Written Answers Nos. 559-573
559. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of fatal road traffic accidents in each of the past five years and to date in 2023, where the deceased person or persons were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident. [34401/23]
View answerRoad safety remains a high priority for An Garda Síochána and for my Department, working closely in cooperation with the Department of Transport. Any serious injury or fatality is of great concern.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including road traffic offences. As Minister, I have no direct role in such matters.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of a number of tables including the number of road deaths (fatalities) and the number of injured (casualties) on the roads in Ireland between each year, based on information provided by the Roads Safety Authority of Ireland.
To be of assistance the CSO 'Road Fatalities' statistics can be accessed at data.cso.ie/table/ROA11 and 'Persons Injured' data.cso.ie/table/ROA12.
As the Deputy can appreciate An Garda Síochána are unable to conduct roadside testing for deceased and in some cases seriously injured people.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that for fatal road traffic incidents, a postmortem would more likely establish the presence of any intoxicants. I am further advised that such information is not recorded on the PULSE system and as a result An Garda Síochána are not in a position to reliably provide the information requested by the Deputy.
560. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice what steps her Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the report the Working Group on medical negligence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34402/23]
View answerA number of the recommendations in the Meenan Report are dependent on the introduction of a pre-action protocol for clinical negligence cases. Justice Plan 2023 commits to legislating for new pre-action protocols in respect of clinical negligence to encourage early resolution of allegations of negligence, promoting timely communications between parties and reducing the number of clinical negligence actions which are brought.
Enactment of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 will correct an anomaly in earlier legislation and allow for regulations to be made under Part 15 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 for the introduction of a pre-action protocol relating to clinical negligence actions.
The pre-action protocol is to include requirements that must be complied with by the parties to clinical negligence actions before such actions are brought and will address issues such as access to medical records.
Preparatory work for the introduction of a pre-action protocol for clinical negligence actions is ongoing between my Department and the Office of the Attorney General, and following further consultation with relevant stakeholders the regulations will be finalised and enacted later this year.
561. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has engaged with the European Commission on allowing Coillte to avail of Government grants or premiums within the proposed forestry programme; if he will confirm whether these discussions have delayed the application being ratified by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33454/23]
View answer562. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Coillte will be allowed to claim either grants or premiums in the Forestry Programme 2023-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33459/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 562 together.
Ireland’s current afforestation premia are offered under the guidelines for State Aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas. These guidelines were revised last year and the updated guidelines have now come into effect from 1 January 2023. The revised guidelines, under Section 2.1.1 (Aid for afforestation and creation of woodland) and Section 2.3 (Aid for forest-environment and climate services and forest conservation) now include the possibility of public landowners to avail as beneficiaries without restrictions. This allows for the possibility of public authorities, including Coillte, to avail of both grants and premiums.
The Commission is currently reviewing our formal State Aid Notification for the proposed Forestry Programme and will decide whether the aid is compatible with EU rules.
My Department has been engaging proactively and intensively with the Commission to date, in order to secure State Aid approval for the new Programme.
563. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will take action in a case (details supplied) where a registered fishing company has been refused storage at Howth Harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33508/23]
View answerFishers are accommodated with appropriate net or pot storage at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. Such facilities are organised by making contact with the Harbour Master who works with the users on practical matters like this. I understand that the company in question has accepted an offer from Bord Iascaigh Mhara under the Brexit Voluntary Permanent Cessation Scheme and accordingly it may not be clear what the future needs to the company are going to be as regards storage of fishing gear.
A number of Harbour Users who had been operating from former shipping containers were written in July 2021 to advise that area must be vacated by May 2022 and that permissions to continue in the containers would no longer be forthcoming. Those advised included shipwrights, painters, fleet maintenance services, recreational users and fishers. The context for this is the ongoing development of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre as a modern, 21st century fishing port with all relevant services operating from appropriate facilities. An investment of €940,000 was made in new, purpose built units at Boatyard Lane and relocation was offered to only shipyard services such as shipwright, painters and fleet maintenance services to transition to these dedicated units, in keeping with the planning permission for these units. This is part of the important strategy of creating a dedicated vessel services hub, capitalising on the syncrolift service adjacent to the Boatyard Lane.
564. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 497 of 27 June 2023, the number of applications to the protein aid scheme in 2023; the number of applications to the protein aid scheme in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33510/23]
View answerThe 2023 Protein Aid Scheme is a Voluntary Coupled Income Support under Article 33 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115.
Applications under the 2023 scheme were made via the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) online application system and in scheme year 2022, via the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) online application system.
|
- |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Total Protein Aid Applications |
960 |
1,560 |
565. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses seized and/or impounded for trespass and for non-compliance with chipping law and regulation, by county, for the years 2011 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33554/23]
View answerUnder the Control of Horses Act 1996, local authorities may take a range of actions in relation to equines including prohibiting horses in certain areas, the issuing of licences and the seizure of horses in contravention of the Act. These powers can be used in respect of straying horses, which includes horses put on land without the owner’s permission, including public land. Local authorities may also prosecute offenders.
My Department provides financial support to help local authorities with the costs of these seizures. My Department does not have data on the number of horses seized by local authorities for the specific reasons given. The data submitted by local authorities to my Department relate to the total numbers of horses seized by local authorities. Detailed information about the reasons for the seizures rests with the local authorities.
The overall total figures provided by local authorities to my Department in respect of equine seizures by county from 2011 to date in 2023 are provided in the attached table.
566. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the names and contact information of all special advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33576/23]
View answerMinisterial Advisers are appointed under the Appointment of Special Adviser (Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine) Orders.
As of Thursday 06 July, the names and contact information of all special advisers within my Department are set out in the table below.
|
Name |
Advisor to |
Contact information |
|
Darran Brennan |
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. |
Darran.Brennan@agriculture.gov.ie |
|
Amii McKeever |
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. |
Amii.McKeever@agriculture.gov.ie |
|
Barry Cassidy |
Minister of State Martin Heydon T.D. |
barry.cassidy@agriculture.gov.ie |
|
Declan O’Rourke |
Minister of State Pippa Hackett |
Declan.ORourke@agriculture.gov.ie |
|
Jack O’Donnell |
Minister of State Pippa Hackett |
Jack.ODonnell@agriculture.gov.ie |
567. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what entitlements are in place for farmers who wish to opt into the exit dairy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33664/23]
View answerI established the Food Vision Dairy Group last year to advance the actions for the dairy sector identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy, taking account of the requirement for the sector to contribute to achieving the targets set for agriculture emissions in the Climate Act process. The first priority for the Group was to chart a pathway to achieving the legally binding target of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2030, equivalent to a reduction of 5.75 MT of carbon dioxide equivalent.The Dairy Group submitted its final report in October 2022, which has been published on my Department’s website. The report identified measures which could contribute to reducing emissions. The publication was timely as it then served to inform the Climate Action Plan 2023 which was launched in December 2022.A recommendation of the Food Vision Dairy Group was to explore and take forward a voluntary reduction scheme for the dairy herd. My officials are currently working to explore this proposal further and there will be significant engagement with stakeholders over the coming months on the parameters of any potential the scheme.Our dairy farmers and the entire sector is already very sustainable but I want to make us even more sustainable. I want to build a strong and sustainable future for our dairy farmers and the subsequent generations of dairy farmers. I will work collectively and collaboratively with dairy farmers and their representatives in charting a pathway forward.
568. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many soil testing labs are approved by his Department, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33672/23]
View answerMy Department maintains a list of laboratories that are approved to conduct soil analysis in relation to the Eco-Scheme. A copy of that current list is attached.
Other laboratories may also meet my Department's requirements regarding soil analysis. For example, the Nitrates Derogation Terms and Conditions 2023 set out the requirement for laboratories carrying out soil analysis to be ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited. The specification document for the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) also states this requirement, however, it goes further to state that accreditation to compatible standards by other States, such as by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) in the United Kingdom, is also acceptable.
569. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tonnage of beef produced in Ireland per month; the corresponding tonnage of beef produced from feed lots; the tonnage of beef exported and imported each month; the corresponding tonnage of beef imported broken down, by each country; the tonnage of beef imported broken down by type that is, steer, cow, heifer and Y. bull and so on; the tonnage of beef imported from Bord Bia-approved factories outside of Ireland each month; the figures for 2023 and in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33760/23]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office (CSO) produces annual data on Irish meat production, including beef, and presents these as its Meat Supply Balance figures. The volume data for this series is calculated as carcase weight equivalent and thus is not directly comparable to the CSO's published trade data which is quantified in metric tonnes. Beef production data for the period 2018 to 2021 can be accessed at the following link: www.cso.ie/en/statistics/agriculture/meatsupplybalance/
It is important to clarify that there is no legal definition of a feedlot herd. My Department defines certain herds as Controlled Finishing Units (CFUs) in the context of the Bovine TB Eradication Programme. This definition is unique to that programme – it does not necessarily mirror the use of the term ‘feedlot’ by the public and/or other institutions. CFUs are not separately identified in the beef production data.
With regard to the trade statistics requested by the Deputy, I have appended the most recently released data from the CSO for the relevant time period. The export and import figures provided by the CSO show raw beef volume categorised by month and by the main origin and destination markets. There is, however, no available information on the type of animal from which the consigned meat was derived.
It should be noted that there has been a slight change to the methodology used to compile the data which is reflected from 2021 onwards in the attached. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the data contained within, in view of the volume of statistical data collected as part of agri-food trade statistics, some errors in respect of individual products may occur. Where these anomalies are identified, my Department will liaise with the CSO to highlight and amend the information as required.
The position regarding beef plants outside Ireland, approved by Bord Bia for participation in the Meat Processor Quality Assurance Standard, is as follows. During the food processor audit, Bord Bia ensures that the traceability systems in place are capable of identifying the quality-assured status of the product and is documented at all stages. The audit involves conducting a reconciliation that demonstrates that non-Quality Assured product was prevented from being incorporated into products sold as Quality Assured and that product labelled as quality assured is correctly labelled.
CSO trade statistics do not provide data on whether or not imports and exports are quality assured.
570. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with farmer representative bodies with respect to the issue of deer causing animal worrying and damage to farm land; the steps he has taken to support farmers who experience these problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33766/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, policy responsibility for deer and other wildlife resides with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
I am aware of the importance of the sustainable management of our national deer population for agriculture, forestry as well as overall biodiversity within nature ecosystems. In order to address this the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and I convened the Deer Management Strategy group last Autumn, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Teddy Cashman. On foot of a recommendation of the strategy group an open public consultation on the management of deer was launched late last year by myself and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
This was the first major public consultation into the impact of deer and it received over 1,500 submissions from all over the country and all walks of life.
The role of the Deer Management strategy group is to develop a strategy for sustainable management of the national deer population. It does not include a research mandate and is not conducting research on specific population control methods.
The next phase in the process is the development of a series of recommendations by five sub-committees under the following headings.
Legislation,
Venison,
Collaboration / Groups,
Training / Education,
Solutions for land management.
Stakeholders participating in these subcommittees include representatives of deer hunting and conservation groups, venison processing and marketing representative groups, farm representative organisations, forestry organisations, Coillte, the Wicklow Uplands Council, the NPWS and my department.
571. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a new recruitment campaign for technical agricultural officers will be launched in quarter 4 this year. [33787/23]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy, an open recruitment campaign for Technical Agricultural Officers (TAO) was advertised on 24 March 2023.
Closing date for receipt of applications was 13 April 2023.
This competition is being managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).
This competition is currently active with interviews scheduled. There are no plans for a further recruitment campaign for TAO to follow in 2023.
572. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or his officials plan to attend the UN Food Systems Summit in July 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33871/23]
View answerMy Department led Ireland's preparation for the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021 and on post-summit work with the UN Food Systems Co-Ordination Hub. The UN Food Systems Stocktaking moment (UNFSS +2) is the first global follow-up to the UNFSS to assess progress towards the implementation of national food systems transformation pathways.
Ireland's delegation to UNFSS+2 will be led by my Department's Secretary-General, and the delegation will include officials from my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs, as well as a representative from the Civil Society Mechanism.
573. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can provide any historical evidence or documentation from the period 1906 to 1923 that confirms the completion of a purchase agreement by the Congested Districts Board for a parcel of land (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33935/23]
View answerOfficials in the Lands Branch of my Department have informed me that the records held relating to the lands in question contain a document which shows that in May 1906 the CDB acquired the entire estate of Nolan Ferrall in Co Mayo containing an area of 6423a-2r-4p which includes the area of 86a-0r-13p detailed above. The lands were subsequently registered on Folio MY4933 as being in the ownership of the Congested Districts Board for Ireland. I can arrange to have copies of these documents made available to the Deputy should he wish to view same.
