Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:31. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for a national afforestation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33227/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraForestry Sector
Ceisteanna (31)
Freagraí scríofa
This Government is committed to a new national afforestation programme which will benefit farmers, the sector, the environment and society at large. This is clearly set out in the Programme for Government which is ambitious for the future of Irish forestry. While it's well known that forestry has had its share of its difficulties in recent times, which we are addressing, there is enormous potential for a new model of forestry to deliver multi-functional benefits for society.
As a result of delays in finalising the new CAP and new State Aid rules, the current Forestry Programme which operates under the same Sate Aid rules as CAP will now likely extend to end 2021. A new Forestry Programme will be required for the next period and we will have the opportunity to look afresh at what we want from forestry as landowners, communities, businesses and state enterprises.
I believe that any new Programme must align fully with other agricultural schemes, particularly to encourage uptake by farmers. Combining woodland creation with farming is the future if we are to meet our afforestation targets. If farm forestry is to succeed in the decades ahead it must deliver an economic return for the farmer in a way that complements and enhances the farming enterprise.
Future woodland creation on farms must strike a more even balance between ecosystem service delivery and timber production. In terms of eco-system delivery there are lots of options to consider. Agroforestry for example will allow farming to continue on land also planted with trees. Fast growing trees for renewable energy can be used to fuel on-farm biomass boilers; shelterbelts can enhance animal welfare while also increasing grass growth, planting tree species rich in nectar and pollen will support pollinators.
We already have an ambitious target to increase forest cover to 8,000 hectares per year under the Climate Action Plan and this Governemt is committed to enacting a new Climate Bill soon. It's obvious that any future woodland creation towards that target must have a much greater focus on delivering environmental benefits, to include for example enhancing water quality, habitat creation and climate adaption measures. To deliver on these aims there will have to be greater emphasis on species diversity particularly native species. Sustainable forest management is also key. We will need to incentivise continuous cover forestry on suitable sites, moving away from clearfell and replanting where possible and have more strategic planting to alleviate the risk of flooding and to create filtration buffers along watercourses to protect aquatic habitats.
We will be announcing a public consultation process for the new Forestry Programme shortly, which will also encompass a new Forestry Strategy. It is intended that a wide range of stakeholders will take part and I anticipate that it will deliver a multitude of ideas to help form a sustainable forestry model for Ireland. We look forward to active and constructive engagement from all interested parties across society to help shape this new vision.
Question No. 32 answered orally.
Fishing Industry
Ceisteanna (33)
Pádraig MacLochlainn
Ceist:33. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure the sustainability of the fishery within the 6 nm limit following the recent decision of the High Court to overturn the ban on vessels of over 18 metres fishing in that area; and the way in which he can ensure fairness to all fishers whether inshore or those historically reliant on fishing within the 6 nm limit. [33175/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In December 2018, following a public consultation process in which over 900 submissions were received, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine announced that vessels over 18m will be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18m targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as the sprat fishery is concentrated inside the six nautical mile zone.
A Policy Directive was issued by the Minister to the independent Licensing Authority for Sea Fishing Boats under Statute and was intended to give effect to the measures announced by the then Minister. As I have stated, this Policy Directive provided that vessels over 18m LOA (Length Overall) will be excluded from trawling activity inside six nautical miles, including inside the baselines, from 1 January 2020. The Policy Directive directed the Licensing Authority to insert a condition to this effect into the licences of affected vessels.
A Judicial Review was taken by two applicant fishermen challenging the validity of the Policy. An unapproved judgement was issued on 31 July 2020 and the key points to come out of that Judgement is that while the applicants did not succeed on four of the five grounds of challenge, the challenge was made against the entire Policy Directive 1 of 2019 and was successful.
The findings on the grounds of challenge were:
The Policy Directive 1 of 2019 was not ultra vires,
The Directive did not impinge the applicants constitutional rights.
Given the impact on the applicants there was a particular duty on the Minister to provide a fuller explanation and engage in further talks with the applicants. On this ground the applicants succeeded.
The policy directive was not disproportionate to what was to be achieved.
The Policy directive did not breach EU law.
On 6th October 2020, the Judge held in summary that the Court’s final order should be, among other matters, a declaration that Policy Directive 1 of 2019 was made in breach of fair procedures and is void and/or of no legal effect.
The breach of fair procedures as I have just referenced related to a failure with obligations to consult with the applicants in accordance with, and to the extent required by, the consultation process and in particular by failing to consult with them once a preferred option had been identified.
I am currently considering, on an urgent basis, the implications of the judgment in consultation with my legal advisors.
I should advise the Deputy that I am committed to the sustainability of fishing in Irish waters and the commitment made in our Programme for Government that inshore waters continue to be protected for smaller fishing vessels and pair trawling be prohibited inside the six-mile limit. .
Question No. 34 answered orally.
Brexit Issues
Ceisteanna (35)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:35. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had discussions with his counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the difficulties that will face the agri-food sector on an all-Ireland basis post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33527/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that I spoke via telephone conference call with my Northern Ireland counterpart, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Edwin Poots MLA, on 9 September.
Our conversation was very constructive, and covered North-South trading arrangements post-Brexit, implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol, and the prospects for the wider EU-UK discussions on the future relationship.
We both expressed a commitment to working together on common issues and concluded by committing to speaking again soon. Indeed, I hope that we can develop the relationship further in the context of our attendance at the Agriculture Sectoral meeting of the North South Ministerial Council, which is scheduled to take place on 18 November.
There is of course ongoing contact between officials in my Department and officials from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA ) in Northern Ireland on a range of issues.
Questions Nos. 36 to 38, inclusive, answered orally.
Fishing Industry
Ceisteanna (39)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Ceist:39. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the 400 tonnes set aside for line caught mackerel is insufficient to allow the 1,560 boats that are smaller than 15 metres registered in Ireland to grow this as a fishery; his further views on whether the 750kg landing restriction is unworkable for inshore boats smaller than 15 metres landing mackerel on any occasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33532/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 400 tonnes limit for the Mackerel Hook and Line Fishery was adopted as part of Polyvalent Mackerel Management Arrangements and licensing issues in November 2010. This policy was adopted after detailed analysis and public consultation procedure was completed. This policy represents a balance between all interests in the mackerel fishery and I have no plan at this time to review it.
In respect of the 750 kg per trip catch limit, in March of this year, the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF) put forward a proposal requesting an increase in the per trip catch limit per vessel from 500 kg to 750 kg. Within this proposal, the NIFF also requested that, if the proposal was supported, a review should be carried out after 12 months to ensure that no other vessels are disadvantaged because of the increase.
The Minister adopted the NIFF’s proposal taking into account that the 400 tonnes quota limit set had not been fully utilised by the relevant vessels in previous years. The Minister considered that the request to increase the per trip catch limit from 500kg to 750 kg, representing a 50% increase in the limit, could be accommodated within the existing 400 tonnes quota limit set for the fishery. On 28th April 2020, the Minister approved the request to raise the per trip limit to 750 kg from 500 kg. However, there was concern that this increase could disadvantage smaller vessesl and accordingly it is planned to reveiw the trip limit set should the allocation be exhausted early in 2020 or future years.
I will examine all aspects of this quota limit before the commencement of this fishery next year to determine if the trip limit set supports the fishery for the vessels in the category and taking into account if the fishery has been operating within the quota limit set for it.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (40)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:40. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process used to grant approval to products (details supplied); the plans being put in place to rectify this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33563/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Biocidal products, including hand sanitisers, may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and are entered on the Biocidal Product Register" in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013. The approval process also checks that applications comply with all legislation on contents and efficacy.
The hand sanitiser Virapro was approved by our Biocides Unit and registered on the 21st April 2020 on the basis of the documentary application, including a technical specification that it contained 70% ethanol which is a common standard for hand sanitiser products and fully complies with regulations.
Following investigations, laboratory results received on 16th October showed that the products did not meet the standards for approval, particularly with regard to the presence of methanol.
The company was immediately instructed to retain all product in its possession and recall all remaining product under the Virapro name from the market or in use by the public.
On the 20th October Virapro hand sanitiser was removed from the Department's Biocides Register.
The primary responsibility for the withdrawal of products rests with the company concerned. On Thursday 22nd October it became evident on the basis of communication from the company that the recall of products had not yet commenced.
At that point my Department took the additional step of issuing a statement outlining the possible risks posed by Virapro and advising members of the public not to use it. My Department also issued formal notification to Departments of Education, Health and Children. I was informed of the situation by my Department for the first time on the evening of 22nd October.
We are taking this matter very seriously, and will continue to follow up and investigate as appropriate.
My Department is continuing to increase its testing of product on the market to provide reassurance in relation to compliance with approved product specifications. Test results available so far indicate no safety issues with other sanitiser products sampled.
Departmental Contracts
Ceisteanna (41)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:41. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of external contracts for consultancy currently operating in his Department; and the overall cost of the contracts. [33524/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department seeks to minimise the use of consultants and only engages consultancy companies when particular additional expertise is required for delivery of the services which support the business processes of the Department.
Such services are used in areas where the Department does not have the necessary expertise or internal capacity to deliver the services and where it would not make practical, operational or economic sense to build up this capability within the Department.
A number of these engagements are necessary to satisfy auditing and EU regulatory requirements and where independent evaluation of projects is required. All contracts are negotiated with a view to achieving best value for money and keeping expenditure to a minimum.
There are currently 51 external contracts for consultancy operating in my Department at a total cost of €8,530,552. Several of these are multi-year contracts where the cost of the contract is spread out over a number of years.
Trade Promotion
Ceisteanna (42)
Neale Richmond
Ceist:42. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work his Department is carrying out to develop new markets for Irish food and drink in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33538/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Gaining third country market access, and opening up trading opportunities around the world for Irish exports, have long been integral to my Department’s strategic approach to the development of the agri-food sector. This is particularly important as we deal with the challenges presented by Brexit.
Trade missions will continue to play a key role here. Our traditional "in person" method of developing trade with customers is not feasible currently. To that end, my Department, in conjunction with Bord Bia, is holding a series of Virtual Trade Missions on 9 and 10 November with customers in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. These interactive engagements will include Irish industry and existing and potential customers overseas. There will also be a series of virtual meetings with key international customers from Germany, the UK, Japan, China, UAE and SE Asia.
The Government's commitment to new market development is illustrated by its appointment of Martin Heydon T.D., as Minister of State with specific responsibility for this task. My Department has also placed four additional Agriculture Attaches in the Irish Embassy network in recent years, in Berlin, Tokyo and Mexico City in 2019, and in Seoul, South Korea, in 2020. In addition, my Department's International Trade activities are being reorganised and further developed, and this will further enhance our ability to deal with the challenges presented by Brexit.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (43)
Pádraig MacLochlainn
Ceist:43. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional financial supports he plans to introduce for fishers around the coast from all sectors that have faced financial losses in 2020 due to the global pandemic crisis, following the announcement of the Covid-19 aquaculture support scheme; and if he will consider increasing the financial supports under the Covid-19 aquaculture support scheme itself. [33176/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic, Government has made available financial and other supports for employees and businesses negatively impacted by the Pandemic. Both the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and Wage Subsidy Scheme have supported the incomes of employees and the self-employed in our seafood sector and I am aware that many availed of these Government payments in the first half of 2020. Government has also made available low-cost loans to seafood businesses for working capital and other purposes.
My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-2020 is the principal source of public funding for the sustainable development of our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors. The Programme is delivered through a range of support schemes providing supports for capital investment, innovation, advisory services, marketing, training, stock conservation and protection of marine biodiversity. These support schemes have continued throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic and take-up of grants has remained strong. The Programme is now nearing its end, with funds already mostly committed through grant offers and I anticipate that the Programme will finish in 2021. My Department is working to develop a new Seafood Development Programme for the 2021-27 period.
As part of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus, the European Union amended the EMFF Regulation (508/2014) in 2020 to ensure that Member States’ EMFF Programmes could be best used to support their seafood sectors with the specific impacts of the Pandemic. The additional measures available through these amendments will end on 31 December 2020.
For the fisheries sector, the amendments to the EMFF Regulation facilitated Member States that chose to implement either a fleet tie-up scheme or a storage aid market support scheme and only those two measures. Over the course of March and April 2020, the previous Minister engaged in detailed discussions with representatives of the fisheries sector, including Producer Organisations, fisheries cooperatives, and the National Inshore Fisheries Forum. It was clear from those meetings that there was a consensus among fishing representatives that they did not wish to see a storage aid scheme introduced, as they feared it would create a market overhang of stored product that may undermine market prices. Instead, fishing representatives expressed a wish to see a temporary fleet tie-up scheme introduced to support the fixed costs of vessel owners who chose to tie-up during periods of market turbulence, with the Pandemic Unemployment Payment complementing such a scheme by supporting the incomes of crew while the vessels are tied up. A Covid-19 Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme was implemented over three months June to August 2020.
For aquaculture, the EMFF amendments facilitated Member States that chose to implement a storage aid scheme for aquaculture products or a scheme to compensate aquaculture producers for reduced sales or production because of the Pandemic. I announced a Covid 19 Aquaculture Support Scheme on 22 October designed to compensate oyster and rope mussel producers by supporting their costs of production for product that they were unable to sell over the period February to June 2020. Payments reflect the historic production levels of producers and their costs of production and are based on official data provided by producers themselves through the Annual Aquaculture Production and Employment Survey. For oyster producers, payments range from €6,800 to €16,300 per business and for rope mussel producers who have considerably lower costs of production, payments range from €1,300 to €9,000 per business. I anticipate that BIM will be inviting applications in early November with a view to paying successful applicants in 2020.
Agriculture Industry
Ceisteanna (44)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:44. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports provided by his Department to enhance the education of agricultural advisers in the areas of farmer mental health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33507/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am happy to announce that my Department is co-funding, with the HSE and the Department of Health, a farmers physical and mental health awareness package entitled ‘On Feirm Ground’ under the auspices of the ENGAGE National Men’s Health Training programme. This programme was launched on the 19th October this year.
The ‘On Feirm Ground’ programme has developed a 'Train the Trainer' programme for delivery nationally to those employed as farm advisors and those who are in regular contact with farmers and agricultural workers. The target is to deliver the programme to 800 farm advisors over approximately a two year period. The programme is being rolled out in conjunction with both the Agricultural Consultants Association and Teagasc. This comprehensive 1-day training aims to increase participants’ understanding of best practice in engaging farmers with health programmes and services and was developed against a backdrop of: (i) poorer health outcomes and health behaviours among farmers; (ii) farmers under-utilisation of certain health programmes and services; (iii) challenges from service providers’ perspectives in engaging farmers; and (iv) increasing evidence in support of more gender-sensitive or ‘farmer-friendly’ approaches.