Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Food Safety Standards
570. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he
is satisfied that Department approved meat plants have the appropriate equipment for the
slaughter of buffaloes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7937/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Slaughterhouses
and meat processing plants operate under the approval and supervision of my Department, in
accordance with the terms of EU Food Hygiene Regulations. My Department has approved
31 meat plants for the slaughter of bovine animals. Buffaloes are classified as bovine animals.
The slaughter of buffaloes would be a matter for commercial decision by the meat plants
concerned, but logistical issues may arise because of the size of the animals. Any such activity
would be closely monitored by my officials as part of their supervisory role in such plants, to
ensure compliance with regulatory requirements relating to animal welfare and hygiene.
Grant Payments
571. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if
he will provide the number of farmers in County Kildare who are still awaiting their 2011 single
farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7950/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): There are currently
23 herd owners in Kildare awaiting payments under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme. The
timing of the Single Farm Payment is of critical importance to farmers, given that it represents
in excess of €1.2 billion of the €1.7 billion that is paid out annually in direct aid. The SFP forms
a significant part of the annual income of all farmers in Ireland, in many cases it is used to
subsidise the running costs of the farming enterprise and is, therefore, greater than the net
farm income in those cases. During 2011, mindful of the significance to the wider rural economy
of the Single Payment, I successfully sought the approval of the Commissioner to have advance
payments made on the earliest possible date. I am pleased to say that these payments commenced
issuing on 17 October 2011, with payments continuing to be made, twice weekly, on
an on-going basis. The vast majority of farmers had been paid by the end of December 2011.
572. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a
REPS scheme 4 payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he
will make a statement on the matter. [8177/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named
commenced REPS in July 2009 and received payments for the first two years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is
subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to
be completed before any payments can issue in respect of 2011. These checks are currently
being finalised out and I expect that year 3 payment will issue shortly.
Fishing Industry Development
573. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
with regard to our fishing industry, the proposals he has to manage harvest to match sustainable
supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8257/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Total Allowable
Catches (TAC) and quotas are set each year taking account of the scientific advice for each
stock. On November 23 2011, I presented a Sustainability Impact Assessment of EU Com-
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