Written Answers Nos. 118-125
118. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department and an agency within his Department followed proper procedures in relation to an issue (details supplied); the communications he, his Department or any agency of his Department has had with any other Department on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41989/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTeagasc operates as a separate non-commercial state agency and the arrangements for internal appointments is an operational matter, subject to adherence to all general directives concerning appointments or conditions of employment issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Teagasc has agreed and documented grievance procedures which include the right to appeal by any staff member who feels they have not been dealt with fairly. I am advised that the person in question disputed his unsuccessful application for a Post of Responsibility in Teagasc Mayo in 2007. His appeals were processed through all of the internal Teagasc appeals procedures as well as external independent hearings in both the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court. I understand that through all of these processes, no basis was found to overturn the original decision of the interview board.
This issue has also been the subject of considerable correspondence between that individual and my Department over a prolonged period. The Department has been consistent in informing him that it has no role in resolving issues pertaining to promotion competitions in Teagasc. He has also been advised that any candidate who is unhappy with the outcome of a competition can seek legal advice, and pursue whichever civil remedies that may be available, if they consider agreed procedures have been breached.
At the request of the Taoiseach’s office, officials from my Department met with the individual concerned in September 2014 to hear his complaints regarding what he perceives to have been an unfair and improper selection process. My Department conducted a detailed, impartial examination of a dossier presented at that meeting to determine whether it included any new evidence, which would warrant an investigation into events which at that point characterised as fraud. The papers related to the circumstances surrounding the selection process for posts of responsibility in Teagasc in 2007 and the subsequent grievance procedure hearing.
I am advised that having assessed the information, it was considered that the issues raised appear to be firmly in the sphere of industrial relations, that the normal employment appeals avenues had been employed, and that the matter did not warrant investigation by my Department. Accordingly, my Department is not in a position to take the matter further. The individual concerned is of course free to consider such other avenues of redress as may be available to him through the Courts.
119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects agricultural production to increase throughout each sector in the next four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41990/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which indicators in respect of the Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025 remain in line with expectations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41996/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects the agri-food sector to develop over the next ten years, with particular reference to the need to remain competitive on world markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42001/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 125 and 130 together.
The main targets set out in the Food Harvest report published in 2010 were, by 2020, to increase the value of primary output by 33% and agri-food exports by 42% (both from a 2007-09 average baseline); and to increase value added production by 40% (from a 2008 baseline). In addition to these value increases, the dairy industry targeted a 50% increase in milk production by 2020, to be progressed following the abolition of milk quotas in April this year.
Progress on these targets is monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis. The fourth annual report “Milestones for Success 2014” , published in September 2014, showed that the sector had achieved very significant progress on these targets and illustrated the manner in which the Food Harvest 2020 vision of ‘smart, green, growth’ is being attained. The Milestones report showed that, compared to the Food Harvest baseline: primary output had increased by 32% in 2014; agri-food exports had increased by 27% in 2014; and value added had increased by 29% in 2012 (latest data available).
Food Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agri-food sector published in July this year, builds on the successful vision of Food Harvest 2020. It identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 380 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectoral recommendations.
If these recommendations are implemented, the expert committee which drew up the Food Wise Strategy believes that the following growth projections are achievable by 2025: increasing the value of agri-food exports by 85% to €19 billion; increasing value added in the sector by 70% to in excess of €13 billion; and increasing the value of primary production by 65% to almost €10 billion. With regard to employment, Food Wise foresees the creation of 23,000 additional jobs in the agri-food sector all along the supply chain from primary production to high value added product development. Realising these growth projections will be challenging, but I am confident that they can be achieved.
I chair the High Level Implementation Committee, including senior officials from relevant Departments and State agencies, which will drive implementation of the Food Wise recommendations. The HLIC met for the first time in September. The second meeting today will deal specifically with sustainability, which will be at the core of the strategy’s implementation. The implementation of Food Wise will be influenced by the final Environmental Analysis Report on Food Wise, which will be presented to the HLIC today.
120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all meat and meat products available here and throughout the European Union continue to accurately reflect their ingredients, country of origin, and relevant quality standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41991/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrimary responsibility under EU law for the safety and traceability of food placed on the market lies with food business operators. The role of National Competent Agencies is to verify compliance with this requirement. This is done via a combination of inspecting establishments and auditing the food safety management systems which operators have in place. These controls are applied at different stages in the food supply chain. Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002 sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law and stipulates that food business operators must, at all stages of production, processing and distribution within their business, ensure food law requirements are satisfied. In regard to traceability, the regulations require that food business operators have systems to identify any person who supplies the business with a food, and a system to identify other businesses to which their product has been supplied. This is referred to as the ‘one step forward, one step backward’ traceability system. There are additional requirements for certain fishery and aquaculture products under the Control Regulation (Regulation 1224/2009 and Implementing Regulation 404/2011) from first sale to subsequent stages of production, processing and distribution up to retail.
My Department has a permanent veterinary presence at all its approved slaughter plants. Controls at plants only engaged in secondary processing are carried out at a frequency based on an annual risk assessment. An annual audit of imported products is carried out in each Department-approved plant, including checks on physical identity, labelling and documentary checks for product originating in EU Member States and third countries. Labelling and documentary checks are routinely conducted by the Department.
The import of products of animal origin from third countries is governed by a comprehensive and robust legislative framework laid down at EU level, controlled by Member States in the first instance, and audited by the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), to ensure compliance with all of the relevant food safety standards. The legislation imposes health and supervisory requirements designed to ensure that imported products meet standards equivalent to those required for production and trade between Member States. Border Inspection Posts are operated by my Department. Import control procedures on products of animal and fish origin are highly prescriptive and strictly audited by the FVO to ensure compliance. Inspection finding reports are published on the FVO’s website.
121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take in conjunction with his European Union colleagues to protect the concept of the viability of the family farm enterprise throughout the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41992/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2013 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy was a useful and progressive reform making the CAP fit for purpose to 2020. It provided Irish farmers and the agri-food sector with policy certainty for the years to come and with strategic financial support to increase sustainability and enhance competitiveness. I will continue to work with my EU colleagues to ensure that we engage in policies that promote the interests of the EU agricultural sector. It is clear that there remain profitability issues at farm level that need to be addressed. Food Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agri-food sector published in July this year, builds on the successful vision of Food Harvest 2020. It identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 380 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectoral recommendations.
122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which all farm support payments already due in 2015 have been paid to date; the number outstanding for technical or other reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41993/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments began issuing in Ireland on 16 October, 2015. This is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations. In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment was set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%. The increase in the advance payment for 2015 is, in particular, due to the difficulties encountered in the dairying and pigmeat sectors. Ireland is among the earliest to pay the BPS in the European Union and to date, of the approximately 121,000 eligible applicants, 114,372 farmers have received payments totalling €725.7 million.
In relation to the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme, I can confirm that payments commenced, on schedule, on 23 September 2015. To date, of approximately 102,350 applicants with eligible designated lands, a total of 83,294 farmers have received payments totalling €177.5 million. There are no advance payments under this scheme. It should be noted that many farmers cannot be paid until early 2016 when they comply with the stocking requirements of the scheme.
As outstanding cases under the BPS, Greening and ANC are processed and are cleared of any outstanding error, they will be sent for payment. My Department is prioritising the processing of all such outstanding cases with regular payment runs continuing over the coming weeks. In addition, balancing payments under the BPS and Greening are scheduled to commence from 1 December.
123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which all countries throughout the European Union observe conservation measures to safeguard fishing stocks; the locations still most vulnerable in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41994/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe seas around Ireland (ICES Sub Areas VII and VI) are among the most productive and biologically sensitive areas in EU waters. All of the fisheries resource within the area comes under the remit of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework for the long-term conservation and sustainability of fish stocks around our shores and is designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters.
A key element of the new CFP is to apply the precautionary approach to fisheries management and thereby ensure that exploitation of living marine biological resources restores and maintains populations of harvested species above levels which can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY). This will be phased in gradually and shall be achieved by 2015 where possible and on a progressive, incremental basis at the latest by 2020 for all stocks. This should ultimately lead to healthy fish stocks and more sustainable fishing patterns as more fish are left in the sea to mature and reproduce leading to increased abundance of fish, and over time to higher quotas for Irish fishermen. The CFP specifically calls for the progressive restoration and maintenance of populations of fish stocks above biomass levels capable of producing MSY. All member states must respect the CFP provisions. I am committed to the ambitious objective of achieving MSY by 2015 where possible and by 2020 at the latest.
The EU Commission has noted that the state of fish stocks in European Atlantic and nearby waters continues to improve which I believe indicates that we are finally starting to see the benefits of prudent and responsible fisheries management practices. Scientific information on the state of the fisheries resources exploited by the Irish fleet is compiled by the Marine Institute and is published in the Stock Book each year.
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied that farm families here will continue to benefit from Common Agricultural Policy reform in a fair and equitable fashion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41995/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am fully satisfied that farm families in Ireland will continue to benefit in a fair and equitable manner from the ongoing reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. This imperative informed my approach to the negotiations in 2012 and 2013, and it continues to inform the process by which the various elements of CAP reform are now being delivered.
Taking the direct payments system as an example, the Deputy may recall that I proposed an alternative approach to the redistribution of direct payments than that originally advocated by the European Commission, precisely because I wanted to ensure that the direct payments system could be made fairer and more equitable while at the same time ensuring that the level of transfer of payments between farmers was not of a scale that might jeopardise our objectives for the development of the sector. We now have a system which satisfies these two requirements. The advance payments that commenced last month - which will be followed by balancing payments from next week - represented the start of a process that, by 2019, will see a considerable shift in the balance of payments from those previously receiving very high rates per hectare to those previously receiving much lower rates of payment. I believe that this not only makes the direct payments system fairer, but also ensures that it continues to provide support and income stability that will allow farmers to respond to the demands of the market. As such, it also provides a vital tool to help us achieve the objectives outlined in the Food Wise 2025 strategy.
I have also taken significant steps to encourage the participation of young farmers in agriculture, which is vital in terms of securing the critical role that farm families play in the development of the sector. In addition to providing for a top-up of direct payments, I have ensured that young farmers are prioritised in the allocation of payment entitlements from the national reserve. These direct payments measures are further complemented by supports under the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme where, for example, enhanced support for capital investment by young farmers has been made available under the TAMS schemes.
More generally under Pillar 2 of the CAP, I am focused on the socio-economic development of our farms and of our rural areas so that all farm families have an opportunity to realise their potential. Schemes for improving sustainability (such as GLAS and the Beef Data and Genomics Programme) and competitiveness (such as TAMS) are complemented by continued strong support for disadvantaged areas (now known as Areas of Natural Constraint). I believe this combination provides a vital range of supports that will allow farm families to continue to benefit from the CAP in an equitable manner while supporting their development over the coming years.
