Parliamentary questions

Felling Licences

Seán Sherlock

240. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a felling licence will be granted to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6040/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Colm Burke

241. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of plans to reopen point-to-point horse racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6050/21]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Griffin

242. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average time the forestry appeals committee takes to determine a decision in relation to appeals; his views on the optimal time the committee should take when determining an appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6057/21]

Forestry Sector

Brendan Griffin

243. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific engagements he has had with the forestry appeals committee in order to ensure that its multiple divisions increase their sitting days and output in view of the licensing crisis facing the forestry and timber industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6058/21]

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

244. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagements he has had with his European counterparts to secure support for the amendment 269 worded operations located in the remote Irish Islands, Greek Islands and in the Croatian islands of Dugi Otok, Vis, Mljet and Lastovo in the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (COM(2018)0390 – C8-0270/2018 – 2018/0210(COD)); if this amendment will be supported which will give special recognition to Irish islands in the new EMFF; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6114/21]

Fishing Vessel Safety

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

245. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his Department will re-engage with a person (details supplied) to examine possibilities to compensate as a result of stability issues which were discovered on a vessel that they purchased from another European state rendering the vessel unfit for sea and unsafe and which left them in serious financial hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6115/21]

Brexit Issues

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

246. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements that have been agreed with the UK Government to allow Irish fishers to fish inside the 12 nautical mile limit in Northern Ireland; if any Irish vessels have been registered to date; the number that have sought to be registered; when these arrangements will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6116/21]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

247. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to seek increased quotas to fish stocks during upcoming European negotiations following the Brexit trade deal which will have a significant impact on Ireland’s TAC’s in future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6117/21]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

248. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek increased share of fish quotas for species haddock, monk fish, hake, nephrops and mackerel based on the amount of fish caught by Irish vessels averaged over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6118/21]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

249. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when fishers will be informed of their allocated quota for horse mackerel in 2021; the reason there has been a delay in releasing this quota to Irish fishers when fishers from other European member states have received their allocation and have been fishing since the beginning of January 2021; when the allocation will be finalised and released to fishers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6119/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Seán Sherlock

250. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of point-to-point racing. [6128/21]

Fishing Licences

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

251. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered the feasibility of issuing non-transferable transition Irish fishing licences to the fishers based in this State and who hold a UK fishing licence as suggested by some campaigners. [6130/21]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

252. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quota allocation or financial benefit accruing to the Irish fishing industry from the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Greenland and a new protocol that will strengthen fisheries co-operation for the next four years with the possibility of a two-year extension. [6134/21]

Beef Industry

Brendan Griffin

253. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will appoint an independent meat regulator with statutory powers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6164/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Paul Kehoe

254. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider point-to-point as an elite sport in terms of employment but also in terms of the money generated to the economy in order that it can return in the coming weeks taking into account the stringent protocols put in place through work with organisations and a person (details supplied) since meetings were resumed in 2020. [6082/21]

Animal Breeding Regulations

Seán Sherlock

255. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to combat the rise of puppies from puppy farms being transported between Scotland and Ireland.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6173/21]

Meat Processing Plants

Bríd Smith

256. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a specific meat processing plant (details supplied) has provided for workers who have recently arrived here to quarantine in line with public health advice before commencing work at the plant; if inspectors from his Department at the plant have oversight knowledge or any regulatory role in relation to workers who have recently arrived in order to ensure public health advice is being followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6186/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Claire Kerrane

257. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if puppy training facilities come under animal welfare and related services as per the list of essential services under level 5 restrictions. [6194/21]

Calafoirt agus Céanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

258. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a bheidh an chéad chlár caipitil d’fhorbairtí ar na calafoirt iascaigh eile á réiteach agus á fhoilsiú; agus cé mhéad bliain a chlúdófar leis an gclár seo; cén uair a tháinig deireadh leis an gclár deiridh; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [6198/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Joe Carey

259. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the work underway by his Department to facilitate the return of point-to-point racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6199/21]

Calafoirt agus Céanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

260. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair atá sé i gceist ag a Roinn comharthaí a chur suas agus an ché a mharcáil le péint bhuí ag treorú paisinéirí maidir leis na coinníollacha sláinte poiblí a bhaineann le scaradh sóisialta ag an gcalafort paisinéirí i Ros a Mhíl; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [6203/21]

Sustainable Development Goals

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

261. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department’s new statement of strategy will support the implementation of the sustainable development goals; if specific goals and sub-targets have been identified as being particularly relevant to his Department's work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6217/21]

Sustainable Development Goals

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

262. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the policies and plans through which his Department will be working towards the achievement of the specific sustainable development goals targets that fall under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6222/21]

Beef Industry

Denis Naughten

263. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the condition of the beef finisher payment that animals had to be slaughtered in the State if a farmer can provide evidence that while exported the live animals were in fact slaughtered outside the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6228/21]

Beef Industry

Niamh Smyth

264. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6293/21]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

916. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts he has made to secure a share of the bluefin tuna for Irish fishers for 2021 through engagements with the EU Commission and International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, ICCAT; and the details of the outcome of engagements on the matter. [4999/21]

Foreshore Issues

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

917. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 662 of 27 May 2020, the outcome of the report drafted by the marine engineering division on the construction of road approximately 400 m in length along the foreshore of Lough Foyle at Clar, Redcastle, County Donegal. [5000/21]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

918. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all sectors of the fishing industry including the producer organisations, fishing co-ops, inshore fishing organisations and islands fishing organisations will be represented on the task force that he has announced for the industry. [5001/21]

Maritime Safety

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

919. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the review of the decision to not proceed with the sea survival centre at the fisheries school at Greencastle, County Donegal. [5002/21]

Harbours and Piers

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

920. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the review of the request from Donegal County Council to centrally fund the completion of the breakwater at Greencastle Harbour, County Donegal and the development of the harbour to increase the potential for fisheries and tourism. [5003/21]

Herd Number Applications

Niamh Smyth

921. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions a person (details supplied) should take in view of the fact they cannot obtain a herd number due to Covid-19. [5029/21]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

922. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of recorded landings by UK-registered vessels at each harbour nationwide in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form. [5053/21]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

923. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider extending the landing times for UK-registered vessels at some designated ports nationwide from Monday to Friday to seven days a week with regard to the safety of fishers and the limitations of the weather that impacts on their livelihoods. [5054/21]

EU Regulations

Carol Nolan

924. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek an update on the legal advice submitted to the Office of the Attorney General by organisations (details supplied) with respect to the derogation provided for in article 105(4) of Regulation EU 2019/6 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5061/21]

Beef Data and Genomics Programme

Michael McNamara

925. Deputy Michael McNamara 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. [5090/21]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Joe Carey

926. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a 2020 ANC payment in respect of a person (details supplied) has not been paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5140/21]

Felling Licences

Bernard Durkan

927. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 513 of 21 January 2021, if it is his Department's policy not to facilitate applicants in this particular category; if the forestry in question is likely to be harvested in the normal way in view of its maturity and the shortage of timber and timber products and the applicant does not have the means to fund a Natura impact statement, NIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5143/21]

Greyhound Industry

Bríd Smith

928. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for allowing greyhound racing to continue when hare coursing has correctly ceased during level 5 restrictions; the further reason for allowing an activity to continue in a confined space with persons travelling from around the country to various stadiums which is considered unsafe given the unprecedented high level of Covid-19 infections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5160/21]

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

Peter Burke

929. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding available for calf welfare projects under the calf welfare scheme and TAMS; the specific topics covered for funding; the closing dates for these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5231/21]

Animal Welfare

Holly Cairns

930. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding provided to animal welfare and rescue organisations by organisation in each of the years 2016 to 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5236/21]

Meat Processing Plants

Holly Cairns

931. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to cases of Covid-19 in meat processing plants in County Cork between 1 December 2020 and 26 January 2021, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5237/21]

Meat Processing Plants

Holly Cairns

932. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of recorded cases of Covid-19 in a meat plant (details supplied) in County Cork for the period 1 December 2020 to 26 January 2021, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5238/21]

Meat Processing Plants

Holly Cairns

933. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the measures in place to monitor the health and working conditions in meat plants to prevent further clusters of Covid-19. [5240/21]

Departmental Functions

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

934. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will release a full contact directory of roles and responsibilities within his Department for the marine sector, including persons responsible for various roles to Opposition spokespersons as other Ministers and Departments have done. [5302/21]

Inland Fisheries

Seán Sherlock

935. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to plans for the imminent restocking of a salmon farm (details supplied) by its operator; and if he has sanctioned or is prepared to sanction such restocking prior to the determination by the aquaculture licences appeals board of an appeal by the operator against his ministerial order of April 2019 that aquaculture operations at the site be discontinued. [5313/21]

Fishing Industry

Thomas Pringle

936. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the nature of plans to have the Naval Service board any of the factory vessels currently fishing for mackerel off the west coast to check them for compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy, recognising that all vessels landing mackerel at ports here are inspected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5316/21]

Fisheries Protection

Fergus O'Dowd

937. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if matters raised in correspondence by a co-operative (details supplied) in relation to its serious and significant concerns on prawn fishing in the north east will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5373/21]

Animal Culls

Kathleen Funchion

938. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when badger culling will be ended; and if he will publish the scientific and veterinary advice regarding same. [5384/21]

Animal Welfare

Steven Matthews

939. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding that is to be made available for animal welfare organisations in 2021; and if this reflects the agreed doubling of funding for such organisations in the programme for Government. [5395/21]

Fisheries Protection

Steven Matthews

940. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the tonnage of sprat landed per port in Ireland from October to December 2020; and the amount of sprat exported to other jurisdictions including Northern Ireland in the same time period in tabular form. [5396/21]