Parliamentary questions

Register of Lobbyists Legislation

Willie O'Dea

288. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 will be the primary source of reference for designated public officials on the way they interact with lobbyists; if compliance with this legislation will take precedence over any international recommendation on lobbying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26427/15]

EU Directives

Richard Boyd Barrett

289. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he agrees, in view of European Directive 93/104/EC which was transposed into Irish law under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, that it is an offence under section 34 of the Act for an employer to pay an employee in lieu of that employee's entitlement to annual leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26251/15]

IDA Site Visits

Dara Calleary

290. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of the ten visits arranged by IDA Ireland to County Westmeath that were in Mullingar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25792/15]

EU Directives

Dara Calleary

291. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if Irish employment legislation under the transfers of undertakings Directive 2001/23/EC, that protects the contracts of employment of persons working in businesses that are transferred between owners, has been complied with following the liquidation of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25873/15]

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Dominic Hannigan

292. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the policies designed to promote youth entrepreneurship; the practical supports available to young entrepreneurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25979/15]

Enterprise Support Services Provision

Dominic Hannigan

293. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of young entrepreneurs supported in setting up their businesses in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25980/15]

Ministerial Meetings

Fergus O'Dowd

294. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the outcome of his recent meeting with the Drogheda Chamber of Commerce on 22 May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26013/15]

Intellectual Property Management

Eoghan Murphy

295. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is satisfied as to the protection of intellectual property patent and copyright law (details supplied). [26088/15]

Legislative Measures

Robert Troy

296. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his legislative plans to assist the Dunnes Stores workers. [26166/15]

IDA Site Visits

Robert Troy

297. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of IDA Ireland sponsored visits to Athlone and Mullingar in County Westmeath and to Longford in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26227/15]

IDA Site Visits

Robert Troy

298. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the necessary funding to erect a purpose-built innovation and enterprise unit in the Industrial Development Agency park in Marlinstown in Mullingar, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26228/15]

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Peadar Tóibín

299. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the reason the Copenhagen Economics Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Impact in Ireland study commissioned by him used 2011 as a baseline year for all sectoral projections but 2013 as the baseline year for gross domestic product. [26396/15]

Departmental Bodies

Clare Daly

300. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will suspend all State funding under the Seafood Development Programme 2014 to 2020 in view of the clear conflict of interest that arises between the advisory and regulatory work of the Marine Institute and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority which are under the direct staffing and budgetary control of the fisheries development division of his Department, a situation that may only undermine public confidence in the real independence of these agencies. [26419/15]

Departmental Bodies

Clare Daly

301. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will transfer responsibility for the governance of the Marine Institute and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority to another Department, or at least to another division of his own Department, in view of the conflict of interest that arises between the advisory and regular work of these agencies and the industrial development role of the fisheries division, and thereby help to restore public confidence in the real independence of these regulatory agencies. [26420/15]

Control of Dogs

Maureen O'Sullivan

302. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all dogs are scanned for microchips in pounds at present; if this is a legal requirement; if not, his plans to make it compulsory under the new microchipping legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25743/15]

TAMS Administration

Michael McCarthy

303. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to extending the period for the completion of work under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme farm safety scheme, given that approval has not yet been confirmed for all applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25751/15]

Bord na gCon

Niall Collins

304. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the fault in the first bend at the new €23 million Limerick Greyhound Stadium; that Irish Greyhound Board spent €100,000 in 2014 reconstructing this; if a cost benefit analysis was undertaken prior to this spend; if the problem was a design or build fault; if the problem has now been solved; if the €100,000 spend was compliant with Government procurement guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25790/15]

On-farm Investment Schemes

Paul Connaughton

305. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the 40% grant for investment in the dairy sector will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25828/15]

GLAS Data

Pearse Doherty

306. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of applications his Department has received, in tabular form by county, from those wishing to participate in the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; the number of applicants classified as being hill farmers and commonage farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25835/15]

Single Payment Scheme Applications

Michael Creed

307. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a final outcome will be determined in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork, in respect of a 2013-14 single payment, given that the person had a ground inspection carried out on 20 April 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25861/15]

Agriculture Scheme Penalties

Brendan Griffin

308. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a penalty applied to a 2013 single payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25888/15]

Animal Welfare

Éamon Ó Cuív

309. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of prosecutions to date under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013; the number of prosecutions that have been initiated for illegal puppy farming; the outcomes of same; and his future plans that will aim to bring about a change in societal attitude towards cruelty to animals and puppy farming in particular. [25939/15]

Grassland Sheep Scheme Payments

Dara Calleary

310. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a payment under the 2013 sheep grassland scheme; the reason for the delay; the reason the person has received no correspondence from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25955/15]

TAMS Administration

Tom Fleming

311. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assistance his Department is providing in grant aid for farm building, for example, dairy parlours, slatted units, silos, sheds and so on, for older farmers, middle aged and upwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25967/15]

GLAS Eligibility

Dara Calleary

312. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the circumstances in which claims may be made for payment under the new green low-carbon agri-environment scheme without stock; in particular, if unstocked commonage qualifies under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26012/15]

Beef Data Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

313. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the number of farmers with suckler cows based on herd size 0 to ten, 11 to 20 and so on, by county; the number of these who were paid under the genomics scheme 2013; the number who applied for the scheme in 2014, broken down in the same way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26077/15]

TAMS Eligibility

Éamon Ó Cuív

314. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who reach 40 years of age while seeking planning permission for an investment prior to entering the young farmers targeted agricultural modernisation 2 scheme will be allowed into the scheme and paid the 60% grant, taking into account the length of time it can take to get planning permission, particularly if there is an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, and taking into account the requirement to have planning permission for developments prior to applying for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26078/15]

Farmers Charter

Éamon Ó Cuív

315. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new charter of farmers' rights is in operation; if not, when it will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26079/15]

Teagasc Rationalisation Programme

Éamon Ó Cuív

316. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to approve the hiring of further advisers by Teagasc; if he will provide funding for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26080/15]

Harbours and Piers Development

Éamon Ó Cuív

317. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approvals will issue for the local authority harbour development programme 2015; if in view of the delay in issuing these approvals, all work under this programme will have to be completed and claimed before 31 December 2015; the reason for the delay in announcing the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26081/15]

Animal Welfare

Finian McGrath

318. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine that the regulatory body responsible for the welfare of animals be in a position, in particular, to investigate allegations of animal abuse such as mistreatment of race horses prior to the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, given that the horse racing industry has a long tradition with an international integrity to uphold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26149/15]

Beef Data Programme

Gerry Adams

319. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of beef farmers who will receive payments under the 2014 beef data programme; the amount they will receive; the amount of this as a percentage of the total funding available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26158/15]

Beef Data Programme

Gerry Adams

320. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of beef farmers who will not receive payments under the 2014 beef data programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26159/15]

Beef Data Programme

Gerry Adams

321. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have applied for the 2015 beef data and genomics programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26160/15]

Beef Data Programme

Gerry Adams

322. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he accepts the concerns expressed by the Irish Farmers Association that the 2015 beef data and genomics programme is over complicated; that the requirements are set too high; that it will impose excessive costs on farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26161/15]

Beef Data Programme

Gerry Adams

323. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is prepared to consider revising any of the regulations currently part of the beef data and genomics programme 2015, including the requirement that 50% of the breeding female animals have to be four or five star by 2020; if he will consider increasing the per-hectare payment for each cow on the first ten cows; and if he will open the programme to all suckler farmers. [26162/15]

Beef Data Programme

Gerry Adams

324. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is prepared to review the unfair criteria in the terms and conditions on the six-year rule and payments clawbacks in the beef data and genomics programme 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26163/15]

Beef Data Programme

Gerry Adams

325. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he expects that all of those who submit applications under the beef data and genomics programme 2015 will be paid by the middle of December 2015, as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26164/15]

Beef Data Programme

Gerry Adams

326. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the help and advice available to beef farmers to fill in the application forms for the beef data and genomics programme 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26165/15]

TB Eradication Scheme

Maureen O'Sullivan

327. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine notwithstanding the lack of scientific evidence linking badgers to the spread of tuberculosis to cattle, if he will initiate a programme of vaccinating badgers, carried out by his Department's staff and-or volunteers, to replace the cruel badger cull which is destroying badger populations, in view of a recent analysis (details supplied) that has proved the vaccination of badgers to be very cost efficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26190/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Pat Breen

328. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 208 of 6 May 2015, if delegated sanction has been approved for an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26198/15]

Bord na gCon

Niall Collins

329. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the implementation of the 27 recommendations on the recent Indecon review of the Irish Greyhound Board; on the recommendations that have been implemented to date; when the outstanding recommendations will be implemented; the level of monitoring his Department is doing in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26221/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications

John O'Mahony

330. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive correspondence in relation to an application under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26230/15]

Forestry Sector

Richard Boyd Barrett

331. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the arrangement with a private body, the Royal Dublin Society, whereby the Forest Service funds the society's annual forestry awards; in relation to these awards, the way Coillte qualifies as a community for the purposes of the recent Royal Dublin Society community forestry award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26239/15]

Forestry Management

Richard Boyd Barrett

332. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or his Department are aware of the extent of native alder disease; if it is being monitored; the nature of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26240/15]

Agriculture Scheme Penalties

Patrick O'Donovan

333. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form by county, since 2010, the number of penalties and the total amounts involved imposed on farmers and landowners by his Department as a result of practices required by the National Parks and Wildlife Service to be carried out by the landowners to protect habitats within special areas of conservation and special protection areas, practices which are not in compliance with those required by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26294/15]

Coillte Teoranta Lands

Seán Fleming

334. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of lands that were formerly involved in the forestry services and are now in the control of Coillte, the number of locations; the amount of land in each case where his Department is still the registered owner of parts of these woodlands or forestry areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26328/15]

Milk Quota

John McGuinness

335. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a court judgment and payment due in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will provide a comprehensive outline of his position on the matter. [26360/15]

Departmental Bodies

Clare Daly

336. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 495 of 9 June 2015, if he will now immediately transfer responsibility for the governance of the Marine Institute and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority either to another Department or at least to another division within his own Department, in view of the clear conflict of interest for these agencies under the current arrangements, and thereby help to restore public confidence in the real independence of the advisory and regulatory work of both agencies. [26418/15]

Aquaculture Development

Clare Daly

337. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline, in view of the statement in chapter 6 of the national strategy plan for sustainable aquaculture development that the scale limits set out for salmon farms will be applied; and the purpose of consultation at this stage in relation to this issue. [26421/15]