Written Answers Nos. 464-483
464. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of fines that have been imposed or prosecutions commenced in respect of careless and-or dangerous driving that is a threat to cyclists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6283/24]
View answerAs 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 the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations, carried out in partnership with other State agencies, including Government Departments, the Road Safety Authority, the National Roads Authority, and the community, in order to make our roads safer for all.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the figures requested by the Deputy are not maintained in the format requested and that to compile this information would involve a disproportionate expenditure of Garda resources.
465. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications that were made for clerical civilian jobs in An Garda Síochána following the recruitment drive that closed on 20 September 2023; how many of the 400 clerical positions that were available have been now filled by civilians; the number of gardaí that have been freed-up from these clerical roles to be available for other frontline work in the force, in tabular form. [6309/24]
View answerThe Public Appointments Service (PAS) manages the initial recruitment stages for selection of Garda staff, including interviews, on behalf of the Garda Commissioner. As Minister I have no role in this matter.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that there were 7,735 valid applications for the Garda Clerical Officer 2023 competition.
I am informed that the first round of interviews took place in December 2023 for six priority counties. I am advised that over 60 candidates were offered roles and are currently progressing through the vetting process.
Garda authorities and the Public Appointments Service will continue to interview candidates throughout the lifetime of the competition (up to the end of December 2025).
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda authorities avail of all opportunities to reassign Gardaí out of administrative roles, where appropriate. However, it should be noted that not all Garda staff recruitment results in the freeing up of a Garda equivalent.
As the appointment of successful candidates has only commenced, and in light of the above, I am informed that in this instance no Gardaí have yet been reassigned to operational duties as a result of this competition.
466. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice when it is intended to make regulations under the Parole Act 2019 in relation to eligibility for parole of persons who are serving a determinate sentence of eight years or greater; the reason for the delay with this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6319/24]
View answerAt present, the provisions of the Parole Act 2019 apply to those serving a sentence of imprisonment for life. Section 24(3) of the Parole Act 2019 provides that the Minister may introduce regulations prescribing eligibility criteria for applications for parole for those serving long-term fixed sentences. To date, no such regulations have been made.
The Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 contains a commitment to examine the policy base to allow for the introduction of the regulations necessary to determine eligibility for parole for those serving long-term fixed sentences under the statutory Parole Board.
Policy work on these regulations commenced in Quarter 4 of 2023. In advance of the regulations being developed, it should be noted that those serving sentences of 8 years will not necessarily become eligible to apply for parole (subject to serving a portion of the sentence yet to be set). The Parole Act 2019 makes clear that the regulations will prescribe a term regarding eligibility that can be no lower than 8 years, but this is a minimum point provided for under this legislation, and the Minister is under no obligation to set this as the point of eligibility. The minimum point for eligibility will be set at a level based on a policy analysis.
467. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners with determinate sentences of eight years or more who sentences are being managed on an administrative basis by the Irish Prison Service; the number of these that have applied for temporary release or parole in each year since 1 January 2021; the number given parole or temporary release in each year; if such parole or temporary release has to be approved by the Minister; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6320/24]
View answerIt has not been possible to compile the information sought within the timeframe allowed. I will follow up directly with the Deputy as soon as the information is available.
468. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the steps she intends taking in the very short term to deal with overcrowding in our prison system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6321/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the Courts and as such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time.
Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, my officials in the Irish Prison Service make every effort to deal with this through a combination of inter-prison transfers and structured Temporary Release.
All applications for temporary release continue to be assessed by the Irish Prison Service on a case-by-case basis under the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003 and all matters set out are considered before any release is effected. These considerations include risk to the community, the nature of the offence, previous convictions, engagement with services and reports from An Garda Síochána, the Governor and the Probation Service. The Deputy will wish to note that the safety of the public is paramount when decisions are taken regarding temporary release.
The Irish Prison Service is working closely with my officials in the Department of Justice to take steps to ensure a safe working environment for staff and the safety and security of all those in custody. A Prison Overcrowding Response Group has been established, with officials from across the Department, the Irish Prison Service, Probation Service, Courts Service, and An Garda Síochána and this group is currently examining proposals to address overcrowding.
Some recent measures introduced by the Irish Prison Service in 2023 include the expansion of criteria for participation in the Community Return and Community Support Schemes to allow additional people to become eligible for assessment for suitability to participate on these structured and supported temporary release schemes.
While focused on rehabilitation and reducing offending, we do also need to continue to invest in our prison estate to ensure that it is modern and fit for purpose and that it has the capacity to accommodate those committed to prison by the courts.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has made significant capital funding available to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison infrastructure and to provide additional capacity.
In recent years, works have been completed to modernise the Mountjoy complex, a new prison was constructed in Cork and additional prisoner accommodation was provided in the Midlands Prison.
Furthermore, the Training Unit in Mountjoy was reopened providing an additional 96 spaces and the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick in 2022, together with the opening of the standalone female prison in Limerick has, between these 3 developments, brought additional capacity across the estate to in-excess of 200 new spaces.
Plans have also been outlined for 4 capital projects at Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy prisons to deliver a maximum of 620 additional spaces. I am continuing to engage with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to progress an agreed schedule of capital builds, including the delivery of additional Prison spaces.
469. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice what criteria were used in establishing Algeria as a safe country, including what sources were consulted, and if any external legal advice was utilised. [6500/24]
View answerUnder section 72 of the International Protection Act 2015 the Minister for Justice may make an order designating a country as a safe country of origin. A country may only be designated as a safe country of origin where satisfied that, on the basis of the legal situation, the application of the law within a democratic system and the general political circumstances, it can be shown that there:• is generally and consistently no persecution;• no torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and• no threat by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.In making the assessment, it must be taken into account, among other things, the extent to which protection is provided against persecution or mistreatment by:
• The relevant laws and regulations of the country and the manner in which they are applied.• The observance of the rights and freedoms laid down in specified European and International Conventions.• Respect for the principle of non-refoulement in accordance with the Geneva Convention.• Provision for a system of effective remedies against violation of those rights and freedoms.The assessment is based on a range of sources of information, including from other EU Member States, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Council of Europe and other international organisations as appropriate.
If an applicant for international protection is from a country designated as a safe country of origin, their application will still receive a full consideration on its merits by the International Protection Office.
A country that has been designated under section 72 as a safe country of origin shall, for the purposes of the assessment of an application for international protection, be considered to be a safe country of origin in relation to a particular applicant only where— (a) the country is the country of origin of the applicant, and (b) the applicant has not submitted any serious grounds for considering the country not to be a safe country of origin in his or her particular circumstances and in terms of his or her eligibility for international protection.Under section 72 of the International Protection Act 2015, and the International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Countries of Origin) Order 2018 (Statutory Instrument no 121 of 2018), the following countries were designated as safe countries of origin with effect from 16 April 2018:
• Albania;• Bosnia and Herzegovina;• Georgia;• Kosovo;• Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of);• Montenegro;• Serbia; and• South Africa.
Following a comprehensive review in accordance with the requirements of section 72, Botswana and Algeria were added to the schedule of designated countries under S.I. No. 32/2024 - International Protection Act 2015 (Safe Countries of Origin) (Amendment) Order 2024 on the 31st of January 2024 as I was satisfied that they met the criteria.
In accordance with the Act I shall keep the situation in the designated countries under review.
470. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the process by which a person who is not currently in Ireland and is in need of international protection would apply for asylum in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6521/24]
View answerUnder section 15(1) of the International Protection Act 2015 a person must be in the State or at the frontiers of the State to make an application for international protection here.
Information and an overview of the application process for international protection applicants can be found on the IPO website here: www.ipo.gov.ie/en/IPO/Pages/Assessment_of_Application.
471. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide a breakdown of the number of gardaí allocated to Carlow and Kilkenny in each of the past five years; how they have been deployed in each county; and her views on the overall level of crime in each county and in particular drug-related crime. [6525/24]
View answerAs 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, as well as for decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review, in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. The 2024 allocation provides a budget of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána – this is a 25% increase since 2020. This unprecedented budget will strengthen the work of An Garda Síochána and the criminal justice sector to prevent and detect crime and protect communities.
There are currently around 14,000 Garda members across the country. This represents an increase of around 9% since 2015. As the Deputy may be aware, 388 new Gardaí attested in 2023 and were allocated to Garda stations nationwide. The Deputy may also be interested to know that 746 trainee Gardaí entered Templemore in 2023, the highest number to enter Templemore since 2018.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end of December 2023, the latest date for when figures are available, there are 312 Garda members assigned to the Kilkenny/Carlow Division. As of the same date there were 7 Garda members assigned to the Drugs unit in the Division which represents an increase of 40% since the end of December 2019.
Furthermore, the information in the attachment below sets out the number of Garda members assigned to the Kilkenny/Carlow Division at the end of December 2019 up to the end of December 2023. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
Tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups and by members of the public who, through their drug-taking fuel this illegal and very harmful trade, is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government.
The record budgetary resources allocated to An Garda Síochána in recent years have enabled the Garda Commissioner to assign extra resources to the specialist units involved in tackling organised crime, including the Armed Support Unit, GNDOCB, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
The Garda Commissioner has also tasked an Inspector in every Garda Division to respond to the issue of drug-related intimidation. There are currently 30 nominated Garda Inspectors appointed to act as liaison officers for the Drug-Related Intimidation Reporting Programme, covering each Garda Division.
At a local level, An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs through Operation Tara. Operation Tara, which has a strong focus on tackling street-level dealing across the country, also seeks to disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking networks that impact on our communities and prosecuting those involved, at every level.
Recent successes of Operation Tara include the seizure of drugs with an estimated street value in excess of €80,000 in Dublin 15 on the 16 January 2024, €500,000 worth of drugs in County Kildare on 5 January, and €235,000 worth of heroin seized in Dublin and Meath on 3 January.
These large seizures demonstrate the close cooperation between Gardaí and partner services to interrupt the supply of illegal drugs into and throughout the country.
The Deputy may also be aware that the Department of Health leads on Government policy in the area of drugs, and this policy is guided by the national drugs and alcohol strategy "Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025 ". This strategy represents a whole-of-Government response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland.
The implementation of the strategy is led by the Minister for Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy. However, the strategy includes actions for all stakeholders, including my Department and An Garda Síochána.
The strategy recognises the need for a balanced health-led approach - reducing demand, while also reducing access to illegal drugs - and is aimed at reducing the number of people criminalised for the possession of drugs for personal use. While this strategy supports vulnerable people who use drugs, it is also matched with strengthened enforcement measures across Government to tackle the supply of illegal drugs.
I am informed that there are a number of Garda Operations taking place in the Kilkenny/Carlow Division to deter Crime. These include:
• Operation Heed: a Drug Initiative focusing on GAA clubs around both Counties where events are planned with Guest Speakers and open discussions are held on the dangers associated with drug taking.
• Operation Thor: targeting Criminals engaged in Burglaries.
• Operation Táirge: targets persons engaged in Retail Theft.
I am advised that Joint Policing Committees operate in the Division which provide a forum for local communities and local representatives to raise issues of concern which require action by An Garda Síochána. I am further advised that there is ongoing engagement between Carlow Gardaí and the Carlow Age Friendly Alliance which gives crime prevention to the Elderly.
Reported crime statistics for all crime types are publically available from the CSO at Garda Divisional level from quarter 1 of 2003 to quarter 3 of 2023 at the following link: www.data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06.
472. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice if she will reaffirm the official opening hours of Maynooth Garda station; and if there are plans to expand on same. [6526/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including operational matters such as the opening and closing hours for each Garda station. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am informed that Maynooth Garda Station is open Monday and Thursday from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. On Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday the station is open from 10.00am to 12.00 midday. I understand that, at times, these hours cannot be fulfilled due to priority calls for service.
I am further advised that Garda station opening times are kept under review to try and meet the needs of the community.
473. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí, by rank in the Kildare division, by station. [6527/24]
View answerAs 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, as well as for decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review, in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. The 2024 allocation provides a budget of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána – this is a 25% increase since 2020. This funding will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.
There are currently around 14,000 Garda members across the country. This represents an increase of around 9% since 2015. 388 new Gardaí attested in 2023 and were allocated to Garda stations nationwide. The Deputy may also be interested to know that 746 trainee Gardaí entered Templemore in 2023, the highest number to enter Templemore since 2018.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end of December 2023, the latest date for when figures are available, there were 431 Garda members assigned to the Kildare Division. This represents an increase of over 38% since the end of December 2015. The table below sets out these Garda members by station.
|
KILDARE DIVISION |
Station |
GD |
SG |
IN |
SU |
CS |
AC |
Total |
|
KILDARE DISTRICT |
ATHY |
29 |
7 |
1 |
37 |
|||
|
CASTLEDERMOT |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|||||
|
KILDARE |
38 |
5 |
1 |
44 |
||||
|
MONASTEREVIN |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|||||
|
NEWBRIDGE |
48 |
11 |
1 |
60 |
||||
|
RATHANGAN |
2 |
2 |
||||||
|
KILDARE DISTRICT TOTAL |
123 |
25 |
2 |
1 |
151 |
|||
|
LEIXLIP DISTRICT |
CARBURY |
4 |
1 |
5 |
||||
|
CELBRIDGE |
12 |
4 |
16 |
|||||
|
KILCOCK |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|||||
|
LEIXLIP |
56 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
68 |
|||
|
MAYNOOTH |
13 |
2 |
15 |
|||||
|
LEIXLIP DISTRICT TOTAL |
90 |
16 |
3 |
1 |
110 |
|||
|
NAAS DISTRICT |
CLANE |
9 |
4 |
13 |
||||
|
KILCULLEN |
8 |
1 |
9 |
|||||
|
NAAS |
108 |
26 |
6 |
1 |
141 |
|||
|
ROBERTSTOWN |
7 |
7 |
||||||
|
NAAS DISTRICT TOTAL |
132 |
31 |
6 |
1 |
170 |
|||
|
KILDARE DIVISION TOTAL |
345 |
72 |
11 |
3 |
431 |
For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/.
Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
474. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice her views in relation to the denial of Garda pensions to former members of Garda rank who left the force for any reason before 1 October 1976, having had the required five years' service. [6539/24]
View answerThis matter has been considered on a number of occasions in both Houses. Prior to 1 October 1976, where a member of An Garda Síochána resigned or was dismissed before reaching the age and service at which he or she could retire on pension, that member forfeited all superannuation benefits under the then Garda Síochána Superannuation Scheme.
This situation was changed following discussions at the Garda Conciliation Council, the industrial relations machinery for members of An Garda Síochána. It was agreed at that time by both sides and endorsed by the then Minister for Finance that the new arrangements should apply to members of An Garda Síochána serving on, or after, 1 October 1976.
By extension, these new terms did not and cannot apply to members who had left An Garda Síochána prior to that date. Generally speaking, these Agreed Reports provide that a Garda who resigned or was dismissed on or after 1 October 1976 can have superannuation benefits accrued to the date of resignation or dismissal, preserved until the member reached 60 years of age.
The then Department of Finance, and now Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR), which continues to have overall responsibility for public service pension matters, agreed with the proposals for a cut-off date for eligibility for preserved benefits. This date varies depending on the particular organisation involved and the conclusion of negotiations between management and the relevant staff interests.
This was an agreed date between all of the parties involved in the discussions and was not imposed. It is an inevitable consequence of the introduction of improvements in pension schemes that members of that scheme who had left it prior to the effective date cannot avail of that benefit.
As previously advised my Department has consulted the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and has been advised that the position remains that it is not possible to resolve a case individually on an administrative basis and provide an individual with preserved benefits without changing the terms of the scheme retrospectively.
475. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice to provide details on each EU immigration-related policy that Ireland has opted into, including the dates when the Government decided to opt in or out and when the measure was passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas. [6553/24]
View answerThe information requested is currently being compiled and I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working to have an appropriate answer ready shortly.
476. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the date or respective dates by which the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas would need to be secured for any decision Government might make to opt Ireland into each of the five legal measures that form the EU Migration Pact, agreed in December 2023 under the terms of Article 3.1 of Protocol 21 annexed to the Treaty of Lisbon's three months opt-in provision. [6590/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the overall objectives of the Asylum and Migration Pact include creating a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedures in ordinary times as well as in times of migratory pressure and crisis situations, ensuring a fair sharing of responsibility, developing robust and fair management of external borders and providing stronger governance of asylum and migration policies.
The challenges presented by irregular migration cannot be effectively addressed by any state acting alone in an increasingly globalised and interdependent world. Recognising this, the Member States of the EU have now reached a political agreement with the Parliament and the Commission on all of the measures proposed for a new Asylum and Migration Pact, which will pave the way for the adoption of these measures in the coming months. This represents an important further evolution of the Common European Asylum Policy.
In relation to Ireland’s opt-in, under Article 3 of Protocol 21 attached to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the State can chose to opt-in to a measure in the area of asylum and migration within three months of publication by the European Commission. This timeframe starts from the date the last language version of the measure is published. In the case of the Pact measures, the three month timeframe for opting-in under Article 3 expired in January and February 2021 for those measures published in 2020. With regards to the measures published in 2016 the three month time frame expired in 2016.
Alternatively, the State can opt-in to these measures at any time after they have been adopted under Article 4 of Protocol 21. As the State did not opt-in to any of the Pact measures under Article 3, we can now opt-in under Article 4 once the measures have been formally adopted, which is expected in the next couple of months. No time limit applies in respect of an opt-in under Article 4.
Member States are beginning to prepare their transposing legislation and operational systems for the Pact to go live in 2026, two years after its anticipated adoption. In order for Ireland to effectively align its law and systems with other Member States, and to implement a more cohesive migration system provided by the Pact, it is my intention to bring proposals concerning an opt-in to Government next month.
477. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 454 of 23 January 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this PQ answered. [6599/24]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
478. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of suspect identification suites in each Garda division, in tabular form. [6601/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be are aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including matters relating to the Garda estate. In addition, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. As Minister, I have no direct role in such matters.
However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána. I am informed that there is one suspect identification suite in Ireland, located in the North Western Region.
479. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the renewed Garda Reserve regulations; and when she anticipates their publication and enactment. [6621/24]
View answerI would like to acknowledge the important contribution made by all members of the Garda Reserve who volunteer their time for the community's benefit.The Garda Reserve represents a real opportunity for anyone wishing to support policing and give something back to their communities. The Reserve reinforces An Garda Síochána's essential community links, and provides additional resources to assist in policing. The Reserve also provides an opportunity for individuals who may be interested in joining An Garda Síochána to experience the work of the Gardaí before deciding if it is the career they wish to pursue.I will be seeking Government approval for revised Garda Reserve Regulations in the coming weeks.The Garda Commissioner has confirmed that he will undertake a Garda Reserve competition at the earliest possible date, which it is envisaged will be in quarter one of 2024, once the new Reserve Regulations are in place. In preparation for a Garda Reserve recruitment campaign, An Garda Síochána have been actively engaging with the Department of Justice and the Public Appointments Service with a view to maximising the success of this recruitment campaign.
480. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role of a local authority in the granting of export health licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6061/24]
View answerIn addition to food businesses which are subject to approval and control by my Department, certain food businesses are subject to approval and supervision by Local Authorities.
Regarding export certification, those businesses subject to Local Authority control should engage with that control authority on the matter
481. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is obliged to inspect and approve of abattoirs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6062/24]
View answerThere is no definition for the term Abattoir contained in the European Union Hygiene Regulation.
The Competent Authority that inspects and approves an abattoir may not necessarily be my Department, but another Competent Authority, depending on the throughput. The European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 22 of 2020), however set down the demarcation limits for approval and supervision in terms of volume of throughput.
A food business operator that wishes to operate a food business;
• where no more than 100 livestock units are slaughtered in any week with a maximum of 5,000 livestock units slaughtered in a calendar year;
• a food business engaged in the slaughter of poultry where no more than 3,000 birds are slaughtered in any week with a maximum of 150,000 birds slaughtered in a calendar year;
• a food business engaged in the slaughter of lagomorphs where no more than 3,000 lagomorphs are slaughtered in any week with a maximum of 150,000 lagomorphs slaughtered in a calendar year,
• a food business engaged in the preparation of minced meat or mechanically separated meat where no more than five tonnes of minced meat and mechanically separated meat in total is produced in any week,
• a food business engaged in the production of meat preparations or meat products, where no more than 20 tonnes of finished products or preparations in total are produced in any week,
• a food business operating as a cutting plant where no more than 20 tonnes of fresh meat is produced in any week, or
• a food business engaged in the handling of wild game where no more than eight livestock units are handled in any week with a maximum of 200 livestock units being handled in a calendar year
will be inspected and approved by the Local Authority veterinary services.
Larger scale plants, where the volume of throughput is greater than these amounts, will be inspected, approved and will operate under the supervision of my Department.
482. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the processes by which an abattoir may obtain an export health licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6063/24]
View answerAbattoirs firstly must be approved to slaughter and process meat under SI 22/2020 by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) or their Local Authority. In the case of DAFM, this process is clearly laid out on the Gov.ie website.
Regarding exports after approval, abattoir operators should make enquiries, in the first instance, with their respective DAFM or Local Authority supervising officer, who can advise them appropriately.
483. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the implications of the EU Nature Restoration Law that proposes to categorise all drained agricultural peat soils as degraded systems in terms of access for products grown on such land to the EU market and eligibility in the long-term for EU Common Agricultural Payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6104/24]
View answerThe Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH ) are the leading government authority in Ireland for the Nature Restoration Law (NRL). My Department has worked closely with DHLGH to ensure that the text of the NRL will deliver for the environment and climate whilst supporting all sectors of society, including farmers and rural communities.
The definitions within the NRL are aligned with existing EU legislative instruments including the Habitats and Birds Directives. These legislative tools have been in place for a number of decades and have not impacted negatively the access of products to the EU market or the receipt of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) supports. Under the EU Commission Impact Assessment of the Nature Restoration proposal the ambitions to restore drained organic soils under agricultural management are considered coherent with the CAP and, in the long term, are expected to have positive impacts on farm incomes due to greater sustainability of production.
Further to this, the current drafting of the NRL includes several safeguards to protect food security and ensure compatibility with the CAP. Indeed under Article 1 of the NRL, one of the Regulations main aims is to enhance food security. The Regulation states that many extensive agricultural practices have multiple and significant benefits for the protection of biodiversity. As such the Regulation does not intend to stop agricultural land use.
For the delivery of the NRL ambitions for drained agricultural peat soils, the Irish Government have committed to utilising public lands as far as possible enhanced by voluntary supports for farmers who wish to contribute to the targets. The voluntary mechanisms are under consideration and will involve stakeholder engagement, led by DHLGH to identify the most appropriate approach. It should be noted that existing actions under the current CAP Strategic Plan are considered to support progress towards the delivery of NRL ambition already.
