Written Answers Nos. 1136-1157
1136. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree felling licences awaiting assessment; the number of staff working on these applications; and the number of NIS requested. [1147/21]
View answerFirstly, I fully recognise the impact the current forestry licensing delays are having on the sector at the moment. It is my immediate priority to resolve the issues which have led to this backlog and to issue licences in the volume needed for this important sector to continue to contribute to our rural economy.
My Department receives applications and issues new licences every week and currently there are 3,000 felling licences with the Department for processing. Of this total, approximately 1,000 are Coillte felling licences. Some 1,000 are private licence which require ecology input on which a backlog has developed. The remaining private licences are at various stages of processing and do not generally experience the same delays as those that require ecology input.
Our overall approach to tackling this is subject to continuous improvement and review with the aim of increasing the output of these licences on a weekly basis and there are 38 forestry inspectors, 16 ecologists and 11 administrative staff involved.
By way of context, in terms of output, the total volume of felling licences issued for 2020 was just over 5 million cubic metres, of which just under 2m cubic metres issued since the introduction of the new forestry legislation in mid-October. I am confident this positive trend will continue into 2021.
In terms of Natura Impact Statements (NIS), my Department has advised that in cases where a file requires Appropriate Assessment, if an applicant supplies an NIS, this will reduce the waiting time for a licence decision.
1137. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for aquaculture licences on hand at present; the number of these applied for in each of the past ten years; the average time for processing licence applications at present; the steps he will take to ensure all applications are dealt with expeditiously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1180/21]
View answerThe detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in full.
Provision of the information sought will require a comprehensive examination of my Department’s records. The information will however be forwarded to the Deputy within 14 days.
1138. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated full-year cost of purchasing four food detector dogs. [1208/21]
View answerMy Department continuously reviews its various arrangements with regards to import control checks, of which the use of food detector dogs is one part. If any trained food detection dogs were to be purchased, the process would be subject to normal procurement rules.
Thus, while it is not possible to give a definitive answer on cost, typically the initial costs of a detection dog would be of the order of €100,000 per dog - this would include the cost of the dog, training costs, salary costs for the handler and other ancillary costs.
1139. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will progress a positive response to an appeal of a decision taken by his Department in relation to persons (details supplied); and if a reply will be expedited. [1228/21]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.
I have been advised, however, that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate that an appeal was received from the person named on 30th September 2020.
The Appeals Office requested the file and a statement on the grounds of appeal from my Department and all relevant documentation have been forwarded to the Appeals Office.
I am advised that the appeal will shortly be assigned to an Appeals Officer for examination and I have been assured that the appeal will be dealt with in due course.
1140. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 260 of 7 October 2020, the status of the application by the person (details supplied). [1230/21]
View answerMy Department issued a tree felling licence to the person named on 6th January, 2021.
Felling operations may not commence for 28 days from the date the licence was issued to allow for any appeals to the independent Forestry Appeals Committee.
1141. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to combat animal abuse (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1235/21]
View answerI would like to assure the Deputy that my policy and the policy of Government is clear and consistent - animal cruelty is totally unacceptable. Animal welfare is high on the agenda of my Department and considerable resources and funding are provided to address the issue. In December 2020, I announced the provision of record funding of €3.2 million to 101 animal welfare organisations throughout the country, many of which work with equines. The Programme for Government contains an undertaking to make additional funding available to animal welfare charities and urban horse welfare programmes over the coming years, to which I am fully committed.
With respect to enforcement, since the enactment of the Animal Health and Welfare Act, over 100 cases have been prosecuted with a further number before the Courts. In addition, a number of files are currently with the Chief State Solicitor with a view to instituting proceedings.
Regarding the urban horse issue, my Department continues to take a proactive approach in collaboration with Local Authorities, tackling challenges by developing facilities for urban horse populations and in educating young people in the care and welfare of horses.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect. If any member of the public wishes to pass on details of any case of alleged neglect or cruelty that they are aware of, they will be fully investigated and appropriate actions, up to and including prosecution, may be taken.
The dedicated e-mail address and Helpline for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare are:
Helpline Phone No: Call Save - 0761 064408, phone - 01 607 2379.
Email address: animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie
1142. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds that were injured and died or were killed at tracks from 1 January 2020 to date; and the names of the greyhounds and the cause of each injury and death by greyhound track in tabular form. [1246/21]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCE) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCE and therefore the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1143. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an appeal by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1247/21]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) on 11 April 2020. During the processing of the application, a commonage parcel was deemed to be over claimed and the relevant over claim deduction was applied to the BPS advance payment of the person named.
Following a review of the case, the overclaim has been removed and full payment was processed in the BPS balancing payment which issued to the person named in December 2020.
1144. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on a basic payment parcel appeal in respect of a farmer (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1257/21]
View answerThe person named has submitted applications under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in which he declared a specific parcel as Wild Bird Cover. However, when making his applications for scheme years 2016 to 2019 he did not submit a claimed area in respect of this parcel.
The inclusion of a claimed area for such parcels is required as the applicant's claim for payment on a parcel. This case is currently being reviewed by my Department and a decision will issue to the person named shortly.
1145. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a full report on exports to Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1299/21]
View answerAccording to the latest full-year data from the Central Statistics Office, Irish agri-food exports to Canada amounted to €118m in 2019. This was an increase on the figure of €108m recorded in respect of 2018, and makes Canada our seventh most important non-EU destination, and seventeenth overall. The key commodities exported were beverages (€77 million), dairy produce (€14.7 million), pigmeat (€2.3 million) and sheepmeat (€6.7 million).
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada, which has provisionally been in force since 21 September 2017, is providing further opportunities for growth in Irish agri-food exports to Canada. CETA gives the EU improved access to the Canadian market for important European export products, including cheese, wine and spirits, fruit and vegetables, and processed products.
The beverages sector is the major driver of Irish exports. Canada is now our third most important destination outside Europe, and fifth overall. In 2019, Canada imported €21 million of Irish Whiskey and €44m of Irish Cream exports, making it the second largest export market for Irish Cream. In addition, the fact that Canada is one of the countries where we have market access for beef, sheepmeat and pigmeat provides potential for further growth into the future.
1146. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the new requirements for pet passports for animals travelling between Ireland and Great Britain and vice versa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1301/21]
View answerPrior to 1st January, pet dogs, cats and ferrets moving between Ireland and Great Britain required a pet passport issued by an EU Member State or EEA country. The pet also required to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. Pet movement into an EU Member State is governed by the EU Pet Travel Regulation (EU Regulation 576/2013).
In December 2020, the EU listed the UK, as non-EU Member State, among Part 2 countries for the purpose of the Pet Travel Regulation. This does not apply to Northern Ireland, as the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol provides that NI is treated as an EU MS for the purpose of pet travel.
Part 2 listing brings extra requirements: an EU pet passport issued in Great Britain is no longer valid for travel into the EU. Instead, a pet entering Ireland from Great Britain must be accompanied by a pet passport issued in an EU Member State, or Northern Ireland, or an EEA country. If the pet does not have a passport issued by those authorities, it must be accompanied by a health certificate, issued by an Official Veterinarian in GB.
Pet owners are advised to retain any Great Britain-issued EU pet passport, as it may contain important information about vaccinations, treatments, etc. This passport and animal health certificate should accompany the pet during travel from Great Britain to Ireland.
Pet dogs, cats and ferrets coming from Great Britain may only enter Ireland through certain Travellers’ Points of Entry: Dublin Port, Dublin Airport, Rosslare Port, Port of Cork at Ringaskiddy, Shannon Airport and Cork Airport. Dogs travelling from, or returning from, GB to Ireland will require treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis (tapeworm) by a veterinarian 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in Ireland. This treatment may be entered into a pet passport issued by an EU MS, NI or the EEA by a UK vet.
The rules for entry into GB with a pet dog, cat or ferret have not changed. EU pet passports remain valid for entry into GB. The pet must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. My Department recommends checking the UK’s official advice on the entry of pets from the EU before travelling to Great Britain.
My Department has issued for the past few years guidance notices directed at both the general public and Private Veterinary Practitioners on the changes Brexit would bring to pet travel between Ireland and the UK.
1147. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cases that have been pursued by his Department under SI 681/2019 Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019 since its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1340/21]
View answerThe safety and welfare of pet animals was one of the concerns behind the introduction by my Department of regulations on the sale and supply of pet animals. These Regulations were welcomed by welfare organisations and put into law certain requirements for sellers and suppliers of pet animals, including minimum ages for sale of certain mammals; record-keeping; registration with the Department; and provision of certain information about the pet in advertisements.
The requirement to include certain information about a pet animal in an advertisement will assist potential pet owners in deciding the appropriate seller with whom to engage. My Department's website has further guidance for potential pet owners thinking of acquiring a pet. The Department continues to develop its controls in respect of this legislation and is advancing its plans and approach to effective enforcement - no cases have been taken before the courts to date.
My Department participates in the Irish Pet Advertising Advisory Group (IPAAG), a group formed in 2015 by a number of animal welfare organisations, veterinary professionals and classified advertising websites to address irresponsible advertising of pets online. Officials of my Department have engaged and will continue to engage constructively with members of IPAAG, on the issue of online advertising and enforcement of the new Regulations. IPAAG has published practical, comprehensive advice on their website for anyone thinking of acquiring a pet, including what to check for in advertisements for pet animals.
Any evidence of animal cruelty or neglect of an animal’s welfare should be brought to the attention of my Department by calling the animal welfare helpline on 0761064408 (Call Save) or 01 6072379 or by emailing animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie. All such reports are followed up on.
1148. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to prevent the trafficking of animals and pets in and out of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1341/21]
View answerThe role of my Department is to ensure animal health and welfare. The movement of animals, including pets, among EU Member States and between the EU and third countries is governed by EU legislation, which imposes requirements in relation to movement that vary according to species, type of movement and country of origin.
In relation to the movement of dogs, requirements include vaccination against rabies, microchipping, an EU pet passport or and EU animal health certificate, treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis. Compliance checks are carried out on departure from the country of origin in the case of a commercial movement of dogs, and on entry into Ireland in the case of pet travel. Anyone moving a dog to another EU Member State must also be registered with my Department.
1149. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara céard iad na céimeanna atá i gceist aige a thógáil chun an stoc portán agus gliomach a chaomhnú timpeall an chósta de bharr an mhéid iascach atá a dhéanamh orthu; an bhfuil sé i gceist aige srian a chur ar iascach gliomach an t-am seo den bhliain amach ó na hoileáin chun an stoc a chaomhnú do na báid bheaga nach bhfuil in ann cur chun farraige go sabháilte an t-am seo den bhliain; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [1369/21]
View answerTá roinnt bearta caomhnaithe i bhfeidhm cheana féin chun stoic portáin agus gliomaigh a chosaint. Tá siad leagtha amach sa reachtaíocht seo a leanas:
- (Rialachán (CE) Uimh. 1415/2004 ón gComhairle): Cuireann teorainn ar an méid portán dearg, portán faoilinne agus stoic eile is féidir a thabhairt i dtír in Éirinn ó uiscí amach ó chósta na hÉireann.
- Rialachán (AE) 2019/1241: Cuirtear bearta caomhnaithe i bhfeidhm leis, lena n-áirítear íosmhéideanna tagartha caomhnaithe do ghliomaigh agus do phortáin faoilinne. Cuireann teorainn chomh maith ar líon na gcrúb portáin dheirg is féidir a thabhairt i dtír.
- I.R. Uimh. 236 de 2006 - Rialacháin um Portán Faoilinne (Stoic a Chaomhnú), 2006: Leagtar amach ann íosmhéideanna do phortáin faoilinne a bhfuil sé de chead ag báid iascaireachta mara na hÉireann iad a thabhairt i dtír.
- I.R Uimh. 591 de 2014 – Rialacháin um Gliomach (Stoic a Chaomhnú), 2014: Éilítear leis seo gach gliomach v-eangaithe nó gach gliomach loite a chur ar ais san fharraige. Cuirtear an beart caomhnaithe seo i bhfeidhm leis chomh maith do ghliomaigh atá níos mó ná 127 mm.
- I.R. Uimh. 31 de 2016 - Rialacháin um Iascaireacht Neamhthráchtála le Potaí (Gliomaigh agus Portáin), 2016: Tugadh isteach bearta faoi na rialacháin seo chun rialú a dhéanamh ar iascaireacht neamhthráchtála le potaí ar ghliomaigh agus ar phortáin a dhéanann árthaí iascaireachta laistigh d'uiscí intíre nó farraigí teorann an Stáit, ach níl feidhm ag na bearta sin ar bháid iascaireachta lasmuigh de na limistéir sin nó ar bháid iascaireachta cheadúnaithe.
- I.R Uimh. 431 de 2017 – Rialacháin um Luaineachán (Stoic a Chaomhnú), 2017: Leagtar amach ann íosmhéideanna luaineacháin a bhfuil sé de chead ag báid iascaireachta mara na hÉireann iad a thabhairt i dtír.
- I.R Uimh. 26 de 2019 – Rialacháin um Portán Dearg (Stoic a Chaomhnú), 2019: Méadaítear íosmhéideanna tagartha caomhnaithe do phortáin dhearga a thugann báid iascaireachta Éireannacha i dtír ó uisce amach ó chósta na hÉireann.
Mholfainn d'iascairí moltaí atá acu maidir le bainistiú a dhéanamh ar stoic intíre, mar portán agus gliomach, a chur faoi bhráid a bhFóraim Réigiúnaigh Iascaigh Cois Cladaigh áitiúil. Is féidir eolas ar bith maidir leis na Fóraim, lena n-áirítear sonraí teagmhála a fháil ar láithreán gréasáin tiomnaithe na bhFóram: http://inshoreforums.ie/.
1150. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria used to give priority to 140 fishing boats to fish in UK waters from the 1 January 2021 over the 1,900 Irish registered fishing boats; the reason these boats were chosen; if all fishing boats were considered equally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1474/21]
View answer1152. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason first preference was given to priority pelagic vessels tier 1 and tier 2 and vessels in relevant POs to fish in UK fishing waters given that POs only represent a minority of Irish fishing boats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1476/21]
View answer1169. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the objective basis or criteria by which boats were selected for the revised list sought by the European Union for permission to access and fish in UK waters; the processes that were followed in drawing up this list; if these consultations involved bodies outside of his Department; the timeframe involved in this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1559/21]
View answer1170. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the producer and other groups that were consulted when the revised list was been drawn up to be submitted by the EU for permission to fish in UK waters; the consideration that was given to boats that are not members of producer groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1560/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1150, 1152, 1169 and 1170 together.
Within the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and UK, access arrangements are set out in Article 8 Fish. This Article sets out: provided that TACs have been agreed, each Party shall grant vessels of the other Party access to fish in its waters in the relevant ICES sub-areas that year. Access shall be granted at a level and on conditions determined in those annual consultations. In relation to the main access arrangements, the Agreement also provides that the outcome of the consultations should normally result in each Party granting:
(a) access to fish stocks listed in the Annex to the Agreement - these are the stocks that are shared between the EU and UK subject to at a level that is reasonably commensurate with the parties respective shares of the TACs;
(b) access to fish non- quota stocks in each other's EEZ at a level that at least equates to the average tonnage fished by that Party in the waters of the other Party during the period 2012-2016; and
(c) access to waters of the Parties between 6 and 12nm in ICES divisions 4c (southern North Sea and 7d-g (English Channel, south - west coast of England and part of south - east coast of Ireland) to the extent that Union fishing vessels and UK fishing vessels had access to these waters on 31 December 2020.
I have asked my Department to work to ensure that fishing vessels which traditionally fished in UK waters will be granted such access by the UK authorities.
While authorisation for access for all licensed and registered fishing vessels has been sought from the UK authorities, at this time approval has been granted to tranches of fishing vessels which have been identified as requiring such access.
The UK Authorities authorised access on a staged basis initially on 31 December for 141 vessels which were identified, in consultation with the Producer Organisations, taking into account vessels that were most likely to fish in the first week of January. The vessels were identified in the days before the end of the year taking into account the Department's understanding of the fisheries and in consultation with the four Producer Organisations (Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation, Irish Fish Producers Organisation, Irish South & East Fish Producers Organisation and the Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation).
In relation to vessels targeting mackerel in the RSW Pelagic segment and in the Polyvalent segment, these were specifically identified because mackerel is fished only in UK waters at the start of the year. In addition for the first tranche of 141 vessels, I understand that the POs identified vessels in their organisations which they were aware of as likely to fish in the start of the year in UK waters.
Since the 31st December 2020, two further lists of Irish vessels have been sent to the Commission to request authorisation, by the UK authorities, for these vessels to fish in the 12- 200 nm UK EEZ based on licence holders who contacted the Department seeking such access and those that had fished in UK waters in 2019 or 2020 based on relevant records. A further 48 vessels have now been authorised by the UK authorities and the Department has been advised by the Commission that the second list of 20 vessels has already been transmitted to the UK authorities and is hoping to hear shortly regarding the status of this request. The Department is considering how smaller fishing vessels that do not have a Vessel Monitoring System to record activity maybe appropriately identified and will be consulting the National Inshore Fisheries Forum in that regard.
1151. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the mackerel quota cannot be divided fairly to all Irish fishing boats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1475/21]
View answerThe applicants of the Judicial Review (2017/816JR) are challenging a decision made by the Minister in July 2017 in respect of the allocation of Ireland’s total mackerel fishing quota (Ministerial Decision regarding a Proposal from the Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO) for a revised mackerel distribution between the Polyvalent Segment and the RSW Pelagic Segment).
As this matter is sub judice, I am not in a position to comment until the matter is dealt with in the courts.
1153. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingency measures he has put in place in the event that the UK enters into post-Brexit trade agreements with non-EU partners that will allow food product that may supplant Irish produce to enter the UK market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1523/21]
View answerThe key challenge here is to maximise the volume and value of Irish agri-food exports to all destinations, and to anticipate and, as best we can, mitigate the potential impact of adverse developments in trading patterns. This requires a two-handed approach comprised of support for our existing and potential future UK trade, as well as development of increased EU and third country market access.
In the first instance, it is important to acknowledge the ongoing importance of the UK market for Irish agri-food exporters, given that it accounted for €4.5 billion, or 34%, of all Irish food and drink exports in 2019. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement reached by the EU and the UK - which provides for zero tariffs and quotas - is a welcome development in this regard, and will help Irish exporters to maintain their UK market share and remain competitive against third country imports to the UK. The Government has also provided additional funding for Bord Bia's UK market activities, which include the provision of intelligence and insights, development of business opportunities with customers in key categories, and the strengthening of the reputation of Irish food and drink through consumer and trade campaigns.
My Department has also been very active in the development of third country markets, for example through Trade Missions - which were carried out virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic - and through the leveraging of our network of agricultural attachés worldwide. We are also continuing to work on the opportunities provided by recent EU Free Trade Agreements with third countries, and to press for the removal of technical market access barriers across a range of third country markets.
We will continue to monitor the broader impact of Brexit on our agriculture and food sector and configure measures to support these sectors as required.
1154. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the operational curtailments that will be placed on marts during the new Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1524/21]
View answerOn 30th December, An Taoiseach announced that the entire country would move to Level 5 restrictions under the Framework for Living with Covid19.
Protecting the agri-food sector and people in rural communities is my key priority. Consequently, there should be no public access to sales rings, in line with Level 5 measures. Marts may conduct sales using online platforms or through a tender process. Buyers are permitted to view animals in marts before sale, socially distanced and by prior appointment with the relevant mart. Marts must prevent the congregation of members of the public in the mart car park or at entry ways into mart buildings. My Department will continue to monitor the situation, and to adapt measures applied to marts in line with public health guidelines
Throughput from 22nd October to 30th November shows how well marts and farmers adapted to sales under Level 5 measures: in that period cattle throughput was at 84% of the comparable period for 2019 (186,317 v 221,234 head), and sheep throughput was at 83% of the comparable period for 2019 (135,881 v 164,330 sheep).
In addition to the high throughput figures, it was reported that clearance rates were good and prices were robust.
1155. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his engagements at EU level to ensure that additional beef imports do not enter the Single Market, therefore depressing prices further post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1525/21]
View answerSubject to meeting the relevant regulatory and control requirements, and where relevant, the payment of tariffs, the import or export of beef is a matter for commercial operators.
The European Commission's medium term outlook shows that the EU as a whole imported 348,000 tonnes of beef in 2020 (down from 386,000 tonnes in 2019); and this figure is projected to grow by 0.6% annually in the period to 2030. Total beef consumption in the EU is estimated at 6.5 million tonnes.
My Department will continue to closely monitor the level of beef imports into the EU as an important factor in the overall supply balance in the EU market.
With regard to imports from the Mercosur bloc in particular, at the Informal (virtual) meeting of Agri-Fish Ministers on 16 November, I took the opportunity to again raise concerns about the very negative impact that the EU-Mercosur agreement could have on Ireland’s beef sector. Ireland’s position in relation to the impact of the Mercosur trade deal on Irish agriculture has been reiterated many times throughout the process, formally and informally, at political and official levels, on our own part and in close cooperation with Member State colleagues.
The inclusion of a significant Tariff Rate Quota for Mercosur beef in the final agreement underlines these economic concerns, and there are also very serious sustainability issues, among others, that need to be adequately addressed.
Following the conclusion of the headline political agreement of 28th June 2019, the Deputy will be aware that a whole-of-government review of the impact on Ireland was announced.
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, in collaboration with my Department, commissioned Implement Consulting Group to carry out an Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment for Ireland. I expect this review to be completed shortly, and it will inform the Government’s position in relation to the ratification of the agreement.
1156. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Irish representatives will be on the EU-UK specialised trade committees that relate to the agrifood sector, particularly the committee on sanitary and phytosanitary standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1527/21]
View answerThe EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) creates a new framework for the future EU-UK relationship that ensures quota-free and tariff-free trade between the EU and the UK. This is of significant importance to the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors.
The overarching body that will monitor the agreement and ensure its effective implementation is the Partnership Council. This will be supported by a number of other committees and working groups, including the Trade Specialised Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
The SPS Chapter of the EU-UK TCA aims to protect human, animal and plant life and health while facilitating trade between the Parties, amongst other objectives. This is a complex area of work, and the Trade Specialised Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures is intended to address matters that are covered under this Chapter.
The EU and UK will each be represented on this Committee, and Member States, including Ireland, will have the right to participate in meetings as part of the EU delegation.
It is vital that the SPS Chapter of the Agreement works as effectively as possible to both facilitate trade and maintain the robust food safety standards which underpin Ireland and the EU's agrifood export markets. The specific programme of work and schedule of meetings for these bodies will be determined in the period ahead. My Department will engage closely with our EU partners to ensure that our key interests in the sector are protected and advanced in this work.
1157. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish the study by a company (details supplied) relating to the beef sector here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1528/21]
View answerThree separate but related market transparency studies have been procured as agreed in the beef sector agreement of September 2019. Some delays in this work occurred as an inevitable result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, at the most recent Beef Taskforce meeting held on 17th December 2020 (virtually), the consultancy commissioned to carried out the studies updated on progress as follows:
- Report one; an overview of competition law as it relates to the beef sector in Ireland is complete and is published on the DAFM website here: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1a060-beef-taskforce/#grant-thornton-transparency-studies
- Report two; an independent review of the market and customer requirements of Irish beef is at an advanced draft stage and the latest draft has been circulated to Taskforce members for comment.
- Report three; price composition along the supply chain is at an advanced stage and a draft will be circulated to the Taskforce for comment shortly.
All three reports will be available on my Department's website when finalised.
