Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Commonage Land Use

Michael Fitzmaurice

235. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person who authorised an official (details supplied) to conduct a review in or around July 2011 onwards, into his own decisions made following his inspection of the Keelderry commonage lands on 24 February 2011; if this is an appropriate way for his senior inspectors to conduct investigations, despite clearly creating a conflict of interest in the decision making process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41452/15]

Commonage Land Use

Michael Fitzmaurice

236. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his inspectors conducted the inspections on Roxborough and Derrybrien West commonages; if these inspections identified flaws in his Department's findings; if his Department is continuing to apply these findings to the Keelderry commonage lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41453/15]

Commonage Land Use

Michael Fitzmaurice

237. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the Agriculture Appeals Office noted the presence of the habitat type raised bog on the Keelderry commonage lands in its report dated 30 April 2014, following its inspection of the commonage on 24 January 2014, given that this habitat does not exist on the commonage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41454/15]

Commonage Land Use

Michael Fitzmaurice

238. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the Agriculture Appeals Office could find no evidence of any handling facilities on the Keelderry commonage lands in its report dated 30 April 2014, following its inspection of the commonage on 24 January 2014, even though his staff drove past the animal-handling facilities during the inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41455/15]

Commonage Land Use

Michael Fitzmaurice

239. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the various inspections into the Keelderry commonage lands, why the inspectors and staff of the agricultural appeals board systematically use the term bog when referring to areas of the site that contain historical turf banks, which are now completely revegetated and grazed by livestock, with specific reference to the statement made by an employee of his Department (details supplied) that there is no issue with a bog that has been grazed, and where it has been cut away, and they have rejuvenated it in terms of growing grass; that there was no difficulty raised during the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine meeting on 28 April 2015 as to the terms and conditions of the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41456/15]

Commonage Land Use

Michael Fitzmaurice

240. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why the Agriculture Appeals Office made no mention of the Natura 2000 designation in its report dated 30 April 2014, following the various inspections into the Keelderry commonage lands, despite the habitats on the commonage being rare and important for a range of threatened and red-listed (annex I) birds and vascular plant and bryophyte species, several of which have an important part of their European Union and worldwide distribution here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41457/15]

Commonage Land Use

Michael Fitzmaurice

241. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the Agriculture Appeals Office's inspection of the Keelderry commonage lands on 24 January 2014 and its report dated 30 April 2014, the way it can say that no evidence of horses, cattle or sheep was found on the date of the visit to the Keelderry commonage lands, without noting that the commonage framework plan and the rural environment protection scheme requirement prohibits livestock grazing on the commonage over the winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41458/15]

Commonage Land Use

Michael Fitzmaurice

242. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the inspection of the Keelderry commonage lands by the Agriculture Appeals Office on 24 January 2014 and its report dated 30 April 2014, if his staff were assessing the level of agricultural activity on the site for the summer of 2010 in winter of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41459/15]

Commonage Land Use

Michael Fitzmaurice

243. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following the inspection of the Keelderry commonage lands by the Agriculture Appeals Office on 24 January 2014 and its report dated 30 April 2014, why his staff did not take the fact that heather is abundant throughout the commonage in different stages of its life cycle, which clearly indicates that livestock grazing is interrupting its life cycle, into account, when assessing agricultural activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41460/15]

Organic Farming Scheme Applications

Michael Fitzmaurice

244. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if organic farmers who were excluded from the electronic payment system in 2015 will be paid before Christmas 2015; if these organic farmers will be added to the electronic payment system from now on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41461/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Éamon Ó Cuív

245. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo under the 2015 areas of natural constraint scheme and the basic payment scheme; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41476/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Pat Breen

246. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of area aid will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41478/15]

Fishing Industry

Charlie McConalogue

247. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has conducted investigations into a super trawler that has been fishing off the coast of County Donegal (details supplied); why the boat is able to fish in Irish waters when Irish fishermen have been excluded from doing so; the steps he proposes to take to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41479/15]

Live Exports

Charlie McConalogue

248. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will liaise with live shellfish exporters to address new restrictions being applied to live exports to the Chinese market (details supplied); if he has contacted the Chinese authorities in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41480/15]

Farm Partnerships

Charlie McConalogue

249. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will follow through on previous commitments to allow young trained farmers who have joint herd numbers with their parents to qualify for the 60% grant rate for erecting agricultural sheds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41504/15]

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Charlie McConalogue

250. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the criteria for qualifying for a 60% grant for building farm sheds to those young trained farmers who began farming after 2007 and, therefore, did not get the opportunity to apply for previous 75% shed grants, but who now will be ineligible for the 60% rate under the proposed criteria for new grants, because they have been farming for more than five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41505/15]

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Dan Neville

251. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick under the disadvantaged areas scheme for 2013. [41508/15]

TAMS Administration

Michael McNamara

252. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 will commence; if farmers in dairying will be prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41519/15]

Farm Household Incomes

Dara Calleary

253. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on restrictions and penalties being placed on farmers by major factories and the potential impact these are having on farm incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41520/15]

Hen Harriers Threat Response Plan

Paul Connaughton

254. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when details will be available to those who wish to plant lands in Hen Harrier designated areas, further to the locally-led hen harrier scheme announced recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41530/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Paul Connaughton

255. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme and the basic payment scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41531/15]

Farm Partnerships

Paul Connaughton

256. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a transfer of entitlements from a person (details supplied) in County Galway to a partnership has been effected; when payment will issue under the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41532/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Pat Breen

257. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41533/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Noel Harrington

258. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of farm payments to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41537/15]

Animal Welfare

Maureen O'Sullivan

259. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to SI No. 128 of 2014, why he is continuing to allow the docking of the tails of hunting dogs, a mutilation considered so unethical that the Veterinary Council of Ireland prohibits vets from performing it. [41548/15]

Commonage Framework Plans

Dara Calleary

260. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why an adviser (details supplied) was prevented from completing a commonage management plan, despite the adviser representing 80% of the shareholders on the commonage. [41561/15]

Legislative Measures

Brendan Griffin

261. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedure regarding microchipping of dogs and dog licences (details supplied); if he will consider additional safeguards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41582/15]

TAMS Payments

Michael Healy-Rae

262. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application under the equipment grant scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41585/15]

Local Authority Functions

Pearse Doherty

263. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 390 of 3 November 2015, whereby the local implementation group of the 2011 Killybegs Jobs Initiative has been reporting to Donegal County Council as part of its work, the nature of this co-operation between the group and the local authority; the role the local authority has played in the initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41594/15]

Basic Payment Scheme Administration

Pat Deering

264. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a number of farmers have not received payments under the basic payment scheme, one month after the first payments were issued; why it has taken so long to complete satellite inspections; why no payments have issued to partnerships; if special arrangements will be made with the Revenue Commissioners for those farmers who have not received their payments, through no fault of their own, and who are now unable to meet their tax liabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41597/15]

GLAS Payments

Bobby Aylward

265. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why the three-month payment for 2015 was cut from phase 1 of the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, specifically in respect of the aspects relating to bird boxes, hedgerows and the planting of apple trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41599/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Charlie McConalogue

266. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application for a person (details supplied) will be processed under the 2013 agri-environment options scheme; when monies due from the 2013 and 2014 schemes, after area E12113232 was increased, will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41610/15]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Payments

Charlie McConalogue

267. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a payment has not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal, under the areas of natural constraint scheme; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41628/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

John O'Mahony

268. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive farm payments; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41631/15]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Tom Fleming

269. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine and expedite a single payment to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41654/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Éamon Ó Cuív

270. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the 2015 areas of natural constraint scheme and the basic payment scheme; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41659/15]

TAMS Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

271. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when decisions will be made on applications from young farmers under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 who applied under the dairy measure, given the urgency for them to be able to invest in dairy equipment before the new season commences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41691/15]

TAMS Applications

Willie Penrose

272. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application for grant aid from a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2, dairy equipment scheme, will be approved given that it was submitted in early October 2015 and given that the person needs approval to ensure the work proceeds, as otherwise it will have to postponed for another year or alternatively the person will risk losing the 40% grant; if all such applications will be approved without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41723/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Brendan Griffin

273. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments under the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41726/15]

Basic Payment Scheme Payments

Jim Daly

274. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the basic payment scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41733/15]

Apiculture Industry

Tom Fleming

275. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will develop native honey production as a food product, given that 90% of honey consumption is imported and given that this product has huge potential for job creation if proper supports and specialist training courses for persons who wish to enter this market are put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41770/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Brendan Griffin

276. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments under the basic payments scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41783/15]

Departmental Bodies Data

Pearse Doherty

277. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of companies in County Donegal which have received funding and grant aid from Bord Iascaigh Mhara, by name and by the total amount received for each year from 2005 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41784/15]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Pearse Doherty

278. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive payment under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41785/15]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Patrick O'Donovan

279. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a person (details supplied) has not received a payment under the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41794/15]

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Patrick O'Donovan

280. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a person (details supplied) has not received a payment under the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41795/15]

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Éamon Ó Cuív

281. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on an appeal in relation to an over-claim that was submitted by this Deputy dated 14 May 2015 on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the details of the decision made; the effects this decision will have on past, current and future payments under the areas of natural constraint scheme and the basic payment scheme; the reason for the delay, if a decision has not been made on the appeal; when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41798/15]

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Áine Collins

282. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when persons (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a farm payment. [41806/15]

Horse Racing Industry

Thomas Pringle

283. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will regulate the farrier trade to ensure that horse owners have access to a register of qualified farriers, and to ensure that the farrier they employ is suitably qualified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41807/15]

Fish Quotas

Thomas Pringle

284. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the north west herring fishery will re-open; if he will ensure that there is a ring-fenced quota for vessels under ten metres in length; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41808/15]