Written Answers Nos. 565-576
565. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the final 2018 Irish quotas agreed in tonnage for each fishing species at the EU fishing Ministers' meeting; the value in euro if available; the final 2017 quota agreed for each such species; and the difference between 2017 and 2018 quotas in percentage terms. [53976/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe annual EU Fisheries Council took place on 11 and 12 December in Brussels. Following two very challenging days of intensive negotiations I am satisfied to have secured a total package of fish quotas worth €266 million for Irish fishermen for 2018.
This included a 15% increase in prawns, worth over €10.6m to the Irish fleet, which is the biggest single increase in over a decade. Ireland's overall quota for prawns in 2018 amounts to 10,729 tonnes with a total value of €83m.
There were a number of difficult issues facing us their year but the final package is a balanced and sustainable one.
The Irish quotas agreed at this December's EU Fisheries Council Meeting are as follows:
566. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the new statutory instrument he is planning to publish regarding fishing points in the fishing industry. [53977/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Supreme Court judgments were delivered on 12 December 2017 in relation to the 2014 SI implementing a points system for licence holders. My Department is currently examining the implications of the judgments on an urgent basis in conjunction with the Attorney General’s Office to inform next steps in this matter.
567. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of bilateral meetings he has had with his other European ministerial colleagues regarding fishing quotas and safeguarding Irish fishing interests ahead of the December 2017 Council of Fisheries Ministers' meetings. [53978/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra573. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of bilateral meetings he has had with other European ministers in his portfolio regarding fishing quotas and safeguarding Irish fishing interests ahead of the December 2017 Council of Fisheries Ministers' meetings. [53984/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 567 and 573 together.
I have had bilateral meetings with my counterparts in Denmark, the Netherlands, France, the UK, Germany and Spain. These were focused on the immediate issues arising in relation to TACs and quotas and to a large extent on the issues relating to BREXIT. In addition, I have engaged in a series of trilateral meetings with the Commission and the Estonian Presidency. There have also been a number of bilateral meetings at official level in the months preceding the Council.
In order to inform negotiations at the December Fisheries Council, I also had an assessment of the impacts of the Commission proposal for TACs and quotas for 2018 undertaken. An open consultation process was also put in place in order to inform and facilitate these deliberations, during which stakeholders were invited to submit their comments and observations on the Commission proposal for fishing opportunities for 2018. The specific details of the Commission's proposal and the impact of those for Ireland were then laid before the Dáil in advance of the December Council.
My primary aim was to achieve a result that protected the interests of the Irish fishing industry, while also respecting the available scientific advice for stocks of vital importance to our fleet. I am pleased that we have managed to secure a good deal for Irish fishermen (a total package of fish quotas worth €266 million and more stocks at maximum sustainable yield) at this year's EU Fisheries Council that will support our fishing industry for the coming year and continue to rebuild our fish stocks which underpin the future of our industry and our coastal communities.
569. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of progress towards the programme for Government commitment that the green cert will be reviewed to ensure it is fit for purpose. [53980/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Green Cert is delivered by Teagasc and has been developed to meet the training requirements for part-time and full-time farmers. It is accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) an independent State agency responsible for promoting quality and accountability in education and training services in Ireland.
In 2016, Teagasc and QQI undertook a comprehensive review of the Green Cert to ensure that it reflects the changing requirements of Irish farming. This review process was led by a Standards Review Group on behalf of QQI and included industry stakeholders. The Review Group recommended strengthening the Green Cert across many key areas, in particular, grass management, animal breeding, health and safety and sustainable farming approaches.
Subject to formal validation from QQI, Teagasc plan to roll out the new Green Cert programme from early 2018.
570. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of progress towards the programme for Government commitment to seek recognition from the European Commission for forgotten farmers as a group with specific disadvantage under the national reserve in the same way that old young farmers are currently provided for; and the number of meetings he has had with Commission representatives on this issue. [53981/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Regulations governing the operation of the National Reserve include an optional provision whereby Member States may use the National Reserve to allocate new entitlements or give a top-up on the value of existing entitlements for persons who suffer from a specific disadvantage.
In the context of the discussions with the EU Commission in early 2015 regarding the inclusion of the group referred to as Old Young Farmers under the 2015 National Reserve, the Commission advised that the inclusion of groups under ‘Specific Disadvantage’ category of the National Reserve would require individual approval at EU level.
The National Reserve in 2017 was established using funding derived from a linear cut to the value of all farmers’ entitlements. EU Regulations pertaining to the National Reserve provide that the two categories of young farmer and new entrant to farming must receive priority access to the Reserve. In the context of the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government, Ireland consulted with the EU Commission regarding the possibility of including the Forgotten Farmer group under the specific disadvantage category of the 2017 National Reserve. The EU Commission confirmed that Member States cannot use the proceeds of a linear cut to fund a specific disadvantage category of the National Reserve.
The Commission confirmed that the only funding option for the specific disadvantage category is natural replenishment of the Reserve, such as unused entitlements or the proceeds of clawback, but only after the two priority categories of young farmer and new entrant to farming have been catered for.
571. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of progress towards the programme for Government commitment to support for further action at EU level to deliver greater transparency and fairness in the food supply chain; and the number of Council of Agriculture Ministers' meetings at which he has raised this subject with colleagues. [53982/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of greater transparency in the food chain supply has been discussed on four occasions in 2017 at the Council of Agriculture Ministers meetings. The European Commission is now currently conducting a public consultation exercise on whether EU level action is needed to address anti-competitive practices caused by the weaker position of farmers and SMEs in the food supply chain vis-a-vis other levels of the chain. This assessment is to take into account the work conducted by both the Agricultural Markets Task Force (AMTF) and the High-Level Forum for a Better Functioning Food Supply Chain (HLF).In line with the European Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT) programme, the Commission will assess and summarise all the relevant available evidence and establish the need for EU action, including through a legislative initiative, by means of an Impact Assessment (IA). The outcome of this exercise, in accordance with the due process requirements for an IA, is to be presented in the first half of 2018.
572. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of progress towards the programme for Government commitment to explore the potential for the development of onshore closed-containment fish farming as an emerging technology. [53983/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development, published in 2015, proposes 24 actions to drive the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector and grow production in the sector by 45,000 tonnes by 2023. The Plan targets a 30% increase in production derived from onshore close containment recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Considerable international developmental effort is being put into land based RAS systems. A number of technological challenges need to be overcome to make RAS economically viable.
BIM funded a 2015 study by the Irish Salmon Growers Association ‘Potential for Land Based Salmon Growout in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) in Ireland’. The report describes in detail all technical aspects of RAS production and system design and operations. It also covers important biological aspects of land based salmon production.
As part of my Department’s €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme, a new Aquaculture ‘Knowledge Gateway Scheme’ was launched in 2016. I have provided BIM with a budget of €8.2 million for that Scheme over the course of the Programme. In close collaboration with aquaculture enterprises and researchers, the Scheme aims to develop knowledge, innovation and technology in the aquaculture sector to ensure its sustainable development. An important part of the focus of the Scheme will be the applied research and development on RAS identified in the National Strategic Plan. This may take the form of applied research undertaken by BIM on behalf of the sector or initiatives from industry operators or research institutions.
To further incentivise RAS developments, I increased grants rates in December 2016 under the EMFF Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme for RAS developments to the maximum possible rate of 50% for 2017 applications. In May 2017, I doubled the maximum grant amount from €500,000 to €1m per project (still at 50% of eligible expenditure).
The Knowledge Gateway Scheme and the Sustainable Aquaculture Scheme remain open and BIM would welcome industry or research projects related to the development of RAS technology in Ireland.
574. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of progress towards the programme for Government commitment to continuing to explore the potential development of an all-island label to successfully address the problems associated with so-called nomad cattle; and the number of North South Ministerial Council meetings at which he raised this subject with colleagues. [53986/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe labelling of food in the European Union is governed by a number of EU regulations which lay down strict requirements including in relation to mandatory country of origin labelling for certain meats.
Under EU rules, labels on meat from cattle born and reared in the Republic of Ireland and exported live to Northern Ireland and subsequently slaughtered there, must include the member state of birth and rearing, and the member state of slaughter.
It is possible to include a voluntary label, but this may not contradict mandatory origin labelling, nor does it obviate the requirement for mandatory labelling. The possibility of a voluntary all Island label has been previously raised with British retailers, who have made clear that they have a longstanding policy to market British and Irish beef separately, with a simple, clear origin label.
While voluntary labelling of this nature has been mooted as a mechanism to encourage a live export trade between the Republic and Northern Ireland, it must be noted that this trade is determined by a range of factors, including the Sterling exchange rate and the supply of cattle in each market, retailer preferences and production cycles. It should be noted that live exports to Northern Ireland have increased for the year to date by 11% since the corresponding period in 2016.
The North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) is a forum that discusses a wide range of matters pertinent to the beef sectors in both jurisdictions, however this matter has not been the subject of discussions at this meeting in recent times.
575. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an ANC payment for 2017 due to a person (details supplied) will be issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54010/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2017 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received by my Department from the person named on 21 March 2017. The Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme application has been fully processed and payment will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
576. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to invest in facilities for public use; if such investment will be made in 2018 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54060/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to investment in facilities for public use, my Department provides funding for the NeighbourWood Scheme, which supports the development of attractive close-to-home woodland amenities (or ‘neighbourwoods’) for public use and enjoyment. The scheme is available to both public and private landowners, working in partnership with local communities.
With regard to facilities provided by Coillte, the company was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the development of recreational facilities on its lands, are the responsibility of the company.
The matter was, however, raised with Coillte, who advised that it received funding, during 2017, from the Department of Rural and Community Development to support the development of Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trail Centre and Coolaney Mountain Bike Trail Centre as well as their annual maintenance programme to maintain their forest parks. The company add that, in terms of investment in recreation, plans for the development of Avondale House and Forest Park, Co. Wicklow are progressing well. Coillte advise that the regular annual programme of works will be undertaken in 2018 to maintain and upgrade the existing trails, picnic areas, play areas and visitor facilities at all of Coillte’s recreation sites and forest parks with a review of each of Coillte’s forest parks to be carried out, in early 2018, to assess potential new facilities that could be provided and the available resources to do so.
