Written Answers Nos. 162-169
162. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the proposal to establish a poultry council has been progressed; if Exchequer or EU funding will be provided towards the work of the council or if any other initiatives are planned to assist the further development of the poultry sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48701/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials and I have had a number of meetings with the IFA Poultry Committee, and a Poultry Council was one of a several matters discussed. I agree that a collaborative approach between farmers and processors, where possible and appropriate, is likely to serve the best interests of the poultry sector. Of course, such an initiative would require consensus among the main players on the objectives from the outset.
As an initial step, I invited a group representing the poultry sector to the Food Harvest 2020 High Level Implementation Committee, which I chair. I acknowledge the work undertaken by stakeholders to establish a Poultry Council. The new Rural Development Programme is being developed in my Department, and a number of initiatives from a range of sectors are being considered at present.
163. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their direct payments for 2013 in view of the fact that the dual claim issue in this case was fully resolved in previous years by submission of maps and so on by the herd owner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48729/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing initial processing of the application of the person named, dual claims were identified in respect of a number of land parcel declared. Query letters have recently issued to both applicants regarding their entitlement to claim the disputed land. To date no reply has been received by either applicant. An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named regarding the situation and explained that once replies have been received from both applicants the correspondence will be reviewed by my Department and a decision will be made. Both parties will be informed of this decision.
164. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department has encouraged the growth of niche sectors of the food industry with particular reference to areas throughout the country that have suffered particularly from the economic downturn and, due to their geographic location, may be not be in position to capitalise on the economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48757/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFood Harvest 2020 identified the potential of the speciality and artisan food sector and advice and support have been developed by the development agencies and my Department to assist the development of food businesses in this area.
In September I launched Food Academy, a joint initiative by Bord Bia and the County Enterprise Boards to provide a consistent level of food marketing knowledge to new and early-stage food business owners. For the first time, food start ups regardless of location will have access to a standardized programme of supports throughout the country. The programme will guide companies from start-up to their first retail listing. Workshop style training, designed by Bord Bia and SuperValu, will be rolled out and run by 35 County Enterprise Boards, with local SuperValu retailers in each region participating in a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style pitch process. Participants will have the opportunity to pitch their product or idea with a view to securing an initial local listing and the potential to build from there. Bord Bia will design follow-up supports under the Food Academy banner to assist companies with their continued development.
Bord Bia also provides financial support under its Marketing Assistance Programme (MAP) to small food, drink and horticulture companies, to help them improve their marketing techniques and capabilities. In 2013, 187 companies from 23 counties were approved grants amounting to €963,000. Companies from the BMW Region submitted 22% of the applications and were allocated 21% of the funds.
Since April 2012 the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, which is administered through the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, have funding available under Measure 123 to support and encourage economic activity in rural areas through the development of food enterprises. The measure provides support for both start up and established enterprises to develop and improve their food products. €5 million is available for payment up to the end of 2014. To date, €2.6 million has been allocated to projects and related administration and €318,172 has been paid to projects.
The Bord Bia Foresight for Food service to groups of artisans/small firms assists them to collaborate around research and to commercialise growth. Artisan companies are among those benefiting from participation in Origin Green and Bord Bia is considering how to demonstrate to more artisan SMEs how they can benefit from this programme. The annual Artisan Food Market at BLOOM continues to provide niche food producers with a major opportunity to showcase and sell their products to consumers, BLOOM 2013 attracted a record 120,000 visitors.
The Taste Council, which is affiliated to Bord Bia, has designed a Food Module for transition year secondary school students with the objective of increasing students' understanding of the benefits of local and artisan food. This will be piloted in 8 schools from January 2014 and rolled out to a wider number of schools nationwide in September 2014. The TASTE Council also sponsored the Blas Na hEireann artisan producer award on October 6th 2013. Increasing awareness of niche foods is important to promote consumption. The farmhouse cheese sector has been growing in importance locally and in terms of exports, which now amount to some €4 million a year. Teagasc provides specialist advice to farmhouse cheese-makers in developing their cheese enterprises and the European Commission this year approved 50% EU co-financing of a three year programme ' Discover Farmhouse Cheese '. My Department is contributing a further 30% with the balance of 20% being provided by Cáis and the National Dairy Council. The programme is managed by Bord Bia.
165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to ensure the strict enforcement of traceability with particular reference to ensuring that all food imports are subject to the same criteria as those applicable in this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48758/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), under the aegis of the Department of Health is the competent authority with overall responsibility for the enforcement of food legislation in Ireland. Controls on the import of food are implemented by a number of agencies, including my Department, through service contracts with the FSAI. In relation to traceability, EU Food Hygiene Regulations stipulate, among other things, that there should be ‘one up, one down’ traceability at each point along the food chain and I am satisfied that food business operators in this country generally meet that standard.
In relation to intra community trade, food can be traded freely within the Community provided they originate from EU approved plants. Consignments of meat imported into Ireland from third countries are checked at a Border Inspection Post (BIP) on arrival. There are two BIPs in Ireland, at Dublin port and Shannon airport, operated by my Department. Controls on imported products consist of three types of checks – documentary, identity and physical. All consignments have a documentary and identity check and a proportion of products as laid down in legislation are subject to physical checks.
Ireland operates EU harmonised import controls on products of animal origin arriving from non-EU (or third) countries. My Department operates these controls in collaboration with the Customs Services. Products of animal origin directly imports from third countries into Ireland that require import controls are not released by customs until they are notified by my department that the import controls have been completed satisfactorily and the consignment can be released. On release by customs the consignment must travel to the destination indicated on the common veterinary entry document issued by my Department.
The Environmental Health Service of the Health Service Executive also provides a range of food safety / food control services in accordance with its service contract with the FSAI. These controls include inspections and sampling of food sold in retail and catering establishments.
166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that all beef, lamb, pig meat or poultry imports to this country and the European Union are subject to the same husbandry and traceability regulations as those applicable here; if all EU countries strictly observe the rules in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48759/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraInternational trade in agri-food products is a reality with which we must live and as a general proposition, as a country with a strong export focus, it is clearly in Ireland’s broader economic interests to ensure that there is a reasonably liberal, but balanced international trade environment.
To protect animal and public health and in accordance with international trade agreements, the European Union (EU) has set down the conditions for importation of consignments of products of animal origin from non-EU countries intended for release into free circulation in the EU. These import requirements are generic and applicable for all countries authorised to export to the EU. The legislation imposes a series of health and supervisory requirements, designed to ensure that imported products meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between Member States. Products must have originated in an area where there are no restrictions imposed under EU Safeguard measures and come from establishments which are under the supervision and control of the competent authorities. The products must be free from residues and contaminants, correctly labelled and travel with the specific health certificates or other documents conforming to the models laid down in EU legislation drawn up in conformity with the relevant model for the product, completed and signed on behalf of the competent authorities of the country of export. The EU's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) carries out assessments of third countries wishing to export these products to the EU and submits for Commission approval those where the responsible authorities can provide appropriate guarantees as regards compliance or equivalence with Community feed and food law and animal health rules. Third countries and their establishments that are approved to export are audited and inspected by the FVO with regard to these guarantees and reports of the findings of inspections are published on its website.
Import controls on products of animal origin arriving from third countries must be performed at an EU Border Inspection Post approved for that category of product being presented. Consignments for import requiring veterinary checks must be notified in advance to the Border Inspection Post of import and presented on arrival for checks with all the appropriate documentation. Border Inspection Posts in Ireland are operated by my Department. The import controls procedures on products of animal origin are highly prescriptive and strictly audited by the FVO to ensure compliance. Again, reports of the findings of inspections are published on the FVO’s website.
In summary, the import of products from third countries is governed by a comprehensive and robust legislative framework laid down at EU level, controlled by EU Member States in the first instance, and audited by the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office, to ensure compliance with all of the relevant food safety standards.
167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects the Common Agricultural Policy reform programme to facilitate support for the development of the food industry here and throughout the European Union for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48760/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new CAP is marked by three major advances:
- First there is a greater emphasis on environmental sustainability through the greening of direct payments and the requirement to support agri-environment measures in rural development programmes.
- Second, concerted efforts are being made to tackle the problem of generation renewal through new and enhanced supports for young farmers;
- Third, the phasing out of production quotas for key products such as sugar and milk, backed up by safety-net provisions in cases of severe market disturbance, continues the increased orientation towards the market.
Overarching these changes is the flexibility that has been allowed to Member States to adapt the policy measures under both the first and second pillar to deal with their own specific challenges within the common policy.
These changes amount to a useful and progressive reform of the CAP making it fit for purpose to 2020. They are consistent with the smart, green, growth objectives of Food Harvest 2020 and provide farmers and the agri-food sector with policy certainty for the years to come.
I believe that the agreement achieved will secure strong and sustainable growth in the agriculture and food sectors into the future. It will underpin sustainable intensification of production in the years ahead. It will also support environmental stewardship and contribute to the maintenance of a vibrant rural economy.
168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the beef, lamb, pig meat and poultry sectors have grown in this country in each of the past five years to date; the extent to which the targets outlined in Food Harvest 2020 are being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48761/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOutput and exports are relevant indicators of growth for these sectors and the data for beef, lamb, pigmeat and poultry over the past five years is shown in the table.
|
- |
- |
- |
2008 |
- |
2009 |
- |
2010 |
- |
2011 |
- |
2012% Change 2008-2012 |
|
- |
Output* €m |
Exports €m |
Output €m |
Exports €m |
Output €m |
Exports €m |
Output €m |
Exports €m |
Output €m |
Exports €m |
Output %Exports% |
|
Cattle |
1,686.5 |
1,590 |
1,475.6 |
1,427 |
1,502.3 |
1,585 |
1,794.9 |
1,860 |
2,119.6 |
1,900 |
+25.7%+19% |
|
Sheep |
173.8 |
167 |
159.4 |
163 |
165.6 |
160 |
189.8 |
197 |
204.4 |
212 |
+17.6%+27% |
|
Pigs |
330.1 |
354 |
300.0 |
294 |
333.7 |
336 |
394.2 |
421 |
441.5 |
507 |
+33.7%+43% |
|
Poultry |
122.7 |
204 |
115.1 |
185 |
130.1 |
202 |
139.2 |
214 |
158.4 |
221 |
+29.1%+ 8% |
*Output is Goods Output at Producer Prices (€ million)
The main growth targets in Food Harvest 2020 are:
|
Growth Target |
Current Situation (end 2012) |
|
Primary Production - 33% |
25% |
|
Exports - 42% |
13% |
|
Value Added - 40% |
20 %(end 2011) |
In the light of the progress achieved to date, I am confident that these 2020 targets will be achieved.
169. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that all countries, EU and non-EU alike, have committed sufficiently to fisheries conservation policies; the way this affects this country and the European Union in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48762/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scope of the new Common Fisheries Policy is the conservation of marine biological resources and the management of fisheries and fleets exploiting such resources. The reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was secured during the Irish Presidency following many months of complex negotiations involving the European Commission, the European Parliament, all European Member States and relevant stakeholders. Its adoption was unanimously supported by all 27 Member States and this agreement will apply from 1 January 2014.
The agreement is designed to ensure the long term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters, based on best scientific advice, thus committing to fisheries conservation policies and ensuring the long term viability of our fishing sector.
This radical reform places the concept of long term sustainability at the core of fisheries policy and will lead to a new era of more sustainable fishing. It will support the rebuilding of fish stocks both in Irish and all EU waters and end the wasteful practice of discarding by introducing a practical and phased discards policy.
I consider that with the new CFP, Member States of the European Union have unequivocally committed to robust fisheries conservation policies. With regard to non-EU countries, there are obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) whereby contracting parties are obliged to take certain conservation and management measures to protect marine biological resources. I believe that the new CFP will be a template for strengthening those international obligations in the years to come.
