Written Answers Nos. 441-451
441. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 752 and 753 of 15 February 2022, if he will provide a further update on the publication of the stroke strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17407/22]
View answer442. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 752 and 753 of 15 February 2022, if he can provide an update on the way the stroke strategy is going forward for consultation regarding implementation and consideration through the HSE 2022 national service planning process for funding opportunities, looking at alignment, synergy and integration with other current significant HSE programmes of work such as Enhanced Community Care, the National Integrated Care Programme for Older People and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17408/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 442 together.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
443. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on which workers will be entitled to the Covid-19 pandemic bonus payment recently announced for healthcare workers; when workers can expect this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17410/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period. The Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021. This payment will be made to those eligible public sector frontline healthcare staff (inclusive of agency staff working for the HSE) who worked in clinical settings, noting this list is not exhaustive: those Doctors / Nurses / Health Care Assistants / Porters / Cleaners etc. that work in clinical settings. The measure encompasses Health Care Support Assistants (also known as Home Carers / Home Help) employed by or carrying out duties contracted to the HSE. The measure also encompasses those eligible working on site in long term residential care facilities for people with disabilities (inclusive of those facilities whether HSE or section 39). The measure further extends to those equivalent healthcare workers in private nursing homes and hospices. Arrangements for this sector encompassed by this measure are currently being progressed by the Department of Health. The Department of Health appreciates the levels of interest this announcement has generated. We are working together with the HSE to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply. Additionally, the Department and the HSE are currently consulting with health sector trade unions on this matter. This consultation is part of the Department and HSE’s objective to finalise the application of this measure fairly. Upon conclusion of consultations with the trade unions, full details of the application process, FAQs and other particulars shall be published by the HSE. Noting that the details will be finalised once this consultation has concluded, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
444. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the six sites at which the HSE will establish specialist acute hospital clinics for long Covid; and the services that will be provided in them. [17308/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply to the Deputy directly
445. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if the senior occupational therapist position in St. James’s Hospital will be maintained into the future for long Covid patients; if occupational therapists will be an essential service under the model of care for long Covid clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17309/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
446. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the guidance issued to State bodies or agencies encouraging the procurement of organic produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11298/22]
View answerThe Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is the office, operating under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which is responsible for public procurement.
The broader guidance issued to public bodies is contained within the Action Plan on Green Public Procurement which falls within the remit of Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
Government consumption accounts for a sizeable part of economic activity and demand. This provides Ireland’s public sector with considerable leverage to stimulate the marketplace in favour of the provision of more resource-efficient, less polluting goods, services and works.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the aegis of DECC has issued updated guidelines in 2021 on Green Public Procurement, which incorporates Organic produce under Food and Catering Services
The Guidance is accompanied by Irish Green Public Procurement criteria for the ten priority sectors which have been developed, based on common EU criteria with adaptations to reflect the Irish market and procurement practices. These criteria are designed to be directly inserted into tender documents, and include information on how compliance can be confirmed, for example by reference to eco-labels or environmental product declarations.
447. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects Ireland's carbon reduction targets to be achievable in Ireland without adversely affecting the agrifood production sector. [7800/22]
View answerThe agri-food sector has benefited from an approach to strategic planning through the development of ten-year stakeholder-led strategies, revised every five years. Since their inception twenty years ago, these strategies have ensured that the sector has a coherent, stakeholder-led vision and strategy to underpin the sector’s continued development.
The new stakeholder strategy for the Irish agri-food sector, Food Vision 2030, was launched by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, myself and Ministerial colleagues Ministers of State Hackett and Heydon on 3rd August 2021.
The vision of the new Strategy is that“Ireland will become a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems over the next decade. This should deliver significant benefits for the Irish agri-food sector itself, for Irish society and the environment. In demonstrating the Irish agri-food sector meets the highest standards of sustainability – economic, environmental, and social – this should also provide the basis for the future competitive advantage of the sector. By adopting an integrated food systems approach, Ireland will seek to become a global leader of innovation for sustainable food and agriculture systems, producing safe, nutritious, and high-value food that tastes great, while protecting and enhancing our natural and cultural resources and contributing to vibrant rural and coastal communities and the national economy”.
I believe Food Vision is a landmark for the Irish agri-food sector with the potential to transform agriculture, food, forestry and marine in the period to 2030, with economic, environmental and social sustainability at its core. Some 200 actions under 22 goals are proposed, guided by four high-level missions:
1. A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-Food Sector
2. Viable and Resilient Primary Producers with Enhanced Well-Being
3. Food that is safe, nutritious and appealing: trusted and valued at home and abroad
4. An Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Agri-Food Sector, driven by Technology and Talent.
There are seven Goals in Mission 1 “A Climate Smart, Environmentally Sustainable Agri-food Sector” which aim to deliver a climate-neutral food system by 2050, with verifiable progress achieved by 2030, encompassing emissions reductions, carbon sequestration, improvements in air quality, restoration and enhancement of biodiversity, improvements in water quality, development of diverse forests, enhanced seafood sustainability, exploring the bioeconomy and strengthening Origin Green. On 4 November Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2021 was launched - this is the most ambitious Climate Action Plan ever produced. The commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are challenging but I know the sector is committed to the challenge. Delivering real results will require collaboration, cooperation, and a sense of shared responsibility between citizens, industry and the State to deliver our environmental ambitions.
Food Vision 2030 acknowledges that in general, future environmental targets are likely to be set by legislation and commits to participating in the various target-setting processes with a view to the ultimate commitment to be climate neutral by 2050.
I believe that the success of this Strategy will depend on effective implementation and oversight. For this reason, a Monitoring and Implementation Framework is included in the Strategy. This highlights areas for collaboration and partnership within the sector but also with key external stakeholders. It also details oversight and monitoring mechanisms for implementation, including the establishment of a High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC). Significant detail is also given on the critically important area of environmental monitoring, including the establishment of a dedicated environmental monitoring group. A detailed Implementation Plan will be published soon.
In line with one of the outcomes of that first implementation meeting, I established a Food Vision Dairy Group, whose first task will be to “produce a detailed plan by Q2 2022 to manage the sustainable environmental footprint of the dairy sector”. Given the importance of providing certainty for the sector, I tasked the Group to provide an initial report to me by end March setting out how emissions associated with the dairy sector can be stabilised, and then reduced, with a final plan to be submitted by the end of quarter two.
A key priority for the Food Vision Dairy Group is ensuring that we continue to provide a platform of sustainability for our farmers and our sector, economically, environmentally and socially. The new Group includes representatives from the farming organisations, the dairy industry, my Department and relevant agencies.
I want to ensure the long-term viability of the sector because it is an exciting sector for our farm families. We will continue to be a global leader in the years and decades ahead.
448. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with consequences for food supplies across Europe, has been discussed with his European Union colleagues. [15300/22]
View answerSince the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, I have participated in an extraordinary EU Agriculture Ministers meeting on 2 March and the Agri-Fish Council in Brussels on 21 March. The Ukrainian agriculture minister, Roman Leschenko, spoke via videoconference at the Agri-Fish Council about the impact of the Russian invasion on Ukraine's agriculture.
My Department has also been engaged at a number of EU meetings in recent weeks to discuss food security issues, including a meeting of the European Food Security Crisis preparedness and Response Mechanism (EFSCM).
I have outlined to my EU colleagues that Ireland has continued to strongly support the most extensive EU sanctions on Russia for its outrageous actions. We must also ensure that the actions we take in that wider context, together with the burden that must be borne, are sustainable, and this will only be the case if we do all we can to maintain food security, for our own citizens, for the Ukrainian people and in a wider international context.
I underlined my particular concerns in relation to the impacts of the conflict on agri-food supply chains, and especially on inputs such as fertiliser and feed. As the situation is obviously a volatile and evolving one, I stressed the need from an EU perspective to continually assess developments, and to be ready to take necessary responses to minimise the impact on our collective food security.
Following discussions at these meetings the European Commission announced on Wednesday 23 March, via the communication “Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems”, a range of actions to enhance global food security and to support farmers and consumers in the EU in light of rising food prices and input costs.
These actions included Support through the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) EU countries' actions to provide food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived. It also included €500 million to support farmers most affected, including an allocation of €15.8 million to Ireland; and agreement to deploy market safety net measures, including private storage aid for pigmeat.
Other actions approved included a new self-standing Temporary Crisis Framework (TCF) for state aid and allowing Member States to derogate from certain greening obligations in 2022 to bring additional agricultural land into production.
On 22nd March, the Government approved my proposal for a targeted intervention package for the tillage sector and a multi-species sward initiative, worth over €12 million to support Irish farmers. This package is aimed at producing more native crops while reducing dependency on imports and on crops with a low demand for chemical fertiliser.
I will continue to work with my EU colleagues to monitor the situation closely and consider all appropriate measures.
449. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work his Department is undertaking to support dairy and tillage farmers in relation to the supply of fertiliser. [17150/22]
View answerRussia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has led to significant hikes in input prices and significant concerns around supply chain disruption including in relation to supply of fertiliser.
I met with the main farm organisations and Teagasc on 8th March to discuss the impact on Irish agriculture and supply chains. At that meeting I established the National Fodder and Food Security Committee to prepare an industry response to the emerging crisis in feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs, and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises. This Group continues to meet and I continue to engage closely with the sector as we work together on these significant challenges.
Within my Department, I established a Rapid Response Team, chaired by the Secretary General, to actively monitor the impacts on agri-food supply chains and to contribute to the whole of Government response to this crisis, including in relation to the supply of fertiliser.
I raised concerns in relation to the impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on agri-food supply chains at the extraordinary informal meeting of European Union Agriculture Ministers held on 2nd March and at the AgriFish Council on 21st March. At these meetings I underlined the need to maintain and keep a very close eye on supply chains and to ensure an effective and functioning Single Market and to be ready to consider any measures that may help to alleviate the difficulties caused.
The Commission has already announced a number of support measures, including the introduction of private storage aid for the pigmeat sector, a new exceptional aid support package making available a fund of €500 million for affected sectors (which Member States can match by up to 200%), increased payment advances in 2022 and a new temporary State Aid framework.
I announced a package of targeted interventions for the tillage sector and a multi-species sward initiative worth over €12 million to support Irish farmers on 22nd March. The package supports the growing of additional tillage and protein crops and the establishment of multi-species swards lowering demand for chemical fertiliser.
My Department continues to actively engage with the fertiliser industry and to monitor supply chains. I'm taking a proactive approach to this situation in order to support our farm families and their businesses through this time of considerable challenge.
450. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plan his Department is undertaking to improve Ireland's dependency on grain imports for the production of animal feed. [17151/22]
View answerI announced a Targeted Intervention Package on 22nd March framed around three pillars to support Irish farming families arising both from events in Ukraine and wider global price volatility.
The total package is projected to cost in the region of €12.2 million. The package seeks to incentivise the planting of additional tillage crops for this coming planting season through the Tillage Incentive Scheme and introduces supports to encourage farmers to grow protein crops in 2022. Supporting domestic production of tillage and protein crops will reduce Ireland’s reliance on imported feed materials.
Finally, the package includes a Multi-Species Sward Scheme, that includes support for red clover, to promote environmentally sustainable methods of farming, and thereby greatly reduce nitrogen fertiliser, while maintaining forage yields.
The financial supports outlined will assist farmers in offsetting the significant increases in farm inputs experienced by farmers presently and in assisting to ensure sufficient fodder for winter 2022.
My Department continues to monitor the evolving situation and engages regularly with stakeholders on issues impacting them.
451. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which extra markets for Irish dairy, beef, lamb or pig meat need to be generated to compensate for losses arising from the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17174/22]
View answer457. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects to be in a position to ensure the ongoing development of the dairy sector having particular regard to world food shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17288/22]
View answer460. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which efforts have been made to identify the level of imports of various food and food products with a view to making provision nationally in the face of worldwide demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17291/22]
View answer463. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the various export markets for Irish food and food products have been examined with a view to ensuring their continuity, stability and the need to ensure the availability of sufficient food and food products in the face of worldwide shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17294/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 451, 457, 460 and 463 together.
The Irish Government has been clear in its outright condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and we are mindful of the terrible toll being inflicted on Ukrainian citizens. We will work with EU partners to consider, and implement, appropriate responses. This includes ensuring that food security is maintained for EU citizens, for the Ukrainian people and in the wider global context.
In addition to the immediate humanitarian crisis, which must take priority, there will be implications across all sectors. Considerable volumes of both global feed and fertiliser originate and are traded through Ukraine and Russia. In addition, the food industry largely relies on natural gas for its energy supply, so costs will escalate and increases in consumer prices are likely. However, specifically on food exports, it is not currently expected that the war in Ukraine will have a major impact, as exports to Russia and Ukraine constituted less than .5% of total agri-food exports in 2021.
At farm level, across the dairy, beef, pig, sheep, poultry and tillage sectors, the crisis is likely to have serious impacts on the price and availability of animal feed and fertiliser, which are vital farm inputs.
Fertiliser stocks nationally are estimated to be reduced year-to-date versus last year, however there is adequate supplies to meet farmers’ spring requirements although prices have risen considerably. There are sufficient supplies of animal feed at present and importers are actively competing on the global market to ensure that supply continues uninterrupted. Energy price inflation is obviously an issue across the whole economy and the Government has already taken action and will continue to consider additional measures in this regard.
On 22nd March, the Government approved my proposal for a targeted intervention package for the tillage sector and a multi-species sward initiative, worth over €12 million to support Irish farmers. This package is aimed at producing more native crops while reducing dependency on imports and on crops with a low demand for chemical fertiliser, which is limited in supply as a result of the invasion.
The new National Fodder and Food Security Committee, which I have established, will play an important role in discussing contingency plans and providing advice to farmers on how to manage with constrained fertiliser supplies if that proves necessary.
Within my Department, I have established a Rapid Response Team, chaired by the Secretary General, to actively monitor the impacts on agri-food supply chains and to contribute to the whole of Government response to this crisis.
Following recent discussions at EU level, the European Commission announced on Wednesday 23 March, via the communication “Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems”, a range of actions to enhance global food security and to support farmers and consumers in the EU in light of rising food prices and input costs. The communication sets out actions in three areas:
- First, it presents immediate actions to safeguard food security in Ukraine and around the world.
- Second, it addresses the challenge of food stability in the EU's food system, with a range of measures to support our farmers and maintain affordability for our citizens.
- Finally, it confirms the EU agenda to make our food system sustainable and resilient in the years to come.
It includes €500 million to support farmers most affected and agreement to deploy measures to support specific markets and allow for increased levels of advances of direct payments later this year. Other actions approved included a new self-standing Temporary Crisis Framework (TCF) for state aid and allowing Member States to derogate from certain greening obligations in 2022 to bring additional agricultural land into production. It includes an allocation of €15.8 million for Ireland, which can be topped up by national funding.
I will be examining ways to best mobilise this support as soon as possible, taking account of the detailed requirements and conditionality attached to this exceptional aid provision. The EU package also includes plans to deploy market safety net measures to support specific markets including private storage aid for pigmeat.
I will continue to engage with all our stakeholders and will continue to work across Government, and with our European partners, to respond to this crisis, using all of the tools at our disposal.
