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Tuesday, 12 Mar 2013

Written Answers Nos. 519-528

Aquaculture Licences Applications

Ceisteanna (519)

Derek Nolan

Ceist:

519. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost incurred by Bord Iascaigh Mhara of producing and distributing a flyer entitled Deep Sea Fish Farm, Galway - Telling Our Story as circulated in a local Galway newspaper on 28 February 2013; his views on the appropriattness of such in view of the fact that the period of public consultation on this proposal is now over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12608/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Bord Iascaigh Mhara is an independent statutory body. As the matter referred to by the Deputy is an operational decision, it is a matter for Bord Iascaigh Mhara itself. Bord Iascaigh Mhara has submitted an application to my Department for an aquaculture and a foreshore licence for the cultivation of Finfish near Inis Oírr in Galway Bay. The application and its accompanying environmental impact statement are being considered fully in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act, as amended. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on an application which is under active consideration as part of a statutory process.

Animal Diseases Issues

Ceisteanna (520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Ceist:

520. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the official bovine tag order form as issued by his Department used partly for the purpose of bovine identification and now partly for BVD scheme purposes, if he will confirm the statutory basis for giving effect to the official bovine tag order form and to require the transfer of farmer personal data from his Department to the ICBF for the purported purposes of the statutory BVD scheme; if he will confirm whether or not in requiring the farmer's permission to transfer such personal data as part of the tag ordering process is in compliance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2003; if he will confirm if he has he had any communications from the data protection office concerning possible data protection breaches relating to this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12763/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Ceist:

521. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the purported role of the Irish Cattle Breeders’ Federation in relation to the statutory BVD scheme; if he will confirm the reason the ICBF role under the scheme appears to lack a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12764/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Ceist:

522. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under which statutory authority farmers are being asked to pay for bovine approved ear tags; if he will confirm the statutory authority that authorises his Department and-or his approved agent Euro tags Mullinahone Co-operative to require a farmer contribution towards the operational costs of the Irish Cattle Breeders’ Federation as part of the total tag cost under the statutory BVD scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12765/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Ceist:

523. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether or not the tissue sample and or blood sample are approved tests for the purposes of determining or confirming that an animal is truly infected or not with the disease; if he will confirm whether or not the purported tests used to detect or confirm the existence of BVD are 100% accurate and reliable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12766/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Ceist:

524. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the purported statutory BVD scheme appears to not provide for the compulsory removal of animals that give a positive reaction to test given the compulsory nature of the scheme since 1 January 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12767/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Ceist:

525. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm whether the tissue tag or second approved ear tag purportedly used for the purposes of the BVD scheme is authorised by European law; if he will confirm the relevant EU legal provisions; if approval was required for its use and if so if it was sanctioned by the relevant EU authorities; if he will confirm the statutory authority that enables him to require a farmer, as opposed to his statutory authorised officers, to take a sample from the bovine using a tissue tag and submission of same to a designated laboratory; if he will confirm the statutory authority under which farmers are being asked to pay the fees demanded by the designated laboratories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12771/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 to 525, inclusive, together.

The statutory basis for the BVD eradication programme is S.I. No. 532 of 2012, which provides the legal basis for requiring herd owners to take tissue samples and to forward these samples to a designated approved laboratory. The tissue tag meets the requirements of the relevant EU regulations on the identification of bovine animals. As BVD is not subject to control at EU level, EU approval is not required for the eradication programme. However, my Department has advised the EU Commission of the programme. With regard to the BVD test, testing both blood and tissue (ear punch) samples are widely used diagnostic testing methods for BVD and, when combined with appropriate validated test methods, are suitable for the detection of persistently infected cattle. Testing is carried out by laboratories designated for that purpose as listed in S.I. No. 532 of 2012. One of the requirements for designation of a laboratory is that it performs BVD testing according to externally accredited standards. The test methods in use in Ireland (ELISA and RTPCR) have been extensively used in similar national BVD programmes, including Switzerland and Germany. The tests are considered to be accurate and reliable. However, it is recognised that no biological test is 100% accurate. A disclaimer to this effect is included on the BVD information leaflet distributed to farmers.

With regard to the compulsory removal of animals once they give a positive reaction to the test, one of the key objectives of the BVD programme is to prevent transfer of infection between herds. The data generated through the voluntary phase of the programme has highlighted the risks presented by the trade in animals of unknown status. The BVD Order 2012 addresses this risk by prohibiting the movement of animals that are under suspicion of being affected with BVD, except for disposal directly to slaughter or under ministerial permit. My Department recognises the importance of prompt removal of persistently infected animals to prevent further spread of infection within and between herds and encourages herd owners to remove persistently infected animals immediately. I am satisfied that the BVD regulations are in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1993.

While the Irish Cattle Breeders Federation does not have a statutory role in the BVD eradication scheme, it plays an important role in the programme in that it receives the test results from designated testing laboratories and transfers these to the AIM/AHCS system in a cost-effective and time-effective manner. The Irish Cattle Breeders Federation also issues letters and SMS text messages relating these test results to farmers on behalf of my Department. In addition, it provides data to the BVD implementation group in relation to the management of the programme. Any contribution made by herd owners to the operational costs of the Irish Cattle Breeders Federation in the context of purchasing tags is voluntary. This voluntary contribution pre-dates the introduction of the BVD eradication scheme and is completely unrelated to it. I emphasise that my Department attaches considerable importance to the successful eradication of BVD and is making a significant contribution towards the scheme, in particular through its financial support to Animal Health Ireland. In addition, my Department has already committed to providing, free of charge, a blood-based test to confirm the persistently infected status of those calves that give a positive result on tag testing. It will also provide a blood test for the dams of those calves and any progeny of persistently infected cows.

Farm Safety

Ceisteanna (526)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

526. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that gypsum is now a very prominent form of animal bedding being used by farmers in slatted units and other holding facilities; his views regarding the promotion of such material for this purpose, due to the toxic gases therefrom when it is broken down; if in this context he will implement a ban on the use of same for this purpose in view of the fact that it has been banned in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12788/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am advised that use of gypsum as a bedding material is a recent development. A very small number of farmers are using it, with lime and sawdust more commonly used as bedding material for cubicle beds for Dairy and Suckler cows. Slurry is an inherently dangerous material that produces toxic gasses, including hydrogen sulphide, particularly during agitation. The addition of gypsum to slurry has the potential to increase the toxic gas levels, but all slurry is highly dangerous and must be handled with great caution. My Department is examining the potential of the use of gypsum to increase the level of hydrogen sulphide production in slurry. Other jurisdictions are evaluating the use of gypsum as a bedding material with research being carried out in the United Kingdom. It is expected that this research will be completed by the end of the year. My Department has been in contact with the Health and Safety Authority and Teagasc and will consider what action, if any, may be necessary. Farm safety is a number one priority. My Department works closely with the Health and Safety Authority on farm safety issues. My Department is represented on the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee which includes representatives from the Health and Safety Authority, Teagasc, the IFA, the ICMSA and others. My Department has issued guidance on the safe handling of slurry and this should be followed at all times. Slurry should only be agitated from a point outside of the animal house, with all of the animals removed from the house, all doors and vents fully opened, and on a breezy day. Further, for best practice, operators should also stand back from tank while the tank is being agitated as toxic gasses will be released during the agitation of any slurry.

Aquaculture Licences Applications

Ceisteanna (527)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

527. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department is refusing to make public the submissions lodged to his Department in relation to the proposed licence sought by Bord Iscaigh Mhara for a fish farm in Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12794/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Bord Iascaigh Mhara has submitted an application to my Department for an aquaculture and a foreshore licence for the cultivation of Finfish near Inis Oírr in Galway Bay. The application and its accompanying environmental impact statement are being considered in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act, as amended. The Public Consultation stage in respect of the aquaculture and foreshore licence application is now closed and a total of 410 valid submissions have been received by my Department. As the application is under active consideration as part of the statutory process, it would not be appropriate to publish the submissions in advance of a determination in respect of the case.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (528)

Colm Keaveney

Ceist:

528. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details provided) in County Galway may expect to receive an agri-environment options scheme payment. [12809/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011. Under the EU Regulations governing the scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. This process has been completed and payment will issue shortly. Payments in respect of the 2012 scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process which includes verification of capital investments through checks on receipts. The person named has been informed of the situation. Following payment in respect of 2011 and the receipt of a valid capital investment claim, this process will get under way in respect of 2012 with a view to payment as quickly as possible.

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