Written Answers Nos. 176-185
176. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a single boat payment to provide income support for sea fishermen related to their fishing boats. [52429/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme 2014-20 is the vehicle for financial supports to the seafood sector up to 2021 and is co-funded by the Exchequer and the European Union. The Programme delivers a wide range of supports for aquaculture, fisheries and seafood processing through a suite of 15 schemes.
The EMFF Regulation (508/2014) does not provide any legal basis for a single boat payment or for any other form of income supports for operators in the sector. Rather, the EMFF allows aid for specific investment projects and for compensation for specific losses in certain instances.
While the Common Fisheries Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy are similar in having their respective regulations providing for development aid to the sectors, they differ in that for the seafood sector there is no equivalent to the agriculture direct payment Regulation (1307/2013).
177. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sea fishermen; and the number of Irish-registered sea fishing boats in tabular form. [52430/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Seafood industry supports the economic viability of many coastal communities, directly generating or supporting approximately 11,000 jobs. This includes full and part time/casual employment in the fisheries, aquaculture, seafood processing and ancillary services sectors as provided by BIM and set out below.
|
- |
Full time |
Part time |
Total |
|
Total Fisheries |
3924 |
1060 |
4984 |
|
aquaculture |
693 |
1023 |
1716 |
|
processing |
2200 |
660 |
2860 |
|
ancillary |
1440 |
||
|
Total |
6817 |
2743 |
11,000 |
From: http://www.bim.ie/media/bim/content/publications/BIM,Strategy,2013-2017.pdf.
Under the Cod Effort Management scheme, there are 107 vessels with track record authorised to fish in ICES area 7a (Irish Sea), under Council Regulation (EC) No. 1342/2008 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2016/2094 of 23 November 2016. This Department does not issue authorisations for under 10m vessels which may also fish in the Irish Sea. A further 20 vessels have been authorised to fish in the Irish sea under the New Entrants Scheme using Gill nets or nephrops fishing gear.
178. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if compensation will be provided to farmers in counties Laois and Offaly who have had their farms damaged in recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52449/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Arterial Drainage Acts of 1945 and 1995 provide the Office of Public Works with powers for drainage and improvement of agricultural land and the undertaking of localised flood defence schemes to reduce flood risk in urban areas. The Arterial Drainage Acts and SI 122 of 2010 Regulations also introduced OPW consent requirements for the creation and modification of watercourses, embankments, weirs and bridges. As such, any request for funding to assist in remedial works following flooding should be made to the Office of Public Works.
In part response to poor weather conditions, the European Commission agreed to my request for an increase in the advance payment of the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme as well as an increase in the advance payments under our Rural Development Programme. This means an increase from 50% to 70% in the rate for the BPS to those applicants whose applications were confirmed fully clear and an increase to 85% in the case of RDP schemes.
Issuing of these BPS advance payments commenced after the 15th October and balancing payments are issuing this week. Payments on RDP schemes are also ongoing and last week we paid out close to €100m on our main agri-environment schemes which follows significant payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, the Sheep Welfare Scheme and the Knowledge Transfer scheme. Overall, at this stage, over €1.1 billion has issued to Irish farmers in recent weeks. These payments will make a significant improvement to farmers’ cashflow at this time of year.
179. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he has put forward to the European agriculture Commissioner for funding to be provided under the crisis reserve fund to finance a fodder support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52503/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe crisis reserve was established with the intention of providing additional support for the agricultural sector where the sector is affected by major crises. The reserve is funded by applying a 1.3% deduction from farmers' direct payments (as part of the financial discipline mechanism), on amounts exceeding €2,000, and is accumulated at EU level. In accordance with CAP legislation, where the crisis reserve is not utilised within the year, the funding is reimbursed to farmers in the following year.
In June this year, my Department refunded €13.6m to 2016 eligible applicants, which had been deducted from the 2015 BPS payment under the financial discipline mechanism. In addition, the European Commission confirmed this week that it would reimburse €433 million to European farmers, with Irish farmers being reimbursed to the tune of €13.2 million before 16 October 2018.
Despite the agricultural sector experiencing severe market difficulties arising from the introduction of the Russian Federation Ban on EU agricultural products in September 2014 and subsequent market difficulties in 2015 and 2016, it has proven extremely difficult to mobilise the crisis reserve fund at EU level as was originally intended.
In the event that the crisis reserve fund was to be utilised to finance a fodder support scheme, it would mean that all or part of the 1.3% deducted from farmers' direct payments would not be refunded to farmers as is currently the case.
180. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 367 of 14 November 2017, the full title and specific section of the legislation on which he is relying to withhold publication of the audit report on the organic status of the audited aquaculture sites operated by a company (details supplied). [52561/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, as the Competent Authority, delegates the task of certifying and operating the inspection system to which organic operators producing, preparing, storing or importing produce from third countries are subject. This is in accordance with the governing EU regulations. Since 2005, the associated services and obligations of the Organic Control Bodies are formalised by service agreements between the Department and the Organic Control Bodies concerned.
Under the Service Agreement referred to, there is a confidentiality clause whereby the parties to the Service Agreement agree to hold confidential all information, documentation and other material received, provided or obtained arising from the aforementioned agreement. This confidentiality clause includes an undertaking not to disclose any such information to any third party.
In addition, in the case of this particular audit, my Department is in the process of formally responding to the Organic Control Body who conducted the audit. Accordingly I consider that this matter is part of the deliberative process and therefore not permissible for release.
181. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 372 of 14 November 2017, his views on whether the location of the divisions and agencies he has listed within the seafood branch of his Department demonstrates the conflict of interest between the regulation of aquaculture and the development of aquaculture as operated by his Department; and his further views on whether this represents maladministration on the part of his Department. [52562/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has five distinct Marine Divisions. These are the Sea Fisheries Administration Division, Sea Fisheries Policy & Management Division, Marine Programmes Division, Marine Engineering Division and the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division.
The Marine Agencies Governance Unit, located within the Sea Fisheries Policy & Management Division of my Department, is responsible for corporate governance oversight of the Marine Institute (MI), Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the independent Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board (ALAB). The oversight role of the Department in this respect is to ensure that each of the marine agencies is and remains compliant with the revised code of practice for the Governance of state bodies (2016).
The marine related policy functions which fall under the aegis of this Department are managed in accordance with relevant applicable legislation. Marine policy functions are located within a number of Divisions within the Department. Aquaculture policy is within the remit of the Marine Programmes Division, a separate Division to the Division that is responsible for corporate governance. Aquaculture licence applications are considered by the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division of the Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable EU legislation. The legislation provides for a period of statutory and general public consultation in respect of every application. Decisions on applications are made following the fullest consideration of all environmental, technical, legislative and public interest aspects of each application. In addition, it is open to any member of the public to appeal the Minister’s decision to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB), an independent authority for the determination of appeals against decisions of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on aquaculture licence applications. A person aggrieved by a decision of the Minister on an aquaculture licence application, or by the revocation or amendment of an aquaculture licence, may make an appeal within one month of publication (in the case of a decision) or notification (in the case of revocation/amendment). The secretariat of the board is located in Kilminchy Court Dublin Road Portlaoise Co. Laois. Email: info@alab.ie
As referred to above, my Department operates a clear divisional based structure with five distinct Marine Divisions dealing with the various marine policy functions assigned to it. I am satisfied that the issue of any conflict of interest or maladministration therefore does not arise.
182. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 368 of 14 November 2017, his views on whether the Marine Institute acted appropriately in withholding relevant information from the oral hearing on the disease outbreak at a site (details supplied), in view of the role and purpose of the Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board oral hearing; and his further views on whether the actions of the Marine Institute represent further evidence of the need to release the institute from the control of his Department's seafood branch. [52563/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, procedures in respect of the making of submissions to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board are set out in the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act. In the context of the Oral Hearing referred to by the Deputy, no requests were received by the Marine Institute from the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board in respect of disease outbreaks on aquaculture sites in the area and accordingly no submission was made to the Board in that regard. It should also be noted that the Marine Institute was not a party to the appeal in question.
My Department has five distinct Marine Divisions. These are the Sea Fisheries Administration Division, Sea Fisheries Policy & Management Division, Marine Programmes Division, Marine Engineering Division and the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division. The Marine Agencies Governance Unit, located within the Sea Fisheries Policy & Management Division of my Department, is responsible for corporate governance oversight of the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the independent Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board. The oversight role of the Department in this respect is to ensure that each of the marine agencies is and remains compliant with the revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2016).
183. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 369 of 14 November 2017, the reason his Department accepts as a policy the self-certification by persons operating salmon farms regarding compliance with environmental regulations, in view of the fact that at the same time his Department is investigating licence breaches by a major salmon farm operator; and if this approach applies to all food producers involved in the Origin Green programme. [52564/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOrigin Green, Ireland’s national food sustainability programme, is an initiative of Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board. I indicated in my replies to the Deputy to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 369 of 14 November, 297 of 24 October and 424 of 26 September 2017 that companies participating in Origin Green are required to be compliant with all statutory requirements. I also indicated that all operational issues to do with this programme are a matter for that State Body. For further information on the programme and its operations, the Deputy is referred to the agreed Oireachtas contact address – info@BordBia.ie.
184. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeframe to review sea lice control protocols in view of the serious sea lice problems in Scotland and elsewhere. [52565/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, in Ireland the control of sea lice is managed by the Marine Institute on behalf of the State. These protocols are more advanced than those operated in other jurisdictions for the following reasons:
- The inspection regime is totally independent of the industry.
- Data obtained as a result of inspection is published and made widely available.
- Treatment trigger levels are set at a low level.
The sea lice monitoring and control programme in Ireland has been acknowledged by the Environment Directorate (DG Environment) of the EU Commission as representing international best practice.
185. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if newspaper and print media are covered in his brief; if not, the Minister responsible for the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52366/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no specific role in relation to the print media. The Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman were established by industry to safeguard and promote professional and ethical standards in Irish newspapers and magazines. These bodies have been formally recognised under s. 44 of the Defamation Act 2009, which falls under the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.
The only role that I have as Minister that includes print media is the administration of the media mergers regime, which was created as a result of amendments made to the Competition Act 2002 by the Competition & Consumer Protection Act 2014. All media mergers must be notified to me as Minister and I must make a determination whether or not the proposed media merger may proceed based on an assessment of its impact on the plurality of media in the State.
The examinations of all previous proposed media mergers conducted by my Department are available on my Department’s website, as are a number of supplementary materials and a FAQ page concerning the media mergers process.
