstown Castle has been instrumental in supporting advancements in these key areas, leading to the development of policies and strategies to reduce GHG emissions from agricultural sources; the protection and enhancement of farmland biodiversity and ecology; the maximizing of soil management functions (e.g. food & fibre production, C-sequestration, water purification); and averting threats to soil quality; as well as furthering the scientific understanding of the hydrological and biogeochemical processes that govern the transport of pollutants to water, particularly in an Irish context.
Ultimately, scientific research at Johnstown Castle will deliver environmentally sustainable production practices which will help to maintain competitiveness while complying with environmental policy and legislation.
Building and maintaining research capacity and capability through competitive research calls, enables Research Performing Organisations to assemble the multi-disciplinary expertise needed to generate technology and appropriate solutions to tackle the climate, biodiversity and other challenges facing the agri-food and fisheries sector at this time.
As well as building up scientific and technical knowledge of relevance to the agri-food sector, projects also provide a pool of highly trained scientists to fill key positions in public and industry organisations and allow the Research Performing Organisations to build and maintain the critical mass needed to pursue non-Exchequer funding opportunities under the EU Horizon programme.
Against this background, DAFM plans to announce its revised competitive research funding programme taking account of the recommendations in the recently published Spending Review and launch a new competitive Call for Research Proposals before the end of the year. This Call will contain a theme devoted to the Environment including Water, Climate, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services and so will, once again, provide Johnstown and other eligible research performing organisations engaged in similar ‘public good’ research activities with an opportunity to compete for further investment.
60. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is working to develop opportunities for Irish agri-food business and primary producers through the bioeconomy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33549/20]
View answerThe critical role of the Bioeconomy in a sustainable global transition has been widely recognised albeit at an early stage of development. The bioeconomy refers to the development of value from biological resources with a particular focus on waste streams.
The Government has invested significantly in this early development. This follows the development of a national policy statement and the establishment of a cross departmental group, co-chaired by my Department. Financial support for this developments includes through my Department's competitive research and Rural Development Programme funding, through the BiOrbic Bioeconomy Research Centre (through Science Foundation Ireland) and the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation (through Enterprise Ireland) building coalitions and public-private partnerships for co-investment with leading innovative companies, co-operatives and farmers.
There are a number of excellent examples of farmer and agri-business engagement with the Bioeconomy. These include: the development, through EU funding, of a biorefinery for dairy waste in Lisheen, Co. Tipperary; the development of a marine biorefinery in Co. Monaghan; and the development of Carbon-Neutral demonstration farm in Shinagh Farm, Co. Cork . My Department also supports a grass small-scale biorefinery demonstration project in Co. Cork under out EIP initiative, as part of our Rural Development Programme.
My Department has recently announced the following further actions to further bioeconomy development:
The allocation of 8 million euro reseach funding recently committed to support the generation of knowledge in the areas of agriculture, forestry and food and the bioeconomy.
The imminent establishment of a bioeconomy forum to provide a voice for a broad range of stakeholders in the bioeconomy including the agri-food industry, primary producers, relevant state bodies and community groups and which will be set up shortly.
The recent running of Bioeconomy Ireland Week 2020 to raise awareness of the bioeconomy and its products and to work with both public and private stakeholder to present ongoing research, innovation, demonstration, primary production, industrial, product and market activities that highlight how the bioeconomy is developing and being structured and mobilised in Ireland.
In conclusion, my Department and our partners across government are playing a leading role in the development of the bioeconomy and for the benefit of farmers, fishermen and agri-business.
61. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to establish an EIP for farm safety initiatives; the opportunities it will create; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33601/20]
View answerAs part of the package of new farm safety measures in Budget 2021, €1m in funding has been provided to support ‘locally-led’ farm safety initiatives. It is intended that a call under the locally led Innovation Partnership model (EIP’s) specifically related to farm safety will be issued by early 2021.
Before the call is issued, my Department will consult with the stakeholders regarding the potential focus of the call.
Given that fatal incidents on farms account for almost 50% of all workplace fatal incidents every year but agriculture accounts for only 6% of the overall workforce, it is simply not good enough to carry on as we have done to now. I see this initiative as a potential significant step to driving a cultural change amongst farmers and I look forward to seeing positive proposals to drive this change.
62. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if further action will be taken against the producers of a product (details supplied) which his Department removed from the biocidal product register due to possible public health concerns. [33420/20]
View answerBiocidal products, including hand sanitisers, may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and are entered on the "Biocidal Product Register" in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013.
The hand sanitiser Virapro was approved by our Biocides Unit and registered on the 21st April 2020 on the basis of the documentary application, including a technical specification that it contained 70% ethanol which is a common standard for hand sanitiser products and fully complies with regulations.
OLAF the European Anti-Fraud Office notified the Revenue Commissioners regarding the import of a hand sanitiser product from Turkey to Ireland from the same supplier of a product that had been tested in Denmark and found to contain excessive levels of methanol. The Revenue Commissioners notified the Department of this information on 25th September 2020 and arrangements were made to test the consignment and a number of other consignments that had already been imported into Ireland from the same supplier. All consignments that were tested were quarantined pending the results of laboratory analysis.
Validated laboratory analysis results were available on 16th October 2020.
These results showed that the products did not meet the standards for approval, particularly with regard to the presence of methanol.
The company was immediately instructed to retain all product in its possession and recall all remaining product under the Virapro name from the market or in use by the public.
On the 20th October Virapro hand sanitiser was removed from the Department's Biocides Register.
My Department is liaising with OLAF and the Revenue Commissioners in relation to the origin of this product. Investigations are therefore ongoing in this matter.
Meanwhile the Department is continuing to increase its testing of other sanitiser product on the market to provide reassurance in relation to compliance with approved product specifications.
Test results available so far indicate no issues with other sanitiser products sampled.
63. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine The investment his Department is making in research through Moorepark, County Cork; the benefits this will have for farmers and agri-food businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33535/20]
View answerMoorepark Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre has played a pivotal role in the development of the Irish dairy industry since its establishment by Government in 1959. Under the expert tutelage of Teagasc, it has evolved to become the focal point of research on milk production in Ireland contributing to increased profitability on dairy farms, creating new jobs within the dairy industry and contributing to increased agri-food exports. Moorepark is globally renowned for its research and development of sustainable grassbased systems of milk production, and associated dairy processing research. As well as research, Moorepark also plays a very important role in education and extension. In education, it has developed 2 very innovative courses with UCD comprising a Dairy Business degree and a Diploma in Dairy Farm Management, where students spend a significant amount of time in Moorepark.
On site Moorepark employs some 400 people including graduate students. On average Teagasc spend over €20m annually on research at the Moorepark Campus. My Department is a significant funder contributing funding through yearly Grant in Aid allocations to Teagasc and through the Research Stimulus and FIRM funding programmes, which are both very important to Teagasc, Moorepark. There are currently 52 Active projects across all the programmes that involve Moorepark and a total award amount exceeds €15m.
In terms of Grant in Aid, my Department has provided Teagasc with an increased allocation next year of some €7m bringing the overall allocation for the year to almost €147m. It includes a €42m allocation to support current expenditure across the education, advisory and research directorates. Prioritisation of funding for particular services/programmes is an operational matter for Teagasc to determine.
Turning to Moorepark, Food Wise 2025 called for increased investment in Research, Development and Innovation, noting that low levels by the agri-food sector were inhibiting the transition towards higher value production and exports. Part of the response included a recommendation that Teagasc develop a “Food Innovation Hub” at its Moorepark campus to promote greater collaboration between industry and public research and deliver a step change in innovation activity in the food industry. My Department agreed to provide almost €9m for the project from its capital allocation on a phased basis. Just over €5m has been paid to date to meet the costs of the project with an additional €2.5m allocated for the remainder of this year. On completion in early 2021, the 'Hub' will consist of 12 custom designed Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) units, equipped with dedicated offices, laboratories and temperature controlled storage space.
It will create an environment where new concepts can be generated, new products manufactured, and test marketed for commercial potential. Greater industry investment in Research, Development and Innovation will be encouraged to develop new products and exploit growing market segments internationally particularly in the dairy sector. It will support innovation in the food industry thus enabling companies to become more competitive while also generating market focused research initiatives. SMEs will be provided with opportunities to engage in research activities in an affordable way, allowing smaller companies to scale up and engage in an expanded range of Research, Development and Innovation with renowned Teagasc food researchers.
In addition to the Food Hub, Teagasc has also carried out a €10m upgrade of the Moorepark Technology Ltd pilot plant facility at the Moorepark campus. This meant refurbishment of existing infrastructure and building new processing capability. The newly upgraded facility offers a variety of services ranging from pilot plant rental and technical assistance through contract R&D and pre-commercial manufacture. It allows dairy companies to fine tune new processes and products at a pilot scale before embarking on full-scale industrial production. This capacity to “pilot” scientific advances at pre-production scale is essential if investment in research is to result in commercial return.
64. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which standards of husbandry, processing and traceability in the food sector here continues with particular reference to the need to ensure the highest possible standards for beef, lamb, pig meat, poultry or fish leaving for international markets given the intense competition worldwide and the importance of being able to compete therein adequately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33503/20]
View answerAll Irish meats and seafood exported to international markets are produced, packaged and certified in strict compliance with the rigorous EU harmonised rules and, where necessary, any additional import conditions required in bilateral or EU agreements with importing countries.
Ireland's strong reputation for food safety and our excellent animal health status have certainly contributed to my Department's success in gaining and retaining market access for Irish food exports.
Food products placed on the market are covered by a range of legislation designed to ensure that products supplied to consumers comply with the highest safety standards. My Department has a role in the enforcement of this legislation along with other Government departments and state agencies such as the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Health Service Executive. The FSAI is the body responsible for enforcement of regulations governing traceability, labelling and provision of food information to customers.
Primary responsibility under EU law for the safety and traceability of food placed on the market lies with food business operators. The role of competent authorities at national level is to verify compliance with this requirement. This is achieved through a combination of establishment inspections and auditing the food safety management systems which operators are obliged to have in place.
65. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to improve tractor safety on farms in view of machinery being the biggest cause of farm fatalities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33553/20]
View answerWith almost 50 % of all fatal incidents ##on farms involving either farm vehicles or machinery, my Department has undertaken initiatives with the Health and Safety Authority aimed particularly at this area. Most recently, my Department, in conjunction with the Health and Safety Authority and the Irish Farmers Journal, have jointly developed an on-line Tractor Safety Awareness Training course. The course is aimed primarily at young people who are starting to drive tractors on farms and highlights the daily safety elements that need to be considered. It can also provide a reminder for experienced operators of the practical application of farm safety in the operation of tractors. This course was launched in September of this year.
Additionally, my Department, in conjunction with the HSA, jointly funded the running of a media campaign on farm safety in September of this year.
66. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to examine the impact of recent problems with the operation of marts; his plans to operate mart services effectively while living with Covid-19; his views on claims that the current situation is distorting the market; his further views on the impact that these problems are having on farmers; his plans to assist them in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33519/20]
View answerSince the beginning of the Covid crisis, my Department has worked intensively, in cooperation with marts representative organisations, to ensure that marts may remain in operation. My Department has adapted the conditions under which marts must operate since April, to reflect the various measures introduced by the Government to stop the spread of Covid, and to allow marts to continue to operate.
I would like to commend the representative organisations for this good and necessary cooperation. I would like to commend also the marts themselves, and farmers around the country, for the resilience they have shown in the face of Covid, and the speed with which they have adapted to the new circumstances.
On 19th October, the Taoiseach announced that the whole country would move to Level 5 of the Framework for Living with COVID-19 for a period of 6 weeks, starting midnight on Wednesday, the 21st.
The Taoiseach has called on us all to work together to suppress the virus, and to reopen as much of our society and economy as possible when it is safe to do so. The core responsibility of this Government is to protect lives and to protect public health, while also protecting livelihoods and supporting the wider economy and society.
Protecting the agri-food sector and people in rural communities is at the centre of my Department’s direction, on 20th October, that all marts may conduct sales using online platforms only.
The Government has responded to COVID-19 pandemic with a range of supports designed to mitigate the impact on the market. Agri-food businesses, including marts, are eligible for the wide range of supports put in place for businesses generally. A comprehensive list of these supports is available on the Gov.ie website.
Marts have been using online mart sales systems since April. From a position where few marts had online systems in place, there has been a rapid take up of the new systems by marts over recent months. Currently, the vast majority of marts have online systems in place and are operating through these platforms. Some remaining marts are in the process of installing online systems. Thousands of cattle and sheep have been bought and sold successfully using the various online platforms. As with any new technology, there have been some glitches and these have been dealt with as they arise.
This is undoubtedly a challenging time. My Department is closely monitoring the situation, and we are seeing some positive aspects of online sales at marts.
Online sales are reaching a much higher number of farmers, dealers, and agents than sales on marts premises did, even prior to the start of Covid restrictions. The number of people logging in to online sales on a daily basis are many multiples of the numbers of people that typically physically attend mart sales. The majority of marts are reporting good clearance rates and robust prices.
Since the introduction of Level 5, during the first five days on which marts were in operation using online sales, the cattle throughput in marts came to 36,034 head – this compares to 42,918 head in the corresponding five day same period in 2019. This means that, despite the undoubted disruption caused by moving to Level 5, mart throughput of cattle was 84% of the figures for that period in 2019. This demonstrates that marts have been able to continue to operate and farmers have been able to continue to buy and sell, thanks to the commitment and resourcefulness of the marts and service providers involved.
These figures are testament to the hard work and commitment of marts to keep operating in this difficult period. My Department will continue to monitor the situation, and to adapt measures applied to marts in line with public health guidelines.
