Walsh, JoeThursday, 28 May 1992 |
Dáil Éireann Debate
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Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Bovine Disease Eradication Programme.
Was asked: the present status regarding the bovine disease eradication programme; if ERAD is still in existence; if he will outline the extent to which round testing is taking place; and if he will make a statem...
Was asked: if he will outline his intentions in relation to the TB eradication programme.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Deer Farming.
Was asked: the plans, if any, he has to assist those involved in deer farming and, in particular, if headage payments will be allowed in respect of deer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Deer farming has been one of the enterprises eligible for aid under the alternative enterprises scheme, which forms part of the Operational Programme for Rural Development. The scheme provides for gr...
I take the Deputy's point. Deer farming is becoming an important alternative enterprise. If we could get the processing and marketing elements right it would be a suitable enterprise on many farms wh...
I asked CBF to look at the export potential of venison because the deer herd has been expanded and it would not do deer farming or the people involved in that enterprise any good to end up with no ma...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Common Agricultural Policy Reform.
Was asked: if he will outline the full implications for Irish farmers of the results to date of his Council of Ministers meeting on the review of the Common Agricultural Policy; if he will address in particular ...
Was asked: if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Farm Ministers talks on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will outline the likely impact on consumers.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 50 together. The Common Agricultural Policy Reform negotiations which were concluded at the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 21 May were without doubt the mos...
I have a very fulsome reply because I have a very good story to tell. Nevertheless, I can reduce it somewhat.
I want to make it crystal clear that I am happy with the outcome of the negotiations. I am also very glad that most farm leaders on reflection, mature and otherwise, are extremely happy with the outc...
He is coming round.
The conclusion of the negotiations eliminates the uncertainty surrounding this matter. The alternative to the reform proposals would be severe price cuts without compensation. I have just come from ...
I am happy to confirm that there will be no quota cut and no price cut in milk in the current year. In the following year it is proposed that there will be a 1 per cent quota cut and a 2.5 per cent p...
I am sorry I cannot give any guarantee on the matter because it has not come before the Council of Ministers yet.
Milk prices are very buoyant this year. Milk and dairy farmers will benefit from the lower cereal and concentrated feeding costs. We have succeeded in having the co-responsibility levy dropped. The...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Premium Scheme.
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is still considerable dissatisfaction concerning the operation of the beef premium scheme; if he will set up local task forces to see that all ge...
Was asked: if the final review of rejected applications for beef and cow premiums has been completed; if there are indications as to an increase in the number of approvals; and if he will make a statement on the...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 118 together. I acknowledge that there were problems at an earlier stage with the 1991 special beef premium scheme but new arrangements put in place earlier in...
I repeat that I am making no excuses whatsoever. The scheme has been unsatisfactory and its administration has caused tremendous problems. As 100 per cent of the funding comes from Europe the only pe...
When the recommendations of the task force were presented to me only a few weeks ago I immediately arranged for the simplified forms to be delivered to the printers. They, together with the help sheet...
No, it is not, but only a very small number of problem cases relate to 1991.
I would be very glad to meet the Deputy to discuss those cases because, as I have said, I am offering no excuses for the problems that have arisen.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Export Refund Payments.
Was asked: the total amount due to food exporters in outstanding export refund payments; the average waiting time for such repayments; if his attention has been drawn to the concern expressed by some exporters r...
I am aware of the concern expressed by some exporters about alleged delays in the payment of export refunds. I take this opportunity to assure the House that the necessary steps are taken to ensure t...
That has not been the case. The reasons for the delays, I have been advised, were inaccurately completed documentation by the exporter, incomplete documentation in relation to transhipment requirement...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - BSE Disease.
Was asked: if he has any plans to improve the levels of compensation for the voluntary depopulation of herds which have positive BSE outbreaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: if he has satisfied himself with the diagnostic procedure, including blood testing, carried out by his Department in animals suspected of BSE, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Prices.
Was asked: if he will outline the way in which his Department came to be involved in meetings where anti-consumer fixing of milk prices was discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: if he will confirm that meetings between a number of dairies at which the retail price of milk was fixed were held in his Department in the presence of departmental officials; if he will outline his D...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 24 together.
The retailers took their responsibilities seriously. The fact that they were able to purchase milk cheap from farmers meant that on 1 May 1990 the price of milk to the consumer dropped by 1p per pint...
No. Both the retail price and the producer price of drinking milk used to be subject to State control, but not any longer.
In 1988 the control of retail prices was abolished. In the same year producer price control was effectively abolished when the European Commission decided that such control was contrary to EC law.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Food Exports.
Was asked: if he will outline the extent to which he expects Irish food products to improve market penetration in EC and other countries in the future having regard to world trade trends; and if he will make a s...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Animal By-Product Processing.
Was asked: if he has had discussions with the Minister for the Environment regarding the minimum requirements for animal by-product processing to eliminate air pollution in areas throughout the country; and if h...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Soil Erosion.
Was asked: if he will outline the action he proposes to take to deal with the problem of soil erosion on hills because of over-intensive stocking of sheep; and if he will give details of compensation that will b...
Was asked: if he will outline the action he proposes to take to deal with the problem of soil erosion on hills because of over-intensive stocking of sheep; and if he will give details of compensation that will b...
Was asked: if he will outline the action he proposes to take to deal with the problem of soil erosion on hills because of over-intensive stocking of sheep; and if he will give details of compensation that will b...
Was asked: if he will outline the action he proposes to take to deal with the problem of soil erosion on hills because of over-intensive stocking of sheep; and if he will give details of compensation that will b...
Was asked: if he will outline the action he proposes to take to deal with the problem of soil erosion on hills because of over-intensive stocking of sheep; and if he will give details of compensation that will b...
Was asked: if he will outline the action he proposes to take to deal with the problem of soil erosion on hills because of over-intensive stocking of sheep; and if he will give details of compensation that will b...
Was asked: if he will outline the action he proposes to take to deal with the problem of soil erosion on hills because of over-intensive stocking of sheep; and if he will give details of compensation that will b...
Was asked: if he will outline the action he proposes to take to deal with the problem of soil erosion on hills because of over intensive stocking of sheep; and if he will give details of compensation that will b...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 17, 26, 27, 39, 40, 45 and 123 together. Certain EC initiatives in the environmental area are now developing which should be of assistance in tackling problems ari...
In the ESAs grant-aid is available where a reduction in the stocking rate takes place. I should like to see this scheme implemented in a greater number of areas. A trial is currently being conducted...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Quota Leasing Arrangements.
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the removal of the clawback clause from milk quota leasing arrangements is making it impossible for small and medium sized dairy farmers to lease extra...
Following my decision to remove the milk quota clawback arrangements, I immediately announced details of the temporary leasing scheme which has now been put in place. I have increased the amount of q...
First, I would like to give the reason for my decision. The European Commission expressed their intention to delete the clawback because the proposal was based on legal advice. Because of this and be...
The clawback was deleted on legal advice. I immediately announced details of the temporary leasing scheme, which should make more milk available. I agree with the Deputy that it is extremely diffic...
That issue was not part of the proposal adopted. The proposal adopted was for general quotas in legitimate cases of one person or within a family. I am sure many of the Deputies here, including myse...
It was made exclusively because of legal implications.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Illtreatment of Irish Greyhounds.
Was asked: if he has fully satisfied himself with the method and standard of transfer of greyhounds to Spain from Ireland; if he will give details of any follow up veterinary advice; and if he will make a statem...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 124 together. Transporters of animals, including greyhounds, are required under the Transit of Animals (General) Order, 1973, to ensure that the welfare of anim...
Yes, I would like to give Deputy Deasy that undertaking. I am aware of his interest in the greyhound industry. It seems that greyhounds exported to Spain, after long and distressing journeys, were k...
The information I have is that the World Greyhound Racing Federation concluded that greyhounds for export to Spain, under the aegis of Bord na nCon, would have to be certified, checked and monitored b...
I have no knowledge of the allegation which has been made. However, we asked the World Greyhound Federation, when these reports came to our attention, to examine and report on the conditions which obt...
The position is that we are mindful of the possibility of cruelty and——
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Headage Payments.
Was asked: when headage payments will be made to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in making these payments in view of the hardship being caused; and if he will make a statement on the matter...
This applicant has already been paid his grants under the 1991 beef cow and equines headage and suckler cow premium schemes. He has been deemed ineligible for grants under the 1991 special beef premi...
In this case the applicant was deemed ineligible for grants under the 1991 special beef premium scheme as two of the 33 animals applied for had already received the premium.
In general what I have asked the Department to do in cases of accidental or innocent error is to pay people. In this case there was no question but that the two animals concerned had already had the ...
There is a relatively small number of cases to be reviewed individually so that people would not be deprived of quota particularly now that there is a higher rate of grant. There is a responsibility ...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Recoursing of Hares.
Was asked: whether the Irish Coursing Club are obliged to release hares after a coursing meeting; and if he will make a statement on the situation relating to the recoursing of hares other than on the same day.
There is no legal requirement on a coursing club to release hares at the end of a coursing meeting. However, a standing directive from the Irish Coursing Club to all their constituent clubs requires t...
My information is that these regulations are being observed.
It is a separate question. The Wildlife Act is administered by the Office of Public Works. I do not have a detailed reply to the Deputy's question but I can certainly ask my colleague in the Office o...
The legal position regarding the Irish Coursing Club controls is governed by section 26 (2) of the Greyhound Industry Act, which recognises the Irish Coursing Club as being subject to the general cont...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - State Agency Appointments.
Was asked: the persons he or his predecessor has appointed to boards of State agencies since the terms of the review of the Joint Programme for Government was agreed on 18 October 1991; if he will outline, in re...
Since October 1991, when the terms of the review of the Joint Programme for Government were agreed, the following appointments have been made to the boards of two of the State bodies under the aegis o...
Board members signed an undertaking that should any conflict of interests arise in the course of their duties they would advise the board itself and they have a responsibility to do that. We are part...
I certainly welcome the professional people who have agreed to serve on boards.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Development Policy.
Was asked: when it is intended to establish the national consultative council to advise on the progress and implementation of rural development policy which was promised in the Review of the Programme for Govern...
Was asked: whether the Government will establish a national consultative council to advise on the progress and implementation of rural development policy.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 64 together. I expect to be able to establish the National Consultative Committee on Rural Development shortly. The committee will be part of the new national s...
I am not aware of such a meeting. It may very well have taken place, but I certainly was not at it. I am a great supporter of the Leader programme, by which local communities can put forward project...
I have spoken to the European Commission, and specifically the Commissioner himself, who is very keen on this programme. I am hopeful that additional funds will be made available. Sixteen or 17 appl...
I am not familiar with the geographic location of successful applications, other than I am glad that west Cork was one area so designated.
I agree that there has been a delay in the start up of the projects. I suppose that is because the scheme is completely new. The majority of the 16 successful Leader applications have been legally s...
I shall investigate that and communicate with Deputy Higgins.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Mulder Quotas.
Was asked: if he will outline the implications of the recent European Courts of Justice decision on Mulder quota applicants; if he will give details of the number of Irish beneficiaries and the amounts involved;...
The decision of the European Court in the case for compensation which was brought by J. M. Mulder and others was handed down on 19 May 1992. This judgment, which refers specifically to these five prod...
I do not have that information in my brief but I shall seek it out and communicate directly with Deputy Ferris.
Unfortunately, I do not. I shall communicate with the Deputy.
I should like the matter to be tidied up as quickly as possible because the present position does not serve any useful purpose.
The European Court judgment found against the Commission decision and Mulder producers were subsequently awarded additional quota. In Ireland's case generally, 90 per cent of the original production,...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - BSE Development.
Was asked: if he will give details of any information available to his Department regarding the suggestion that insecticides used to kill off warble fly in cattle may play a role in the development of BSE; and i...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Teagasc Funding.
Was asked: if he will outline his plans for the proper funding of Teagasc to allow it to carry out its functions as set down in legislation.
Teagasc are in receipt of funding from a variety of sources including Exchequer and EC contributions. The Exchequer and EC amounts were increased from £36.5 million in 1990 to £41.5 million in 1991 an...
A breakdown of the funding shows that the Exchequer contributed £33.5 million, the EC contributed £9 million and that £14 million came from contract fees, advisory charges, etc.
Farmers were not particularly involved. The food industry and co-operatives paid Dunsany and Moorepark under contract for much of the work carried out for them. All this came to a total of £58.8 mil...
I am satisfied that Teagasc provide a very professional service to farmers. I was concerned about small farmers who could not avail of the services because of the cost involved and additional finance...
Written Answers. - GATT Negotiations.
Was asked: if he will guarantee that the compensatory measures contained in the Common Agricultural Policy reform package will be retained in full during the forthcoming GATT negotiations; and if he will make a ...
Was asked: the current position in relation to the agricultural chapter in the GATT negotiations; and if he will outline Ireland's latest proposals on same.
Was asked: the impact the recently concluded Common Agricultural Policy review will have on the GATT negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5, 60 and 119 together.
Written Answers. - Common Agricultural Policy Review.
Was asked: if he will quantify the long term effects of the recently announced Common Agricultural Policy review with particular reference to on and off farm employment; and if he will make a statement on the ma...
At this stage it is not possible to quantify the long term effects of the Common Agricultural Policy reform measures. However, initial estimates by my Department indicate that in the first full post ...
Written Answers. - Leader Programme.
Was asked: if, based on the original intention that the EC Leader Programme would seek to stimulate enterprise by promoting alternative projects in rural areas and that this programme was initially intended to e...
Was asked: if, based on the original intention that the EC Leader Programme would seek to stimulate enterprise by promoting alternative projects in rural areas, and that this programme was initially intended to ...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 31 together.
Written Answers. - Subsidy Claims Review.
Was asked: if, in view of the limited number of unsuccessful applicants, he will further review cases where farmers have been disqualified over technical errors in filling out application forms for subsidy claim...
The person named has been deemed ineligible for grants under the 1991 special beef premium scheme as four of the 20 animals on which he applied for premium had already received payment in 1990. Under ...
Written Answers. - Farming Entrants.
Was asked: if he is concerned at the drop in the level of new entrants to farming over the past number of years; his views on whether the inadequate level of farm installation aid and the continuing imposition o...
Since the introduction of the scheme of installation aid for young Farmers in 1986 some 2,044 applicants have received premia totalling £11.5 million. Following negotiations with the EC the conditions...
Written Answers. - Common Agricultural Policy Reforms.
Was asked: his views on whether (a) the Common Agricultural Policy Reforms agreed to by him on behalf of this country means that the contribution of agriculture to the overall growth in GDP in the Irish economy ...
Agriculture has contributed between 8.4 per cent and 11.9 per cent to overall gross domestic product over the last 10 years. Recent preliminary calculations carried out by my Department indicate tha...
Written Answers. - Agri-Tourism Scheme.
Was asked: if he will outline his proposals for the expansion of the agri-tourism scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The agri-tourism scheme forms part of the Operational Programme for Rural Development which is part funded by the EC Structural Funds. Due to the exceptionally high demand under the scheme, funds mad...
Written Answers. - Sale of Teagasc Land.
Was asked: if, in respect of the recent sale of 53 acres of Teagasc land at Kinsealy, County Dublin, the board of Teagasc received a valuation of the land from their estate agent prior to putting it on the marke...
Was asked: if, in view of the disparity that exists in the sale prices of the two parcels of Teagasc land at Kinsealy, County Dublin he has satisfied himself that both transactions showed an adequate return to t...
Was asked: the reason there was no reserve price on the recent sale of 53 acres of Teagasc land at Kinsealy, County Dublin.
Was asked: if he will justify his decision to sanction the disposal by Teagasc of 53 acres of land at Kinsealy, County Dublin for £227,500, given that 6.5 acres of adjoining land was disposed of for £100,000 in ...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 41, 44 and 54 together. The sale of the two lots of agriculturally zoned land was by public tender following wide public advertisement. As the conditions of tende...
Written Answers. - Cheese Production.
Was asked: if, in relation to the EC regulations on hygiene and sterilisation during cheese production, he intends to take measures to protect the autonomy of private traditional farmhouse cheese units who have ...
The proposed EC Council Directive setting out the rules for the hygienic production of milk and dairy products is still under consideration, so at this stage it is not possible to make definite statem...
Written Answers. - Depopulation of Rural Ireland.
Was asked: if he will give details of the total number of people leaving the land each year since 1987; and if he will outline the policy changes which he will make to redress the depopulation of rural Ireland; ...
The following figures from the Labour Force Survey indicate the numbers employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing: 1987, 164,000; 1988, 166,000; 1989, 163,000; 1990, 167,000; 1991, 155,000.
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.
Was asked: whether farmers who are situated in the areas throughout the country who were successful under the extension of the disadvantaged areas scheme last year will qualify for cattle headage payments under ...
Farmers whose holdings are situated in the areas throughout the country that were successful under the extension of the disadvantaged areas scheme last year will qualify for cattle headage payments un...
Written Answers. - Disease Control.
Was asked: if he will outline his plans to control diseases such as rabies, foot and mouth disease and others when the common frontiers policy of the EC comes into force; and if he will make a statement on the m...
The advent of the internal market will require a reorganisation of the veterinary controls operated by my Department and staff are currently engaged in preparing for the new system, the requirements o...
Written Answers. - Local Authority Finances.
Was asked: if, in relation to S.I. No. 89 of 1992, which comes into effect on 1 June 1992, and places responsibilities on local authorities, he has had discussions with the Minister for the Environment about the...
The Regulations under the Abattoirs Act, 1988 which come into force on 1 June introduce full ante and postmortem examination and stamping of meat for the domestic market and the payment of veterinary ...
Written Answers. - Non-Statutory Post-Mortems.
Was asked: whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that all non-statutory post-mortems have now ceased at the Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory; and if he will outline the steps he is taking to resolv...
I am aware that due to action taken by the Veterinary Officers Association, certain difficulties did arise in relation to the carrying out of non-statutory post-mortems, at the Cork Regional Veterinar...
Written Answers. - Reclassification of South Kerry Areas.
Was asked: if he will arrange with the appeals tribunal to give priority to the survey of the remaining district electoral divisions in the constituency of south Kerry with a view to having them re-classified as...
The listing and processing of reclassification appeals is nearing completion and the appeals panel will shortly be reviewing each area under appeal to assess the situation. As the Deputy will appreci...
Written Answers. - Community Preferences.
Was asked: the action he will take in the EC to protect the principle of community preference, particularly in relation to imported low price cereal substitutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Community preference is one of the basic principles upon which the market organisation mechanisms of the Common Agricultural Policy is founded. It protects European farmers against low-price imports a...
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Was asked: whether a company (details supplied) received any grants from his Department or through FEOGA; if so, if he will outline the value of any such money paid; if he has satisfied himself that value for mo...
The company in question received no grant aid from my Department towards the cost of its new pig slaughtering and processing plant or for any other purposes. The EC Commission awarded FEOGA grant aid...
Written Answers. - Common Agricultural Programme Reform.
Was asked: if he will outline the net gain under the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy package agreed to by him on behalf of Ireland to that category of farmer, mostly in the western region, whose average...
As yet, it is not possible to quantify what the benefit of the Common Agricultural Policy reform proposals will be to farmers in particular farm size categories. Clearly, this will depend on the type ...
Written Answers. - Fencing of Grazing Lands.
Was asked: if he has had discussions with the Minister for Energy concerning the cost implications of requiring the fencing of mountain grazing lands from forest lands; and if he will make a statement on the mat...
Provision of adequate fencing on land adjacent to afforested land to prevent trespass of animals is strictly a matter for the owners of such land. I have, therefore, not discussed the matter with the...
Written Answers. - Use of Plastic in Horticulture.
Was asked: if he will grant-aid the use of plastic on a commercial scale for the propagation of fruit and vegetables.
Grant-aid is available for plastic clad structures for use in horticultural production, on a commercial scale, under the farm improvement programme. The rate of grant is 35 per cent of approved cost ...
Written Answers. - Cost of Bovine TB Testing.
Was asked: the estimated total cost of the 1992 round of tuberculosis testing; the percentage of these costs which are being borne (a) by his Department and (b) the farmer; and if he will make a statement on the...
It is estimated that the total cost of the 1992 programme of bovine tuberculosis testing, including administration costs, together with expenditure on brucellosis eradication, will amount to £60.3 mil...
Written Answers. - Subdivision of Commonages.
Was asked: if he will outline the present position in regard to the subdivision of commonages throughout the country following the High Court decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The recent ruling of the High Court in connection with the division of the commonage at Glennanmadoo and Bunnahowna has had implications with regard to planning and title requirements. The Land Commis...
Written Answers. - Bonding Scheme for Meat Trade.
Was asked: if he intends to introduce a bonding scheme for firms involved in the livestock and meat trade to safeguard producers and suppliers in areas where companies collapse; and if he will make a statement o...
At the outset of the UMP receivership, I asked my Department to examine the implications of introducing arrangements to protect suppliers of livestock against financial loss in the event of the commer...
Written Answers. - Food Firms Foreign Investments.
Was asked: if he is concerned about the level of investment abroad by Irish food firms; if his attention has been drawn to the total sum of money and jobs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have no function in relation to specific investment decisions made by private companies. Irish food companies have contributed strongly to the growth of the domestic economy over the last number of ...
Written Answers. - Milk Quota Applications.
Was asked: if he has received an application for an additional milk quota by a person (details supplied) in County Laois; if he will outline the present position regarding this application; and if any additional...
An application by the producer concerned for additional milk quota has been considered and both he and his cooperative have been notified of the successful outcome in this case.
Written Answers. - State Agencies Disposal of Properties.
Was asked: if he will outline the number of properties disposed of by ACOT, An Foras Talúntais and Teagasc since 1985 for which approval was required and granted by him; and if, in each case, he will give detail...
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. It is at present being compiled and I will arrange to have it forwarded directly to him as soon as possible.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Was asked: when beef and cow premiums will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department is unable to trace any 1991 cattle schemes applications from the person named.
Was asked: when an installation grant for young farmers will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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