Written Answers Nos. 80-97
80. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who plan to supply milk, after the quota restrictions have been lifted, can apply for any available quota that may exist in their local co-operative, at present. [6266/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Milk Quota Regulations will cease to exist on 31 March 2015 and as a result the requirement to hold a milk quota in order to sell or supply milk will cease to exist. However, between now and 31 March, milk purchasers who are selling or supplying milk must hold a milk quota and have it allotted to a particular milk purchaser. At the end of the milk quota year, on 31 March, each milk purchaser will then distribute any unused quota to their permanent milk quota holders, in accordance with the rules governing the National Flexi Milk Distribution Scheme. There is no application system for such quota.
81. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made to allow a farmer, whose farm holding includes commonage grazing rights, to apply in their own right to the new green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; if he will remove the requirement for any such farmer to apply, in conjunction with at least 50% of other farmers grazing a commonage, and the requirement for a joint grazing management plan to be submitted as part of an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6297/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to point out that my priority is to put in place requirements for commonages that will deliver real and measurable environmental benefits and will fit within the framework of the Rural Development Regulations, which require that farmers are only paid for actions which exceed the baseline for the Basic Payment Scheme. At recent meetings with the EU Commission it was made clear that it is incumbent on Member States to ensure that payments are for actions above the baseline and that clear evidence of same must be shown in order to secure approval for the Rural Development Programme.
There has been extensive consultation with the stakeholders concerned and I am well aware of the issues arising. However, there is general agreement that the key to managing these valuable habitats is a single Commonage Management Plan (CMP), covering all participating GLAS shareholders.
I have recently met with various hill-farmer representatives and I am very confident that we can deliver a successful implementation strategy for these commonages. In this regard, I have stressed that reaching the 50% participation rate is an important target but it will not be a barrier to entry. My focus now is to secure Commission approval to the Rural Development Programme at the earliest possible date so that I can open GLAS to applications.
82. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new green low-carbon agri-environment Scheme will open for applications; the closing date for receipt of completed applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6298/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe detailed consideration of Ireland’s draft Rural Development Programme (RDP) by the EU Commission is now at an advanced stage and the new Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) is a key component of our RDP. I hope to be in a position to open GLAS as soon as agreement is reached with the EU Commission. In terms of a closing date, I can only make final decisions in this regard when I have EU approval to hand.
83. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6299/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2014 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2014. The Single Payment Scheme application was processed with payments issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 16 October 2014 and 1 December 2014. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued on 24 September 2014.
84. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the review undertaken by his Department, in respect of whether persons who have attended Mountbellew Agriculture College in County Galway and have obtained a level-7 degree in agriculture and environmental management and an add-on course qualification in rural enterprise and environmental management, have the necessary qualifications to act as a planner under the new green low-carbon agri-environment scheme is complete; if so, the decision that was arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6300/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Regulations governing the Direct Payment Schemes requires my Department to operate a Farm Advisory System (FAS) to provide advice to farmers on a range of issues relating to land and farm management. The regulations require that advisors are suitably qualified and regularly trained. In addition, in order to be approved as a GLAS Advisor, an advisor must also be an approved FAS advisor. In determining the level of educational qualifications required to be a FAS/GLAS advisor, my Department must ensure that such qualifications are of an appropriate standard to meet the objectives and the requirements of the various schemes, and the associated governing legislation, on which advice is being provided. Advisors must be qualified to interpret soil tests, understand the requirements of all schemes and understand constraints of land management imposed by various land designations. Furthermore, advisors must be in a position to translate this knowledge into detailed management plans and advice for farmers not only on the schemes requirements but also on their farm operations.
In order to ensure that advisors meet the requirements outlined above, my Department requires that all advisors must have attained a HETAC Level 8 Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Science/Land Management in Agriculture and must have taken soil science and an animal or crop production subject to a level 8 (NFQ) degree standard.
My Department recently carried out a review of the educational qualification requirements for FAS/GLAS advisors following the receipt of an appeal from Mountbellew Agricultural College/GMIT in relation to the level 7 BSc in Agriculture and Environment Management with the add-on level 8 BSc in Rural Enterprise and Environment Management, which had been deemed as not meeting the required standard. The review was undertaken by an officer independent of the original decision making process.
This review, which incorporated a detailed examination of all documentation submitted as part of the appeal, identified that this course did not meet the standard of educational qualifications required as some of the core subjects of soil science and animal and crop production were assessed only as part of the level 7 degree. The required standard to be approved as a FAS/GLAS advisor is, and has been for some years, that these core subjects must have been taken/assessed as part of a level 8 (NFQ) degree programme.
In order to address the concerns on this issue, I am now arranging for officials from my Department to meet with relevant institutions in the near future to discuss in detail the educational qualification requirements for FAS Advisors, the feasibility of adapting existing courses to meet this standard in the future and to identify options to facilitate past graduates in achieving the required standard of qualifications.
85. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts being made to support those farmers under 40 years of age who have been farming full-time for five years but are unable to get access to the national reserve and are also excluded from getting the 25% basic payment scheme top-up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6320/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the EU Regulations governing the Young Farmer Scheme and National Reserve, eligibility for payment is limited to farmers under 40 years who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting the Basic Payment Scheme application. These schemes are intended to provide financial assistance to young farmers during the period immediately following the setting up of their farming enterprise. My Department has no discretion regarding these eligibility criteria and as such it is not possible to extend the Young Farmers Scheme or Young Farmers category of the National Reserve to include the group of farmers as proposed by the Deputy.
The Regulations also include an optional provision whereby Member States may use the National Reserve to allocate new entitlements or give a top-up on the value of existing entitlements for persons who suffer from a ‘Specific Disadvantage’. The application of this optional use of the Reserve for non-priority categories will be dependent on the availability of funds within the National Reserve once the two priority categories have been allocated. My Department is aware of the particular category of farmer referred to by the Deputy. In this regard, my Department is engaging with the EU Commission to examine the possibility of including this category of farmer under the “Specific Disadvantage” provision.
86. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 7 May 2014, if the subsequent letters from a person (details supplied) to his private secretary and the Secretary General of his Department of 7 June 2014 and 4 September 2014 have been replied to. [6329/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 12 May 2014, I wrote to the person named concerning the matters raised by him about a Bord Iascaigh Mhara study of seal depredation. I advised the person named that I considered it appropriate that his complaint against BIM be processed, in the first instance, with BIM through its Customer Charter. I also said that when appropriate avenues to mediate or arbitrate the issues raised by him had been exhausted with BIM, it may at that point be appropriate to examine the scope for me to become more directly involved. While subsequent correspondence from the person named to me expressed his reluctance to bring his complaints to BIM, I have to maintain that this is the appropriate first course of action. In doing so, the person named may request that BIM have the complaint considered by a senior manager of BIM with no past involvement in the matters concerned.
87. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an area aid headage payment and Rural Environment Protection Scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6336/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2014 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme was received from the person named on 23 April 2014. The Single Payment Scheme application was processed with payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 14 January 2015. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued on 13 January 2015. As the SFP application of the person named has been resolved the REPS application will now be further processed.
88. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding a service medal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [6261/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCivil Defence is a volunteer based organisation and it is important to honour those who have given such dedicated service over many years.
Long Service Medals were first introduced in Civil Defence in 1997 for members who had given 10 and 20 years of continuous service to the organisation. As Civil Defence is now over 60 years old it was decided last year to introduce Long Service Medals to recognise those who have given 30, 40 and even 50 years of continuous service to the organisation.
The Minister of State at the Department, Mr. Paul Kehoe T.D., presented the first of these medals at a ceremony in Dublin Castle last November. For those eligible volunteers who were unable to attend at Dublin Castle to receive their medals, local presentation ceremonies are being organised.
Volunteers are recruited into Civil Defence through their local authority. My Department has been in contact with Wicklow County Council to request that they examine their records to establish the number of years of service the individual in question has given to Civil Defence. When these investigations are complete the Civil Defence Officer for Wicklow will make contact with the individual regarding the awarding of an appropriate Long Service Medal to him.
89. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence regarding reports that a person (details supplied) suspected of involvement in the killing of persons (details supplied) could go free under an amnesty covering crimes committed during the 1975 to 1990 Lebanese civil war; if he has established whether this is likely to happen; the action he is taking in relation to the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6330/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter to which the Deputy is referring is the case of the deaths of Private Thomas Barrett and Private Derek Smallhorne who were murdered, and Private John O’Mahony who was seriously injured while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on 18 April 1980. In July 2014 the alleged perpetrator, Mr. Mahmoud Bazzi, was arrested by the United States of America’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Agency for administrative immigration violations. During his immigration court hearing in Detroit, on 11 August, Mr. Bazzi admitted that he entered the United States in 1994 without proper documentation. The Judge ruled that Mr. Bazzi be deported to Lebanon. Mr. Bazzi was finally deported from the United States to his native Lebanon on 30 January 2015. On arrival in Beirut, Mr. Bazzi was arrested and detained by the Lebanese authorities where he remains in custody. It is now a matter for the Lebanese authorities to investigate the case. The Irish Ambassador in the region is continuing to monitor developments in the case and is in contact with the Department of Defence.
Unfortunately, there are no provisions in Irish law, which provide a basis for Ireland to pursue a prosecution against the alleged perpetrator. Lebanon is the country with primary jurisdiction in this case. The Irish Government have requested the support of the Lebanese Government in seeking justice for the murdered Irish UNIFIL peacekeepers, should such action be feasible. During my visit to the Lebanon last December, I met with the Lebanese authorities at the most senior levels of Government and highlighted the Irish Government’s continued commitment and interest in progressing this case.
I am not in a position to state whether the alleged perpetrator will go free but I can state that we are committed to continuing to do everything possible to pursue justice for both men who lost their lives in the line of peacekeeping duty, and stand ready to provide whatever assistance possible to the Lebanese authorities in progressing this issue. However, it is a matter for the Lebanese authorities to investigate the case and to determine any future action in accordance with their national legislation and judicial procedures.
90. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the introduction of virtual gambling; and if it is covered under the Betting Act 1931. [6163/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is my intention that this form of gambling will be covered by the Gambling Control Bill, once enacted. The General Scheme of the Bill, published in July 2013, and available on my Department's website, has virtual gambling within its scope. It is not possible to indicate at this point when the Bill will be published.
My colleague the Minister for Finance has primary responsibility for the oversight of the Betting Act 1931 (as amended) and currently has legislation before the Oireachtas - the Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013 - which will update the current legislation in this area.
91. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the opening of betting offices in pubs is covered under the Betting Act 1931. [6164/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGeneral provisions relating to the control and regulation of bookmaking and betting are set out in the Betting Act 1931, as amended. This legislation prohibits a person from carrying on business or acting as a bookmaker without a licence issued by the Revenue Commissioners. Applicants for such licences must submit a certificate of personal fitness issued by a Superintendent of the Garda Síochána and be tax compliant. A certificate of suitability of premises, also issued by the Garda Síochána, is required by applicants engaged in off-course bookmaking activity.
Section 11 of the 1931 Act sets out the grounds for refusal of a certificate of suitability of premises. As regards the suitability of licensed premises, section 11 includes a specific refusal ground which remains in force, i.e. where the application for a certificate is in respect of premises which did not prior to 28 July 1926 form part of premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor, that the applicant is the holder of a licence for the sale of intoxicating liquor. With the exception of premises forming part of licensed premises prior to 28 July 1926, section 17(2) of the Licensing Act 1872 prohibits the carrying on of betting activities on licensed premises.
92. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps his Department is taking to tackle the ever increasing problem of gambling in this country. [6165/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the Government approved the General Scheme of the Gambling Control Bill in July 2013. This Bill will, upon enactment, replace all extant laws on gambling (with the exception of that governing the National Lottery). The Scheme is with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel awaiting formal drafting, and is available on my Department's website. As per the current Legislative Programme, it is not yet possible to indicate when the Bill is likely to be published.
The new legislation will have consumer protection generally as one of its core principles, and it is envisaged that it will include several measures aimed at assisting and protecting vulnerable persons, the young and those for whom gambling has become a problem.
It is proposed, in Part 7 of the Scheme, to establish a Fund to aid research, education and awareness activities and to support treatment programmes. The Fund will be based on contributions from the industry but the proposals will ensure independent supervision of the disbursement of monies collected.
As I have already stated, there is a scarcity of information on the scale and impacts of gambling. This underlines the need for measures such as the Fund I referred to above.
93. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of gardaí stationed in each station in the Kildare division, broken down by station, from 2009 to date in 2015; her views on whether this is adequate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6186/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra98. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of gardaí stationed in each station in the Limerick division from 2009 to date in 2015; the number of vehicles allocated to same during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6284/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra99. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of gardaí stationed in each station in the Clare division from 2009 to date in 2015; the number of vehicles allocated to same during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6285/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra100. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of gardaí stationed in each station in the Cork city division from 2009 to date in 2015; the number of vehicles allocated to same during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6286/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra101. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of gardaí stationed in each station in the Cork west division from 2009 to date in 2015; the number of vehicles allocated to same during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6287/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra102. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of gardaí stationed in each station in the Cork north division from 2009 to date in 2015; the number of vehicles allocated to same during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6288/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra103. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of gardaí stationed in each station in the Westmeath division from 2009 to date in 2015; the number of vehicles allocated to same during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6289/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra104. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of gardaí stationed in each station in the Mayo division from 2009 to date in 2015; the number of vehicles allocated to same during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6290/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra105. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of gardaí stationed in each station in the Meath division from 2009 to date in 2015; the number of vehicles allocated to same during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6291/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra106. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of gardaí stationed in each station in the Kildare division from 2009 to date in 2015; the number of vehicles allocated to same during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6292/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra107. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of gardaí stationed in each station in the Laois division from 2009 to date in 2015; the number of vehicles allocated to same during that time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6293/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 98 to 107, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel and vehicles, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.
I have arranged to send detailed tables of the information which the Deputy has requested directly to him.
94. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners jailed in the State for non-payment of fines for each year since 2010; when this practice will cease and other appropriate arrangements for payment including staged payments will be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6226/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of committals for each year since 2010 solely for non-payment of fines is set out in the table below. Figures are taken from the Annual Reports of the Irish Prison Service. In the case of 2014, these figures are provisional pending the publication of the 2014 Annual Report.
|
Year |
Committals for non-payment of fines |
|
2014 |
8,965 |
|
2013 |
8,121 |
|
2012 |
8,304 |
|
2011 |
7,514 |
|
2010 |
6,683 |
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act 2014 was signed into law by the President on 16 April 2014. The aim of the legislation is to seek to effectively eliminate, in so far as is possible, the need for judges to commit anyone to prison for the non-payment of a fine. As well as introducing an option for persons to pay fines by instalment, there are also changes in the way those who fail to pay fines are dealt with, with a range of options available to judges including recovery orders, attachment of earnings, community service and ultimately imprisonment.
Work is ongoing in preparing for the implementation of the Act. The area most directly affected by the changes is the Courts and the Courts Service is working on a number of developments which will ensure that the implementation of the legislation, and the new procedures which will operate under it, are as efficient as possible.
In relation to the introduction of payment of fines by instalment, a decision was taken to outsource all aspects of the recovery of fines to an external provider. The Courts Service is introducing new arrangements for the payment of fines which will allow payments to be made in a range of outlets across the country, and not just through Courts Service offices. There are significant changes in information technology required to ensure that the instalment payment system operates effectively and that the necessary accounting procedures are in place for the recording of payments. Changes are also required in the way that information is transferred between the Courts Service and An Garda Síochána to ensure that both organisations have fully up to date information on the cases and their current status.
It is expected that all the preparations for the new system will be completed by the third quarter of 2015. While it is desirable that the Act be commenced as soon as possible, it is important that these preparations are done correctly to ensure that the significant changes being implemented in the fines system as a result of this legislation are implemented smoothly and effectively from the start.
95. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of female prisoners jailed in the State for each year since 2010; the percentage of all prisoners this represents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6227/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of female committals for each year since 2010 is set out in the table below. Figures are taken from the Annual Reports of the Irish Prison Service. In the case of 2014, these figures are provisional pending the publication of the 2014 Annual Report.
|
Year |
Female Committals |
% of Total Committals |
|
2014 |
3,093 |
19% |
|
2013 |
2,727 |
17% |
|
2012 |
2,560 |
15% |
|
2011 |
2,238 |
13% |
|
2010 |
2,024 |
12% |
96. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in determining eligibility for stamp 4, in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6237/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that they are currently in correspondence with the person mentioned. Following the introduction of the Reactivation Work Permit Scheme where a person who previously held an Employment Permit may be eligible for a Work Permit, an application form for this scheme issued to this person on 03 February 2015. Following a return of this form INIS will be in further contact with this person.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
97. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a provision will be included in the reformed Domestic Violence Act (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6269/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to introduce consolidated and reformed domestic violence legislation to address all aspects of domestic violence. In this regard, I intend to bring the General Scheme of a consolidated bill on domestic violence to Government early this year with a view to enactment later in the year.
My Department has received a number of proposals in relation to the reform of our domestic violence legislative provisions including the extension of the availability of orders to other classes of applicants. All such proposals will be carefully considered during the legislative process for the Bill.
