Written Answers Nos. 228-236
228. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Defence the number of projects that were approved funding by his Department conditional on a bond being produced from a builder; the amount of the default by builders where such bonds were in place; the amount recovered through the use of bonds in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32716/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder public sector procurement rules, performance bonds are generally sought by my Department for all construction contracts to be placed with a value in excess of €500,000 (including VAT). Also under the procurement rules, my Department may require a performance bond in respect of construction contracts below the threshold, if it is envisaged that there would be a significant risk if such a bond were not in place.
In recent years, due to decreasing capital budgets, my Department has to a greater extent directed the limited resources available under the building capital programme towards projects valued below the €500k threshold.
In the five year period to end 2012, a total of 17 construction contracts, which exceeded the €500k threshold, were placed by my Department and a performance bond was obtained from the contractor in each instance. In the same five year period, my Department has sought performance bonds in respect of one contract valued below the threshold. As part of the 2013 capital building programme, my Department is in the process of placing further contracts which will also require such bonds to be provided.
No instance of builder default, requiring recovery under a performance bond, has occurred.
229. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline each international organisation, international agency or international body of which Ireland is a member and for which his Department or a State body or agency under the aegis of his Department is responsible or co-responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32807/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has not been possible in the time available to compile all the necessary information requested by the Deputy. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
230. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payment of an agri-environment option scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32625/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2011.
In carrying out the necessary checks required under EU Regulations discrepancies were identified regarding information submitted on the AEOS application form and the farm maps which accompanied the AEOS application. Officials from my Department contacted the Agricultural Advisor of the person named and the response to this query, received on the 20th June 2013, has given rise to two further queries. The Agricultural Advisor of the person named has again been contacted and upon receipt of a satisfactory response the processing of the file will be completed.
231. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on a single farm payment for 2011 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [32688/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA 2012 Transfer of Entitlements application form was received on 1st March, 2012 requesting the transfer of 30.47 Single Payment Entitlements from the joint names of the person named and his late brother, to the sole name of the person named.
The application to transfer entitlements was processed on 26 September, 2012 following receipt of requested documentation on 20th September, 2012. Payment in relation to this transfer has issued to the person named.
Following a telephone call to the Inheritance Enquiry Unit, my Department agreed to process the 2012 Transfer of Entitlements application as a 2011 Transfer of Entitlements application to facilitate payment of the 2011 Single Payment to the person named. A letter outlining the 2011 transfer of entitlements issued to the person named on 13 May 2013 and full payment issued on 2 July, 2013.
232. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary may obtain a single farm payment on a section of their land which has been designated as an area of natural heritage; if not, if this land may be reclaimed in order that they can apply for payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32693/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraLand is eligible for payment under the Single Payment Scheme when it is used for an agricultural activity. In the case of the parcel in question, the inspection process revealed that the presence of scrub rendered certain parts ineligible for payment.
Issues relating to designation of the land as an area of natural heritage, including reclamation, are a matter for The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
233. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of future harvesting rights that have been sold by Coillte in each of the past three years; the total amount of rights that have been sold and the projected dates of maturity and the counties in which the rights have been sold, excluding sales of current standing timber sold to timber processors for harvesting within one year of sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32727/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988 and the sale by Coillte of future harvesting rights, to which the Deputy refers, is an operational matter for the company. Coillte has, however, advised that no such harvesting rights were sold in the past three years i.e. 2010, 2011 and 2012.
234. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals on foot of the investigation into pig farming by Compassion in World Farming which found the most horrific cruelty and worst breaches of EU law taking place here, with particular reference to the steps he will take to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted and held to account; and if he will ensure that the mistreatment of pigs is stamped out in farming here. [32740/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department treats allegations of animal cruelty with the utmost seriousness and has been in touch with Compassion in World Farming to advise that if the Organisation has evidence of cruelty to animals on Irish farms, it should be forwarded to An Garda Síochána for investigation. Separately my officials are following up on the information received from CIWF and any violations of animal welfare legislation found on Irish pig farms will be dealt with through the appropriate sanctions.
235. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline each international organisation, international agency or international body of which Ireland is a member and for which his Department or a State body or agency under the aegis of his Department is responsible or co-responsible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32803/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department represents Ireland in a number of international organisations, international agencies and international bodies and these can be found listed below.
As to the State Bodies and agencies under this Department’s aegis, this would be an operational matter for the bodies or agencies themselves.
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Table |
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Bioversity International / European Co-operative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR) |
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Codex Alimentarius |
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Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council |
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English Speaking Pesticides Analytical Council |
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EUFORGEN |
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European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO) |
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European Co-Operative Programme for Genetic Resources (Malus-Pyrus Working Group) (ECPGR) |
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European Forest Institute (EFI) |
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European Forestry Commission (EFC) |
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European Mycological Network (EMN) |
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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UNFAO) |
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FOREST EUROPE (The Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe) |
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Future Trees Trust |
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Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases |
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InnovaWood |
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International Council for the Exploration of the Sea |
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International Meat Secretariat |
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International Plant Protection Convention which is a body within the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations |
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International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) |
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International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) |
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International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) |
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International Working-Group for Feedingstuff Analysis (IAG) |
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Joint Programming Initiative - Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (JPI FACCE) |
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Joint Programming Initiative – A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life (JPI HDHL) |
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Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) |
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The European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP) |
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The European Regional Focal Point for Animal Genetic Resources (ERFP) |
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The Rotterdam Convention |
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United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) [in particular UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry] |
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United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) |
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United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) |
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World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) |
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World Trade Organisation |
236. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the Bord Iascaigh Mhara application for an aquaculture and a foreshore licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay, and the taking on board of concerns expressed about the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32855/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay was received by my Department last year. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act.
A determination in respect of the application will be made as soon as possible following completion of the necessary assessment process. This assessment process will take full account of all national and EU legislative requirements and will reflect the full engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of the application.
The fullest consideration will also be given to all submissions received as part of the statutory and public consultation stages of the process.
As the application is under active consideration as part of the statutory process it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
