Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

1. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he has plans to meet political leaders in the North. [37881/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

2. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he has been in contact with political leaders in the North since the Dáil recess. [37882/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

3. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach his plans to meet with the new Secretary to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38803/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Joe Higgins

4. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if he will report on any recent discussions with the political leaders in the North. [38965/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Micheál Martin

5. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach his plans to visit the North of Ireland in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39018/12]

Northern Ireland Issues

Gerry Adams

6. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach his plans to meet with the new Northern Secretary of State Theresa Villiers. [40451/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gerry Adams

7. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Economic Management Council has met since the summer recess. [37960/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gerry Adams

8. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if the Economic Management Council has met with the Irish banks since the summer recess. [37961/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gerry Adams

9. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet sub Committee on Health has met since the beginning of July. [38359/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gerry Adams

10. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the membership of the Cabinet sub Committee on Health. [38360/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

11. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach the number of Cabinet sub committee meetings he has attended since the summer recess. [38955/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

12. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet sub Committee on Economic Recovery and Jobs has met recently. [38956/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

13. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet sub Committee on Economic Infrastructure has met recently. [38957/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

14. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet sub Committee on Mortgage Arrears has met recently. [38958/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

15. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet sub Committee on European Affairs has met recently. [38959/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

16. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet sub Committee on Climate Change and the Green Economy has met recently. [38960/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

17. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet sub Committee on Social Policy has met recently. [38961/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

18. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet sub Committee on Irish and the Gaeltacht has met recently. [38962/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

19. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet sub Committee on Public Service Reform Jobs has met recently. [38963/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Joe Higgins

20. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet sub Committee on Health has met recently. [38964/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

21. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet sub Committee on Health will next meet. [39030/12]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

22. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the next meeting of the Economic Management Council will take place. [40450/12]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

47. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he intends re-opening the agri environment options scheme to new applicants; the conditions that will apply to the scheme; the maximum payment that will be provided for in the scheme; if there will be any changes to the measures under the scheme compared to the last AEO scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40490/12]

Severe Weather Events

John Halligan

48. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent announcement by the Irish Farmers Association that inclement weather may cause yields to be reduced by up to 25% or the loss of 500,00 tons in potential grain production which could potentially leave the sector down an estimated €100 million compared to 2011; his further views on the impact this will have on the agricultural sector as a whole; if he will also confirm if any plans are being considered by him to bridge the gap and mitigate the losses which will undoubtedly adversely affect the agricultural community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40618/12]

Severe Weather Events

Éamon Ó Cuív

49. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions taken to date and the proposed actions to assist farmers affected by the bad weather this summer, in view of the effect also of the drought in the USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40491/12]

Aquaculture Licences Applications

Tom Fleming

50. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding licensing of bays for aquaculture around our coast; the number of bays that have already been licensed and the names of these bays; when he expects the remaining bays to be licensed; the number of aquaculture licenses that are pending in his Department; the number that have been granted; and his plan to develop the potential of aquaculture around our coastline. [40624/12]

Fishing Industry Development

Clare Daly

51. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he intends to take in relation to developing a sustainable fisheries policy, following the Our Ocean Wealth Report. [40385/12]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Eligibility

Michael Moynihan

52. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeline for the receipt of applications in respect of derogation in stocking density under the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40425/12]

Forestry Sector

Éamon Ó Cuív

53. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to sell off the Coillte Teo forest crop; the progress made regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40408/12]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Eligibility

Timmy Dooley

54. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date on which payments will be made under the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40427/12]

Forestry Sector

John Browne

55. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he will ensure that the rural recreation aspect of the work of Coillte Teoranta will be protected in the event of the forest crop being sold to private interests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40411/12]

Ministerial Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

56. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will meet with Iascairí Intíre na hÉireann, a fishermen's organisation representing inshore fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40445/12]

Tax Code

Colm Keaveney

57. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he has considered taking action to incentivise longer term leases of farm land over the current widespread practice whereby most land offered by rental is in conacre, 11 month rental, a system of little value to a progressive farmer working to a business plan; if he plans to seek tax incentives in this area in Budget 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40440/12]

Agriculture Schemes Expenditure

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the underspend in the agri environment options scheme and the REP scheme to date in 2012; if the full budgeted allocation will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40432/12]

Common Fisheries Policy Reform

Thomas P. Broughan

59. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his key priorities for the process of reforming the common fisheries policy which will more than likely conclude during the Irish Presidency in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40049/12]

Forestry Sector

Dara Calleary

60. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that have been taken to ensure the continued viability of the timber industry here in the event that the forest crop is sold to private interests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40414/12]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Eligibility

Niall Collins

61. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expected savings from changes to the stocking density ratio in the disadvantaged area scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40419/12]

Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations

Robert Troy

62. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the progress that has been made in the common agricultural policy negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40436/12]

Fisheries Protection

Richard Boyd Barrett

63. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his plans regarding the lobster stock numbers; his plans to provide for access to stock in a limited and sustainable way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40444/12]

Ministerial Correspondence

Mick Wallace

64. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the submission of the newly formed United Farmers' Association in relation to reform of the common agricultural policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40442/12]

Marine Tourism

Thomas P. Broughan

65. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his plans to bring forward proposals to enhance marine tourism opportunities at the six national fishery harbours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40048/12]

Food Harvest 2020 Strategy

Catherine Murphy

66. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will state, as Chair of the High Level Implementation Group, if it is still his view that Food Harvest 2020 is not a plan or programme as defined in Article 2 of Directive 2001/42/EC and therefore subject to a Strategic Environmental Assessment; if he will explain the reason that it is not considered as such by him in view of the fact that the directive requires an SEA to be carried out on any activity, plan or project that may affect a Natura 2000 site; his views on whether appropriate time was given for the public consultation process of the present environmental analysis process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40441/12]

Milk Quota Purchases

Seamus Kirk

67. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that there will be adequate processing capacity to process the increased milk output expected after the ending of the quota regime in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40439/12]

Genetically Modified Organisms

Catherine Murphy

68. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will state his precise policy in relation to the outdoor field trials of GM potatoes currently underway in County Carlow; the ultimate goal of conducting the research trials; the implications of the trials for Government policy on the use of GM; his view on whether this information is required to be disclosed under the Aarhus Convention which Ireland has recently ratified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40472/12]

EU Funding

Patrick O'Donovan

69. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he has made an application to the European Institute for emergency funding to assist farmers in the aftermath of severe and harsh weather conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40047/12]

World Trade Negotiations

Bernard Durkan

70. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the degree to which progress can be reported in the context of any World Trade Organisation discussions to the effect that Ireland and Europe’s food-producing sectors are given every encouragement to facilitate the effort towards economic recovery; if he is satisfied that sufficient emphasis is placed on the pivotal nature of the sector and its ability to make a major contribution to the economy of this country and Europe in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40387/12]

EU Funding

Brendan Griffin

71. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the emergency assistance available to Ireland from the EU in the event of near disaster scenarios, such as the appallingly wet summer and autumn that has adversely affected farms throughout the country; if he is pursuing all such avenues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40050/12]

Ministerial Meetings

Micheál Martin

72. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if the Irish Farmers' Association has requested to meet with him; if he intends to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30309/12]

Genetically Modified Organisms

Martin Ferris

73. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his views on the growing of experimental GM crops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40384/12]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Bernard Durkan

74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he has received submissions from the Irish Farmers' Association and other farming organisations requesting earlier payment of all farm supports in view of the difficulties faced by the farming community arising from inclement weather conditions; the extent to which he has or expects to be in a position to respond positively; if he is satisfied regarding the availability of sufficient winter feed throughout the winter; if he will consider approaching the banking sector with a view to achieving a more lenient and understanding approach in the current situation in view of both the climatic and economic condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40386/12]