Written Answers Nos. 13-16
13. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to protect the future of the agrifood sector here in view of planned trade agreements between the EU and US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43017/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI want to start by saying that I and my colleagues in Government are fully supportive of the planned trade agreement between the EU and US. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP as it is called, has the potential to increase growth and boost jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. As a small open trading economy, Ireland is well positioned to take full advantage of trade liberalisation. In the agri-food sector we have strong offensive interests, both in terms of market access and in eliminating some of the irritants that hinder trade. We already export over €500 million in agri-food to the US – dominated by beverages and casein. Beverages are already traded between EU and US at zero rates of duty so TTIP will not, in itself, grow this trade. However, we are seeking substantial market access for our dairy products and in the prepared foods area. We also want to see action to action to address the question of Grade A equivalence for dairy and the licensing system that applies to dairy imports into the US.
Of course, we have defensive interests as well. One of these is our beef sector. While we see some opportunities for establishing a niche market in the US for Irish beef, we have concerns regarding the prospect of increased beef imports into the EU. Indeed, the most recent report of the European Parliament on the trade implications of an EU US agreement bears out our concerns in relation to the suckler cow herd in Europe. The report finds that this will be adversely affected by the trade deal. I have raised these concerns on a number of occasions with the EU Commission. I have proposed that Ireland’s sensitivities are reflected in the size and composition of any quota offered to the US. I have argued that the size of the quota should not exceed European market absorption capacity, which is substantially reduced according to the latest forecasts. I have also proposed that the quota should be designed – via end use conditions – to ensure that imports are not all concentrated on high value cuts and that an in-quota tariff rate should continue to apply to imports within the quota.
Finally, I would like to correct some of the reports circulating that TTIP will result in the import of hormone treated meat into the EU. Just to clarify the position, a decision was taken many years ago to ban the use of hormones in animals in the EU destined for the human food chain. The ban forms part of the EU positive but precautionary principle to limit the use of medical treatments to disease prevention and cure. The US takes a different approach that allows the use of hormones in the absence of scientific evidence that they may cause harm. While the US has said that it will be seeking access for its hormone treated meat to the EU as part of the TTIP negotiations, it is impossible in the current climate to see a reversal of the EU prohibition decision.
14. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will revise the requirement for 50% of farmers on a commonage to agree a grazing plan in order to participate in GLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43004/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe preservation and management of our commonages is accorded a very high priority within GLAS. This is as it should be given the importance of these habitats and of the work carried out by farmers in maintaining and farming these hills. However, p ayments under GLAS can only be made in respect of actions going beyond the baseline requirements under the Basic Payment Scheme under Pillar 1 of the CAP. In simple terms this means that a farmer cannot be paid twice for the same commitment under both schemes. Since the introduction of agri-environment schemes in the 1990s the Pillar 1 baseline has been progressively raised for each programming period and this challenges us all in developing schemes that will gain approval at EU level. Farmers are required under the Basic Pay ment Scheme to ensure land meets eligibility requirements and commonage land is no exception to this requirement. So, in order to secure funding for hill-farmers under GLAS, I have to design a scheme which manifestly goes beyond baseline. I also have to ensure that the commitments outlined are measurable and controllable, as this is critical to securing approval. The key characteristic of commonage land is that it is farmed in common and the actions undertaken under GLAS will have to reflect that. We cannot have multiple and varying plans submitted for the commonage – we need a single plan, drawn up by a single advisor, that sets out clearly what the objectives are over a five-year period and what those participating in this plan will do, individually and together, to achieve those objectives.
On this point, we clearly need to have sufficient people working together to achieve the best results for these commonages, in the interests of both the farming community and of the environment. I have already revised the minimum participation rate down from 80% to 50%, having listened to the concerns of farmers in this regard. I believe that 50% participation is the minimum required to make this work but I also believe that it represents an achievable target.
I think it is particularly important to point out that , again in response to farmer concerns, the 50% requirement will be based on active farmers only, i.e. those actually grazing the commonage. To give an example, if there are 20 shareholders on a commonage, and 15 are claiming shares under the Single Payment Scheme, but only 10 of those are actively grazing the land at present, the 50% requirement to trigger priority access to GLAS is just 5 farmers. I do not believe that a minimum participation requirement based on this model is insurmountable but where real difficulties are being encountered I have already said that the farmers concerned can approach the Commonage Implementation Committee to make their case.
Last month my Department held a series of information evenings for hill-farmers, where the new proposals have been explained in detail and where the farmers themselves have had the opportunity to express their concerns in person. In most cases, the farmers at these meetings have engaged very constructively and positively in the discussion and it has been a very useful process. Once within the scheme, it is the farmers themselves who, in consultation with the commonage advisor, design their own plan, set the grazing levels and distribute any additional grazing requirement. This puts the development of the plan in the hands of the farmers themselves and in recognition of the additional effort involved in both designing and implementing this plan, I have increased the rate of payment for commonage land from €75 per hectare under the last programme to €120 per hectare under GLAS.
If people look carefully at what is actually proposed, they will see that this is a very flexible scheme which actually gives the shareholders a real say in how the hills are managed, in their own best interests and in the interests of the environment. The priority now is to progress the launch of the scheme so that the benefits of these new arrangements, including the increased payments, can transfer to farmers as soon as possible.
15. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the status of the proposal to introduce paid parking at Howth Harbour, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42800/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe House will be aware that I have been considering introducing a charge for parking facilities within Howth Fishery Harbour Centre for some time as part of an overall traffic management plan for the safe operation of the harbour,
- to assist in operating Howth Fishery Harbour Centre on a financially-sound basis, by providing a new source of revenue for further investment in Fishery Harbour Centre facilities, and
- in order to maximise the return on this significant State asset.
There is a broad range of factors to consider in coming to a decision; first and foremost Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is a working fishery harbour, one of 6 Fishery Harbour Centres in the State. I have to be conscious in regard to the safe operation of the Harbour at all times. In this context, traffic management and parking is recognised as an issue, particularly, though not exclusively, during the busy holiday periods.
Uniquely among Fishery Harbour Centres, a wide range of groups use the parking facilities of Howth Fishery Harbour – harbour business customers, yacht club members, sport fishermen, Dart users, tourists, walkers and many others. For the record, pay parking is already in operation in two other Fishery Harbour Centres.
As I have said, funding for operating, management and ongoing development costs of the Fishery Harbour Centres is a consideration for my Department, though not the only one, that said, ensuring that the Fishery Harbour Centres are run on a financially-sound basis, is extremely important.
I am conscious of balancing the various unique features that pertain in Howth, and I am also well aware of and acknowledge the concerns of local residents and harbour users, I will take appropriate account of their views in coming to my decision.
16. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to address the specification variations operated by beef processors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42983/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to recent developments in the beef sector , I have been engaging with both processors and producers, t hrough the Beef Roundtable process and in bilateral discussions, to address a range of strategic issues impacting on the sector. This has led to a number of notable outcomes, including a public consultation and the development of Producer Organisations to rebalance the relationship along the supply chain, and the increased beef price transparency through the development of the Departments “beef price-watch” app. I have also introduced a range of supports in the recent budget as part of a total package of approximately €74 million for the beef sector in 2015, including a provision of €52 million for a proposed Beef Data and Genomics Programme which will place Ireland at the leading edge globally in the use of genomics in beef production. The question of market specifications is a matter for the seller and purchasers of beef. It is vital that farmers receive clear, consistent and appropriate signals through the specifications applied at factory level and I have been working with all sides to ensure this is the case. I also invited Tesco and McDonalds, the biggest buyers of Irish beef, both by volume and value, to the last Roundtable to provide a buyers perspective on market specifications and requirements.
These matters can ultimately only be resolved through dialogue between both processors and producers. That is why, following the last beef roundtable discussions , I requested that Meat Industry Ireland and the various farming organisations commit to two weeks of intensive negotiations on the issues currently effecting the sector, most notably the specification requirements placed on beef animals at time of slaughter. All sides gave a commitment to enter these talks with an earnest resolve to bring about some positive resolutions to the current impasse. These talks are being chaired by Mr. Michael Dowling, former Secretary General in my Department and I have reconvened a meeting of the Beef Roundtable for later today where we will receive Michael’s report on his meetings.
