Written Answers Nos. 288-305
288. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a GLAS payment due to a person (details supplied) will be paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12628/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received full payment in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
The 85% advance payment for 2016 has been paid to the person named. The balancing 15% payment for 2016 will be processed in due course according to the regulatory requirements.
289. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he put forward at the recent Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting on CAP post 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12629/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra290. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he detailed at the recent Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting the need to provide additional funding for CAP post 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12630/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together.
The discussion on the future of the CAP at the Council of Agriculture Ministers, which took place earlier this week, came at an opportune time, given the range of CAP related discussions that have taken place over recent months and in light of the Commission’s recent launch of its consultation process on the modernisation and simplification of the CAP.
The future of the CAP is an issue of enormous importance for the Irish and indeed European agriculture sector. The CAP has demonstrated its capacity to evolve very effectively in response to changing market, consumer and environmental demands in recent years, to the point where it now plays a central role in delivering the smart, sustainable and inclusive growth sought under the Europe 2020 strategy.
It is vitally important that the CAP continues its market orientation, and to evolve in a way that supports the achievement of European strategic objectives. This will help to reinforce the relevance and effectiveness of the policy, and to secure a strong CAP budget for the period post-2020.
The Maltese Presidency identified a number of priorities for the future CAP, based on recent discussions, and which formed the basis of the discussion at Council. These priorities are - building resilience; responding to environmental challenges; investing in rural viability and vitality; ensuring generational renewal; maintaining a market orientation; and, strengthening farmers’ position.
These priorities largely coincide with what Ireland views as the key challenges ahead. In our view, the overriding priority must be to support the sustainable intensification of food production, in order to meet the requirements of a growing global population while at the same time facilitating adaptation to climate change and mitigation against further change.
This can be achieved by sharpening the focus on outcomes, and by reducing the regulatory and audit burdens on Member States and farmers as they implement measures to achieve these outcomes.
In terms of addressing these priorities, I am of the view that a more holistic approach is needed. For example, in the case of sustainable intensification, Member States need to be able to identify objectives, such as the production of food in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable way, and then be allowed to implement measures which will enable them to achieve those objectives.
Ireland’s Beef Data & Genomics Programme is a good example of a measure that achieves multiple objectives (improving efficiency, profitability and sustainability) while not fitting neatly within the existing, somewhat restrictive, regulatory framework. A greater focus on outcomes combined with Member State flexibility on the means to achieve them would help to address this problem.
This holistic approach can equally be applied to our efforts to build farmer resilience in the face of market volatility. The use modern and innovative measures such as futures markets, fixed price contracts and hedging arrangements have a role to play, but the direct payments system provides stability and certainty for farmers in the face of market volatility and should remain a key component of the CAP, as should other useful existing measures such as intervention, which has proven very effective in dealing with recent market difficulties.
However, in order to achieve these priorities, it is important that a strong CAP budget is maintained. The future of the CAP budget will be discussed in the context of the Multiannual Financial Framework for the post-2020 period. It is expected that the CAP budget will come under increasing pressure, which will be compounded further by the loss of the UK’s contribution to the EU budget. It will be important therefore to ensure that there is a commensurate CAP budget in place post-2020 in order for the new CAP to achieve its objectives.
291. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal in respect of a national reserve application for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12631/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme. The Terms and Conditions governing the operation of these schemes state that in order to qualify as a ‘young farmer’, a person must be setting up an agricultural holding for the first time in his/her name or have set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of the BPS application. The applications were not successful as the applicant was deemed to have commenced farming more than five years before the submission of a BPS application. The applicant was notified of this decision and was offered the opportunity to submit an appeal.
My Department subsequently received an appeal from the person named in relation to the National Reserve and Young Farmers' Scheme applications. This appeal was considered based on the information set out by the applicant and the original decision was upheld. The person named was notified of the outcome of the appeal and offered the opportunity to submit a further appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office. The person named has submitted these further appeals.
The Agriculture Appeals Office is currently dealing with National Reserve and Young Farmer Scheme appeals cases and will be in direct contact with the person named regarding his appeal.
292. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12646/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017.
The first payment due to the person named is in respect of the 2017 scheme year and this will be processed in the final quarter of this year.
293. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar an chéad íocaíocht don bhliain 2016 faoin scéim GLAS le feirmeoir (sonraí tugtha); cén chúis atá leis an moill ar an íocaíocht; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [12665/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCeadaíodh an duine ainmnithe isteach in GLAS 3 agus an 1 Eanáir 2017 an dáta ar cuireadh tús leis an gconradh.
Tá an chéad íocaíocht atá dlite don duine ainmnithe i leith na bliana scéime 2017 agus déanfar í seo a phróiseáil sa ráithe dheireanach den bhliain.
294. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is any restriction on participants in GLAS 3 getting payments for commonage areas; if so, the detail of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12666/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe initial GLAS commonage conditions for tranche 1 and tranche 2 restricted eligibility to shareholders who declared commonage in 2014 and my Department revised this provision for GLAS 3 applications to include commonage shares declared in 2015 irrespective of whether declared previously or not. New entrants to farming in 2016 who declared commonage in their first BPS application in 2016 are also eligible.
Each shareholder must declare the commonage annually on their Basic Payment Scheme application and must engage with the commonage management plan (CMP) process. Where a farmer has shares in more than one commonage he/she must subscribe to the CMP on all commonages for which a plan is prepared.
295. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an application for an aquaculture licence by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12670/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department on 22 February in respect of sites located within Ballyness Bay which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 site).
All aquaculture activities in Natura site areas require an Appropriate Assessment to be carried out before any aquaculture licensing determinations can be made. My Department is working with the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to achieve full compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives through a multi-annual work programme. This data collection programme, which is substantially complete, together with the setting of Conservation Objectives, will enable all new and renewal aquaculture applications to be assessed.
Conservation Objectives have been set for Ballyness SAC. The next step in the process is the carrying out of an Appropriate Assessment by the Marine Institute. This is being progressed taking account of the need to facilitate the use of scientific and other resources on a flexible basis across the full range of bays. While the Appropriate Assessments are carried out on a bay by bay basis, each licence application within the bay must be assessed individually.
Addressing the issue of aquaculture licensing in Natura 2000 areas is a key priority for my Department and the Deputy can be assured that every effort is being made to expedite the completion of the process in Ballyness Bay having regard to all the complexities involved.
296. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 318 of 2 March 2017, if he will provide each legislative proposal listed which underwent a regulatory impact assessment and that was subsequently published, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12677/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTable:
|
Bill |
RIA published |
|
Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Bill 2011 |
July 2011 |
|
Welfare of Greyhounds Bill 2011 |
December 2011 |
|
Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012, |
Spring 2012 |
|
Forestry Bill 2013 |
October 2011 |
|
Johnstown Castle Agricultural College (Amendment) Bill 2014 |
May 2014 |
|
Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015 |
June 2015 |
297. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the forestry premium will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12689/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application referred to is an application for payment under the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme. There are turbary rights associated with part of the lands the subject of this application. Under the Scheme rules, payment cannot issue until satisfactory documentary evidence is received confirming that such rights have been removed or relinquished. I understand that the applicant contacted my Department recently and is due to submit some further documentation showing that the turbary rights have been removed. The application will be reviewed on receipt of same.
298. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the closure of Harold's Cross greyhound stadium; the action proposed or required to facilitate early reopening, in view of the concern expressed throughout the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12718/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na gCon is a commercial state body, established in 1958 under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The operation of greyhound stadia is a matter for Bord na gCon.
As I have stated in previous replies, the Indecon Report, 'Review of Certain Matters Relating to Bord na gCon' identified a number of assets to be disposed of by Bord na gCon's to reduce its level of debt, among these was Harold's Cross Stadium. In the context of the Indecon Report, Bord na gCon has already disposed of the old Henry Street Head Office in Limerick.
On 13 February 2016 the Board of Bord na gCon took the decision to cease greyhound racing in Harold's Cross, with a view to initiating a sales strategy. I understand from Bord na gCon that this was a very difficult decision. While this development is very regrettable, Bord na gCon's opinion, which is in agreement with the recommendations in the Indecon report, is that there is no other option if the burden of debt on the organisation is to be reduced in any meaningful way. I understand that its intention is to transfer the Harold's Cross racing schedule to Shelbourne Park Stadium, a few kilometres away, and that all 12 staff at Harold's Cross Stadium will be offered redeployment.
299. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action taken to date to address the issues arising from the closure of Harold's Cross greyhound stadium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12719/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na gCon is a commercial State body, established in 1958, under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. In that context, it runs commercial operations in a number of greyhound stadia, including Harold's Cross. The operation of those stadia is a matter for Bord na gCon.
The Indecon report, commissioned by this Department, recommended an asset disposal strategy be undertaken by Bord na gCon. The purpose was to achieve a meaningful and immediate debt reduction. Harold’s Cross was one of the assets identified for disposal by Indecon. Part of the rationale was its proximity to Shelbourne Park.
I understand from Bord na gCon that while the decision to close Harold’s Cross was taken with regret, its view is that the interests of the sector as a whole are best served by concentrating Dublin racing activities in its national stadium, Shelbourne Park, which is located approximately two miles from Harold’s Cross. Shelbourne Park is located a few kilometres from Harold's Cross, with a bigger venue, and I am advised by Bord na gCon on the dates that Harold’s Cross is open for business Shelbourne Park has remained closed, and vice versa.
Bord na gCon has stated that all 12 staff affected at Harold’s Cross will be offered redeployment by Bord na gCon.
Under the Code of Practice for the Governance of state bodies the approval of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is required in advance of any material disposal of land, buildings or other material assets. I will consider any specific proposal for the sale of Harold's Cross in due course, taking into account the need to develop the sector as a whole, the recommendations of the Indecon Report and value for money considerations.
300. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to press for new markets for the agrifood sector, in view of the imminence of Brexit and potential consequences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12720/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn keeping with the priorities outlined in Food Wise 2025, Minister Doyle and I led Trade Missions to Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore and China in early September 2016. I also led a trade mission to Morocco in early November. During 2016 senior officials also led missions to Iran, Turkey and Algeria. This was done in co-operation with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland.
Last week I led a Trade Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The mission served to enhance and improve our existing levels of market access in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. I used the opportunity to promote Ireland’s reputation as a producer of high quality, safe and sustainably produced meat and dairy products in the Gulf region.
I am also considering a range of other destinations for the remainder of 2017, although no decision has yet been made in terms of content or timing. Again, markets in Asia, Africa and America are likely to feature prominently in these considerations, and I am of course ready to respond as appropriate to other opportunities that may arise.
301. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has received a positive response from various markets throughout the European Union and elsewhere in respect of the likely impact of Brexit on the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12721/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and Bord Bia are actively engaged in promoting Ireland's reputation as a producer of high quality, safe and sustainably produced food with a commitment to building business relationships in markets within the European Union and further afield.
The Bord Bia Thinking House, launched last year, is providing food producers and companies with fresh insights into buyer and consumer interests and trends and the opening of Bord Bia offices in Warsaw and in Singapore expands our food promotion footprint within the EU and in Asia.
Trade missions are a key component of our strategy of building long term trading relationships. Last week I led a Trade Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The mission served to enhance and improve our existing levels of market access in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. I used the opportunity Bord Bia to promote Ireland’s reputation as a top class producer of high quality, safe and sustainably produced meat and dairy products and as a more recent exporter of prepared consumer foods to markets in the Gulf region.
This followed trade missions led by Minister Doyle and myself in September 2016 to Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore and China and a trade mission to Morocco which I led in November. Agencies, that is Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland, and companies continue to be key partners in our efforts to develop food, drink and agritech exports. During 2016 senior officials also led missions to Iran, Turkey and Algeria.
I am considering other destinations for the remainder of 2017, markets in Asia, Africa and America are likely to feature prominently in these considerations, and I am of course ready to respond as appropriate to other opportunities that may arise.
302. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the impact of Brexit on the beef, lamb, pigmeat, poultry, fish and dairy industries here continues to remain a central concern for his Department with particular reference to the need to ensure the replacement of alternative markets in view of the likelihood of restricted access to the British markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12722/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the challenges being posed by the UK vote on Brexit for our agrifood sector. For the last number of months Government has been actively engaged in assessing the impact of the Brexit vote, consulting with appropriate stakeholders and engaging with the relevant politicians and institutions to ensure that our priorities are well understood by those likely to be in a position of influence in the course of the negotiations. This work is being co-ordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach.
The agrifood sector is of critical importance to our economy and its regional spread means it underpins the socio-economic development of rural areas in particular. The sector employed approximately 173,000 people (i.e. 8.6% of total employment) in 2016, and the total value of agrifood exports was almost €12.2 billion.
There is no doubt that the UK’s decision to leave the EU reinforces the need to develop as many outlets for our agrifood exports as possible, in order to minimise our dependence on any one market. Indeed this principle of market development is already a key component of Food Wise 2025. We have been very active in recent years in efforts to diversify markets, and in aiming to respond to consumer demands in emerging markets.
While Ireland exported some €2.4 billion worth of beef to approximately 70 countries last year, I am still very cognisant of the need both to expand the number of beef markets but also to enhance existing market access given the current exposure to the UK beef market.
In terms of the beef market access, 2016 saw the extension of our access to the US, as well as the opening of the Canadian, New Zealand and Israeli beef markets. So far 2017 has seen the re-opening of the Egyptian market to Irish beef although we need to complete the remaining technical steps before the resumption of beef exports. The recent Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates saw the extension of our beef access to Saudi Arabia following a period of detailed engagement with the Saudi Arabian Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). Priorities in terms of market access for 2017 include further advancing beef access to China which is a very high priority. The Department is also pursuing beef access to a number of other Third Countries including South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Ukraine, and is working to simplify certification procedures in a number of markets to which we already have access.
In relation to dairy, Irish dairy products have a highly rated and hard earned reputation in terms of quality, safety and sustainability, and this gives them a competitive edge in markets over the world. My Department, in conjunction with other stakeholders, including the Irish dairy companies and agencies such as Bord Bia, are playing a key role in building the market for Irish dairy. In 2016 Ireland exported dairy products to over 130 countries. Against the backdrop of our efforts to significantly increase dairy output and grow the sector, export market diversification is obviously of the upmost importance, and this is particularly true in the context of a post-Brexit scenario.
In relation to the Irish seafood industry Brexit poses a very significant threat. On average, over one third of our current landings are from inside the UK zone. While some benefits may accrue in terms of increasing market share in EU Member States, overall these will be more than offset by three main threats - (i) loss of access, (ii) substantial loss of quota share and (iii) displacement into our zone –as well as a high level of uncertainty in the short term. The Irish fishing industry is focussed on these three threats.
My Department is also working on expanding market access for sheepmeat, pigmeat, poultry and cooked meats across a range of markets. On sheepmeat the market in Iran opened in 2016. Access to China is a high priority for the industry but cannot be gained until after beef access with China has been progressed further.
I can assure the Deputy that I consider it vitally important that our key message of remaining as close as possible to the current trading arrangements is heard and understood across Europe, and for that reason the extensive consultations currently being undertaken with our EU counterparts at political and official levels will continue, and indeed intensify, over the coming months.
303. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to encourage the growth of the food producing sector here in line with general economic expansion and the success of this sector over the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12723/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFood Wise 2025, the ten year strategy for the agrifood sector, identifies opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy to allow the sector to grow and prosper. It includes recommendations on the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectoral recommendations. Driving the implementation of these recommendations, particularly on market development, competitiveness and innovation as well as moving up the value chain, will assume even greater importance in the light of the UK decision.
Diversification of exports remains a key focus. Over half of the growth in Irish food and drink exports since 2010 has come from markets outside of the European Union. This includes a six fold increase in exports to China, more than doubling of trade to North America and South East Asia and an increase of almost 40% in the value of exports to the Middle East and Africa. The value of exports to EU markets other than the UK increased by 40% since 2010 led by growth to Germany, France, Poland, Northern Europe and the Netherlands.
The UK is expected to remain just 60% self-sufficient in food and therefore will continue to have a significant import requirement post Brexit. Bord Bia activities in the UK market are focused on working with key customers to deepen existing relationships and identifying opportunities to meet emerging needs in the market.
In relation to other European and international markets Bord Bia has adopted an Insights driven approach to identifying new opportunities, backed up by in-market activities to help companies identify potential leads and develop new business opportunities. These activities include 24 international Trade Fairs in 2017 which will attract over 1 million buyers, increased market presence through new offices in Singapore and Warsaw and increased resources in Africa.
Activities undertaken are developed and implemented in close consultation with industry.
Given the rate of population growth in many emerging regions, the corresponding growth in demand for food and limited self-sufficiency, import demand for food products continues to grow. Irish exporters have been successful at establishing a good understanding of the market requirements in regions such as Asia, Africa and the Middle East and are well placed to avail of further growth opportunities as they emerge over the coming years. The further growth anticipated in dairy output, the continued drive of the meat sector to deliver added value solutions and the potential for growth in beverages, seafood and prepared foods all point to further growth potential.
304. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to monitor the prospects for the dairy, beef, lamb, pigmeat, poultry and fishing sectors here with a view to maximisation of opportunities with consequent economic benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12724/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra305. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the degree to which he remains committed to the concept of support for the family-farm enterprise, having particular regard to any particular challenges or threats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12725/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 305 together.
My Department monitors farm income and structures, and market prospects for all sectors, on an ongoing basis. Data and analysis is published on my Department’s website and particularly in publications such as the “Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine”.
In terms of planning for the future, Food Wise 2025, the ten year strategy for the agrifood sector, 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 400 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectoral recommendations.
With regard to the challenges facing the sector, particularly the significant challenge arising from the UK’s vote to leave the EU, it is important to understand that Food Wise is a living and evolving strategy. I will chair the ninth meeting of the High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC), with high level representatives from all the relevant Departments and State agencies, this week. The committee reviews progress on detailed actions on a quarterly basis, in order to identify and solve problems quickly. Brexit has now been included as a standard item on the agenda of each meeting of the HLIC. It is clear that driving the implementation of the Food Wise recommendations, particularly those related to market development, competitiveness and innovation, will assume even greater importance in the light of the UK decision.
Food Wise is not just about expanding production, I believe that moving up the value chain where possible, in terms of the type of products sold and how they are produced, is a fundamental hedge against all kinds of volatility, including the weakness in sterling we have seen since the Brexit vote.
