Written Answers Nos 1-66
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]
View answerInshore fisheries form an important part of our overall fishing sector and I am well aware of the wide range of issues which people who are making their living from this type of fishing face on a regular basis. Most of our inshore fisheries are operated by local people who are an integral part of our rural and coastal communities. This type of fishing is an important source of income for many who live around the Irish coastline as it not only provides direct employment but also supplies very important produce to a range of outlets, from retail and restaurants to seafood processing units.
I am not aware of having received a request for a meeting from Iascairi Intire na hEireann but I know that members of this group have previously met with Bord Iascaigh Mhara, who are responsible for development of the seafishing sector. BIM staff work closely with all players in the sector to promote the development of the fishing and seafood industries. If the group wish to have further discussions to explore areas of interest or concern with BIM a further meeting can be arranged. Officials from my Department would also be available to meet with a delegation from Iascairi Intire na hEireann if there are issues that require further discussion.
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]
View answerExemption from income tax on the net rental profits arising from the lease of farmland has been available since January 1996 in certain circumstances and with defined limits. The eligibility and reliefs associated with it have been adjusted in a number of budgets since. At present, farmers must be a minimum of 40 years of age or over to be eligible for the relief. The following income exemption rates also apply. €12,000 for leases of 5 – 7 years, €15,000 for leases of 7 – 10 years, and €20,000 for leases of 10 years or more.
The objective of this measure is to provide the leasee with more security of tenure and thereby promote the proper maintenance and development of the land. Most recent figures available from Revenue are for 2009 when there were 2,747 claimants of this relief.
The Department recognises that conacre or short term rental arrangements are not a desirable basis upon which medium or long term farm business planning can be founded upon. Many commercial full time farmers require leased land to achieve the necessary scale and efficiency as purchased land is scarce and expensive. Long term leasing gives such farmers more security of tenure, allowing them to make better longer term investment and planning decisions. The continued availability of this measure is a key element of the Department’s policy around addressing the land access and mobility issues faced by farmers and I would urge both farmers and landowners who are engaged in conacre rental arrangements to carefully consider the mutual benefits of switching to a longer term leasing agreement.
The issue of possible tax incentives in Budget 2013 is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Finance. The taxation measures announced in Budget 2012 reflected the Government’s commitment to the agri-food industry and in particular to the expansion planned in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy, and I will be engaging with the Minister for Finance again before the introduction of Budget 2013 in relation to possible taxation measures linked to policy priorities in my Department.
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]
View answerI would like, first of all, to acknowledge the importance of the agri-environment schemes in environmental terms and also from the point of view of the contribution which they make to farm incomes. These schemes support farmers who choose to deliver environmental goods for the benefit of society as a whole. The fact that I made provision of €243m in the 2012 Vote for my Department for REPS and AEOS, despite a very difficult budgetary situation, demonstrates the strength of both my own and the Government’s commitment to environmentally-friendly farming practices. I believe that the schemes enhance the farmer’s role as custodian of our countryside while allowing productive farming to continue and are an essential part of our response to the significant environmental challenges of the 21st century.
REPS and AEOS are area based schemes which are co-funded by the EU under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 and EU Regulations governing the Schemes must be strictly adhered to. These require that a full and comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, as well as field inspections, must be completed before payment issue. The Commission have made it clear, in the course of audits, that all checks must be passed and eligibility conditions met. This means that a farmer’s application must be fully in order, all outstanding documentation provided and queries resolved before payment can be released to him or her. Given these requirements, my officials take considerable care in validating payments while also ensuring that farmers receive their payments as soon as possible.
In overall terms, the situation is that payments are more advanced at this stage than in previous years and I am satisfied that payments are issuing on schedule. I am confident, also, that the full Vote provision of €243m will be spent this year and that there will be no underspend.
Insofar as REPS is concerned, practically all of the remaining 30,000 participants have received their 2011 payment and the last remaining query cases are being dealt with as queries are resolved. Arrangements to commence payments in respect of 2012 are ongoing and I expect that I will be in a position to commence payments earlier than last year and in higher numbers. There are about 14,500 active participants in AEOS, 8,200 in AEOS I and 6,300 in AEOS 2. Practically all of the early backlogs associated with these payments are now resolved. Almost all AEOS I 2010 payments have issued, and nearly 7,000 cases are finalised for 2011. The main issue holding up Year 2 payments are queries associated with capital investment claims and receipts. The Department has contacted all of the farmers where queries have arisen and is dealing with the responses received. Nearly 4,000 AEOS II participants have received their 2011 payment and payments continue to issue as the validation process is finalised. I expect to commence AEOS payments in respect of later in the year and to make a substantial number of payments before year end.
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]
View answerThe Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the fisheries policy of the European Union which was first put in place in 1983 and has been subject to reviews every 10 years. The Commission proposals involve a basic policy regulation, a proposal on the Common organisation of the market (CMO) and a proposal on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). All the proposals are subject to negotiation and adoption through the co-decision process involving both the EU Fisheries Council and the EU Parliament. The negotiations between the Council, the Parliament and the Commission on agreeing a new basic Regulation are expected to take place during the first half of 2013, during the Irish Presidency.
At the June 2012 Fisheries Council the Danish Presidency secured a Council agreement on General Approach on the basic Regulation and on the Common organisation of the market (CMO). The EU Parliament is also working to deliver its position on each of these proposals at present. I will prioritise securing final agreement between the EU Fisheries Council and the Parliament on all these proposals during the Irish Presidency during the first half of 2013.
Ireland’s overarching goal for the new CFP is for a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to deliver a sustainable and eco centred fisheries landscape for future generations.
Key issue and developments arising from the General approach adopted in June include:
- The removal from the Commissions original proposal of the mandatory nature of the proposed system of Transferrable Fishing Concessions(TFCs) which I vehemently opposed since the outset and which had the potential to concentrate quotas in the hands of a few powerful European fishing companies. The Commission proposal provides for the continuation of the Hague Preferences system under which Ireland gets an enhanced share of certain key stocks on which we are
traditionally dependant. While I would prefer their permanent incorporation in Ireland’s percentage share, I have not received any support for this arrangement.
- A new compromise approach setting down a definitive timetable for the elimination of discards on a phased basis was agreed at Council in June. Plans will be designed to bring the fish stocks above levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yields (MSY) by 2015, where possible and for all stocks by 2020. Irelands position on regionalisation is to a large degree mirrored by the conclusions of the Common approach where Member States involved in a region would work together, in consultation with the EU Advisory Councils for the region and formulate general recommendations for fisheries conservation and management in the region.
- Future Funding - the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will be structured around 4 pillars, a) Smart, Green Fisheries, b) Smart, Green Aquaculture, c) Sustainable and Inclusive Territorial Development and d) Integrated Maritime Policy. I am seeking the continuation of aid for seafood processing and aquaculture, as well as for fleet modernisation and restructuring.
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]
View answerSince their publication, the EU Commission’s proposals for reform of the CAP have undergone detailed examination at Council Working Groups, the Special Committee on Agriculture and the Council of Agriculture Ministers. At the June Agriculture Council, the Danish Presidency presented a Progress Report outlining the current status of the negotiations. The Cyprus Presidency has continued the negotiating process, with debates at the Agriculture Council as recently as yesterday (24 September) on rural development and market support issues. The proposals are also being discussed in the European Parliament. Earlier in the summer, draft reports from EP rapporteurs on each of the Commission’s proposals were published, and about 8,000 amendments proposed by MEPs are currently being processed within the Parliament. A number of these elements will be the subject of substantial discussion and amendment over the coming months, and there will be ongoing contact at informal level between the Presidency, Commission and Council as they are developing their positions.
Negotiations on the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the EU budget for the period 2014 to 2020 are being progressed in parallel, primarily through the General Affairs Council, although the final decisions will be taken by the European Council. Many of the CAP issues, including the key issue of distribution of funds between Member States, are being discussed in the MFF negotiations and will ultimately be agreed as part of these negotiations.
My key concerns as regards the reform proposals arise in four areas. These are the overall CAP funding, the method for distributing CAP funds between Member States, the method for distributing direct payment funds within Member States and the overarching need for simplification in the reformed CAP.
On the budget, the funding proposals in the MFF maintain CAP spending at current levels in nominal terms post-2013. The agriculture heading is the one showing the greatest restraint, and in my view the amount proposed by the Commission is the minimum required. However, there are continuing, and intense, pressures for reductions in the proposed overall EU budget, with obvious implications for proposed CAP allocations. The Irish Government will continue to resist any pressure for reductions in the CAP budget.
As to the allocation of CAP funds between Member States, the current Commission proposals for Direct Payments in Pillar 1 take a pragmatic approach to redistribution and are broadly satisfactory, albeit with some loss to Ireland (estimated at around 1.4%). The Commission has yet to table a specific proposal for allocation of pillar 2 (rural development) funds. I have concerns that the basis on which they propose to do so could reduce our allocation. However I am vigorously defending our Pillar 2 funds, and will continue to do so.
As to the distribution of direct payments within Member States, the Commission proposal is to gradually move towards a system of uniform per hectare payments, or flat rates, by 2019, in each Member State or region of a Member State. Many Member States already have such flat rates or are evolving towards them. I recognise that we cannot continue to base our payments on outdated historic production references. Nevertheless, I have major difficulties with the pace and extent of convergence in the Commission’s proposal.
Under a national flat rate, although the overall allocation to Ireland would not change, around 76,000 Irish farmers would gain an average of 86% on their current payments, while around 57,000 would lose an average of 33%. These are average percentages, and some of the gains and losses would be far larger than this. For example, in the extreme case of those on very high payments of over €1000 per hectare, the loss would be well over 70%. In general, the losses would be incurred by more productive farmers. This would have undesirable consequences at a time when Ireland is trying to encourage sustainable intensification in the agri-food sector, as we strive to achieve the objectives in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy.
I have accordingly been pressing for the maximum possible flexibility to be given to Member States to design payment models that suit their own farming conditions. I also want a more gradual, back-loaded transition process. The ‘approximation’ approach, by which all payments could gradually move towards, but not fully to, the average, is one alternative that I believe should be considered in this regard. The Commission’s “pragmatic” proposal for redistribution between Member States is, in effect, an approximation approach and provides a useful precedent. Modelling in my Department suggests that the application of this system to the distribution of funds between farmers in Ireland would lead to much smaller gains and losses to individual farmers than a flat rate system. However the precise level of transfers depends on the details of the methodology used.
I have been very active in seeking allies for this position and I have been making significant progress, particularly with a group of Member States with somewhat similar concerns. However, it should also be understood that a majority of Member States have no difficulty with the idea of flat rate payments, although they have concerns about other aspects of the proposals.
The negotiation process on CAP is a complex and difficult one, but all of my efforts are focused on achieving the best possible outcome for Ireland. These efforts will be continued over the coming months as I continue to build close working relationships and potential alliances with the European Parliament and with Member States. I will also continue to press the Irish position with Commissioner Ciolos - whom I met as recently as last Friday in Dublin - ahead of a determined attempt to reach an agreement during our Presidency in 2013.
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]
View answerAnalysis of lobster stocks over recent years has shown that lobster stocks are over exploited in many areas around the coast. The catch per pot haul has declined in those areas and while the stock does not appear to be in imminent danger, the reduction in catch rates has resulted in fishermen using more and more pots to maintain their earnings.
Present measures to protect the lobster stock include Council Regulation (EC) No. 850/98, which prescribes a minimum landing size of 85mm for lobster and the Lobster Conservation of Stocks Regulations 2006, which prohibit the catching, landing or sale of v-notched lobsters. The lobster v-notching and live return scheme, operated by BIM and co-funded by the European Fisheries Fund, is a vital national tool in ensuring that many female lobsters caught are v-notched by BIM staff and returned alive to the sea to spawn and contribute to the reproduction of the stock over many years.
My policy for all sea-fisheries is to promote sustainable fishing, good environmental practice and compliance with law. In the case of inshore fisheries, in light of the judgement of the European Court of Justice against Ireland concerning non-compliance with the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, the overriding priority continues to be to bring all inshore fisheries and aquaculture in Natura 2000 sites into full compliance with the EU Birds & Habitats Directives.
The Habitats Directive requires that an appropriate assessment consider the potential impact of the proposed activity on the conservation objectives for each Natura 2000 site affected. Given the national nature of the lobster fishery, almost all of the approximately 90 Natura sites around our coast could be affected. In addition, the Directive requires that the potential impacts on the habitat of a proposed activity be considered in combination with the potential impacts of all other activities or proposed activities in each Natura site, including other fisheries, aquaculture and non-fishing activities.
The resource intensive Natura 2000 compliance project will ultimately lead to appropriate assessment of all of our Natura sites. That multi annual, multi-agency project is continuing to address appropriate assessment of each of our Natura sites in turn. A substantial body of scientific data has been generated over the course of recent years and is now near completion. The project is currently focussed on roll-out of appropriate assessments. Three comprehensive appropriate assessments under the Habitats Directive are already completed, in respect of Castlemaine Harbour County Kerry, Dundalk Bay Co. Louth and Roaring Water Bay Co Cork. Work is at an advanced stage in respect of Lough Swilly Co Donegal and Clew Bay Co Mayo, among others.
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]
View answer76. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the proposals for reform of the single farm payment put forward by the newly formed United Farmers Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40443/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 76 together.
I received the submission from the United Farmers Association in relation to the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and reform of the Single Farm Payment late last week. I very much welcome the submission. The current reform of the CAP will set the context and policy framework for the future development of the agricultural sector in Ireland and I am anxious to hear from all stakeholders concerning their proposals for the direction of these reforms.
I am still examining the detailed points made in the submission but I would be happy to provide some preliminary comments at this stage.
I fully accept and can endorse many of the points made in the submission concerning the need for equity, fairness and balance in reform of the CAP. I agree with the concept of full decoupling and the importance of taking into account social and environmental considerations in addition to economic criteria.
My priorities in the negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy arise in four key areas. These are the overall level of CAP funding under the EU budget, the method adopted for the distribution of CAP funds between Member States, the method for distributing direct payment funds within Member States, and the overarching need for simplification in the reformed CAP.
In that respect I do have some difficulty with some of the points made in the UFA submission, notably the suggestion to set payments at fixed rate per hectare. I recognise that we cannot continue to base our payments on outdated historic production references. Nevertheless, I have major difficulties with the concept of flat rates of payment per hectare.
Under a national flat rate, although the overall allocation to Ireland would not change, around 76,000 Irish farmers would gain an average of 86% on their current payments, while around 57,000 would lose an average of 33%. These are average percentages, and some of the gains and losses would be far larger than this. For example, in the extreme case of those on very high payments of over €1000 per hectare, the loss would be well over 70%. In general, the losses would be incurred by more productive farmers. This would have undesirable consequences at a time when Ireland is trying to encourage sustainable intensification in the agri-food sector, as we strive to achieve the objectives in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy.
I have accordingly been pressing for the maximum possible flexibility to be given to Member States to design payment models that suit their own farming conditions. The ‘approximation’ approach, by which all payments could gradually move towards, but not fully to, the average, is one alternative that I believe should be considered in this regard. The Commission’s “pragmatic” proposal for redistribution between Member States is, in effect, an approximation approach and provides a useful precedent. Modelling in my Department suggests that the application of this system to the distribution of funds between farmers in Ireland would lead to much smaller gains and losses to individual farmers than under a flat rate system. However, the precise level of transfers depends on the details of the methodology used.
The negotiation process on CAP is a complex and difficult one, but all of my efforts are focused on achieving the best possible outcome for Ireland. These efforts will be continued over the coming months as I continue to build close working relationships and potential alliances with the European Parliament and with Member States. I will also continue to press the Irish position with Commissioner Ciolos - whom I met as recently as last Friday in Dublin - ahead of a determined attempt to reach an agreement during the Irish Presidency of the European Union in 2013.
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]
View answerMy Department has responsibility for the management and development of the six Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Killybegs, Castletownbere, Dunmore East, Howth, An Daingean and Ros An Mhíl. Located strategically around the coast of Ireland, each of the Fishery Harbour Centres provides a dedicated and essential service for our fishing fleet and its fishermen.
The Fishery Harbour Centres are unique in that they have been set up to provide a dedicated service to the Fishing Industry. It is policy at each Fishery Harbour Centre that priority is always given to the needs of the fishermen and indeed the significant capital investment at the Fishery Harbour Centres has reflected this.
However, in addition to serving the Fishing Industry, they also play an important role in the Irish tourist and marine leisure industry and also provide facilities for the support of passenger and cargo ferries to the islands. There are comprehensive marine leisure facilities at Howth, Dingle and Ros An Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centres which work well alongside the needs of the fishing industry.
My Department will continue to take every opportunity to facilitate and promote marine tourism at the Fishery Harbour Centres subject of course to its compatibility with the needs of fishermen and budgetary constraints.
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]
View answerSince becoming Minister, and as Chair of the High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC) for Food Harvest 2020, I have whole-heartedly embraced the Food Harvest 2020 (FH2020) strategy and I am totally committed to ensuring its success. Coordination of the State contribution to FH 2020 is being overseen by this Committee which includes representatives from Bord Bia, Teagasc, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Enterprise Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department. The HLIC also engages regularly with various private sector groups with a key role in FH2020. Implementation of many of the key measures needed to achieve the growth figures set out in the report is a matter for private sector actors including industry and individual farmers.
As a high level strategic vision, the Food Harvest 2020 report does not contain implementation plans related to specific sites, including Natura 2000 sites. However, my Department and the HLIC are acutely aware of the need to ensure that appropriate assessment and strategic environmental analysis are considered, in line with the relevant EU Directives, and carried out where required, in the course of achieving the targets set out in the report.
The HLIC committee recognised that the broad strategic targets in the report could be achieved in a variety of ways and determined that an independent environmental analysis should be commissioned of various possible scenarios through which the targets set out in the report could be achieved. The results of this analysis will inform the implementation of measures by all relevant actors, including those in the private sector. An independent team of experienced consultants with expertise in both agriculture and environmental assessment has been procured by my Department to carry out this work. The team has presented a detailed interim report to the HLIC and is due to present its final report by the end of October.
The analysis is in line with the strategic environmental assessment process and includes the likely impacts of achieving the targets, through a number of scenarios, including; biodiversity, flora/fauna, water, including groundwater quality, soil, air quality, landscape and climatic factors including impacts on greenhouse gas emission levels. My Department is considering if the analysis should include an appropriate assessment under the Habitats Directive, and in this regard we are engaged in discussions with the European Commission.
As part of the analysis process my Department has facilitated a public consultation, with details of the consultation posted on my Department’s website on 11 May 2012 and advertised in the Irish Independent on 16 May 2012 with a closing date of 28 June 2012 so that submissions could inform the work of the consultants in preparation of the interim report. Following representations from a number of interested parties, my Department extended the closing date to 6 July 2012, representing an eight week consultation period. Any further submissions received after the deadline, are also being forwarded to the consultants to inform their final report.
