Written Answers Nos. 1033-1052
1033. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the difference between the shellfish licence and the mussel licence; the status of licences for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12776/24]
View answerMy Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended) and applicable National and EU legislation. The licensing process is complex and involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisors, as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation.
The species of either aquatic plant or shellfish that an applicant seeks to cultivate is supplied by the applicant on their application form. If following the granting of a licence, the licence holder wishes to apply to change the species on their licence, that application will need to be fully assessed in line with the aforementioned legislation.
The time for processing an aquaculture licence varies depending on a number of factors including location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of sites and potential visual impact. My Department also takes full account of all scientific and technical advice, in addition to all issues identified during the public and statutory consultation phases. Further factors that can impact the time taken to process an application can include; the requirement for an Appropriate Assessment and whether the application is required to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report; the need for additional underwater or archaeological assessments; consideration of any submissions or observations raised during the public consultation period, etc.
Decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all scientific, legislative, technical and public interest elements of each application.
1034. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of each bonus payment to employees of Horse Racing Ireland in 2023. [12801/24]
View answerHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
1035. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider a scheme to support more wind powered microgeneration on farms. [12822/24]
View answerThe Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) provides grants to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holdings. All investments must be linked to Climate, Environment or Animal Welfare.
There are currently no plans to include grant aid for wind powered micro generation on farms in TAMS 3.
My Department examined the possibility of including farm-based wind turbines (to meet farmyard electricity demand) when designing TAMS 3. However, following lengthy research and the fact that turbines require regular maintenance, due to their moving parts, it was decided not to grant aid this type of investment. Instead, my Department has decided to focus on supporting farmers in the installation of solar PV technology to address the provision of farmyard electricity, through the Solar Capital Investment Scheme.
I will ensure that the list of investment items in TAMS 3, including micro generation, will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis. The inclusion of further investment categories will, of course, be dependent on the availability of the required funding.
1036. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is investigating the use of new technology which has been developed for energy storage capacity on farms.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12823/24]
View answerMy Department is not engaging with any engineering companies in relation to the development of on-farm energy storage systems. The development of energy storage systems is not under the remit of my Department. Enterprise Ireland is the body responsible for assisting companies to develop new products.
Support for the purchase of energy storage capacity on farms is currently available through the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3) administered by my Department. The Solar Capital Investment scheme (SCIS) is one of the measures in TAMS 3, which provides support to farmers to encourage on-farm renewable technology uptake and usage. Grant aid is provided for the installation of Solar PV technology together with battery storage on Irish farms.
I believe that the suite of TAMS schemes, including the Solar Capital Investment Scheme, is the best mechanism for ensuring that investment funding is targeted most effectively. I will ensure that the list of investment items will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis. The inclusion of further investment categories will, of course, be dependent on the availability of the required funding.
1037. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an Eco and hardship payment will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12824/24]
View answerA change of ownership was received from the herdnumber supplied by the Deputy since the date of application for the 2023 Eco-scheme. Where a change of ownership occurs, applications require additional processing and validations which can lead to a delay in payment issuing. The Eco-Scheme payment for the herdnumber provided will be processed shortly.
Regarding the hardship grant, the payment is currently being processed following eligibility checks for the scheme. The persons named will receive payment in the coming days. If the persons named require any further information on this payment, they can contact the Tralee Regional Office, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Government Offices, Spa Road, Tralee, V92 VX4V, 066 7145052 or email kerrydvo@agriculture.gov.ie
1038. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of recorded/confirmed dates of fireblight erwinia amylovora infections detections by his Department to date, per county; the steps his Department is taking to contain the spread of any further infections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12826/24]
View answerPromoting and safeguarding plant health is a key strategic principle of the Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy 2020-2025. Within the EU, plant health is governed by the EU Plant Health Regulation 2031 of 2016 and the Official Controls Regulations 625 of 2017. These Regulations harmonise the rules on several areas, including rules on outbreaks of pests and diseases.
My Department conducts annual plant health surveillance checks for plant pests and diseases, including the protected zone pest, Fireblight (Erwinia amylovora (Burrill) Winslow et al. ). There have been no confirmed outbreaks of Fireblight to date in 2024. However, in 2023, seventeen outbreaks of Fireblight were confirmed. Details of 2023 outbreaks are presented in the attached Table.
At confirmed outbreak locations a 500m infested zone and a 5km buffer zone are established and further intensive surveys and sampling are carried out to determine the extent of the outbreak. Under EU rules a 24-month period from the official confirmation of the presence of the pest is permitted to complete surveillance and achieve eradication, where possible.
Ireland is recognised as having a favourable plant health status and has the highest number of protected zones in the EU with 23 pests and diseases listed. A protected zone is a region in which a harmful organism which has established in one or more parts of the EU is not present in that region. Ireland (except Galway city) has protected zone status for Fireblight.
To mitigate risk, hosts plant for the disease Erwinia amylovora (Fireblight) are subject to the following import requirements :
• Imports from another Member State are required to be notified to my Department no more than 48 hours after their arrival and plants must be accompanied by a specific Protected Zone Plant Passport which certifies that the protected zone requirements have been fulfilled.
• With the exception of certain third countries where imports are prohibited, imports from third countries are required to be pre-notified to my Department one working day in advance of the expected arrival. Consignments require a phytosanitary certificate for entry into protected zones in accordance with the requirements in Implementing Regulation 2019/2072.
1039. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration is being given to extending the closing date for the spreading of lime under the liming scheme, given challenging weather and ground conditions in many places and concerns raised by farmers regarding their ability to spread lime by the current deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12828/24]
View answer1040. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, due to weather conditions and a limited number of agricultural contractors, the period to spread the approved quantity of lime could be extended until the end of October 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12859/24]
View answer1057. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the extremely wet conditions throughout the country and to consider extending the closing date for spreading lime under the liming scheme as a matter of urgency in the interest of health and safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13097/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1039, 1040 and 1057 together.
s the Deputy will be aware in October last year I announced important flexibility to the spreading date under the National Liming Programme. The extension was permitted due to the challenging weather conditions in 2023.
However, with the high levels of rainfall recorded since last July and little improvement in ground conditions and soil trafficability since the beginning of the year I recognise the challenges farmers have faced trying to spread lime.
Last week I announced an extension to the date by which lime must be spread under this Programme. Lime, purchased under the scheme, can now be spread by Friday 28th June 2024.
This flexibility gives farmers an opportunity to apply lime when ground conditions improve.
1041. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 153 and 154 of 6 March 2024, to name the contractors/employees named as part of the management team in the tender submitted by the Irish Horse Board in April 2022 for sport horse marketing services; the qualifications, QQI Framework Level of said qualification, and name of institution awarding such qualification, of each contractor/employee identified as delivering said contract, if successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12895/24]
View answerThe contract for the provision of Marketing Services to the sport horse sector and was awarded to the Irish Horse Board following a competitive tendering process carried out by my Department in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
The Request for Tender required that "the proposed team must include at least one member or contractor with a qualification in Marketing, Business Studies, or Business Management or other relevant disciplines at Diploma/ Certificate/Degree level".
I am satisfied that the Irish Horse Board met this requirement in their tender submission.
1042. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 6 March 2024, the reason his Departmental official is listed on a website (details supplied) as the FOI contact for the Irish Horse Board; what measures to comply with freedom of information have been taken by the Irish Horse Board; if he has trust in the organisation’s ability to comply with FOI and further GDPR regulations; if he has sought a report on the measures taken by the Irish Horse Board since January 2023 to comply with FOI and GDPR legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12896/24]
View answerI have been informed that the contact details on the FOI website of the Irish Horse Board are outdated. Accordingly, officials in my Department have instructed the named organisation to amend the website to reflect the correct contact details.
The Irish Horse Board is a Co-operative Society and compliance with legislation pertaining to both the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are a matter for the Irish Horse Board.
I have not requested a report on this matter.
1043. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, the number of panel members involved in reviewing the equine marketing tender; the names of any public/civil servant and names of external persons involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; the name and grade of any other civil servants present or attending the evaluation meetings; the memberships held by members, or memberships of equestrian bodies held by family associates of the equine marketing tender evaluation panel; the qualifications and institute where such qualifications were awarded of each member of the panel and any the other necessary skills he considers each member of the panel to have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12897/24]
View answer1044. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, to provide the name/confirm the officials and name of external persons involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; the memberships held by members, the memberships of equestrian bodies held by family associates of the equine marketing tender evaluation panel; the qualifications and institutes where such qualifications were awarded to each member of the panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12898/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1043 and 1044 together.
Following a complaint that was lodged with the EU Commission in March 2018, and following communications between my Department and the Commission, it was agreed that a public procurement process would take place in 2022 in respect of certain services including the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector.
Procurement processes for the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector was carried out by my Department in accordance with National and EU Procurement Guidelines.
The evaluation process comprises of 2 stages, 1) a compliance check where applicants can pass or fail and 2) evaluation of the submissions of those applicants that pass stage 1.
The compliance check (stage 1) consisted of three Department officials at Higher Executive Officer, Agricultural Inspector and acting Assistant Principal levels. This stage involved assessing if the required documentation and other compliances as outlined in the RFT has been met/submitted with the submission, for example, receipt before closing date, eESPD document received, etc. The personnel carrying out the compliance checks had no other role to play in the evaluation, review or scoring of the submissions.
The adjudication panel (stage 2) in respect of the tender competition for the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector in Ireland consisted of Chair at Principal Officer level and two outside panellists. The independent evaluation panel were selected for the individual skills and professional expertise they could bring to the process.
I am satisfied that all members of the evaluation team were impartial and independent in the context of the procurement procedure and had the required experience and knowledge to carry out the evaluation.
All members of the evaluation team properly completed confidentiality/conflict of interest declaration forms.
1045. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, the reasons for awarding a contract given a separating score of 1.1% between two bidders; if he will provide a full objective assessment of the comparative strengths and weaknesses of all tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12899/24]
View answerFollowing a complaint that was lodged with the EU Commission in March 2018, it was agreed between my Department and the Commission that a public procurement process would take place in 2022 in respect of certain services including the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector.
Procurement processes for the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector were carried out by my Department in accordance with National and EU Procurement Guidelines.
The Request for Tenders for the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector specified a number of criteria against which tenders meeting the eligibility criteria were assessed.
This assessment was carried out in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines by an independent assessment panel.
Each eligible tender was required to meet a minimum (pass) mark and following assessment the highest overall scoring tender was deemed successful, in accordance with the Guidelines. Accordingly, the contract was awarded to the highest scoring tenderer, submitted by the Irish Horse Board, in line with Public Procurement Guidelines.
1046. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, if he will publish all tenders submitted in the public interest; if he will publish elements not deemed commercially sensitive; if he will seek consent from bidders to publish their respective tenders in full in failing to publish any of tenders received; if he will publish the table of contents of each bid received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12900/24]
View answerThe contract for the provision of Marketing Services to the sport horse sector (as referred to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024) was awarded to the Irish Horse Board following a competitive tendering process carried out by my Department in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
In accordance with clause 2.16 'Freedom of Information', my officials have consulted with the two Tenderers about the confidentiality or commercial sensitivity of their submissions and the release of this information as requested.
1047. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a series of procurement processes undertaken by Government (details supplied); if he is satisfied that correct procedures have been adhered to throughout the processes; the verifications he has that such adherence is independently verified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12901/24]
View answerFollowing a complaint that was lodged with the EU Commission in March 2018, it was agreed between my Department and the Commission that a public procurement process would take place in 2022 in respect of certain services namely, studbooks, national breeding and marketing.
Following the tendering process the successful tenderers were as follows:
- National Breeding Services – Horse Sport Ireland,
- Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector – Irish Horse Board, and
- Provision of Studbook services – Horse Sport Ireland (3 lots).
I am satisfied that the procurement processes for each of the tenders listed were carried out by my Department in accordance with National and EU Procurement Guidelines, including with regard to the management of potential conflict of interests. I am also satisfied that the tender evaluation teams were suitably qualified to carry out their work.
The recruitment of staff is a matter for the Board and the CEO of the organisation named.
1048. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 6 March 2024, why no reasons were provided to the question; if he will provide the reasons for awarding an approximate €4 million marketing contract to an organisation with no marketing staff, no website, no social media presence and no history of marketing experience at the time of the award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12902/24]
View answerarketing Services to the sport horse sector was awarded to the Irish Horse Board following a competitive tendering process carried out by my Department in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
The Request for Tender (RFT) provided details of the award criteria and each tender was evaluated based on their submissions. The contract was awarded on the basis of the tenderer meeting the specified criteria in the RFT and being deemed the most economically advantageous tenderer.The contract for the provision of M
1049. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 6 March 2024, given the overall value of the tender in question and other tenders (details supplied), if the tender processes in question was notified to the Official Journal of the European Union; if the tender notification required notification to the Official Journal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12903/24]
View answerIn January 2022, the threshold at which the Directive applies for goods/services to be notified to the Official Journal of the EU was revised to €140,000 (ex VAT).
Accordingly, the National Equine Breeding Services and the Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector in Ireland tenders were notified to the Official Journal of the EU, details as follows:
RFT 206629 - National Equine Breeding Services
A Contract Notice (OJEU Notice number 2022/S 025-062734) was published to the Official Journal of the European Union in respect of this tender competition as the estimated value was in excess of the threshold applicable at the time of publication.
RFT 207932 - Marketing Service for the Sport Horse Sector in Ireland
A Contract Notice (OJEU Notice number 2022/S 035-089112) was published to the Official Journal of the European Union in respect of this tender competition as the estimated value was in excess of the threshold applicable at the time of publication.
Finally, no Contract Notice was published to the Official Journal of the European Union in respect of the Studbooks Tender competition as the estimated value was below the threshold applicable at the time of publication.
1050. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 6 March 2024, if he will consider appointing his full cohort of three directors to the board of directors of the Irish Horse Board, including directors with international marketing and governance expertise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12904/24]
View answerI am aware that, as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I may appoint up to three Directors to the Board of the named organisation. Currently one Ministerial nominee has been appointed and I have no plans to make any further appointments to the Board.
1051. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explain how a company with a stated objective within its constitution/rules to promote one studbook above all others won a tender to promote all of his Department's approved studbooks (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12905/24]
View answerThe contract for the provision of Marketing Services to the sport horse sector and was awarded to the Irish Horse Board following a competitive tendering process carried out by my Department in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
The Constitution of the Irish Horse Board was last consolidated in 2011. It lists 22 objectives for the organisation. Several of these objectives are both relevant to the wider Sport Horse industry and the provision of the Marketing Services , including, inter alia ,
- "to increase the prosperity of those engaged in the horse industry in Ireland by co-operative action in all aspects of the industry including promotion and marketing",
- "to identify markets and help define breeding goals which best serve these markets; to promote the Irish Horse in these markets".
1052. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 168 of 6 March 2024, the terms of such exit agreement to a named member of staff within a named organisation (details supplied); the costs to his Department of such an agreement; if the named individual was named as part the management team/project team of a series of tenders submitted to his Department during a period under which the person was exempt from competing against their former employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12906/24]
View answerMy Department provides funding to the named organisation for the purpose of supporting the sport horse sector, which includes associated operational costs.
Operational matters are determined by the Board and the CEO of the named organisation. I am advised that during 2021 and up to January 2022, a HR matter involving the named individual was under active management by the then Board of the named organisation. I am further advised that the matter was brought to a resolution by the named organisation in January 2022 within the budgetary provision made available my Department.
I can confirm that the named individual was not referred to in the said tender submission/s by the second named organisation.
