Written Answers Nos. 396-403
396. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which his Department continues to monitor the effects of Brexit on Ireland’s agrifood sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61608/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBrexit has presented a range of challenges for the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors, as it has for the broader Irish economy. While the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement maintained tariff-free trade between the EU and the UK, the fact that the UK is no longer in the EU Single Market or Customs Union creates a new trading environment for Irish food companies.
There are already many new requirements that must be fulfilled in respect of customs formalities and import controls on trade in agri-food products. However, the full impact of all of the expected changes has not yet been felt by Irish exporters, as the UK has not, to date, applied the full range of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls - including export certification, pre-notification, and entry through, and physical inspection at, UK Border Control Posts - to imports of EU food products.
These new controls are now due to be applied from the end of 2023. My Department continues to focus on preparing, in collaboration with the agri-food industry, for these changes, in order to ensure that we minimise any disruption they could cause to our exports to the UK. This includes significant investment in additional resources, the recruitment of additional staff, development of new and enhanced IT systems, provision of training programmes for food businesses, and implementation of new business processes in collaboration with Irish food exporters and other actors in Irish-GB supply chains.
All of these activities will be intensified in 2023 as we get more clarity from the UK about when and how their new SPS requirements for EU imports will be applied.
More broadly, my Department continues to monitor developments in Ireland-UK trade patterns since Brexit. In this regard I am pleased to note that Irish exports to UK have continued to grow despite the challenges that Brexit has presented. We cannot, however, be complacent, and I can assure the Deputy that the Government is ready to respond as appropriate to any negative impacts as a result of Brexit which may arise in 2023 and beyond.
397. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts ongoing by his Department to address issues relating to farmer mental health and well-being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61593/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for this question on such an important topic.
This Government has prioritised farm safety, health and wellbeing. In 2022, dedicated funding of €2.25m was allocated for a range of initiatives including initiatives to support increased awareness of the importance of mental health among farmers.
My Department, along with the HSE and the Department of Health, has co-funded a farmers physical and mental health awareness programme called ‘On Feirm Ground’. This programme is providing training for agricultural advisors to engage with and signpost farmers to supports in relation to health and wellbeing.
It is planned to deliver this programme to 800 farm advisors. Plans are also underway to expand this programme to other professionals coming in regular contact with farmers in 2023.
Last year, my Department funded eight farm safety European Innovation Partnerships (EIP’s) projects to the value of €1.8m. Four of these projects are focused on mental health in the farming community. Additional funding has been made available to extend these projects into 2023.
Funding for research into farmer mental health has been provided for the FarmHealth Research Project - the DCU study examining farmers mental health literacy & help-seeking behaviour. Results from this study will inform the development of an educational mental health intervention for farmers.
The Department supports the work of the HSA’s Farm Safety Partnership and was recently involved in the publication of its booklet on “Farmers’ Health and Wellbeing - A Guide to Staying Healthy While Farming” which includes a section on coping with stress and minding your mental health.
Farm safety, health and wellbeing is a priority for me and my colleague, Minister of State Martin Heydon T.D. Dedicated funding has been increased to €2.5m in Budget 2023 which will allow existing initiatives to continue as well as develop new initiatives to build on my Department’s efforts to improve farm safety, health and wellbeing.
399. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied that Irish fishermen will retain their fishing entitlements into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61595/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra400. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied that the rights and entitlements of the fishing industry here will continue to be observed to ensure the future of the viability of those dependent on the fishing industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61596/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together.
I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to addressing the challenges facing our seafood sector following the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the UK. I am pursuing all opportunities at EU level to help address the unequal burden sharing whereby Ireland carries an excessive burden of the EU quota transfers to the UK.
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework for the long-term conservation and sustainability of fish stocks around our shores and is designed to ensure the long term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters. The CFP specifically calls for the progressive restoration and maintenance of populations of fish stocks above biomass levels capable of producing Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY).
Scientific information on the state of the fisheries exploited by the Irish fleet is compiled by the Marine Institute and is published in the Stock Book each year. The most recent Stock Book, 2022, which was published last week, contains 75 stocks that are subject to the scientific advice of the Marine Institute. From the 75 stocks, 40 are assessed as being sustainably fished in 2022. This number has grown consistently every year since 2013. This, in turn, leads to the number of stocks being over-fished declining from 22 in 2014 to 16 in 2022.
I am pleased that the scientific advice supports increases in a number of stocks of importance to Ireland such as Monkfish and Megrims in the Celtic Sea. This shows that the many years of intensive, industry-led conservation measures are paying off.
The preparation for the 2022 December Fisheries Council is well underway. At the December Council, quotas for 2023 will be agreed upon. Following Brexit, the majority of stocks of interest to Ireland are dealt with in consultations with third countries such as the EU-UK consultations. I have closely monitored these negotiations and I am hopeful of a satisfactory deal for Irish fishers for 2023. That being said I will not accept an agreement that disadvantages our fishers. In the event that an agreement is not reached with the UK, provisional TACs and quotas for 2023 will be set for the first quarter of the year on the basis of scientific advice.
I am confident that, through the CFP, we will be able to ensure the sustainability of our fish stocks and, in turn, the economic viability of our fishing fleet and fish processors, thereby supporting the families and communities that depend on a vibrant fishing industry.
The Programme for Government sets down an ambitious programme of actions that promote a sustainable seafood industry and I am committed to working to continue to build on the progress that has been made to secure a sustainable future for our fishing industry and the coastal communities which depend upon it.
401. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will review the existing laws on the control of dogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61425/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra402. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she on conducting a review of the Control of Dogs Acts 1986-1992 in light of the recent dog attack in County Wexford which left a child with life-changing injuries; if she will appoint an expert panel to review the legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61463/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra403. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration will be given to reviewing dog bite prevention legislation; if she is satisfied that Ireland’s legislation is on par with that of other EU member states; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61465/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra404. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the controls currently in place for keeping dangerous dog breeds; if she is satisfied that current regulations are robust enough; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61464/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 401 to 404, inclusive, together.
The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, set out a range of requirements for all dog owners or any other person in charge of a dog. S.I. No. 442/1998, the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998, sets out further requirements that owners of specific breeds of dogs, including strains or crosses of those breeds, have to follow. Such dogs must be muzzled and led, on a sufficiently strong leash or chain not exceeding 2 metres in length, by a competent person over 16 years of age, when in a public place.
Concerns had been raised regarding the overall approach to the regulation of restricted breeds. Some stakeholders asserted that more breeds should be added to the list – especially given the newer breeds that have arrived in Ireland over the last number of years. Others believed that a different approach should be taken which would focus on the behavioural issues of individual dogs, rather than specific breeds and should move away from muzzling.
Following a review of this policy area, including a public consultation process to which over 1,000 responses were received, my Department published on gov.ie the report on ‘A Review of Measures relating to the Control of Dogs in Ireland’. A selection of the submissions received were also published alongside the report.
The issues raised in the submissions were wide ranging, complex and required analysis, consultation with stakeholders and an exploration of approaches in other jurisdictions. My Department is now identifying any necessary legislative amendments that may be required.
Furthermore, I understand that a cross-departmental review of the legislation relating to dogs is also about to commence, to be led by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The review will focus on strengthening current legislation, enforcement and policy.
My Department will continue to do its part, along with colleagues in the Local Authorities, the Local Authority Veterinary Service and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to consolidate efforts in this area and to promote the message of responsible dog ownership.
