Written Answers Nos. 82-88
82. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the agrifood sector will survive proposed the carbon reduction targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2690/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Council Conclusions of October 2014 agreed on an overall 40% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) for the EU by 2030 compared with 1990. Ireland, like all other Member States, will be required to undertake its share of this overall -40% target.
At National level we have been engaged in intensive discussions, in a whole of Government approach, with the European Commission to highlight the importance of ensuring a coherent approach to the twin challenges of food security coupled with increasing global demand for food and EU climate ambition. An important step forward in this regard was taken at the October 2014 European Council where it was agreed that “the multiple objectives of the agriculture and land use sector, with their lower mitigation potential, should be acknowledged, as well as the need to ensure coherence between the EU's food security and climate change objectives”. The recent Paris agreement further recognises the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security.
We will continue to engage with the Commission to ensure that the target assigned to Ireland under the new effort sharing decision is fair and reasonable, such that the sector can grow, prosper and meet the increasing world demand for food in a sustainable manner. At the same time we will maintain our ambition to move towards carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production.
83. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if labelling food with countries of origin is central to food traceability; and if the practice continues to be honoured in the letter and in spirit. [2691/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy colleague the Minister for Health has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation and new EU food information regulations which were adopted by the Council of Health Ministers in December 2011. However, my Department plays an important role in the enforcement of this legislation under service contract to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Primary 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 stipulate 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.
84. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the disparity in beef prices on supermarket shelves in the United Kingdom to the disadvantage of Irish beef will continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2692/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy role as Minister, in relation to the beef sector, is to create a policy and support environment that allows it to flourish in line with standard market principles. I am guided in this context by the long-term sectoral development strategies as set out in Food Wise 2025 and I am confident that these initiatives, in conjunction with the Rural Development Programme, will lead to continued growth in terms of profitability and efficiency of the sector as whole. As with any Minister for Agriculture in the EU, I can have no role in influencing commodity prices in Ireland. I do note however that 2015 was a relatively positive year for beef prices in Ireland with the yearly average nearly 8% higher compared with 2014.
The primary determinant of prices in any market is the relationship between supply and demand. Price variations in different EU beef markets reflect prevailing conditions in those markets. With regard to the price differential between Irish and UK cattle, a number of factors have been identified to explain why Irish-born cattle command lower prices than their British equivalents. These include a British consumer preference for indigenous product as well as additional transport and processing costs in supplying that market. Last year, Ireland exported approximately 272,000 tonnes of beef, worth in the region of €1.1 billion to the UK. This constituted 54% of the volume and 52% of the value of Irish beef exports and as such, the UK is overwhelmingly Ireland’s most important export market. An additional factor in the disparity in prices between Ireland and Britain during last year was a result of the exceptionally strong sterling exchange rates that were in place in 2015 and which are continuing into 2016. It should be noted that in sterling terms, prices paid to British farmers towards the of 2015 were reducing.
85. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that smaller dairy farmers can compete effectively in milk production in the aftermath of the allocations of milk quotas. [2693/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is strongly positioned as a competitive producer of dairy. It has enviable natural resources, adaptable and resilient producers, a strong international reputation, an effective dairy processing sector and a strong core of research infrastructure and expertise. A recent report from Bord Bia estimates that Irish dairy exports increased by 4% to €3.24Bn in 2015. Some 42% or €1.36 billion went to international markets beyond our traditional UK and EU partners’ markets. This represents a very strong performance against the background of somewhat depressed international dairy markets during 2015.
The Deputy will be aware that prevailing market conditions and in particular the price of milk and dairy commodities is determined by supply and demand factors at international level. Production decisions are taken by producers taking these prevailing market conditions as well as their efficiency of production and price of inputs into account. In an increasingly global market environment, prices for raw milk and dairy commodities will be dictated by the market and by supply and demand factors at Irish, EU and global level. Similarly, input prices are increasingly dictated by factors beyond our borders. In such circumstances efforts at farm level to increase efficiency represent a factor where the farmer can exert greater control. The work of Teagasc is invaluable in this respect. Furthermore, efforts at both farm and processor level to produce higher value products for high value export markets also represent a boon against volatility in commodity production markets. Research and investment is also very important for Ireland in continuing to punch above our weight, to continue to sell our products on premium markets and shelves across the world, to continue to find new customers and to maximise the economic return from our quality produce.
Food commodity markets including dairy markets have been characterised by significant levels of volatility for a number of years prior to the abolition of dairy quotas and this trend has continued throughout 2015 and into early 2016. Such volatility was a fact of life in advance of the abolition of quotas and will remain so in the current quota free environment. The key challenge for the future is how we seek to mitigate this volatility.
Factors contributing to global price volatility in 2015 included the Russian Ban and the softening of Chinese demand on one side, coupled with increased production among key global producers including the EU on the supply side. The longer term demographic and demand perspectives remain positive, but 2016 will be a challenging year.
At producer level, while the Irish dairy sector is cost competitive, we must always strive for improvement. With respect to the aforementioned factors affecting efficiency, farmers of all sizes, large and small, can drive their profitability by increased efficiencies across a range of factors, from animal health to breeding, from soil management and fertiliser use to financial management and an appreciation of costs and margins. In fact the mantra in the run up to quota abolition from my perspective has always been to get better before getting bigger and this remains very much the case.
With respect to indebtedness Teagasc figures indicate that Irish farmers have relatively low levels of indebtedness compared with counterparts in competition countries. In ongoing interaction with banks I have been assured that they will remain vigilant on the issue of liquidity and cash-flow, particularly if prices continue to deteriorate into spring 2016, and that they will be facilitative in the measures available and in their dealings with dairy farmers.
EU market supports, including intervention, are available to operators. The dairy package agreed by the Council of Ministers in December 2015 included an additional direct payment to dairy farmers, and my Department will continue to provide support to the sector through Rural Development Schemes such as TAMS, and by providing funding to bodies such as Teagasc, AHI and ICBF to improve efficiency at farm level.
The long-term fundamentals of the global dairy market are strong but there will be significant challenges this year. I am confident that the Irish and EU dairy sector is well placed to gain from the opportunity presented by expanding global demand whilst simultaneously addressing the aforementioned challenges with a particular focus on the challenges of price volatility.
86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he will develop new markets for Irish beef, lamb and pigmeat over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2694/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA strong global demand for meat exists and my role as Minister is to facilitate market access so that Irish exporters can take advantage of market opportunities as they arise. My Department engages on an ongoing basis with many third countries, in collaboration with Bord Bia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Irish Embassies, the meat industry and the European Commission on various market access issues. 2015 was a very successful year for meat exports. According to Bord Bia, overall exports of beef, sheepmeat and pigmeat increased by €130 million to €3.2 billion. This represents an increase of 4%. Although exports to the EU account for the majority of meat exports, Third Country markets are increasingly an important alternative outlet for the industry.
Since taking office I have led trade missions to a wide variety of destinations, including China, the United States, Algeria, Japan, West Africa and the Gulf States, in order to promote Irish food and beverages, including meat exports, and to open up new markets abroad. These initiatives have led to several notable successes in securing agreement to export Irish beef to Japan, Singapore, Egypt, Iran, the US, and Oman; to export sheepmeat to Singapore, South Africa, the Philippines, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Canada and Oman; and to export pigmeat to Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Serbia.
In relation to beef the opening of the US market to Irish beef in early 2015 has provided an important new outlet for Irish beef exports and it is one that holds enormous potential for future development given that we are the first EU member state to gain access. An estimated 1,800 tonnes valued at € 11.5 million has already been exported. This is a strong start to this trade considering that the first exports only went in March 2015 and that some of the plants were only approved for export as recently as September. There has also been some progress made with the lifting of the BSE ban by China in February 2015. My Department is currently hosting an inspection visit by a delegation from AQSIQ which should bring us one stage closer to the commencement of exports of beef. Again, this is a market that has enormous long-term potential. In relation to the Philippines, Ireland has now become their second-largest supplier of beef.
Regarding sheepmeat, the agreement of a veterinary health certificate with Hong Kong in 2014 has provided a valuable new outlet for Irish sheepmeat. During my Trade Mission to China in November 2014, I was able to hand over the completed version of a sheepmeat questionnaire which represents the first milestone on the road which will lead, I hope, to Ireland gaining access to the Chinese market for sheepmeat in the future.
For pigmeat, I have undertaken to ensure that as many alternative markets as possible are open to Irish pigmeat processors since the closure of the Russian market in 2014. In this regard I was pleased to announce the opening of the markets in Vietnam and the Philippines for Irish pigmeat which will serve as valuable alternative markets to Russia for Irish pigmeat exports.
The search for new markets will continue in conjunction with the industry, Bord Bia, the European Commission and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This will also be guided by the implementation of Food Wise 2025 strategy which identified the significant growth which has occurred in the agri sector over the last few years, and the future global growth opportunities which Ireland is well placed to benefit from, including: our reputation for food safety and controls; our natural competitive advantage in sustainable grass-based production; and a world class agri-food industry, backed by strong State support services. These strengths and opportunities should enhance our search for new Third Country markets.
87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time and part-time farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2695/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe latest figures from the C.S.O. Farm Structures Survey 2013 show the following:
|
Full-time and part-time farmers |
Numbers |
Percentage |
|
Total Number of Family Farms (000s) |
139. 1 |
100% |
|
Sole Occupation |
70.3 |
51% |
|
Major Occupation |
35.2 |
25% |
|
Subsidiary Occupation |
33.5 |
24% |
Source: CSO Farm Structures Survey, 2013
Sole Occupation: If an individual engaged in farmwork had no other occupation from which an income was earned, then farmwork was the sole occupation.
Major Occupation: If farmwork took up the greater part of a worker’s time, it was regarded as a major occupation.
Subsidiary Occupation: If the time spent on gainful non-farming activity exceeded that spent on farmwork then farmwork was regarded as a subsidiary occupation. Gainful non-farming activity includes paid farmwork on other farms and all other non-farming activities from which an income was obtained, whether undertaken on or off the farm.
88. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence the number and the percentage of Irish Defence Forces personnel who were prescribed the drug Lariam in each of the years 2001 to 2015, in tabular form. [2557/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, there are three anti-malarial drugs in use by the Defence Forces namely Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline. The choice of medication is a medical decision made by Medical Officers in the Defence Forces having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces. I can advise the Deputy that, since 2001, Defence Forces’ personnel have completed approximately 7,000 tours of duty in Malaria-prone areas. It should be borne in mind that an individual may complete a number of such tours during their service. I have previously indicated to the Deputy that information in relation to the specific medication prescribed to each individual travelling overseas is retained in an individual’s medical file. While Defence Forces’ management systems are not designed to collate the information requested by the Deputy from individual files, the Director of the Medical Branch has advised that the vast majority of personnel completing these tours of duty were prescribed Lariam as a malarial chemo-prophylaxis.
