Wednesday, 16 Dec 2015

Written Answers Nos. 83-87

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Ceisteanna (83)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

83. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he envisages any problem with a company (details supplied) gaining control of the meat industry and controlling the price paid to farmers due to its recent takeover of a 50% shareholding in another company, which also gives the company greater control of the rendering industry and puts more pressure on the price being paid to farmers, which is very low at the moment. [45551/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The State, through the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, has an existing and well established infrastructure for oversight of competition matters and for dealing with allegations of anti-competitive practices or abuse of a dominant position.

I understand that acquisitions or mergers of organisations with turnover exceeding certain statutory thresholds are required to be notified to that body, which conducts an assessment to determine whether there will be any “substantial lessening of competition”. The acquisition referred to by the deputy will be subject to the relevant statutory requirements under competition law.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Appeals

Ceisteanna (84)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

84. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will make a decision on an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the agri-environment options scheme 2; the reason for the delay given that the appeal was lodged in March 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45555/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named commenced their AEOS 2 contract on 1 September 2011. Issues arose in respect of a parcel of Wild Bird Cover (WBC) which, in order to be eligible for payment under the scheme, must have an area greater than 0.5 hectares. The area of WBC was recorded as 0.47 hectares following digitisation in 2013 and a subsequent field visit confirmed that the area on the ground was indeed less than 0.5 hectares and therefore ineligible for payment. The person named was informed of the ineligible parcel and consequent reduction in payment and a 10% penalty on 14 April 2014.

Maps were then submitted to the Single Payment Unit by the applicant’s planner, increasing the area without reference to the original inspection result. On foot of increased area shown, the planner appealed the payment reduction and penalty to the AEOS section. This was a complex case and involved various areas in the Department.

My officials have now completed examination of the file and a letter issued to the person named on 15 December confirming the original decision. The person named has been offered the opportunity to appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office if they are not satisfied with the decision.

Basic Payment Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (85)

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

Ceist:

85. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a payment will be processed and made for persons (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45562/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The persons named submitted a 2015 Transfer of Allocation Right and Reference Value application to my Department to transfer the allocation and value through Change of Legal Entity. This application has been fully processed and payment under the Basic Payment Scheme will issue as soon as possible.

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (86)

Pat Breen

Ceist:

86. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 247 of 1 December 2015, when a single payment will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45563/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person name has been allocated 43.41 new entitlements under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme at a value of €1,300 including Greening payment. The value of entitlements of approximately €14,500 which was associated with this herd number under the 2013 and 2014 Scheme year could not be allocated to the person named as they were not owned by him in 2014.

My Department issued a letter to the owner of the entitlements and to the person named on the 10 April 2014 informing them that the value of the entitlements would be lost unless particular actions were taken. As no action was taken, the value of these entitlements could not be carried forward into the new Basic Payment Scheme. My Department will make direct contact with the person named to see if there are any options open to him in relation to the lost entitlements.

Full payment has issued to the person named in relation to the new entitlements allocated. He has also received €4,344 on foot of a Private Contract Clause application and €3,200 in relation to his Young Farmer Scheme application.

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (87)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

87. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will be issued under the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme to farmers (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45568/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes was received from the person named on 30 April 2015. Processing of applications under both schemes is complete and payment has issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.