Wednesday, 26 May 2021

Written Answers Nos. 215-238

Public Sector Pensions

Questions (215, 224)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

215. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the grounds on which a public servant may be granted early retirement and pension entitlement (details supplied). [28611/21]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

224. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will engage with the Director General of the Irish Prison Service in respect of a prison officer that is not permitted to return to work and also will not be permitted to be medically retired (details supplied). [28612/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 224 together.

The Director General of the Irish Prison Service has advised me that she is satisfied that the information provided by the Human Resources Directorate of the Service to the person referred to by the Deputy is in line with general civil service regulations and the Superannuation regulations.

I am further advised that the Prison Service would urge the person referred to to engage with that Directorate and the Office of the Civil Service Chief Medical Officer in order to progress her situation.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (216)

Gary Gannon

Question:

216. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice if the return of a passport will be expedited for a person (details supplied) that was submitted in their application for citizenship four weeks ago and who urgently needs their passport to travel for a medical procedure on 26 May 2021. [28778/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

The original passport of the person referred to by the Deputy was returned by registered post on 24 May 2020.

Under normal circumstances, passports are returned approximately 10 days after their receipt. However, the current limits on staff attendance in the office due to COVID-19 restrictions have resulted in delays in the return of some passports. Unfortunately it is not possible to give a current average timeframe for the return of a passport submitted with a citizenship application.

It is a requirement of the naturalisation process that a current passport must accompany every application. The identity of every applicant must be confirmed to the greatest extent possible and a passport is a primary identifier.

Applicants are advised not to send in their application during the pandemic if they anticipate that they may have to travel at short notice. However, I fully appreciate that people may have to travel at short notice for emergency reasons. The citizenship website advises that in these circumstances, applicants should email the citizenship helpdesk with the relevant details. Any request must be accompanied by appropriate scanned supporting material detailing the reasons for travel, such as medical information. Any request of this nature is dealt with promptly.

International Protection

Questions (217)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Question:

217. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice the measures in place to establish a digital first approach to the processing of international protection applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28738/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

In the Justice Plan 2021 and my Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023, we commit to delivering a fair immigration system for a digital age. This includes completing an end-to-end process review of the international protection process; leveraging that review to design a revised process for processing such applications; and completing the implementation of the Justice-related recommendations in the Catherine Day Advisory Report, as appropriate.

My Department is committed to implementing the key recommendations in the Advisory Group Report to reduce processing times of both first instance decisions and appeals to 6 months respectively, as outlined in the White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Protection Support Service.

Additional ICT resources have been secured for 2021, and detailed work including the end-to-end review of processes to guide enhanced processing times is well underway. When this first phase of work has been carried out it will enable a more detailed set of milestones to be put in place.

The Advisory Group's recommendation in relation to the introduction of an online system to enable international protection applicants to track their applications will also be considered as part of the ongoing analysis of progress towards achieving the objectives outlined in the White Paper.

The International Protection Office (IPO) successfully piloted interviews by video conference in 2019, and is now working to expand that programme with a view to making interviews by video conference a significant element of IPO operations.

More broadly, my Department takes a joint business/IMT approach to the design and delivery of services and seeks to exploit opportunities for transformation to digital processes where appropriate, to enhance customers' experience. My Department focuses on business-led transformation supported by technology implementation. In line with this approach, the completion of the end-to-end review of international protection processes will allow for recommendations to be made on the most effective service delivery model.

An Garda Síochána

Questions (218)

Michael Lowry

Question:

218. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Justice the status of progress made on the construction of a new Garda station at Kickham Barracks, Clonmel, County Tipperary; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this project at Kickham Barracks has secured planning; when funding for the construction of the new Garda Station at Kickham Barracks will be provided; the envisaged commencement date for when construction will start; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28398/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient deployment of Garda resources, including Garda stations.

Following a review of An Garda Síochána's accommodation requirements the Commissioner decided that a Public Private Partnership (PPP) should proceed to deliver new stations in Macroom and in Clonmel.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the acquisition of the site for the development of a new station in Clonmel has been completed and that An Garda Síochána has provided a brief of requirements for the new station at Clonmel to the OPW so that it may develop designs for the new station, with associated costs.

The OPW has advised that a Part IX planning application for the new Garda Station in Clonmel was submitted in mid-October 2020, and following assessment of a number of submissions received by the end of the six-week period, the planning application was granted in early 2021.

An Garda Síochána continues to engage with my Department, the OPW and the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), which is the procuring authority for PPPs, to progress the Garda PPP project, with a view to the project commencing in 2022.

State Bodies

Questions (219)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

219. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Justice the steps her Department has taken to address the block booking of appointments on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website by third parties for the purpose of selling them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28402/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

My Department is aware that there have been issues in the past around the securing of registration appointments and a set of software fixes were introduced in late 2018, designed to prevent such abuses of the system. The new measures have been successful to date in preventing the block booking of appointments by third party agents.

However, some third party agents continue to provide appointment booking services in return for payment on the basis that the person provides them with their personal details in advance. My Department strongly advises against this practice of providing sensitive and personal data to unregulated and unknown third parties.

The Burgh Quay Registration Office for customers in the Dublin area reopened on 10 May when COVID restrictions eased and there is currently a high demand for appointments. My Department is prioritising customers who had their appointments cancelled when the Office closed in December and there will be greater availability of appointments for other first time registrations once this group has been cleared. Customers should continue to apply directly for appointments as they become available without charge.

While waiting to register in the Dublin area, customers are covered by the extension of immigration permissions to 20 September 2021. This means that all those legally in the State in March 2020 when the pandemic began can remain in the State until 20 September.

My Department has continued to work steadily throughout the pandemic to deliver improvements to our immigration services. Improvements made so far include the introduction of an online process for the renewal of registrations (with over 75,000 renewals processed since July); pre-clearance schemes to allow customers to apply for residence permissions prior to travelling; the introduction of online forms and payments; renewed focus on eliminating processing delays in key areas; and working towards the delivery of a new more user-friendly website. A tender has also recently been awarded for a new Immigration Service appointment and scheduling system which will streamline and further improve the registration process. The new system is expected to be in place in the coming months.

Coroners Service

Questions (220)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

220. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the reason a family (details supplied) have been told they must wait up to two years for a coroner's inquest into the death of a family member; if measures will be taken to address any backlog in coroners' inquests due to the added pressure to the system caused by the pandemic and alleviate the suffering of this and other bereaved families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28481/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

Firstly, I would like to express my sympathies to the family concerned for their loss.

As the Deputy may be aware, coroners are independent in the conduct of their functions. Neither I nor my Department has any role in the directing of post-mortem examinations or inquests by a coroner, or for any subsequent action or decision taken.

As a result of Covid-19, given public health considerations, inquests have unfortunately been severely curtailed. I understand that some coroners, including the Dublin coroner, are holding what are referred to as ‘documentary inquests’ or remote inquests, which require very small numbers of attendees and take place with the agreement of families. Larger inquests, requiring multiple witnesses, are being rescheduled to a later date.

Specifically with regard to the situation in the Dublin coronial district, a second coroner and two new deputy coroners were appointed in February 2020. Furthermore, the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 provided, inter alia, for the assignment and appointment of temporary coroners to act simultaneously with other coroners in exceptional circumstances.

Additional information is available on the website www.coroners.ie or on the Dublin Coroner's website www.dublincoronerscourt.ie that may be of assistance.

The family of the deceased are advised to keep in contact with the Dublin Coroner’s Office, who will notify them when a date has been set for the inquest.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (221)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

221. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners who have been vaccinated to date against Covid-19; the number vaccinated who are over 60 years of age; the number vaccinated who are medically vulnerable; the timescale for those who have not been vaccinated to receive a vaccine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28483/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

As the Deputy will be aware, the Covid-19 vaccination programme is, in the first instance, a matter for the Health Service Executive. The Covid-19 vaccination for prisoners is being administered by the National Ambulance Service, supported by Irish Prison Service medical teams

I can advise the Deputy that 82 prisoners have been vaccinated to date, of these 67 were over 60 years of age. Furthermore 23 of the total vaccinated prisoners were considered medically vulnerable.

The Irish Prison Service has been engaging with the HSE/Department of Health with regard to the logistical arrangements for the administration of the vaccine to the remaining prisoner cohort and these discussions are at an advanced stage and are expected to conclude shortly.

Departmental Data

Questions (222)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

222. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 200 of 12 May 2021, the number of drivers summoned to court for failure to pay a fixed charge notice within the statutory payment timeframe for the offence of holding a mobile phone while driving by District Court in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the number of drivers convicted per year per District Court and the penalties imposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28495/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy is aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes operational decisions relating to road traffic matters.

For clarity, there are no summons issued for the failure to pay a fixed charge notice within the statutory payment window. A person who chooses to exercise their right not to pay the fixed charge penalty will be summonsed to Court for the offence for which the fixed charge notice was originally issued - in the case of the information requested, the offence of driving whilst holding a mobile phone.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the tables below set out the number of instances, by Garda Division, in which a party was issued with a fixed charge notice for the offence of driving while holding a mobile phone and, in addition, a summons was issued and/or the case was sent to court.

Breakdown by division of the number of instances in which a party was issued with a Fixed Charge Notice for the offence of driving while holding a mobile phone.

Division	2018	2019	2020
Cavan/Monaghan	1136	992	642
Clare	910	584	662
Cork City	1625	1333	1258
Cork North	1142	1170	928
Cork West	696	621	529
D.M.R. Eastern	1078	980	682
D.M.R. North Central	684	584	570
D.M.R. Northern	932	1235	962
D.M.R. South Central	973	1083	593
D.M.R. Southern	1113	1029	669
D.M.R. Western	1678	1599	1571
Donegal	460	613	578
Galway	2732	2253	1534
Kerry	1078	1119	806
Kildare	1591	1244	1601
Kilkenny/Carlow	1429	1122	1338
Laois/Offaly	1344	1041	814
Limerick	2524	2264	942
Louth	630	439	846
Mayo	717	1320	907
Meath	641	698	1250
Roscommon/Longford	714	614	421
Sligo/Leitrim	682	745	237
Tipperary	716	745	796
Waterford	1024	805	1090
Westmeath	443	351	355
Wexford	1620	1584	1237
Wicklow	862	939	657
Grand Total	31174	29106	24475

Breakdown by division of the number of instances in which a party was issued with a Fixed Charge Notice for the offence of driving while holding a mobile phone and, in addition, a summons was issued and/or the case was sent to court.

Division	2018	2019	2020
Cavan/Monaghan	138	132	106
Clare	116	69	110
Cork City	225	173	196
Cork North	124	147	146
Cork West	64	61	37
D.M.R. Eastern	129	121	95
D.M.R. North Central	127	112	120
D.M.R. Northern	163	221	196
D.M.R. South Central	139	197	104
D.M.R. Southern	193	167	168
D.M.R. Western	307	326	353
Donegal	55	60	90
Galway	277	271	203
Kerry	137	134	131
Kildare	197	157	260
Kilkenny/Carlow	135	143	188
Laois/Offaly	145	130	120
Limerick	363	294	188
Louth	73	73	159
Mayo	56	128	126
Meath	85	92	186
Roscommon/Longford	71	63	62
Sligo/Leitrim	64	63	28
Tipperary	90	94	136
Waterford	103	104	161
Westmeath	43	34	55
Wexford	198	166	151
Wicklow	106	109	117
Grand Total	3923	3841	3992

The above figures are based on incidents which occurred from 01 January 2018 to 31 December 2020, inclusive. All information contained in this report is based upon operational data from the fixed charge processing system as was available on 04 May 2021 and is liable to change.

I am advised by the Courts Service that the tables appended to this answer set out the number of offences recorded and number of persons convicted for the offence of Driving while holding a mobile phone by District Court; and penalties imposed for the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and the period January to March 2021.

Table

In addition, a defendant may receive more than one penalty and will be listed twice in the report or a person may appear before more than one court area and will also be listed twice in the report.

Private Security Authority

Questions (223)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

223. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice if PSA door security licences will be extended without cost as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28555/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

The Private Security Authority (PSA), established under the Private Security Services Act 2004, as amended, is responsible for the licensing and regulation of the private security industry in the State. The PSA is an independent statutory body under the aegis of my Department and I have no involvement in the day-to-day operations of the Authority.

During the course of 2020, the PSA engaged with my Department in respect of a proposal it had developed to revise the licence fee for contractors to take account of the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on the security industry. As this proposal would have given rise to a significant reduction in exchequer fee income for the PSA, approval for the proposal was not forthcoming from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

My Department remains available to continue to engage with the PSA in this regard.

Question No. 224 answered with Question No. 215.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (225)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice her plans to upgrade the IT system in her Department and bodies under her aegis with a view to maximising the protection against hackers. [28690/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

My Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security. Our technical staff operate and monitor all relevant systems to the highest levels, and are closely engaged with experts in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure that we follow best practice as it relates to all aspects of cybersecurity.

For operational and security reasons, we are advised by the NCSC not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cybersecurity arrangements. Therefore it is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to cyber security tools and services and my Department does not comment on operational security matters.

Cybersecurity Policy

Questions (226)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if additional security measures will be taken to impede and prevent the intrusion of hackers in her Department’s IT system and to ensure an early warning system is in place which will trigger an ultimate defence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28708/21]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

My Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security. Our technical staff operate and monitor all relevant systems to the highest levels, and are closely engaged with experts in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure that we follow best practice as it relates to all aspects of cybersecurity.

For operational and security reasons, we are advised by the NCSC not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise those efforts. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose information which might assist criminals to identify potential vulnerabilities in departmental cybersecurity arrangements. Therefore it is not considered appropriate to disclose particular arrangements in place in relation to cyber security tools and services and my Department does not comment on operational security matters.

Immigration Status

Questions (227)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current and expected residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28787/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Justice

The person referred to by the Deputy has permission to remain in the State on the Third Level Graduate Programme until 20 September 2021, under the most recent temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions announced in March 2021.

The person concerned has reached the maximum time permitted to be in the State on student permission. In order to obtain a further permission to remain in the State, they are required to obtain an employment permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).

If the person is successful in obtaining an employment permit, they may then apply to the Immigration Service of my Department for a Stamp 1 employment permission allowing them to work in the State on their employment permit conditions.

Further information on employment permits is available on the DETE website at: enterprise.gov.ie/en .

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility ([e-mail]) which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (228)

Niall Collins

Question:

228. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for a herd number transfer by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28435/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application for a herd number transfer was received from the person named in April 2021. This application is currently being processed and the herd owner has been informed.

The processing of this application was delayed as not all the required documentation was received initially.

Forestry Sector

Questions (229)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

229. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28440/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department is in the process of developing the criteria to accept applications from suitably qualified persons to form a register of “Forest Road Professionals”. Officials are working closely with the COFORD Forest Industry Transport Group in this regard.

When the criteria are finalised, the Department will invite applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be included in such a register. The information submitted by the person named will be considered with all other applications received.

Trade Relations

Questions (230)

Brendan Smith

Question:

230. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in having beef exports to China resumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28477/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Ireland was very pleased to gain access to the Chinese market for beef in April 2018. Department officials worked closely with Chinese Customs to achieve that access and it is a market of significant interest to our industry. According to CSO trade data, the overall value of beef exports to China increased from €65 million in 2018 to €95 million in 2019 but declined markedly last year as a result of ongoing restrictions on beef imports.

In May 2020, the Department identified and confirmed an isolated case of Atypical BSE. There is no public health risk associated with the incidence of Atypical BSE which is believed to occur spontaneously in all cattle populations at a very low rate and has only been identified in older cattle. The discovery of this rare atypical case exemplifies the strength of Ireland’s controls and surveillance system.

Following the confirmation of the Atypical BSE case, Ireland suspended shipments to China in accordance with the terms of the bilateral protocol governing the beef trade and pending a risk assessment by the Chinese customs authorities.

Since last May, the Department, in collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland in Beijing, has engaged intensively with relevant Chinese officials to seek the resumption of trade. To assist the Chinese customs authorities in their deliberations, the Department promptly provided a comprehensive epidemiological report in June 2020, and submitted a further a detailed update on our official BSE controls in November 2020 at the request of the Chinese authorities.

The Department has pursued official, diplomatic and political channels to present the case to the Chinese authorities for a restoration of trade on scientific and safety grounds. We have sought to resolve the issue through high-level correspondence, including three Ministerial letters and through correspondence between the Taoiseach and China’s Premier.

Along with Minister of State Martin Heydon, I have raised the matter with China’s Ambassador to Ireland in meetings last September and more recently in March. We will continue to utilise every available option for dialogue until the suspension is lifted.

Ultimately, it must be recognised that the timing of the decision to resume trade remains a matter for the Chinese customs authorities. However, given the importance of the market for the sector, I continue to press the case for a resumption of beef exports to China whenever there is appropriate opportunity to do so.

State Bodies

Questions (231, 232)

Matt Carthy

Question:

231. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time equivalent staff currently assigned to the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28538/21]

Matt Carthy

Question:

232. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline to bring forward legislation to establish a new office of a national food ombudsman, regulator or equivalent. [28539/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together.

The establishment of the new Office of a National Food Ombudsman or Regulator, is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and a key priority of mine as Minister to bring much-needed transparency to the sector. The new Office will have a role in analysing and reporting on price and market data in Ireland and will incorporate the Enforcement Authority functions required by the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive. Primary legislation is required to establish the new office as a separate statutory body. It is envisaged that the legislation will also provide for any further powers which may be given to the Office, including extending the rules set out in the UTP Directive.

I signed the Statutory Instrument (SI) transposing Directive (EU) 2019/633, the Directive on Unfair Trading Practices, into law on 28th April last, the first step in the process of establishing the new Office of a National Food Ombudsman/Regulator or equivalent. SI No. 198 of 2021 transposes the Directive into Irish law directly as it stands, as secondary legislation in Ireland does not allow for changes to be made to the Directive. The Regulations will have effect from 1st July 2021.

The next step requires the drafting of primary legislation to establish the Office and to provide for any further powers which may be given to that office. In that regard, a public consultation to seek views on these issues will close today, 26th May 2021. Department officials will examine all submissions received and will draft the legislation, following which the Bill will be presented to the Oireachtas. It is hoped that the legislation will be finalised by the end of the year.

The UTP Enforcement Authority will operate on an interim basis in the Department pending the finalisation of the primary legislation for the new Office when it will be incorporated into that Office. Currently, there are four officials working on UTP matters, equal to approximately three full time equivalent staff. Progress is being made on assigning a Head and others to specifically staff the UTP Enforcement Authority.

The work will be demand-led to some extent and resource requirements will depend on the level of complaints received. I can assure you that I will ensure that appropriate resources are assigned to ensure an effective service is delivered.

Question No. 232 answered with Question No. 231.

Animal Diseases

Questions (233, 234)

Matt Carthy

Question:

233. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of TB outbreaks in controlled finishing units in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28540/21]

Matt Carthy

Question:

234. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the necessary criteria required to avail of the special status termed a controlled finishing unit; the exemptions or benefits that are acquired as a result of this status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28541/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.

As part of our TB eradication programme, beef finishing herds, if they meet the necessary criteria, are allowed to avail of a special status, termed “Controlled Finishing Unit (CFU)”.

A CFU herd is a specialised finisher of beef that does not deliberately engage in the active breeding of animals. It is a non-breeding herd which disposes of all cattle on the holding direct for slaughter and poses a minimal risk of infecting cattle on adjacent holdings by fulfilling at least one of the following three criteria:

1.the cattle are permanently housed (never on pasture) or

2. there are no contiguous holdings with cattle or

3. the boundaries are walled, double fenced or equivalent so as to prevent any direct contact with cattle on contiguous holdings.

When a herd meets the criteria to be regarded as a CFU under the TB Eradication Programme, the herd is restricted under the TB Regulations and a special official supervisory and testing protocol is established. Therefore, as CFU herds continue to be restricted on an on-going basis they are not counted as having outbreaks of TB and, as such, the information requested is not available.

Such herds are not exempted from testing, reactor removal or disinfection requirements. Restricted CFU herds are TB tested at least once a year. The CFU status arrangement allows the delivery of an effective level of disease risk management while controlling the risk of further disease spread in compliance with animal health legislation, and enabling business continuity in this particular type of enterprise through the inward movement of cattle.

Cattle from CFU herds restricted under the TB Eradication programme are only permitted to move to a EU approved slaughter plant. Cattle from CFUs may not be exported.

Question No. 234 answered with Question No. 233.

Animal Slaughtering

Questions (235)

Matt Carthy

Question:

235. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle slaughtered from controlled finishing units by week in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [28542/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Controlled Finishing Units as part of the TB Eradication Programme are subject to enhanced biosecurity measures and can only sell direct to slaughter.

Kill numbers (rounded) at EU approved slaughter plants originating in Controlled Finishing Units by month and year

	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
January	20,000	24,000	28,000	25,000	25,500
February	20,000	24,500	26,000	27,000	25,500
March	21,500	24,500	27,000	27,000	28,500
April	19,500	26,000	29,000	20,000	28,000
May	25,000	29,000	31,000	22,500
June	24,500	27,500	25,500	26,500
July	19,500	24,500	26,000	26,500
August	20,000	21,500	20,000	21,000
September	18,500	18,500	13,000	22,000
October	20,500	23,500	21,500	24,000
November	28,500	26,500	20,000	27,500
December	25,500	25,000	21,500	30,000
Total	263,000	295,000	288,500	299,000	107,500

These figures are published on a monthly basis on the Department section of the gov.ie website.

www.gov.ie/en/collection/f55f2-bovine-birth-and-movements-monthly-reports/#kill-numbers-at-eu-approved-slaughter-plants-originating-in-controlled-finishing-units

These figures are not produced on a weekly basis.

Agriculture Industry

Questions (236)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

236. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the appropriate authority to report untagged livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28552/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

All livestock are required to be identified in accordance with the applicable legislation that is within the remit of the Department. Any instances of untagged livestock should be reported to the relevant Regional Veterinary Office of the Department.

Agriculture Industry

Questions (237)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

237. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the appropriate action a farmer should take in the event of a livestock being grazed on their land without permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28553/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The matter of livestock grazing on land without the owners permission is primarily a civil matter between the two parties involved.

Under Section 8 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, for the purpose of disease control and prevention, a person who has in his or her possession or under his or her control a farm animal shall take all reasonable measures to ensure the animal is unable to stray from the land or premiseswhere it is kept. This includes maintaining buildings, gates, fences, hedges, boundary walls and other structures used to contain the animals are constructed and maintained in a manner that minimisesthe risk that the animal will stray.

Breaches of the legislation can be reported to the Department's network of Regional Veterinary Offices or An Garda Síochana for investigation in respect of these aspects.

Agriculture Industry

Questions (238)

Duncan Smith

Question:

238. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to address the serious reported problems with blackgrass being found in wildflower mixtures coming into Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28618/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Teagasc recently reported that blackgrass weed was found in a commercial wildflower mixture that was grown in an experimental plot at its research centre in Oakpark, Carlow. I understand that Teagasc has taken appropriate action to deal with the specific issue.

There are no EU regulations governing the importation and certification of wildflower seeds. While the EU seed regulations cover certain weed and disease species, there are no specific controls relating to Blackgrass. This also applies to third countries, including the UK, with which the EU has an equivalence agreement for trade in certified seed for the main agricultural crops.

The Department has an agreement with the Irish Seed Trade Association to impose a zero tolerance for Blackgrass, wild oats and sterile brome in certified seed grown in Ireland. Additionally, officials are engaging with the industry with a view to strengthening controls relating to wildflower seeds, both on imported seed for the formulation of species mixtures and seed propagated in Ireland for planting.