Written Answers Nos. 203-10
203. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in respect of the investigation into the contamination of Irish beef products with horsemeat, the current status of the investigation; if its findings will be published; the potential consequences for parties found to be responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26170/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI published a detailed report on the ‘Equine DNA and Mislabelling of Processed Beef Investigation’ on 14 March. This report includes details of the companies that came to my Department’s attention during this investigation and the actions taken by the Department. Operations in a total of four plants were suspended (in some cases on a voluntary basis) for varying periods arising from the investigation. Information in relation to activities by traders and other intermediaries in the supply chain outside of the jurisdiction has been passed to Europol and other Member States to facilitate continuing investigations in other countries.
My Department is considering the possibility of instituting legal proceedings where appropriate, as indicated in the report. It is important to note in that context that while some of the failures referred to in the report risked reputational damage to the Irish food sector, they did not breach EU or national law.
The Irish authorities were the first to discover and disclose this problem of adulteration of beef products, which turned out to be a pan European problem. Exposure of this malpractice will result in improved consumer protection not just in Ireland, but also throughout Europe. We remain fully open to assisting any other Member State or entity with regard to ongoing investigations in other jurisdictions and will continue to do so in a transparent manner, as has been the practice throughout the equine DNA investigation.
204. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Minister or Minister of State that represented Ireland at the Ministerial Council meetings of the European Union during the Irish Presidency of the Council to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26206/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn my capacity as President of the Council of Agriculture Ministers, I have been chairing the monthly meetings of the Council since January 2013, including the informal meeting that took place in Dublin this week. Ireland has been represented at each of these meetings by either the Secretary General of my Department or by another senior official of the Department.
205. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of parliamentary replies issued by him to this Deputy in 2013 containing an undertaking to provide extra information requested; the date of the question in each case; the date on which the information was provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26221/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of 6 parliamentary questions issued to the Deputy with an undertaking to provide extra information.
|
Date |
Number of PQ |
Reply issued |
|
5 February |
54540/13 |
5 February |
|
5 February |
54541/13 |
5 February |
|
7 March |
12100/13 |
8 March |
|
13 March |
13387/13 |
27 May |
|
14 May |
22544/13 |
23 May |
|
14 May |
22545/13 |
23 May |
206. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not yet received their agri-environment options scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26238/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. During these checks for 2011 an overclaim was identified in relation to the claimed areas on the Traditional Hay Meadow action which resulted in a penalty reduction being applied. Full 2011 payment totalling €568.01(net of penalty reduction) issued on, 7 March 2013. Payments in respect of the 2012 Scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process which includes verification of capital investment through checks on receipts. These checks have been finalised and payment in respect of 2012 will issue shortly.
207. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when funding will be made available to adoption agencies such as ARC Adoption in Dublin to allow them move forward with their research and development into working with the various adoption agencies in the USA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26034/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork is ongoing in my Department in relation to the issue of funding of accredited agencies in order to ensure sustainability of the agencies and continuity of service. I brought a Memorandum to Government yesterday in relation to regularising the funding arrangements for accredited bodies in intercountry adoption. I am aware of the seriousness of the current situation and aim to address it as quickly as possible.
208. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of relevant childcare facilities in existence in County Kildare; the procedures in place to conduct regular inspections of such facilities; if anything has emerged in recent years that has given cause for concern in relation to the operation of such facilities; if any such facilities have been closed within the past three years, or if directions have issued to any such centres in the past three years to significantly amend or review their operational systems; if parents of children attending such facilities have been so advised; the procedures in place to ensure the childcare facilities meet the highest possible standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26181/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006, the inspection of pre-schools is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), and I have referred the Deputy’s specific queries to the HSE for direct reply.
I understand that, in 2011, 2,789 childcare providers were subject to inspections by the HSE Pre-School Inspectorate. This is an inspection rate of over 61% in a single year. This compares very favourably with comparable jurisdictions such as England, where Ofsted operates a policy of inspecting childcare providers on a 3 – 4 year cycle.
However, as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, driving the early childhood care and education quality agenda is one of my key objectives. I believe we can achieve this objective by taking a number of steps in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, including the adaptation of the existing pre-school inspection system to provide a more comprehensive and broader-based inspection regime for pre-schools, moving to a greater focus on outcomes for children.
In support of this, a Joint Pilot Inspection of Early Years Services was carried out by Inspectors from the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills between September 2011 and May 2012. This pilot will inform the proactive approach being taken by my Department.
209. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the Minister or Minister of State that represented Ireland at the Ministerial Council meetings of the European Union during the Irish Presidency of the Council to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26208/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (EYCS) took place on 16 and 17 May 2013. I chaired the meeting of the Youth Ministers at the Council on 16 May 2013. At the meeting, the EYCS adopted two important policy documents: Council Conclusions on maximising the potential of youth policy in addressing the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy, and Council Conclusions on the contribution of quality youth work to the development, well-being and social inclusion of young people. These conclusions include a concrete set of measures aimed at raising the profile of youth work at EU level and mainstreaming youth work into broader EU policy responses to youth employment and social inclusion. These include: i. Establishing a new EU expert group on quality youth work; ii. Strengthening the working relationship between the Council of Youth Ministers and other Council of Minister configurations; iii. Mainstreaming youth policy input into the European Semester reporting process; iv. Recognition of centrality of youth work in contributing to the Europe 2020 growth and jobs agenda; i. Recognition of the role of youth work in implementing the proposed Youth Guarantee; ii. Greater coordination between EU youth policy and education, training and employment policies.
Ministers also participated in a policy debate on the theme of: Europe's young people: What can quality youth work contribute to addressing current challenges? Ministers expressed their commitment to follow up and take further actions to progress these aims. To this end, I will host an expert round table event that will explore further the role of youth work in advancing employment and social inclusion for young people (20–21 June 2013, Kildare). The incoming Presidency of Lithuania will focus on the youth employability and social inclusion, while stressing the importance of involving young people in these initiatives. The Greek Presidency is committed to finalising a medium term work plan to guide the work of the Youth Council in addressing the challenges that young people face at this time.
The work of the EYCS in the Presidency's Youth Programme over the past six months has been informed by the findings of widespread consultations with young people about the challenges they face and their priorities in an inclusive European Union. Over 11,000 young people throughout Member States have participated in the current cycle of Structured Dialogue. At local, national and European level, they have voiced opinions about the issues that impact on their lives and their priorities for the future. Over 180 young people and officials from the 27 Member States participated in the highly successful EU Youth Conference which I hosted in March in Dublin.
In addition to the formal dialogue, I hosted an informal meeting with young people from the Trio Member States (Ireland, Lithuania and Greece) and Cyprus and their respective Ministers, Commissioner Vassiliou and the European Youth Forum to hear their views in advance of the Youth Council meeting on 16 May 2013.
210. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of parliamentary replies issued by her to this Deputy in 2013 containing an undertaking to provide extra information requested; the date of the question in each case; the date on which the information was provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26223/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not issued any parliamentary replies to the Deputy in 2013 containing an undertaking to provide extra information.
