Parliamentary questions

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

981. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if force majeure will be granted and all penalties waived in respect of two GLAS contracts (details supplied) given the exceptional circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14396/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

982. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is giving consideration to providing flexibility around deadlines under ACRES, for measures such as such as submitting soil samples, establishing wild bird covers and fencing margins/riparian zones, given the challenging weather conditions causing difficulty for farmers in meeting current deadlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14498/24]

Fisheries Protection

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

983. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider carrying out a scientific survey involving Irish inshore fishermen on pollack numbers in Irish inshore waters to give an alternative view to the stock assessment benchmark study by ICES; if he has given any consideration to re-examining the data used in the study that has led to the closure of the pollack fishery in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14535/24]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

984. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what actions he and his Department have and will take to support wild shellfish fishermen in loughs around Ireland to continue fishing given that new Brexit related regulations now have them in legal limbo due to having no physical site/processing facility for veterinarians to visit and issue health certificates for molluscs transiting the British Landbridge; what engagements he has had with other Irish seafood agencies to address this loophole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14536/24]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

985. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the latest work of the Brown Crab Working Group that he established in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14537/24]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

986. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the latest update on the total amount of monies drawn down and spent in the Irish fishing industry from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve Fund; to advise how much money he expects to return to the EU unspent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14538/24]

Fishing Industry

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

987. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to advise how much of the 1,874 tonne quota of spurdog that he announced in December 2022 was caught, landed and processed; to confirm what markets were identified for selling this species into; to confirm what processing facilities are available for spurdog landings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14539/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

988. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2023 organics payment will issue to a farmer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14565/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Healy-Rae

989. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the ACRES tranche 3 will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14643/24]

Wildlife Regulations

John Lahart

990. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for expanding deer management in the country; and if he plans to extend deer management areas to the Glenasmole Valley/Bohernabreena area in Dublin south west, where there is great interest in such a scheme. [14649/24]

Agriculture Industry

Michael Ring

991. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision on a herd number application by a person in County Mayo (details supplied) will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14655/24]

Departmental Policies

Pearse Doherty

992. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has any plans to designate Magheroarty Pier, County Donegal as a landing point for UK-registered vessels, similar to other piers and harbours across the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14663/24]

Fodder Crisis

Michael Healy-Rae

993. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are any plans to introduce a fodder scheme due to the bad weather at the moment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14676/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Claire Kerrane

994. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many applications have been received to the succession planning advice grant; the number of payments made under tranche 1 of the scheme; the total amount paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14692/24]

Fodder Crisis

Claire Kerrane

995. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to allowing fodder support scheme applications from farmers who did not participate in the 2022 scheme, given there are young farmers who were unable to apply for the 2022 scheme and who were locked out of the scheme in 2023 and subsequent years due to eligibility rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14722/24]

Greyhound Industry

Joe Flaherty

996. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds registered on Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System as exported to Great Britain in each of the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14738/24]

Greyhound Industry

Joe Flaherty

997. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how an Irish greyhound (details supplied) with total prize money of €82,755 is registered on Rásaíocht Con Éireann Traceability System following reports of his export to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14739/24]

Forestry Sector

Jennifer Whitmore

998. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a copy of the Members’ Agreement entered into, on or about the date of 11 November 2021, between three organisations (details supplied), including any subsequent amendments to that agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14761/24]

Greyhound Industry

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

999. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an individual (details supplied) is currently listed with Rásaíocht Con Éireann as the registered owner or part-owner of any non-coursing greyhound(s); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14772/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Fitzmaurice

1000. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made in the application submitted for the fodder support scheme by a farmer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14780/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Cathal Crowe

1001. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will personally intervene in the case of a farmer (details supplied) waiting on a payment under the young farm payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14805/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1002. 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. [14811/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1003. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 6 March 2024, the reason an official from his Department is listed on a website (details supplied) as the FOI contact for the Irish Horse Board; what measures to comply with freedom of information (FOI) 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. [14812/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1004. 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; to provide 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 names and grade of any other civil servants present or attending the evaluation meeting(s); any 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; any other "necessary skills" he considers each member of the panel to have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14813/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1005. 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 names/confirm the officials and names of external persons involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; any memberships held by members, 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. [14814/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1006. 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. [14815/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1007. 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. [14816/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1008. 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; what verifications he has that such adherence is independently verified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14817/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1009. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 6 March 2024, if, given that no reasons were provided, he will now 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. [14818/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1010. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 6 March 2024, if, given the overall value of the tender in questions and other tenders (details supplied), 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. [14819/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1011. 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 expertise and governance expertise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14820/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1012. 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 studbooks above all others won a tender to promote all Department-approved studbooks (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14821/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1013. 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 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. [14822/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Michael Fitzmaurice

1014. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 6 March 2024, the number of engagements or interactions undertaken by his Department with industry stakeholders, including studbooks either face-to-face, event or by video platform during 2023 regarding the sport horse sector; if he will provide details of the various officials involved in such interactions; their grade; each individual organisation that was interacted with, in tabular form; if similar information can be provided for each organisation delivering equine services under contract to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14824/24]

Departmental Staff

Richard Bruton

1015. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department, where it mistakenly placed an employee on too high a PRSI deduction for a lengthy period, will repay the over-deduction over the full period; and if not, if the refund will only apply to the four year period for which the Department of Social Protection will make repayments. [14835/24]

Aquaculture Industry

Michael Ring

1016. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14879/24]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

1017. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise what measures are being taken to address low planting levels in 2024 as a result of a low number of approvals for afforestation licences in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14880/24]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

1018. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise why felling licensing levels are lower than usual given there has been a drop of the number of felling licences being approved month on month so far in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14881/24]

Pigmeat Sector

Paul Murphy

1019. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1067 of 20 March 2024, if, given that in his reply he has stated that the pig farmers keep the records, and only submit to his Department on a voluntary basis, he will outline how his Department ensures that the data is an accurate portrayal of the usage, as it is not independently recorded or verified. [14896/24]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

1020. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the fact that the masters report (details supplied) is incomplete/inaccurate; if he agrees that it is very concerning that these reports are not being filled in correctly, given that the date is not accurate and that it is highly unlikely that over 1,000 pregnant heifers experienced no illness or injury at all during the 8/9 days at sea; how will he improve this process to ensure accurate information is being recorded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14916/24]

Pigmeat Sector

Paul Murphy

1021. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1065 of 20 March 2024, how many sanctions/fines have been imposed for breaching the Pig Directive since 2020; how many farm inspections have occurred; and how often a farm is inspected. [14924/24]

Pigmeat Sector

Paul Murphy

1022. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1065 of 20 March 2024, the reason, in relation to the pig and poultry investment scheme, the provision of optimal enrichment is not mentioned as one of the improvements, as that is the biggest risk factor for tail biting (aside from the existence of a tail); and how he plans on monitoring that the specifications for pig housing under the scheme have been met. [14925/24]

Animal Welfare

Paul Murphy

1023. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department has not acted in relation to animal cruelty that has been reported on several occasions (details supplied). [14929/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Creed

1024. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all outstanding issues regarding the IT system supporting the ACRES scheme have been resolved; if so, when all outstanding payments will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14933/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Creed

1025. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the first payments under the ECO scheme issued; the number of payments still outstanding; the reason for the delay in issuing these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14934/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Ring

1026. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an ECO scheme payment will be made to a person in County Mayo (details supplied), in view of the fact that his Department already acknowledged that this person's herd number was issued late due to the application being mislaid within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14938/24]

EU Funding

Michael Healy-Rae

1027. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how much money in total was the total CAP budget worth for pillar 1 and pillar 2 for the 2023 recording year; of the total CAP budget in 2023 for pillar 1 and pillar 2, how much money was allocated to - farmers, sub-contractors and administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14966/24]

EU Programmes

Michael Healy-Rae

1028. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider how any added benefit gained from the PGI logo can be fairly distributed along the supply chain (details supplied); if he will report any concerns of the use of the logo to the Beef Market Taskforce and the relevant authorities; if he will monitor the use of the PGI Irish grass fed beef in trade through assessment of market information; if he will consider if there is a need for advertising campaigns to communicate the value of grass-fed beef to consumers; if the PGI oversight committee was informed of/or consulted with before PGI status was awarded to beef placed on Italian shelves bearing a PGI label; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14967/24]

Agriculture Supports

Michael Healy-Rae

1029. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a series of matters in relation to the 2023 BISS online system will be examined and rectified (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14968/24]

Beef Sector

Michael Healy-Rae

1030. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14975/24]