Written Answers Nos. 112-24
112. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payments under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41012/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named is not a participant in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme. I am aware that an application under Tranche 2 of the GLAS Scheme is currently being prepared for the person named on the GLAS online system. If that application is successful following all the necessary checks the person named will be entitled to a payment in 2016.
113. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure any outstanding grants will be paid to a person (details supplied). [41024/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 16 April 2015. As he had established no Basic Payment entitlements, no payment is due to him under this Scheme. Payments under ANC scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person in September 2015.
114. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the deepening of the harbour in Daingean Uí Chúis in County Kerry for large ships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41040/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDingle Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. My Department carried out investigations in relation to deepening the main navigation channel into Dingle Harbour some time ago. These investigation works involved a Dredging Study Report, incorporating Hydrodynamic Modelling, Benthic Studies and Chemical & Radiological Analysis of the sediments. In advance of any consideration of progressing a dredging project further, consulting engineers would have to be procured, a detailed design completed, and the necessary consents obtained.
As with all other developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, a dredging project at Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre will be considered under future Capital Programmes on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing priorities.
115. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the request of a person (details supplied) to invoke mediation as an alternative to a Supreme Court proceeding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41045/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am consulting my legal advisors on the matters raised by the claimant and how best to proceed with this case.
116. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Bord na gCon had to recently make a public apology to a trainer regarding the alleged doping of a dog; if the undisclosed, but substantial sum to be paid over by Bord na gCon was provided to Bord na gCon from the Horse Racing Fund; if there are other such compensation payments outstanding; if there are other such legal cases pending; if the board has explained why it was willing to provide a public apology, but was unwilling to settle the case in advance of expensive legal costs; if the board members are to contribute to the cost of defending the legal action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41056/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation and development of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Accordingly, the matters raised by the Deputy are the responsibility of Bord na gCon. It is an operational matter between Bord na gCon and the individual concerned. Also the funding of costs associated with defending legal actions taken against Bord Na gCon is a matter for that body.
Bord na gCon has informed me that no public apology issued and that there are no other compensation payments outstanding or other legal proceedings pending.
117. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the concerns among Irish beekeepers regarding the risks associated with the importation of bees, particularly the possibility of the introduction of the hive beetle which has been discovered in Italy, having arrived from Africa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41105/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe value of honey bees as pollinators far exceeds their value as honey producers. In 2008 the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government estimated the value of pollinators (including honey bees) for Irish food crops was worth at least €53m. This does not include the value of pollinators in terms of non-food crops and maintaining bio-diversity in the wild. The value of honey produced in Ireland in 2014 was estimated at slightly over €3m. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has not conducted a study to assess the possible impact of a significant bee disease outbreak, however I fully recognise that a disease outbreak, and especially an exotic disease outbreak, could have a significant negative impact on the Irish bee population.
My Department recognises the importance of maintaining and further developing a healthy honey bee population. With this in mind, the signing into law of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 repealed the out-dated 1908 Bee Pest Prevention Act. American Foulbrood and the Small Hive Beetle are both notifiable diseases under the Notification and Control of Animal Diseases Regulations 2014 (SI No 110 of 2014). While American Foulbrood has existed in Ireland for many years the Small Hive Beetle has never been found in Ireland. In response to the 2014 outbreak of Small Hive Beetle in Italy my Department established a sentinel apiary programme earlier this year. This programme was established with the support of the Federation of Irish Beekeeping Associations and the Native Irish Honey Bee Society. Volunteer beekeepers in areas which are considered to represent greatest risk for the introduction of pests such as the Small Hive Beetle, as well as other beekeepers are participating in this programme. Over 20 beekeepers providing a representative geographical spread across the country are involved. A similar programme has also been rolled out across Northern Ireland. The sentinel apiary programme is designed with the objective of providing early notification in the event that any exotic pest or disease affecting honey bees arrives in Ireland. My Department co-ordinates the programme and has provided the equipment and guidelines to the beekeepers and also provides the diagnostic service to implement the programme.
In addition, a bee diagnostic service is operated from the Teagasc laboratories at Teagasc, Oakpark in Carlow. Analysis of approximately 300 samples submitted by beekeepers each year are carried out and my Department is informed where a case of a notifiable disease is detected. Officials in my Department follow up where appropriate.
The option of national action to limit or ban imports of bees must respect the primacy of EU Regulations. The EU has strict bee health certification requirements which apply to the international trade in bees. In accordance with Article 3 of Council Directive 92/65/EEC European Union Member States must not prohibit or restrict for health reasons the international movement of bees once all requirements set down in EU legislation have been met. Direct imports of bees into Ireland from outside the EU are not permitted although imports from other EU Member States which fulfil the EU’s bee health certification requirements are permitted.
118. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a single payment for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if it will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41110/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2015 Transfer of Entitlement Allocation Right and Reference Value application to my Department. This application has been fully processed and payment under the Basic Payment Scheme will issue in the coming days.
119. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41113/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 basic payment-areas of natural constraint Schemes was received from the person named on 29 May, 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes has recently been finalised and payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
120. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how the new requirements introduced by the Chinese authorities in which cadmium levels for live brown crab have been set at 0.5 mg per kilogram will impact on the issuance of health certificates by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority to exporters of live consignments of brown crab to China; the assistance which is being provided to exporters, given these new requirements; if he is aware of the negative impact which these requirements will have on the industry; the action he is taking to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41118/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2010, Ireland secured market access in China for live crab through bi-lateral co-operation between the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and their Chinese counterparts. This access built on previous arrangements for fisheries products and has more recently been part of wider trade missions to expand the access for Irish food and seafood products in China. In the specific case of live crab, I understand from the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority that there has been a steady increase in exports most recently estimated at €3 million in value with a significant number of Irish sea-fishing boats providing this product to up to 8 seafood export companies. On 29 October 2015, the Chinese food import authorities wrote to the Irish embassy in Beijing expressing concern about the levels of the heavy metal cadmium in live crabs coming from Ireland which the authorities determined exceeded Chinese limits and requested that Ireland ensure only crabs which meet the Chinese standards for cadmium be permitted for export. I am advised that the UK are currently experiencing similar challenges.
European legislation sets a limit of 0.5 mg/kg for white muscle meat from the limbs only; however the Chinese authorities are currently applying this limit to all crabmeat. I understand that crabs take in cadmium from the environment and it builds up in the brown meat of the crab to much higher levels than the white meat. In view of the Chinese request to meet this standard for live crabs, the SFPA notified Irish crab exporters of the new monitoring requirements and the difficulties this would pose for providing health certificates for live Irish crabs intended for export to China. The SFPA followed up the notification last week with face-to-face discussions with crab industry to communicate the challenges the application of this standard presents.
As part of efforts to support the trade of compliant safe seafood, a Memorandum of Understanding is in place with the Chinese import authorities which allows for technical dialogue. With the support of the Marine Institute and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the SFPA has attempted to raise this issue with the Chinese authorities in recent weeks, so far without success. The SFPA is leading on a technical response to the communication from the Chinese authorities before the end of November with a view to meaningful dialogue around reconsideration of the tissues to which this limit applies. In order to provide additional support to the SFPA in preparing its technical response, a further meeting between the crab industry, the relevant state agencies (Bord Bia, Marine Institute and BIM), my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is being convened this week.
I am advised by the Marine Institute, that Irish waters have very low cadmium levels. It is important to bear in mind that heavy metals occur naturally at low levels in the marine environment and as such do not pose a food safety risk. I am satisfied that the procedures which are in place for monitoring the safety of Irish seafood, including live crab, meet the stringent European standards and consumers can continue to have high confidence in the quality of Irish seafood.
121. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for details of all instances from 1 January 2000 to 2015 to date where legislation introduced by him or on their behalf, which is enacted and still in force, contains a provision amending the Data Protection Acts to allow for the transfer of personal or other data collected, retained and processed by the State for a particular purpose towards another specific purpose, in tabular form; the financial cost of creating and administering such databases, by case; the projected financial cost for databases not yet complete; the specific legislative provision which enabled such data transfers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41130/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no legislation amending the Data Protection Acts. However I recently introduced the Horse Racing Ireland Bill to Dail Eireann. This Bill contains a provision to reinforce the protections in the Data Protection Acts when personal data is being transferred between HRI and the Racing Regulatory Body on commencement of the Bill. It is anticipated that sharing data will reduce the administrative burdens on participants in horse racing and have consequential savings for both the participants and the public purse.
122. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new State bodies and agencies under his remit that have been established since February 2011; the number of such bodies subject to a sunset clause; the number of new public bodies currently being planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41263/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not established any new State bodies or agencies since February 2011 and there are no new public bodies currently being planned. There are no State bodies or agencies subject to a sunset clause under the aegis of my Department.
123. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel in the Defence Forces explosive ordnance disposal teams, in each of the years 2012 to 2015 to date, in tabular form. [41100/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor security and operational reasons, it would not be appropriate for me to provide the details sought in the question.
124. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of personnel in the Army Rangers in each of the years 2012 to 2015 to date, by location, by base, in tabular form. [41101/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Unit is officially designated 'Sciathán Fianóglach an Airm' , which is normally translated into English as 'The Army Ranger Wing'. In the recently published White Paper on Defence, the Government has committed to further enhance the capabilities of the Army Ranger Wing, in particular with the aim of increasing the strength of the unit considerably. As the Army Ranger Wing is the Special Operations Force of the Defence Forces the exact number of personnel in it or their location is not released into the public domain, for reasons of operational security.
