Parliamentary questions

Referendum Campaigns

Thomas P. Broughan

1. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach the referenda he plans to put to the people in 2014. [45727/13]

Referendum Campaigns

Joe Higgins

2. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he plans to propose any referenda in 2014. [53722/13]

Economic Management Council Meetings

Gerry Adams

3. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if the Economic Management Council has met since the budget. [47671/13]

Economic Management Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

4. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if the Economic Management Council has met since October. [2183/14]

Economic Management Council Meetings

Micheál Martin

5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach when is the next meeting of the Economic Management Council. [2218/14]

Economic Management Council Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

6. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach the date of the most recent meeting of the Economic Management Council. [4932/14]

Beef Industry

Éamon Ó Cuív

85. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to deal with the low price of young bulls for slaughter at present; the further steps he has taken to deal with the price differential between the price of beef in the factories here and in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6498/14]

Single Payment Scheme Appeals

Martin Ferris

86. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of appeals that have been received by his Department against clawback of single farm payment due to land eligibility issues. [6318/14]

Departmental Investigations

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

87. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress of the investigation into allegations of weight-to-volume fraud at Coillte; if he has been updated recently by his officials on this matter; if so, the action he will take on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6501/14]

Severe Weather Events Response

Éamon Ó Cuív

88. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the steps he has taken to assist farmers and fishermen who have suffered serious loss during the recent inclement weather; the assistance sought from the EU to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6499/14]

Beef Industry

Martin Ferris

89. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he will take to alleviate the crisis in bull beef production where farmers have a glut of quality beef in their sheds with no outlet for their slaughter due to anti-competitive practices by the beef processors. [6497/14]

Fish Farming

Martin Ferris

90. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made in the inspection of the 56 ocean bays awaiting approval in the context of the issuing of fish farming licences; and when he envisages that the surveys of these bays will be completed. [6320/14]

Aquaculture Development

Éamon Ó Cuív

91. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Bord Iascaigh Mhara as licence holder, if granted, will be responsible for the insurance costs of the proposed fish farm in Galway Bay; if so the potential liability that would arise for the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6341/14]

Aquaculture Licence Applications

David Stanton

92. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of aquaculture licences he has received with respect to operating in Ballycotton Bay, County Cork; when an appropriate assessment of Ballycotton Bay, as required under the EU birds and habitats directives, will occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6333/14]

Single Payment Scheme Administration

Martin Ferris

93. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have received notification from his Department that they have over-claimed single farm payments since 2009. [6317/14]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Thomas Pringle

94. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the spend by his Department on external IT consultancies and contractors; if he will list any firm or contractor that has received over €1 million in total over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6347/14]

Rural Development Programme Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

95. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for Pillar 2 expenditure for the period 2014-2020; the total funding provided for this period; the funding provided for new schemes and projects during the period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6339/14]

Agriculture Scheme Administration

Éamon Ó Cuív

96. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the rules as laid down by the European Commission on the leasing of entitlements will operate here, in particular in cases where the owner of the entitlements has not activated any entitlements in the reference year; the reference year that will be applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6340/14]

Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

97. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he no longer plans to sell the harvesting rights of Coillte forests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6345/14]

Ministerial Newsletters

Éamon Ó Cuív

98. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he intends to issue the next ministerial newsletters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6343/14]

Harbours and Piers Funding

Mick Wallace

99. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider providing funding for a short extension to the pier at Courtown, County Wexford, which continues to deteriorate, in order to deal with ongoing silting problems at the harbour and the difficulties this creates for fishermen and other boat users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6314/14]

Common Agricultural Policy Reform

Charlie McConalogue

100. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans under the Common Agricultural Policy reform proposals to assist and support young farmers who have been farming for more than five years to build a viable farming enterprise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6310/14]

Severe Weather Events Response

Mick Wallace

101. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will provide any assistance to lobster and crab fishermen in County Wexford who lost their equipment or found it damaged beyond repair following the recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6313/14]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Eligibility

Seán Kyne

102. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the terms and conditions of the new green low-carbon agri-environment scheme will be available; when the scheme will be open to applications; the way entry to the scheme will be decided; and if limitations will be placed on access. [6330/14]

Land Parcel Identification System

Éamon Ó Cuív

103. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have had a review carried out on their eligible hectares in the past year; the number who have had their eligible hectares reduced; the number who have been notified of penalties as a result; the number of these farming 20 ha or less; the number where retrospective disallowances and penalties have been applied; the total hectarage disallowed under this review to date; the percentage of the total eligible land involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6342/14]

Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility

Thomas Pringle

104. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department was consulted in relation to the changes in the means testing of eligibility for the farm assist scheme in budget 2013 by the Department of Social Protection; his views on the impact the changes have made to farm income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6346/14]

Industrial Disputes

Denis Naughten

105. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of talks regarding industrial action by agricultural officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6230/14]

Farm Inspections

Denis Naughten

106. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish an independent review of the on-farm inspection regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6229/14]

Fish Landings

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

107. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the volume of fish stocks that have been caught in Irish territorial waters by Irish-registered fishing boats and non-Irish-registered boats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6344/14]

Beef Industry

Charlie McConalogue

108. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement he has had with beef processors to push for a fair price for beef farmers in view of the current bull beef crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6312/14]

Forestry Sector

Clare Daly

109. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will explain the connection between Coillte and the Irish Forestry Unit Trust; and the steps he has taken to examine the trust deed of the IForUT committing Coillte to providing liquidity to the fund if needed and selling forests to the IForUT without these forests being put out to tender. [6324/14]

Public Trusts

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

110. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the new terms and conditions which have been imposed on Castlerea Town Trust to ensure a more open and transparent operation of the trust; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6335/14]

Food Labelling

Bernard Durkan

111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy, efficacy, accuracy and authenticity of food labelling, with particular reference to ensuring the consumer is satisfied in respect of product quality, production standards, national and regional origin and health safety; if imports to the EU and this country are subject to such standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6285/14]

Aquaculture Licence Application Numbers

Martin Ferris

112. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of fish farming licences that have been applied for; and the number of fish farming licences that have been issued in 2013. [6319/14]

Aquaculture Development

David Stanton

113. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the potential of the aquaculture industry here; the actions his Department is taking to promote the development of aquaculture businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6332/14]

Public Trusts

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

114. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he replied to the correspondence he received from more than 1,400 persons in Castlerea on the issue of the Castlerea Town Trust; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6334/14]

Fishery Harbour Centres

Thomas P. Broughan

115. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been reached on the proposal to introduce paid parking at Howth Harbour, Howth, Dublin 13. [6195/14]

Animal Welfare

Clare Daly

116. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extra resources he has targeted to deal with the increasing levels of animal cruelty and abandonment; and if he will ensure that those responsible face very considerable penalties. [6323/14]

Agrifood Sector

Bernard Durkan

117. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine having regard to the recently compiled document entitled Farm Income Review 2013, submitted by the Irish Farmers Association, the extent to which he expects to use the document as a template for further development in the agrifood sector, with particular reference to building on the success of 2013 and keeping in mind the losses experienced by the farming community in 2012 and other years; if he can visualise a means whereby producers in this country are remunerated in line with UK and other European producers; if he has identified a means of ensuring that any benefits accruing are passed on to producers as opposed to multinational supermarket chains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6284/14]

Coillte Teoranta Governance

Richard Boyd Barrett

118. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that there is a sufficient degree of transparency and accountability in the policies, management and operation of Coillte; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6350/14]

Afforestation Programme

Richard Boyd Barrett

119. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific measures he proposes to increase the level of afforestation here in view of the failure in recent years to meet afforestation targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6351/14]

Oireachtas Staff

Patrick Nulty

120. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Taoiseach the contacts he has had in relation to the appointment of a new Clerk of Dáil Éireann; if a procedure has been agreed to process the appointment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6162/14]

Dáil Reform

Terence Flanagan

121. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Taoiseach his plans for Dáil reform; the number of meetings regarding Dáil reform that have taken place since 2011, and the reports produced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6166/14]

Departmental Contracts Data

Billy Kelleher

122. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Taoiseach if he will name each company awarded a contract for the provision of professional services by his Department and agencies under his aegis since May 2011; the value and purpose of the contract; if a competitive tendering process was undertaken in line with public procurement best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6462/14]

Departmental Advertising Expenditure

Damien English

123. Deputy Damien English asked the Taoiseach the total amount spent on advertising by his Department and each agency under his aegis in 2013; if he will provide a breakdown on the amount spent on each of TV, radio, print, outdoor, Internet and social media platform advertising; the amount spent on advertising agencies; if he will provide the information in tabular-readable form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6589/14]

Social Media Monitoring

Damien English

124. Deputy Damien English asked the Taoiseach if his Department currently engages in real-time reporting of online conversations on issues relating to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6605/14]

Official Engagements

Éamon Ó Cuív

125. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details of all official engagements by him or the Ministers of State in his Department that have taken place in Northern Ireland since he took office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6825/14]

Departmental Contracts Data

Billy Kelleher

126. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will name each company awarded a contract for the provision of professional services by his Department and agencies under his aegis since May 2011; the value and purpose of the contract; if a competitive tendering process was undertaken in line with public procurement best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6456/14]

Departmental Advertising Expenditure

Damien English

127. Deputy Damien English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total amount spent on advertising by his Department and each agency under his aegis in 2013; if he will provide a breakdown of the amount spent on each of TV, radio, print, outdoor, Internet and social media platform advertising; the amount spent on advertising agencies; if he will provide the information in tabular-readable form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6583/14]

Social Media Regulation

Damien English

128. Deputy Damien English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department currently engages in real-time reporting of online conversations on issues relating to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6599/14]