Parliamentary questions

Horse Racing Industry Funding

Catherine Murphy

117. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that there is no mechanism in place for a refund under the thoroughbred foal levy, should a foal which is subject to it die or become injured; if he will address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39921/15]

Appointments to State Boards

Catherine Murphy

401. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will indicate, in respect of State boards under his Department's remit, the name of each appointee made from 7 March 2011 to date in 2015; the date of appointment; whether or not each appointee came through an advertised public application process; the number of vacancies which presently exist on State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37355/15]

National Lottery Funding Disbursement

Catherine Murphy

327. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the way moneys received from the national lottery fund in 2013 were spent on each project to which they were directed, including projects that were part-funded and wholly-funded from the fund; if he will indicate, for each such part-funded project, where the balance of funding was sourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25020/15]

National Lottery Funding Disbursement

Catherine Murphy

328. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the amount of money that was received by his Department from the national lottery fund in each of the years 2009 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; if he will provide a detailed breakdown indicating the way this money was spent or otherwise directed for each of these years; if any moneys are held in reserve arising from funds received over this period or before; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25036/15]

Departmental Contracts Data

Catherine Murphy

148. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list, in tabular form, of all contracts and tenders awarded by his Department to a company (details supplied) since 1 January 2004, including any such awarded singularly or as a joint bid or consortium including said company; if he will indicate which Department, agency or semi-State company was the contacting party in each case; the value in each case; the purpose of each contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13105/15]

Common Agricultural Policy Reform

Catherine Murphy

127. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the submission that is proposed from Ireland to the European Union Commission on the new Common Agricultural Policy, including measures to simplify payments or processes; the timeframes for same; the consultation process to support same; the reason there appears to have been no formal consultation call; the mechanisms for making submissions to his Department and-or the European Commission and the contact points proposed; the specific proposals which Ireland is considering at this time, and the rationale for same; when any submission or draft will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6452/15]

Common Agricultural Policy Reform

Catherine Murphy

128. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process that his Department is undertaking in respect of the recording and updating of hedgerow, ditch and buffer zones; the process where these areas are being considered as an ecological focus area in the new Common Agricultural Policy; the timeframes for same; the process for updating this data; the control and oversight and verification mechanisms in place to ensure the accuracy of the final data set and to ensure mature established hedgerows important for biodiversity are recognised and protected; the consultation there has been on the process; the cross-compliance implications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6453/15]

Fish Producer Organisations

Catherine Murphy

84. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the various roles of fishing producer organisations; the oversight and control exercised over them; in what circumstances a fishing producer organisation will be excluded and-or disqualified from its role under the Common Fisheries Policy or other legislative provisions; the circumstances in which they will be shut down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4249/15]

Legislative Measures

Catherine Murphy

85. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the European and international legislative provisions and relevant sections of same under which fishing producer organisations operating here operate; if he will provide and list the associated provisions and sections of same in legislation here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4250/15]

Legislative Measures

Catherine Murphy

86. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the State’s regulation of fishing producer organisations, if he will provide specific administrative arrangements or legislative specifications which differ from those in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4251/15]

Fish Producer Organisations

Catherine Murphy

87. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if membership of a fishing producer organisation is at individual boat level; if not, the level at which it is assigned; if he will identify any legislative provision here specifying this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4252/15]

Fish Producer Organisations

Catherine Murphy

88. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria which must be met to qualify as a member of a fishing producer organisation; the legislative provisions specifying this; the categories of membership for fishing producer organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4253/15]

Fish Producer Organisations

Catherine Murphy

89. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the information provided to the European Commission on fish producer organisations concerning their funding, quota allocation, membership and landings; if he will provide a copy of the most recent set of such reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4254/15]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Catherine Murphy

273. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that removals of greenhouse gases resulting from the LULUCF sector are not counted towards the European Union’s 20% greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2020, the way it is proposed to reduce emissions from the Irish agriculture sector up to 2020 to help meet Ireland's binding obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43240/14]

Climate Change Policy

Catherine Murphy

83. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when publication of the sectoral adaptation plan for agriculture envisaged under the national policy position for tackling climate change will be; the preparations and progress his Department has made towards the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38932/14]

Departmental Records

Catherine Murphy

111. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is the practice of his Department to employ an archivist to examine records and archives once records are deemed appropriate for archiving to determine the quality of the records, the importance, and the estimated care and attention needed to preserve the records; if not if he will consider this option in order to best capture the most valuable records before they potentially deteriorate in storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35388/14]

Departmental Records

Catherine Murphy

112. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total cost to the Department and those under the aegis of the Department for the storage of records and archives that are ultimately intended to be forwarded to the National Archives; if he will provide this cost for 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35409/14]

TB Eradication Scheme

Catherine Murphy

557. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he has studied the recent paper published in a journal (details supplied) which indicates that culling badgers has little impact on reducing the spread of TB; if he has taken note of the failure of the trail badger cull in the UK and if, in view of this, if he will reconsider seeking contractors for a badger cull this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32729/14]

TB Eradication Scheme

Catherine Murphy

562. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he has undertaken a cost-benefit analysis of the expense of culling badgers here versus the expense of vaccination, taking account of the reductions in the incidence of TB that the two options achieve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32807/14]

Appointments to State Boards

Catherine Murphy

139. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of all persons appointed by him to a State board in 2014, to date, in tabular form; the name of the person and board in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30585/14]

Statutory Instruments

Catherine Murphy

141. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will list and itemise the title and reference of every statutory instrument signed by him from 1 May 2014 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30644/14]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Catherine Murphy

207. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will indicate, in tabular form, the total expenditure by his Department on external consultancy advice services, including legal services, in 2011, 2012 and 2013; if this spend is in line with the overall value for money objective of his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10006/14]

Appointments to State Boards

Catherine Murphy

560. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will itemise in tabular form the occasions on which his Department has engaged the services of external professional advice such as a company (details supplied) on the appointment of persons to State boards; if he will list the fees paid in respect of such services; the persons who were ultimately appointed on foot of advice received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4980/14]

Appointments to State Boards

Catherine Murphy

561. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will identify any instance where a person appointed to a State board after recruitment advice was received from professional external consultants was subsequently deemed to be unqualified for the duties and responsibilities attached to the role; the costs incurred in obtaining advice in respect of each such instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4996/14]

Genealogical Services

Catherine Murphy

562. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is intended that the former Land Commission maintained by his Department should be made publicly available for genealogical research purposes by the State; if he recognises the genealogical value of the register as part of a holistic approach to genealogical research that the Government could champion; if he has had discussions with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5053/14]

Departmental Research Programmes

Catherine Murphy

197. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the research that has been commissioned by his Department in relation to climate change mitigation and or adaptation over the past year; and if he will supply a copy of the terms of reference for any such research. [3327/14]

Climate Change Policy

Catherine Murphy

198. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work being done to develop climate change mitigation policy applicable to his Department and the public participation opportunities incorporated in that work. [3335/14]

Animal Slaughtering Standards

Catherine Murphy

227. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has undertaken research to determine the risk to public health from the use of animal antibiotics in livestock which are then rendered for human consumption; if he will outline the testing and enforcement process in this regard; if his attention has been drawn to any instances where unacceptable levels of antibiotics were detected in the food chain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41241/13]

EU Directives

Catherine Murphy

533. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of compliance with European Union directives within his ministerial areas of responsibility; the current fines resulting from non-compliance and potential fines resulting from current non-compliance to which the State is or may be exposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40628/13]

Fisheries Protection

Catherine Murphy

610. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of pelagic trawlers, such as the Annelies Llena and the Naeraberg, that have fished inside the Irish exclusive economic zone in the past 24 months; the timeframe each such vessel spent fishing in the Irish EEZ in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36095/13]

Fisheries Protection

Catherine Murphy

611. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to any infringements or related penalties registered under the national register of infringements against vessels which have been made against a private company (details supplied) in accordance with Article 93 of the EU Control Regulation 1224/2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36667/13]

Information and Communications Technology Issues

Catherine Murphy

614. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is preparing his Department to adapt to and make maximum use of next generation technologies in information and communications to better enhance the interaction of his Department with the citizen and the internal functioning of his Department; if he intends to conduct a risk analysis in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36098/13]

Appointments to State Boards

Catherine Murphy

628. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the present gender balance of the total members of State boards under the aegis of his Department; if the ratio has changed significantly over the course of the present Government's term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36783/13]

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

Catherine Murphy

48. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any strategic assessment has been undertaken within his Department to establish the likely effect that the sale of harvesting rights at Coillte forests will have on his Department's ability to achieve the aims of the sectoral plans envisaged by the forthcoming climate action and low carbon development Bill; and if he will share the findings; if not, if he will commit to such an undertaking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29215/13]

Food Harvest 2020 Strategy

Catherine Murphy

59. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the growth in agricultural, fisheries and forestry output allowed for in Food Harvest 2020 is wholly compatible with the sectoral adjustment plans envisaged by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill; if he intends to permit a full strategic environmental assessment of Food Harvest 2020 in view of the likely greenhouse gas mitigation efforts which will be needed within this sector over the coming decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29218/13]

Coillte Teoranta Lands

Catherine Murphy

180. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline his policy surrounding the charging of members of the public to gain access to State owned forests; if he will consider issuing guidelines in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29540/13]

Single Payment Scheme Administration

Catherine Murphy

452. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is intended to amend the single farm payment in order that it may only be awarded in respect of currently productive farms as opposed to non-productive farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29135/13]

Agriculture Schemes Data

Catherine Murphy

453. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding awarded under the disadvantaged area payments that was returned to the Exchequer in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29141/13]

Departmental Staff Contracts

Catherine Murphy

210. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of members of staff in his Department that are employed on temporary contracts; the way such members of staff have been employed on a temporary contract basis; the pay grades that the temporary staff members occupy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21021/13]

Departmental Staff Contracts

Catherine Murphy

211. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff in his Department that have retired from service in the past five years that have now been reinstated on temporary contracts; if he will confirm the pay grade that said staff members occupied at retirement and also at reinstatement; if he will disclose the gap in working days between their retirement and their reinstatement on a temporary contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21030/13]

Fisheries Protection

Catherine Murphy

553. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he has put in place to ensure that large foreign registered vessels, commonly referred to as super trawlers, do not engage in illegal practices while fishing in Irish waters, such as high-grading; if he intends to make provision for the inspection of such vessels upon entry into Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19032/13]

Fisheries Offences

Catherine Murphy

554. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to any infringements or related penalties registered under the national register of infringements against vessels which have been made against a private company (details supplied) in accordance with Article 93 of the EU Control Regulation 1224/2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19033/13]

Fisheries Protection

Catherine Murphy

555. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of pelagic trawlers, such as the Annelies Llena and the Naeraberg, have fished inside the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone in the past 24 months; the timeframe each such vessel spent fishing in the Irish EEZ in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19034/13]

Afforestation Programme

Catherine Murphy

431. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consideration being given to forest replanting at sites when harvesting rights may be sold as proposed by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13941/13]

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

Catherine Murphy

433. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm, with respect to the proposed sale of harvesting rights at Coillte forests, the detailed measures that will be proposed to ensure that public roads and service roads are maintained; if there will be an additional cost to the State in respect of same; if a levy is being considered for the private operators of logging vehicles to ensure road maintenance is kept up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13960/13]

Common Fisheries Policy Reform

Catherine Murphy

166. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his view on the effect that the decoupling process within common agricultural policy reform has had upon the scale and intensity of Irish farms and farming; if the trends towards larger, more intensive farming practice partially brought about as a result of the decoupling process has had an effect upon the State's overall ability to tackle the emission of climate-forcing agents from intensive farming as part of a wider programme of emissions reduction; the impact into the future that the full decoupling process is expected to have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6912/13]

Fish Landings

Catherine Murphy

171. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will supply figures relating to fish extracted from waters under Irish jurisdiction by EU and non-EU vessels since 2002 broken down by weight, by monetary value, and by International Conference for the Exploration of the Sea Areas in each year during the period stated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4846/13]

Departmental Staff Grades

Catherine Murphy

862. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the breakdown of staff in the Department of the Marine under the titles, total staff numbers; staff positions; locations of staff for the Department, numbers within each location, along with potential forecasts of staff numbers in the medium future and where they might be found within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58198/12]

Fisheries Protection

Catherine Murphy

863. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the next stage of development regarding the mackerel negotiations between the EU and Norway with Iceland and the Faroe Islands; his views on the reason they have not succeeded to date; the way he will use Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU to bring a remedy to the negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58201/12]

Marine Plan

Catherine Murphy

121. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the future timetable of the Our Ocean Wealth policy initiative now that the public consultation period has ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48424/12]