Parliamentary questions

Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme

Claire Kerrane

1051. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider flexibility regarding the dates for the BEEP scheme given farmers are under pressure to have animals weighed in time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8878/21]

Departmental Contracts

Seán Sherlock

1052. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contracts for public relations advice and consultancy entered into by his Department over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021; the nature of the contract; and the length of the contract in tabular form. [8885/21]

Ministerial Communications

Seán Sherlock

1053. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there has been any contact with his counterpart in the United States Administration. [8905/21]

Horse Sport Ireland

Bernard Durkan

1054. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the proposed location for a centre of excellence representing Horse Sport Ireland; his views on the necessity for its location in a prominent horse industry location in which it can visibly develop as required (details supplied); if he will encourage the use of such prominent and established locations as the location for the onward development of the industry; if he has received a request for funding in this regard; his views and plans regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8963/21]

Agriculture Industry

Brendan Smith

1055. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that will be implemented to address the difficulties for the mushroom, horticulture and nursery sectors due to the difficulties arising from the cessation of peat production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8989/21]

Beef Industry

Brendan Smith

1056. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next meeting of the beef task force will take place; the agenda for the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8990/21]

Organic Farming Scheme

Michael Healy-Rae

326. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7484/21]

Agriculture Schemes

Richard Boyd Barrett

327. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures in place to ensure that all grants for struggling small to medium-sized farms are prioritised over larger and more profitable farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7505/21]

Animal Diseases

Jackie Cahill

328. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the loss of animals from TB by a farmer (details supplied) can be used as a stock rate reduction under force majeure with regard to BEAM; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7530/21]

Covid-19 Tests

Martin Browne

329. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of meat processing factories at which serial testing has taken place since its introduction; the frequency with which serial testing is being carried out at individual facilities; if there are any facilities that have not had serial testing carried out; if so, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7540/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

James O'Connor

330. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the closure due to Covid-19 and the resumption of point-to-point racing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7564/21]

Ministerial Correspondence

Catherine Murphy

331. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to correspondence (details supplied); if he will contact the correspondents; and his plans to deal with the matters raised in the correspondence. [7595/21]

Agrifood Sector

Martin Browne

332. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is in possession of any assessment on the impact that the EU farm-to-fork biodiversity strategies will have on production costs for farmers; the impact it will have on their output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7652/21]

Land Issues

Michael Healy-Rae

333. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding folios (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7706/21]

Young Farmers Scheme

Matt Carthy

334. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the discrepancies affecting the category known as the forgotten farmers, that is, those young farmers who have been denied top-up financial supports due to the fact that they commenced farming before 2015, will be resolved in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7720/21]

Beef Industry

Denis Naughten

335. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to allow flexibility in the implementation of the BEAM 5% nitrogen reduction criteria in view of the response from the European Commission; when the online calculator will go live; if he will ensure that farmers have access to the calculator for at least 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7724/21]

Brexit Issues

Bernard Durkan

336. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the fishing industry has been affected by Brexit; the actions taken or in hand to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7747/21]

Brexit Issues

Bernard Durkan

337. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which families dependent on the fishing industry are being affected by Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7748/21]

Brexit Supports

Bernard Durkan

338. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which his Department can avail of opportunities to assist families dependent on the fishing industry who are being impacted by Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7749/21]

Animal Diseases

Bernard Durkan

339. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which bovine tuberculosis continues to be eradicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7750/21]

Animal Diseases

Bernard Durkan

340. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of incidents of bovine tuberculosis recorded in each of the past ten years to date; the extent to which the causes of outbreaks have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7751/21]

Animal Welfare

Bernard Durkan

341. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which breaches of animal health regulations continue to be brought to the attention of his Department; if specific issues for particular action arising from such incidents have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7752/21]

Veterinary Services

Bernard Durkan

342. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has examined the impact of the purchase of veterinary practices by vulture funds; his plans for specific provisions to ensure that adequate veterinary capacity remains available to the agrifood sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7753/21]

Agrifood Sector

Bernard Durkan

343. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has identified the most salient issues affecting the agrifood sector arising from Brexit to date; his plans to address the issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7754/21]

Beef Industry

Bernard Durkan

344. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current strength of the national beef herd; the degree to which the numbers have fluctuated in the past ten years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7755/21]

Dairy Sector

Bernard Durkan

345. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current strength of the dairy herd; the extent to which numbers have fluctuated in the past ten years to date; if he remains satisfied that income from the sector will remain positive for the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7756/21]

Brexit Issues

Bernard Durkan

346. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which markets for Irish-produced beef, lamb and pig meat and poultry remain positive or are threatened in the future arising from Brexit or otherwise; the extent to which his Department studies these issues on an ongoing basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7757/21]

Laboratory Facilities

Bernard Durkan

347. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which sufficient laboratory facilities exist or, if not available, can be provided here, with particular reference to ongoing challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7758/21]

Dairy Sector

Bernard Durkan

348. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which strong markets remain available for all Irish dairy products notwithstanding the challenges arising from various sources, including Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7759/21]

Brexit Issues

Bernard Durkan

349. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which Brexit has to date negatively or positively affected Irish food exports, including beef, dairy, pigmeat, poultry and lamb; if specific measures need to be taken arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7760/21]

Rural Environment Protection Scheme

Brendan Griffin

350. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if organic farmers will be permitted to join the new REPS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7771/21]

Departmental Data

Brian Leddin

351. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of goats reared in Ireland; the number of goat farms and average herd size; the way in which these farms are regulated and inspected; the way in which animal welfare standards are monitored and enforced; the number of male kids killed each year; the age at which they were killed; the locations at which they are killed; the destination of carcasses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7779/21]

Animal Welfare

Gary Gannon

352. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the standards in place for dog shelters, pounds and facilities; the evidence on which these standards are based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7797/21]

Animal Welfare

Gary Gannon

353. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of complaints his Department received regarding animal welfare in publicly funded facilities between January 2017 and December 2020; the counties in which the facilities were located; and the nature of these complaints. [7798/21]

Animal Sales

Gary Gannon

354. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent by his Department in 2020 on communication and education for rules on the sale or supply of pet animals which came into effect on 1 February 2020 under the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7799/21]

Animal Sales

Gary Gannon

355. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sellers and suppliers under the register of sellers and suppliers of pet animals; the number of premises under the register of premises; and if there has been a noted increase since the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019 were brought in. [7800/21]

Fishing Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

356. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he plans to take in EU fishery discussions now and into the future to ensure that Ireland gets a proper and equitable share of Ireland’s maritime natural fish resources, particularly an equitable share of migratory and straddling fish stocks that breed, spawn, feed and grow in Irish waters as defined by international law; if he will seek to have the principle of zonal attachment applied to the share-out of these stocks in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7809/21]

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

977. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements in place to ensure there are an adequate supply of accredited green certificate in agriculture courses available for all applicants in all regions due to the unprecedented demand for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6361/21]

Covid-19 Tests

Dara Calleary

978. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce antigen testing for employees of key manufacturing plants such as food and meat processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6364/21]

Licence Applications

Michael Healy-Rae

979. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a licence application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6372/21]

Protected Disclosures

Catherine Murphy

980. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and or his predecessors evaluated a protected disclosure made by a person (details supplied) as instructed to by the Workplace Relations Commission on 16 July 2019; and the progress made to date on same. [6395/21]

EU Regulations

Catherine Murphy

981. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the European Commission for Health and Food Safety has accepted a formal complaint from a whistle-blower (details supplied) to investigate that some veterinarians in Irish meat plants are not qualified under an EU regulation and may compromise the food safety risk and certification of products of animal origin to consumers. [6396/21]

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Paul Kehoe

982. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6403/21]

Fishing Industry

Paul Kehoe

983. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be a derogation for scallop fishermen who are fishing off the southern coast of the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6421/21]

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

John McGuinness

984. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay of almost 20 years in acknowledging the error by his Department in not including two reference years relative to area aid in the case of a person (details supplied); the number of meetings held during this period with the representatives of an association regarding the issue; if the submissions from Teagasc and other documents have been considered; if he will arrange a meeting between him, his officials, the farmer and the association to resolve matters given the ongoing negative impact being experienced by the family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6444/21]

Horse Racing Ireland

Carol Nolan

985. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the manner in which the appointments to the Horse Racing Ireland board from 1 January 2020 to date were nominated; the basis for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6466/21]

Greyhound Industry

Catherine Murphy

986. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a fundraiser by an organisation (details supplied) in respect of the retired coursing greyhounds in view of the fact it does not have a homing section: the amount raised; and if other organisations received moneys from the collection. [6518/21]

Forestry Sector

Michael Healy-Rae

987. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he address a matter (details supplied) regarding forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6542/21]

Food Safety Standards

Michael Healy-Rae

988. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the 30-month rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6543/21]

Food Safety Standards

Michael Healy-Rae

989. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the 60-day rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6546/21]