Written Answers Nos. 206-215
206. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Bills he will reinitiate relevant to his Department from the previous Dáil; the Bills he will introduce in the coming sessions; when he will introduce each Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15204/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no Bills for re-initiation. In the coming sessions my Department plans to introduce the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction (Amendment) Bill 2016 and the Greyhound Industry Bill.
207. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department performed an analysis of the economic impact on the agricultural sector here of a potential Brexit and, if so, to provide the details and data from this analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15249/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department put in place measures to deal with the impact on the agricultural sector of a potential Brexit and, if so, his Department’s strategy for protecting farmers and the agricultural sector if the United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15250/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
The UK is by far our largest single trading partner. According to CSO figures, in 2015 we exported almost €5.1 billion worth of agricultural products, and imports from the UK were worth €3.8 billion. The prospect of a UK vote to leave the EU therefore has serious implications for the agri-food sector.
This is borne out in the reports that have been produced in recent months on the potential impact of a UK exit on Ireland. An ESRI report last year estimated that the potential reduction in bilateral trade flows could be as high as 20%, with an even higher impact on agriculture, food and beverages. Teagasc, at the request of my Department, has carried out a deeper analysis, which found that, depending on the assumptions made, the minimum impact could be a reduction of 1.4% or €150 million per annum in the value of Irish agri-food exports, with a possible worst-case scenario involving a reduction of over 7%, or €800 million, per annum.
However, it is important to note that there would be no dramatic change straight away, and that the actual impact of a UK exit would depend on the post-exit relationship that will have to be negotiated between the EU and the UK. The Treaty on European Union provides for a period of two years of negotiations, with extensions possible if agreement is not reached in this period.
There are four main areas in which concerns arise from an agri-food perspective. These are tariffs and trade arrangements, the EU budget, standards and customs controls.
Potential differences in tariffs after a UK exit could restrict trade in both directions and affect traditional supply practices, particularly for raw materials. Once the exit negotiations have been completed, the UK would be free to negotiate free trade agreements with other third countries. This is particularly relevant in relation to meat imports from South America. This could present a competitiveness challenge for third country suppliers, such as Ireland. However, negotiating such agreements could be a lengthy process.
The UK is a net contributor to the EU budget. A UK exit could result in a loss of its contribution of between 5 and 10%. Given that the CAP accounts for some 37% of the EU budget, we could expect additional pressure for further contraction in CAP funding in the years ahead.
Currently the EU operates a common regulatory regime, and the rules of the single market allow free movement of goods between Member States. While the EU and the UK may wish to keep such arrangements in place for as long as possible, deviations between UK and EU standards could give rise to trading difficulties and additional costs.
Under most scenarios, a British exit from the EU would see the return of some sort of border controls, customs or administrative procedures that would replace the current free movement of goods. This would add to administrative costs. Similarly, and even with a constructive approach from the UK on market access terms and veterinary certificates, the administrative burden in relation to veterinary and health certification could be considerable.
Finally, the possibility of UK exit poses a serious and complex situation for our fisheries sector. While the negative impact on trade could be significant - the UK is our second largest market for seafood after France - the most complex fisheries issues are those related to the possibility of restricted access to fishing grounds and resources. We would face a very uncertain situation related to the management and sharing of large numbers of different fish stocks that we currently share with the UK and other Member States under the Common Fisheries Policy Framework.
I and my Department are continuing to reflect on these matters so that we are prepared, if the UK decision is to exit, to establish our priorities for the negotiations in the agri-food and fisheries sectors, and to engage in these negotiations at an early date. We are also in ongoing consultation with our Government colleagues to ensure that there is a coherent, whole-of-Government approach to the issue.
209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15269/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under Tranche 1 of GLAS was received in my Department on the 26 May 2015 and the person named was approved into the GLAS 1 with effect from 1 October 2015. There are a number of applications, including that of the person named, remaining which have not passed all of the Department’s pre-payment validation checks for the 2015 part-year payment. The Department is continuing to investigate these issues including the correction of any IT or data issues with a view to all these remaining cases meeting the payment validation checks so that they will be paid the full amount of their 2015 part-year payment at the same time the 2015 GLAS balancing payment is due to issue.
210. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15273/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe persons named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers’ Scheme with the second named person as the young farmer. The application to the National Reserve was not successful as the applicants exceeded the off farm income limit applicable and the application to the Young Farmers’ Scheme was unsuccessful as the applicants were deemed to have no BPS entitlements available to them. The applicants were notified of this decision and offered the opportunity to submit an appeal.
My Department has received an appeal from the persons named in relation to their National Reserve application. This appeal will be considered by my Department based on the information set out by the applicants and a decision with regard to the outcome of the appeal will be notified in writing to the applicants as soon as possible.
211. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will bring the inland fisheries (modernisation and consolidation) Bill before Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15077/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current principal statute governing inland fisheries is the Inland Fisheries Act 1959. The 1959 Act is itself a consolidation of legislation dating back to the 1800s.
The modernisation of the legislation is required to address a range of complex issues including clarification of the ownership of fisheries, improving access to fisheries, overhauling fishery offences and updating penalties in line with the Fines Act, 2010, reviewing and modernising the current water-keeper system and consideration of aquatic invasive species.
It is proposed to finalise the drafting of the heads of the Bill and commence consultation on the legislative provisions with stakeholders later this year.
212. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the renewable heat incentive, including supports for renewable heat and the bioenergy facility at a location (details supplied) which will use anaerobic digestion to generate electric power and heat; and if anaerobic digestion can be used as part of a renewable heat incentive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15094/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2015 Energy White Paper sets out a high-level framework for Ireland's energy transition to a low carbon economy and society and identifies a range of measures and actions to support this.
One key measure is the design of a new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) support scheme for a range of renewable generation technologies in the heating sector. The initial phase of the public consultations on the RHI closed in September 2015 and was designed to review the technology options that may be supported by any new scheme.
In the last month my Department has awarded a contract for an economic assessment on the costs of introducing an RHI scheme across a range of individual renewable technologies, including Anaerobic Digestion, Combined Heat and Power. This economic analysis will form an integral part of the next public consultation phase due later this year.
Before a final decision is taken on introducing an RHI, the new scheme will be subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission. If it is decided that Anaerobic Digestion, Combined Heat and Power is one of the technologies to be supported under the RHI scheme then the project identified by the Deputy would be eligible to apply for support.
My Department is currently examining correspondence received from the Deputy in relation to this facility and a substantive reply will issue shortly.
213. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the Bills he will reinitiate relevant to his Department from the previous Dáil; the Bills he will introduce in the coming sessions; when he will introduce each Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15205/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are two Bills, the Energy Bill 2016 and the Minerals Development Bill 2015, which I propose to re-initiate in the current Dáil session. Second stage on the Energy Bill has already commenced.
There are a number of other Bills currently in preparation in my Department which will be brought to the Houses of the Oireachtas in due course and these are set out in the table:
|
Communications Energy and Natural Resources |
- |
- |
|
Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill |
To amend the Broadcasting Act 2009 on the BAI 5 year review of public funding |
Heads being prepared |
|
Digital Hub Development Agency (Dissolution) Bill |
To dissolve the DHDA, repeal the DHDA Act 2003, and to give effect to the merger between the DHDA and Dublin City Council |
Heads expected in July 2016 |
|
EirGrid Bill |
To establish EirGrid in primary legislation |
Initial preparatory work is underway |
|
Geothermal Energy Development Bill |
To provide a legislative framework for the vesting, licensing and regulation of the development of geothermal energy |
Drafting is ongoing |
|
Inland Fisheries (Amendment) Bill |
To confirm that IFI has the power to prosecute under the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 and the power to prohibit purchase and possession of certain fish |
Drafting of heads is underway |
|
Inland Fisheries (Modernisation & Consolidation) Bill |
To modernise and consolidate existing provisions of legislation governing the inland fisheries sector |
Heads expected early 2017 |
Details of the Government's full Legislation Programme was published yesterday and is available on www.taoiseach.gov.ie.
214. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on implementing a driver awareness course similar to that in the UK which would facilitate the rescinding of penalty points for participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15079/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Road Safety Strategy 2013 – 2020 includes an action to "legislate for, subject to legal advice, and implement rehabilitation and driving awareness courses as court-based sentencing options for repeat offenders".
The Road Safety Association recently submitted a position paper in relation to this action, and the matter is now under consideration by officials in my Department. I would point out, however, that under the Fixed Charge Notice (FCN) system currently in operation, it is not possible to offer such courses in place of FCNs or penalty points without amending legislation. As there is no provision to bring this about in the current Road Traffic Bill, this will therefore be a longer term project.
215. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the city bike scheme to the villages of south Dublin county, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county and remaining villages in the city council area of Dublin; his alternative plans in place for bike schemes in these counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15109/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the administration of the public bikes scheme in cooperation with the relevant local authority.
I have forwarded your question to the NTA for attention and direct response to you. If you have not received a response within 10 working days please contact my private office.
