Written Answers Nos. 25-28
25. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine after the recent fish spill in Killybegs Harbour, County Donegal, when a clean up will be initiated; the person making the decision; the process in the event of any future incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43008/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPursuant to the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 (as amended), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine owns and directly manages the Fishery Harbour Centre located at Killybegs.
On 1st September 2014 my Department was made aware of a fish spill within the confines of the Fishery Harbour Centre in Killybegs. Following further inspection it was established that a large amount of herring was dumped in the harbour.
On 5th September 2014, Marine Engineering Division commenced a clean-up of the dead fish in the harbour. Six members of Marine Engineering Division gathered approximately 2 tonnes of fish by hand from the shore accessing it via jeep and boat. The areas outlined by a Marine Engineer on 3rd September 2014 were considered clean by the afternoon of the 6th September 2014.
Further boat movements along the new pier brought to the surface new fish on 5th and 6th September 2014. Due to wind and tides these fish exited the harbour out to sea.
In so far as any future incidents are concerned the Harbour Master at each Fishery Centre Harbour is responsible for the day to day operations of the harbour to which he has been appointed and his functions include ensuring compliance with application of all rules and regulations applicable to the Fishery Harbour Centres generally.
All pollution incidents, including fish spills or wash ups are a matter of concern to my Department. In the event of a pollution incident at a Fishery Harbour Centre, the matter is brought to the attention of my Department by the relevant Harbour Master, and an investigation and appropriate remedial action is undertaken. The level and nature of response is governed by the type and scale of the pollution in question, and can involve a co-ordinated multi agency approach.
26. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on his visit to China and the potential for Irish beef exports there. [43015/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very pleased to advise the Deputy that in relation to beef, there was a significant breakthrough achieved last week, following my political meetings with my Chinese counterparts including the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister responsible for market access, when I secured a firm commitment from the Chinese Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQSIQ) to carry out a formal inspection visit in Ireland in early December.
This breakthrough reflected the intensive engagement and the level of effort which we have put into advancing this issue, both at a technical and political level over the last few years. Our comprehensive input to the joint Ireland-China BSE working group last December has undoubtedly also helped to convince the Chinese of the seriousness of our intent. Securing the agreement of AQSIQ is a major breakthrough as it marks us out as the first EU Member State to have advanced to this stage. We have been very keen to emphasise to the Chinese side the transparency with which we operate our food safety controls and the upcoming inspection visit is our opportunity to showcase these controls in operation and demonstrate why Irish beef is a trusted and reliable product in discerning third country markets around the world. My Department has already begun an intensive engagement with the Chinese authorities and with Irish industry on the planning for this inspection visit.
Securing access to China will be major boost to the Irish beef industry and complements the other market access successes we have had in the last 12 months including Japan, the Philippines and the Lebanon. We are also making significant progress with the US and Canada to secure access there where I am hopeful Irish beef will be available on supermarket shelves and in restaurants very soon.
27. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the discussions that he has had with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to those landowners whose lands have been designated for the protection of the hen harrier habitat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42796/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy colleague, Minister of State Tom Hayes TD, previously met with Minister Deenihan and, more recently, with Minister Humphreys, in relation to the impact the designations are having on the forestry sector and on farmers generally. This is also the subject of ongoing interaction between officials from my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is currently developing a Threat Response Plan (TRP) for Hen Harrier, which is one of Ireland's rarest species of bird, and which is protected at a European level under the EU Birds Directive. As part of this process, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has established an inter-Departmental Steering Group, incorporating representatives from key Departments, to assist in the development of the Plan. The TRP is examining the impacts of various activities including forest development, agricultural intensification and wind farm development on the conservation of the species.
I understand that the TRP will set out necessary measures for implementation within each of the three sectors, to protect and conserve Hen Harrier, and in doing so, will bring clarity to farmers and other landowners about future land management activities within the SPAs.
In relation to forestry, it is envisaged that the TRP will determine, inter alia, the circumstances in which afforestation might be accommodated in Hen Harrier SPAs without impacting on the conservation of the species. In the meantime, my Department is not in a position to grant approval for any afforestation projects in those areas until, as part of the TRP, an integrated series of measures across all three land uses has been identified to protect the species. It should be noted that large areas within the SPAs include unimproved semi-natural heath and bog habitats which are generally not eligible for afforestation grants.
I also understand that the inter-Departmental Steering Group is in the process of establishing a Consultative Committee, comprising of relevant representatives from the forestry, agriculture and wind farm sectors as well as NGO’s and the wider stakeholder community, to contribute to the formulation of the Plan.
28. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to develop an all-island animal health regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42982/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is already a substantial degree of harmonisation of the veterinary regimes on the island of Ireland, particularly in view of the fact that the bulk of the animal health and welfare measures implemented on the island are based on EU legislation. The main objective of the North-South strategy in the animal health and welfare area is to establish equivalent internal arrangements on both sides of the Border with a view to achieving freer movement of animals and animal products within the island.
There is ongoing co-operation between my Department and its counterpart in Northern Ireland through the dedicated working groups established under the North-South arrangements to further this objective. Under these arrangements, a formal structure is in place whereby working groups meet to focus on critical issues such as disease control, animal identification and movement, cross-Border communication, data sharing and the development of joint initiatives on animal welfare. Agreed communication procedures and contacts between the two Departments have been put in place, in the event of a suspect or outbreak of disease on either side of the Border. Both sides commit to letting the unaffected side know as soon as possible so that matching control measures can be immediately put in place.
With regard to those diseases which are not harmonised at EU level, I believe that the Northern Ireland decision to establish a body with a similar remit to that of Animal Health Ireland should help to progress cross-Border co-operation in this area. There is clearly an all Ireland recognition of the potential to improve the competitiveness of the farming sector through tackling production diseases.
