Written Answers Nos. 724-740
724. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS, payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12449/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of January 1 2016 and has received all payments in respect of the 2016 scheme year including GLAS Plus payments.
Administrative checks involving a number of sections within the Department take place on all GLAS claims. All cases must clear validation checks before payment can issue. Department officials are working proactively to complete the checks to allow for the issue of payments. Once this case clears validations the 2017 advance payment will be made. GLAS payments are being made on a weekly basis.
725. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will be issued moneys owed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12491/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe above named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of January 1 2017.
The above named was also a participant in the Organic Farmer Scheme and had an overpayment. While the bulk of the recoupment was applied to the Organic Farming Scheme the balance owing was deducted, in accordance with standard procedures, from the next payment to issue from the Department which was the GLAS 3 payment.
726. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which a dog (details supplied) has been found in China; if he will order the return of this dog; the steps he is taking to protect the export of Irish greyhounds to countries with little or no animal welfare laws; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12497/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of recent reports on the export of Irish greyhounds to China.
Bord 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.
Bord na gCon has informed me that it has no control of events outside the jurisdiction of Ireland and has no statutory function regarding the regulation of greyhound exports, it does however continue to advise owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the expected levels of greyhound care and management as defined within Bord na gCon’s Code of Practice.
Bord na gCon treat the matter of greyhound exports very seriously and have been discussing potential solutions through the International Greyhound Welfare Forum which includes groups such as the ISPCA and Dogs Trust.
The movement of all dogs between Member States is currently governed by European legislation. Under EU law, dogs moved to another EU country from Ireland must be accompanied by an EU pet passport, be microchipped, and have a valid rabies vaccination. Premises exporting dogs must be registered with my Department. Before travel, dogs must undergo a clinical examination by an authorised veterinarian, who must verify that the animals show no obvious signs of disease and are fit to be transported. Dogs must also have a health certificate issued by a Department veterinarian. Exporters must comply with EU law on the protection of animals during transport.
The position is that once animal health and welfare certification requirements, and the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport, are met, dogs, including greyhounds, may be moved within the EU or exported to a non-EU country.
Information received from my Department's local offices for 2018 indicates that no greyhounds were exported directly from Ireland to China. The main destination for Irish dogs and greyhounds moved abroad continues to be the UK.
727. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a dog is now in China (details supplied); the measures being taken to prevent the export of greyhounds to China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12509/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of this recent report of an export of a greyhound to China
The movement of all dogs, including greyhounds, within the EU is governed by EU law.
Under EU law, dogs moved to another EU country from Ireland must be accompanied by an EU pet passport, be microchipped, and have a valid rabies vaccination.
Also under EU law, premises exporting dogs must be registered with my Department. Before travel, dogs must undergo a clinical examination by an authorised veterinarian, who must verify that the animals show no obvious signs of disease and are fit to be transported.
Dogs must also have a health certificate issued by a Department veterinarian. Exporters must comply with EU law on the protection of animals during transport.
The main destination for Irish dogs moved abroad is the UK. Information received from my Department's local offices for 2017 and 2018 indicates that no health certificates have been issued for the export of greyhounds from Ireland to China in these years.
Officials of my Department have met with Bord na gCon and with the welfare members of the International Greyhound Forum, which include the Dogs Trust and the ISPCA, to consider issues around the export of greyhounds. Bord na gCon is also a member of this Forum.
Bord na gCon advises owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the level of greyhound care and management as defined within Bord na gCon’s Code of Practice. I fully endorse this advice.
728. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of owners in each of the stallions standing at the Irish National Stud to date by percentage of ownership by a National Stud director or party related to directors both past and present; and the details of ownership by the company secretary and related parties. [12525/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish National Stud Company Limited is a commercial State Body. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Irish National Stud.
In line with Dáil procedures this request can be made directly to the Irish National Stud using the dedicated email address: pq@irishnationalstud.ie.
729. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the purchase and or acquisition of each of the stallions standing at the Irish National Stud to date. [12526/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish National Stud Company Limited is a commercial State Body. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Irish National Stud.
In line with Dáil procedures this request can be made directly to the Irish National Stud using the dedicated email address: pq@irishnationalstud.ie.
730. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure there are no common agricultural policy, CAP, budget cuts in view of Commissioner Oettinger's comments to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach on 6 March 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12528/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Budget Commissioner, Gunther Oettinger visited Dublin on 6 March 2018 as part of his tour of all European capitals in advance of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposals being published on 2 May 2018. As part of his appearance before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, he spoke of acceptable cuts to CAP and Cohesion of 5 - 10%. This was in the context of some Member States looking for cuts in these programme of up to 30%.
These figures must be seen in the context of the European Commission's own Reflection Paper on the Future of EU Finances which was published on the 14 February 2018. Within this paper, a range of scenarios across all major spending programmes are outlined and the impacts of maintaining the current budget, a 15% cut and a 30% cut are outlined. The Communication is very clear that these are just options and not proposals and are intended to stimulate an open debate.
From Ireland's perspective, the Taoiseach, in his address to the European Parliament in January of this year, indicated that Ireland is open to contributing more to the EU budget, but only if it is spent on policies that contribute to the advancement of the European ideal.
The CAP is such a policy. The European Commission's Communication on the Future of Food and Farming sets out a higher environmental ambition for the next CAP, highlights the need to strengthen the resilience of the European agriculture sector, and, improving the European added value of the policy to name but a few. In order to address these challenges I believe as strong a CAP budget as possible must be maintained post 2020 and I have repeatedly called for this at the Council of Agriculture Ministers meetings.
Discussions on the future CAP are intensifying under the Bulgarian Presidency, with CAP related discussions being scheduled at each of its Agri-Fish Council of Ministers meetings. I look forward to engaging constructively with the Presidency, my European counterparts and the European Commission, to ensure that the next CAP continues to provide necessary support to the Irish and European agriculture sector. My officials are also continuing to engage with their counterparts in the Presidency, the Commission, Member States and with our own Department of Finance who are the lead Department for Ireland on the MFF.
731. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is the policy of the Irish National Stud to encourage members of the board of the Irish National Stud and those connected with them to trade with the company and with stallion syndicates managed by the company despite the provisions of the company's articles of association in regard to disqualification of directors in cases in which a director profits or benefits from an activity, scheme or undertaking of the company; and if this policy has departmental sanction. [12543/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish National Stud Company Limited is a commercial State Body.
The Irish National Stud Company Limited has informed me that it is a service provider to its clients, including syndicates and directors. All services are provided at commercial rates. In addition they have informed me that there is no participation by a syndicate in the profits earned by the Irish National Stud Company Limited.
732. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next round of payments under the beef data genomics scheme will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12553/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme provides for six years of payments to participating farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability.
Payments for the 2017 Programme year commenced in December 2017 and continue to issue on an ongoing basis as more of the participants complete their commitments. 2018 payments are scheduled to commence next December.
733. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a matter (details supplied) will be addressed regarding penalties on farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12565/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU regulations govern the procedures to be followed in relation to penalties and different rules apply to Pillar I schemes which are fully funded by the European Union and Pillar II schemes which are co-funded by the Exchequer.
Funds collected as a result of the application of penalties under Pillar I schemes are not available for redistribution and are reimbursed directly to the EU. However for Pillar II schemes this funding can be re-used.
734. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of Bord Iascaigh Mhara grants received by a group of companies (details supplied) in each of the years 2000 to 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12569/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question asked by the Deputy concerns matters that are the responsibility of Bord Iascaigh Mhara. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to BIM for direct response.
735. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of legal or other actions taken by Bord Iascaigh Mhara to recoup grants awarded to companies in each of the past 15 years; the nature of the infringement, the name of the company, the result of the actions and the value of the grants in question in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12570/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question asked by the Deputy concerns matters that are the responsibility of Bord Iascaigh Mhara. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to BIM for direct response.
736. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rationale behind changes announced to the eligibility criteria for the national reserve under the new entrants category to those outlined in the 2017 national reserve; if this eliminates persons that commenced farming in 2015 and those that completed courses of education in agriculture during 2017; his further views on whether this change is unfair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12591/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor the purposes of the ‘new entrant’ priority category of the National Reserve a ‘new entrant’ is defined as follows:
- must have submitted a valid Basic Payment Scheme application in the year of application to the National Reserve;
- must have commenced the present agricultural activity within the two calendar years prior to the application under the National Reserve;
- did not have any agricultural activity in his/her own name and at his/her own risk in the five years preceding the start of the present agricultural activity.
Successful applicants under the National Reserve are also required to have completed an agricultural educational qualification at FETAC Level 6 or equivalent at the closing date for submission of application under the scheme, and have an off-farm income of not greater than €40,000 in either of the two most recent tax years.
With regard to the requirement for applicants under the ‘new entrant’ category of the National Reserve to have commenced agricultural activity within the two calendar years prior to the application to the National Reserve, applicants under the 2017 National Reserve must have commenced their agricultural activity in the 2015 calendar year or later, while applicants under the 2018 National Reserve must have commenced their agricultural activity in the 2016 calendar year or later.
738. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide financial assistance to farmers in County Wexford whose property sustained damage during Storm Emma; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12593/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThroughout the period of adverse weather conditions caused by storm Emma, my Department was directly involved in a co-ordinated response as a member of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG), convened by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the lead Government Department on Severe Weather Incidents.
While the South and East of the country bore the brunt of the storm and its after effects, many other areas experienced disruptions to daily life and the business of farming to a greater or lesser degree. Because the storm occurred at this time of year it proved particularly disruptive as farmers coped with challenging weather conditions alongside the normal busy workload of Spring: calving and lambing and winter feeding. The key on-farm challenges revolved around preventing the freezing up of water supplies at a critical time for lactating animals, the provision of fodder and shelter to stock against the worst of the snowfall and dangerous conditions for farmyards and environs. Delayed turn-out of some stock is increasing the demand for fodder and accommodation. While recognising that the recent bad weather has impacted on the commencement of Spring grass growth in many areas of the country, I am satisfied that adequate quantities of fodder remain currently available in the country at present.
Throughout this period and immediately afterwards Department staff, together with Teagasc worked at local level to ensure that the farming community had access to the best advice on how to cope with the numerous issues thrown up by the storm. To support those in more immediate difficulties the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine emergency phone line for animal welfare issues remained open and attended at all times. All requests for support were responded to.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the significant assistance the farming community provided within the wider local community at this busy time as they looked in on neighbours, cleared roads and helped to restore access to more remote rural areas.
At sector level my Department worked closely with all stakeholders and with industry to minimise disruption to critical activities including milk collection services. I am happy to be able to report that such major issues were dealt with in the shortest possible time thanks to the coordinated efforts of farmers, industry and my own Department staff.
As the storm abated and the sector slowly returned to normal it became clear that the main problem centred on damage to horticulture and other on-farm structures. Such structures will principally be insured and it is important that insurance companies respond rapidly and flexibly to the needs of their farmers customers. It is important to emphasise that public support cannot be provided for insurable risks.
In order to respond where possible to the issue of structural damage I believe that it is appropriate to recognise supports available through current on-farm investment support schemes operated by my Department and I have asked my officials to examine these in the context of Storm Emma as a matter of urgency.
739. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payments to farmers will be expedited in line with the terms of GLAS in view of the fact that over 700 farmers in County Galway are awaiting GLAS payments since October 2017 and in further view of the harsh weather and the effect on farm income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12602/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overriding factor in the processing of all EU funded schemes is to ensure that all regulatory requirements are respected in issuing payments.
5,429 participants in County Galway have now received a 2017 advance payment. 489 cases continue to be processed, including when outstanding documentation is received from participants. I would encourage all applicants with outstanding obligations to complete them as soon as possible. Payments continue to issue weekly as cases are cleared.
740. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on problems arising with targeted agricultural modernisation schemes, TAMS II, whereby ownership, lease and hire purchase agreements are approved for farmers to purchase equipment under the low emission slurry spreading equipment scheme by his Department which then refuses grant aid to farmers due to the fact they cannot provide proof of ownership of the equipment; if a review of the procedures involved in applying for TAMS grants will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12661/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Terms and Conditions of the TAMS II Schemes are very specific in advising applicants that grant aid will not be paid in respect of new equipment or investments unless full ownership has been transferred to the applicant prior to the lodgement of the payment claim. Full ownership is defined as when the applicants themselves have fully paid for the investment from their bank account.
When an approval issues to an applicant for any new investment under the TAMS Schemes this approval is subject to the applicant adhering to the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme before any grant aid is paid.
There are no plans to change the Terms and Conditions of the TAMS Scheme in respect of the issue raised by the Deputy.
