Parliamentary questions

Food Industry

Bernard Durkan

100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent, if any, to which he has noticed an increased level of dairy produce into this country notwithstanding the fact that we still continue to export more than is produced here; if any reason is given as to why there should be a diminution of dairy produce displayed in supermarkets here; if consideration is being given to where this might end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18339/24]

Animal Slaughtering

Thomas Gould

101. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horse deaths recorded in Cork in 2023. [18410/24]

Tillage Sector

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

102. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps his Department is taking to assist tillage farmers in Carlow who are facing unprecedented weather conditions. [18299/24]

Agriculture Supports

Cathal Crowe

103. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in light of extreme weather patterns in recent years and in particular the flooding of lands and high water table, he will consider providing a grant scheme to farmers to develop land drains on their boundaries. [18374/24]

Nitrates Usage

Paul Murphy

104. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has any ‘plan B’ if the nitrates derogation is abolished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18336/24]

Further and Higher Education

Peadar Tóibín

105. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department collates statistics on the number of persons who obtain a green certificate qualification; and, if so, if he will provide a year-by-year breakdown of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17666/24]

Beef Sector

Rose Conway-Walsh

106. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the recent changes to the beef indexes that have impacted farmers in the suckler carbon efficiency programme; how these changes were implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18424/24]

Forestry Sector

Violet-Anne Wynne

107. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the implementation of national forestry policies and programmes is consistent with the growth of the commercial forest estate or if the commercial timber supply risks being eroded over time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18270/24]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

108. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to commencing an immediate review of the forestry programme, given that more than six months have now passed since the programme’s inception and the persistently low levels of uptake by farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18244/24]

Environmental Policy

Brendan Smith

109. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current position regarding the inclusion of hedgerows in the assessment of carbon sequestration for the national inventory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18426/24]

Agriculture Industry

Peter Fitzpatrick

263. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of his ‘Backing Rural Ireland’ nationwide tour and meeting with farmers throughout the country, if he has taken on board farmers’ issues in relation to the over-regulation of the sector, specifically in relation to the three-crop rule, ash dieback, retaining the derogation, the duplications on farm inspections, late ACRES payments and the nature restoration law; the proposals he has put forward to the European Commission in relation to the need to reduce the regulatory burden on farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18666/24]

Animal Welfare

Réada Cronin

264. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the State will instigate/increase funding for animal refuges and rescues that are facing spiralling admissions due to a serious increase in the surrender of pets because of the housing crisis and emigration, the abandonment of companion animals due to the cost of living, the extreme and ongoing neglect of horses and the huge costs to those same refuges in facilities, vet services, pet food and hay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18613/24]

Departmental Correspondence

Michael Ring

265. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a reply has not issued to a query submitted to his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18669/24]

Beef Sector

Bernard Durkan

266. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of the beef herd at present; the extent to which numbers have fluctuated in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18717/24]

Tillage Sector

Bernard Durkan

267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which cereal growing continues to be attractive in Ireland; if its viability is coming under pressure from other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18718/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor production costs in the poultry sector, with particular reference to the need to ensure a stable cost base; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18719/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to monitor and safeguard the interest of the agrifood sector given the sharp increase in price of inputs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18720/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which efforts continue to maximise the reduction of carbon emissions in the agrifood sector without reducing production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18721/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

271. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts ongoing by his Department to address issues relating to farmer mental health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18722/24]

Agriculture Supports

Bernard Durkan

272. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the beneficial effect to the small- and medium-sized farming community of recent supportive measures; the impact on individual farmers under 50 acres and between 50 and 100 acres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18723/24]

Departmental Data

Bernard Durkan

273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which employment has fluctuated in the agri-food and fishing sectors in the past five years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18724/24]

Fishing Industry

Bernard Durkan

274. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to ensure the viability of the fishing industry for the benefit of families dependent on the industry; the extent to which further action is required in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18725/24]

Animal Diseases

Bernard Durkan

275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which animal diseases, such as bovine tuberculosis, continue to be eliminated in a meaningful way; the extent to which any breakdowns have occurred by region; the efforts being made to identify the causes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18726/24]

Forestry Sector

Bernard Durkan

276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which it is expected to reach published targets on forestry; when the plan commenced; when it is expected to achieve the proposed targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18727/24]

Farm Costs

Bernard Durkan

277. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor the costs of farm inputs, including fuel and fertilisers, with a view to identifying the best way to meet the challenges of issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18728/24]

Dairy Sector

Bernard Durkan

278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which imported dairy products appear to be replacing Irish dairy items in shops and supermarkets; whether this is indicative of a phasing out of the dairy sector in this country, which would have a disastrous effect on the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18729/24]

Beef Sector

Bernard Durkan

279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the beef industry here is being phased out or scaled down to accommodate importation of similar products from overseas who do not have to comply or are willing to comply with climate change reduction measures; the anticipated extent of the effects this is likely to have on the agricultural economy in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18730/24]

Agriculture Industry

Bernard Durkan

280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he and his Department are aware of the likely damage to the tillage sector in allowing or encouraging flooding or rewetting of the countryside which is likely to lead to a national food shortage in the not too distant future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18731/24]

Animal Welfare

Claire Kerrane

133. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Government made a submission to the recent EU consultation on animal welfare during transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18150/24]

Agriculture Supports

Carol Nolan

134. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will intervene with the Minister for Finance to support the extension of the tax warehousing scheme for the farm and forestry contractors sector in Ireland, which has been the most severely impacted by the bad weather since September 2023 and now faces huge cashflow difficulties due to the late spring sowing season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18208/24]

Forestry Sector

Claire Kerrane

135. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to commencing an immediate review of the forestry programme, given that more than six months have now passed since the programme's inception and the persistently low levels of uptake by farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18237/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Michael Ring

136. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive his TB compensation payment considering that the herd was removed on 14 February last; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18253/24]

Agriculture Supports

Claire Kerrane

137. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance on sectoral requests for an extension to the tax warehousing scheme for agricultural and forestry contractors, given concerns around financial and weather constraints on work activity in the agricultural and forestry contractor sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18257/24]

Pesticide Use

Claire Kerrane

138. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers will be penalised for spreading fertiliser that has phosphorus in it, given that many fertilisers have some level of fertilisers in them and considering new requirements to have soil tested before spreading compound fertilisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18279/24]

Veterinary Services

Jackie Cahill

139. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the schedule of fees paid to private veterinary practitioners for TB testing on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18308/24]

Departmental Advertising

Ged Nash

140. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for figures on the total spend for all forms of advertising in the years 2022 and 2023 in his Department; if figures can be provided on each Department’s spend on local media advertising (print and broadcast respectively, and broken down on that basis) for those years; if the Department used/uses an agency to place advertising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18385/24]

Departmental Contracts

Carol Nolan

141. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has at any time engaged the services of a company (details supplied) or allocated the company funding or support in any capacity; if he or his officials have engaged with personnel from the company; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18437/24]

Agriculture Schemes

John McGuinness

477. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process to accommodate farmers that want to withdraw from the young farmers’ scheme; if sanctions or penalties are applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17316/24]

Horse Racing Industry

Claire Kerrane

478. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the processes or measures in place for horses retiring from racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17387/24]

Departmental Expenditure

Sorca Clarke

479. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's capital underspend, if any, in 2023; and his Department's projected spend for 2024. [17419/24]

Tillage Sector

Claire Kerrane

480. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is considering allocating funding to address the tillage vision stakeholder group report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17486/24]

Tillage Sector

Carol Nolan

481. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports he is putting in place to address the many issues currently impacting the economic viability of the tillage sector; if he has met with farmer representative groups to discuss these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17500/24]

Flood Relief Schemes

Michael Lowry

482. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that farmers along the Shannon Callows in Redwood, Ballyea and Ballymacegan, areas of County Tipperary who were greatly impacted by flooding over a minimum of six flood occurrences over the course of dates between 2 July 2023 and 29 September 2023, were not included in the recent compensation scheme; if he is taking steps to address this oversight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17540/24]

Harbours and Piers

Frankie Feighan

483. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for details of piers and harbour funding allocated in an area (details supplied) from 2019-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17549/24]

Domestic Pets

Michael Healy-Rae

484. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all pets including cats and dogs that have come into the State from abroad have been the subject of the veterinary checks that are required under legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17605/24]

Departmental Data

Peadar Tóibín

485. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the number of family farms acquired by international investment funds, with the quantity of land by hectares, and farming type when acquired, for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17631/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Martin Kenny

486. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many hectares of land farmers applied for under the hay meadow measure in ACRES 2023; how many hectares of hay meadow his Department paid out to farmers under the ACRES measure for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17663/24]

Animal Welfare

Neasa Hourigan

487. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure the protection of the old Irish goat, which according to reports (details supplied), is being hunted for sport and on the verge of extinction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17669/24]

Agriculture Schemes

Brendan Griffin

488. 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. [17681/24]

Fuel Prices

Claire Kerrane

489. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with the Minister for Finance on fuel excise increases given the financial pressure many farmers are facing at this time and the additional strain higher fuel costs could add; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17734/24]