Dáil Éireann
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Vol. 868 Tuesday, No. 1 17 February 2015 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) 17/02/2015A00100Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 17/02/2015A00200Priority Questions� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 17/02/2015A00300Agriculture Schemes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 2 17/02/2015C00350GLAS Payments � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5 17/02/2015D00400Agriculture Scheme Eligibility � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 17/02/2015F00400Rural Development Plan � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 8 17/02/2015H00650Installation Aid Scheme Eligibility � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10 17/02/2015J00450Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 17/02/2015J00500Harbours and Piers Development � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 17/02/2015L00250Animal Welfare � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 14 Beef Exports � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16 17/02/2015O00725Aquaculture Licences � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18 17/02/2015P00600Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20 17/02/2015P00800Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21 17/02/2015T01000Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31 17/02/2015T01050Northern Ireland Issues � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31 17/02/2015Z01700Order of Business � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 46 17/02/2015CC00100Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2015: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 53 17/02/2015CC01000Estimates for Public Services 2015: Messages from Select Committees� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 54 17/02/2015CC01200Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55 17/02/2015CC01250Rural Transport Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55 17/02/2015DD00350Coastal Protection� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 57 17/02/2015FF00300Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 61 17/02/2015GG01200Mare Nostrum Project � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 64 17/02/2015JJ00100Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 67 17/02/2015QQ00100Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 80 17/02/2015ZZ00400Message from Select Committee� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 97 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Máirt, 17 Feabhra 2015 Tuesday, 17 February 2015 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2 p�m� Paidir. Prayer. 17/02/2015A00100Ceisteanna - Questions 17/02/2015A00200Priority Questions 17/02/2015A00300Agriculture Schemes 17/02/2015A00400129� Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of the superlevy fine on Ireland for 2015; the steps taken by him to have this re- duced; the success to date of his efforts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6829/15] 17/02/2015A00500Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív: The Minister, Deputy Coveney, is welcome back to this side of the Atlantic� I take this opportunity to congratulate our colleague, Deputy Martin Ferris, on the victory that Ardfert had on the weekend. We are told that the farmers of Ireland, on top of a land parcel identification system, LPIS, fine of €180 million, are now facing a superlevy fine of €100 million. What I need to know today is what has the Minister succeeded in doing to reduce or eliminate this totally unneces- sary fine? 17/02/2015A00600Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): I too pass on my congratulations to Deputy Martin Ferris� It is not true to say we are going to have to pay an LPIS fine of €180 million. That is what the Commission has proposed but we are very much opposing it. It has gone to conciliation and is still in process� It is important to put that on the record� The rules governing the imposition of a superlevy fine are set by regulations agreed at EU level� Under these regulations each member state is allocated a volume quota of milk, above which a superlevy fine, which is just over €0.20 per litre, has to be paid to the EU Commission 2 17 February 2015 by producers who contribute to the over-production. As the Deputy will know, we had a very strong growing season last year. We had strong prices for most of last year and an awful lot of farmers are planning for the abolition of quotas in the next couple of months� As a result of that, we have seen the production levels on Irish dairy farms higher than we would have liked. In autumn, we were looking at a very large superlevy fine. By the end of January the quota posi- tion looked at being 5.47% over quota, which would essentially mean a superlevy fine of about €88 million. It is a significant issue. I have been pushing for ways in which we can reduce the superlevy fine in the final year of milk quota as a way of soft landing, which was supposed to be the idea. A majority of EU member states, in many ways under the leadership of Ireland in terms of the position we had taken with three or four other countries, looked for what was called a butterfat adjustment which, effectively, would have given us an extra 2% in our quota. We also looked at reducing the super levy fine per litre in the last year to ease us out of quota man- agement, but that has not been possible� What has been possible is talking to the Commission to ensure any superlevy fine incurred would be paid over a number of years. We are continuing to negotiate with the Commission on that issue. It has indicated that it is happy for farmers to be allowed to pay super levy fines they may have incurred to co-operatives over a number of years. We are still negotiating with it on whether co-operatives and Ireland should be able to pay it over a prolonged period of time also, which would certainly ease the blow. 17/02/2015B00200Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív: The first question I asked was what was the current estimated cost of the superlevy fine and the steps being taken to have it reduced. As I did not get an answer to the first part of the question, the Minister might give me an answer on the current estimated----- 17/02/2015B00300Deputy Simon Coveney: I answered the Deputy - it is €88 million. 17/02/2015B00400Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív: The Minister said that was at Christmas. 17/02/2015B00500Deputy Simon Coveney: I did not; I said it was at the end of January. 17/02/2015B00600Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív: We are well into February. Is that still the position? 17/02/2015B00700Deputy Simon Coveney: I will come back to the Deputy on that point. 17/02/2015B00800Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív: That is fine. We are facing an €88 million fine and the best the Minister is offering us is that the liability will be attached immediately and one will have time to pay it� When representatives of ICOS and the Irish Dairy Board appeared before the commit- tee, they were very adamant that the country should fight to have the superlevy fine reduced. Is the Minister saying he failed in regard to the butterfat adjustment? Is he saying he failed to get a reduction in the rate at which the superlevy was charged? Will he confirm that is the position and that he has literally made no progress in the negotiations, except possibly on the issue of deferment? 17/02/2015B00900Deputy Simon Coveney: I am a little surprised that the Deputy has not informed himself on the issue. He is the main Opposition spokesperson on agriculture and I would have thought he would have been on top of the numbers. Last May the anticipated superlevy fine, based on trends at that stage, was 9%. In August