Written Answers Nos. 2465-2470
2465. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has assessed the impact on agri-food exports and live exports and the transportation thereof, of placing Italy, France and Germany on the quarantine category list; and if he will publish that assessment. [18623/21]
View answerMandatory quarantine requirements apply to all persons who have been overseas in the 14-days prior to entering Ireland. Arrivals from designated a list of ‘Category 2’ countries are subject to mandatory hotel quarantine. There are some limited exemptions to the requirement to complete mandatory quarantine. These exemptions are clearly set out on the relevant section of the Government web-site www.gov.ie.
Having regard to the exemptions applying to persons providing essential supply chain services, such as international transport workers in possession of an Annex 3 Certificate, it is considered that this is sufficient to ensure the continuation of Irish agri-food and live exports. However, the Department continues to monitor the broader situation and any market impacts of COVID-19.
These national quarantine exemptions are consistent with EU Commission recommendations that transport staff should be exempt from any travel ban across any border and from testing and quarantine requirements when they are travelling across a border to and from a vessel, vehicle, or aircraft. To ensure a coordinated approach at EU level, the Commission has also issued guidance to Member States governing the operation of a ‘Green Lanes’ system whereby border crossings remain open to freight vehicles carrying goods without undue delays caused by checks and tests.
2466. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a report published in 2020 by a company (details supplied) into the organisational capability of the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency; his further views regarding the conclusions drawn in the executive summary regarding the governance and unsatisfactory internal procedures of the agency; if he has confidence in the company in view of the conclusion drawn by the independent review of the agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18642/21]
View answerAn independent review of the Organisational Capability of the SFPA was commissioned in 2019 and completed by Price Waterhouse Coopers. The principal objective of the review was to contribute to the ongoing and future development of the organisation. A Steering & Oversight Group comprised of three senior and expert persons, all independent of SFPA, was put in place to oversee the review. The areas covered by the review are the organisational capabilities of the SFPA to deliver on its mission for the effective and fair regulation of the sea fishing and seafood sectors that fall within its mandate.
The Review was completed in April 2020. The Review made 46 recommendations which, when implemented, will address issues identified to improve the effectiveness of the organisation. An independent Advisory Board, nominated by my Department was put in place to assist the management of the SFPA in the implementation of the Report. This Board is purely advisory and does not have any executive role in the operations of the organisation.
I look forward to the effective and efficient implementation of the recommendations of the review over the coming period, which together with the additional resources that have been made available to the Authority will strengthen the organisation to ensure that it delivers to a high standard on its responsibilities.
2467. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce either a non-transferable transitional licence or a landing permit to Irish domiciled fishermen that have Northern Ireland or UK licences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18643/21]
View answerI would advise the Deputy that the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 transferred the functions of sea-fishing boat licensing from the Minister to the Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats, which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in that Act and Ministerial Policy Directives. The Licensing Authority is the Registrar General of Fishing Boats, an official of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine or, under the superintendence of the Registrar General, the Deputy Registrar General of Fishing Boats. All applications for sea-fishing boat licences are considered by the Licensing Authority.
As Minister, I have responsibility for policy in relation to sea-fishing boat licensing under Section 3(3) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, as amended by Section 99 of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. In this context and, as referred to above, Section 3 of the Act makes provision for Ministerial Policy Directives to issue to the independent Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats. I am, however, precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to individual cases, or a group of cases, with which the Licensing Authority is or may be concerned under Section 3(5) of the 2003 Act.
The licensing and registration of Irish sea-fishing boats is in accordance with National and EU legislation and Policy Directives issued by the Minister. If a vessel is already licensed and registered as a fishing vessel in another jurisdiction - be that another EU Member State or Third Country - it must be removed from that register and relinquish its existing licence before it can be licensed and registered as an Irish sea-fishing vessel. In order to be licensed and registered on the Irish Fishing boat Register, a vessel must comply with the EU and national rules for licensing of a fishing vessel including meeting safety standards and providing replacement capacity in terms of tonnage (GT) and engine power (killowatts).
In January 2021, five additional ports were designated for landings by UK registered Northern Ireland vessels, three of these, Greencastle, Rathmullen and Burtonport are located in Donegal. Along with Ros a Mhíl and Howth, these five ports join Killybegs and Castletownbere which continue to be designated for landings from vessels of any third country origin. These ports are now operational for landings from Northern Ireland vessels under SI 37 of 2021.
Any UK-Northern Ireland registered boats landing into any of the seven Irish ports will have to comply with additional documentary and procedural requirements as a result of the changes brought about due to the UK's withdrawal from the EU. Designation of ports is within the State’s authority, but all requirements and protocols are subject to EU and international law and must be strictly adhered to gain entry to ports.
The designation of extra ports is an important decision which will allow fishers in small vessels to continue landing into Irish ports following Brexit. It is important now, more than ever, to support our fishers and fishing communities. The SFPA has undertaken significant work in putting in place the arrangements necessary to provide for these additional port designations and I am glad that the outcome will mean that many of those fishers will have now the capacity to access a number of additional ports.
There are significant practical and cost implications for the State in the designation of EU ports for Third Country landings as, under EU Regulations, such designations represent an entry point to the European Union following which food is free to circulate within the full EU common market. On this basis for any ports designated, Ireland is obliged to ensure that it has in place a meaningful control presence.
The issue of the future designation of further ports will be kept under review. I can also assure the Deputy that the current opening times and days for the ports designated were decided to allow for Northern Ireland registered vessels to continue to land into Irish ports, while ensuring that the SFPA has the capacity to continue to perform its vital control functions effectively.
I would also like to reassure the Deputy that the designation of ports for landings does not preclude vessels from coming into ports for force majeure reasons such as safe harbour.
2468. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the green certificate courses for young farmers; the number of college places available in 2021 and 2022; the enrolment details; the length of time applicants will wait when applying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18657/21]
View answerBoth public and private bodies deliver Green Cert programmes throughout the country that are accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency responsible for qualifications and quality assurance in further education and training and higher education in Ireland.
The Department works closely with the largest public provider Teagasc to maximise participation on their Green Cert Programmes, which are delivered on a fulltime, part-time and distance education basis at regional centres and the Agricultural Colleges. I secured additional resources to enable Teagasc immediately increase the number of places on the part-time option in the west of the country where demand is greatest.
As the number of available college places is an operational matter for the Teagasc authorities, I have asked them to respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
2469. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken since the publication of a report (details supplied) into organisational capability of the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency in late 2020; the actions he plans to take regarding the recommendations and conclusions of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18675/21]
View answerAn independent review of the Organisational Capability of the SFPA was commissioned in 2019 and completed by Price Waterhouse Coopers. The principal objective of the review was to contribute to the ongoing and future development of the organisation. A Steering & Oversight Group comprised of three senior and expert persons, all independent of SFPA, was put in place to oversee the review. The areas covered by the review are the organisational capabilities of the SFPA to deliver on its mission for the effective and fair regulation of the sea fishing and seafood sectors that fall within its mandate.
The Review was completed in April 2020. The Review made 46 recommendations which, when implemented, will address issues identified to improve the effectiveness of the organisation. An independent Advisory Board, nominated by my Department was put in place to assist the management of the SFPA in the implementation of the Report. This Board is purely advisory and does not have any executive role in the operations of the organisation.
I look forward to the effective and efficient implementation of the recommendations of the review over the coming period, which together with the additional resources that have been made available to the Authority will strengthen the organisation to ensure that it delivers to a high standard on its responsibilities.
2470. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of meetings either he or his officials had with the Minister for Foreign Affairs in advance of that Minister’s meeting with the French President and German Chancellor in December 2020 in the critical period running up to the Brexit Agreement of 24 December 2020; the dates of these briefings and copies of any documents shared at the meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18676/21]
View answerMy Department worked very closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs throughout the entire Brexit negotiation process, as part of the 'whole-of-Government' approach to Brexit.
I understand that the Minister for Foreign Affairs did not meet either the French President or the German Chancellor in December 2020.
However, in the period leading up to the conclusion of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on Christmas Eve 2020, Minister Coveney and I held a meeting on 9th December with representatives of the Irish fishing industry. We briefed them on the state of play in the negotiations, and heard their concerns in relation to the potential challenges facing the industry from 1st January 2021.
When the Trade and Cooperation Agreement was reached, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I, together with the Taoiseach, met fishing industry representatives again on 28th December. I reassured them that I fully understood their concerns in relation to reductions in quota shares, and undertook to work with the sector to develop the necessary supports to address these impacts.
