Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas
Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas
[Deputy Mary Lou McDonald.] Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers his plans to dispose of the harvesting rights of Coillte as part of the programme for Government State asset disposal programme. [8454/12] Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): No decision has been taken by the Government in relation to the potential sale of Coillte. To assist in its examination of options for the possible disposal of State assets, the Government requested the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in consultation with relevant line Departments and NewERA, to consider a number of possible State assets for disposal. In addition, they will advise the Government in relation to the appropriate valuations to be placed on the assets in question, the most appropriate method of disposal, likely timeframe and economic impact of any such disposal, in order to inform any decisions that the Government may wish to make in this regard. Coillte has been included in that valuation exercise. In relation to the issue of harvesting rights, as I have previously mentioned, one of the suggested ideas is that a crop, or asset, could be sold through harvesting rights for the next 30 or 50 years, depending on how much value the State wishes to maximise. At the end of the process, the land would revert to the State, with a requirement in place for reafforestation. While the sale of harvesting rights is an option, I want to reiterate that no decision has been made on the sale of Coillte as a company or in terms of forest assets. The large-scale sale of Coillte land is not an option. Fishing Industry 590. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals he has with regard to transparent scientific advice and reports being made available stating who carried out surveys, when and where, the parties involved and the cost of independent scientific information supplied by fishermen to be accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8461/12] 591. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the fish industry. [8462/12] Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 590 and 591 together. The Marine Institute provide me with scientific advice to inform policy decisions. It annually publishes scientific papers including the Stock Book which details for fisheries of interest to Irish fishermen scientific advice on a stock by stock basis. The design, management and execution of specific research surveys and data collection exercises are the sole remit of the Marine Institute and should be raised directly with the Institute. The Institute liaise and consult on a regular basis with industry interests including through the well established Industry Science Partnership, which offers a good forum for specific concerns. Fishery and Aquaculture Products 592. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding marketing and labelling. [8463/12] Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): Under the umbrella of the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) the European Commission have proposed a new regulation “of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Organisation of the Markets in Fishery and Aquaculture Products”. 602
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers The proposal to revise the Common Organisation of the Markets (CMO) for fishery and aquaculture products follows a very lengthy consultation phase. The CMO is intended to provide market stability, to ensure a stable supply of quality products, to guarantee a fair income for producers and ensure a fair price to consumers. I have welcomed the proposal to revise the CMO and support many of the elements contained in it including a greater emphasis on informing the consumer. Current labelling requirements are very broad and give little useful information to the consumer. I believe in greater traceability and in that regard I am seeking to have more meaningful, recognisable, local catch origin labelling and product information so that consumers can usefully differentiate fish on the basis of a recognisable local area of origin. 593. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding imports. [8464/12] Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): EU is increasingly dependent on imports of fish and fishery products to meet its needs. In 2009, the EU imported €15.5 billion worth of fish and fishery products, accounting for more than 60% of it fish consumption. Europe exported €2.5 billion worth of fisheries goods in 2009, the bulk of it to large markets like Norway, Russia and Japan. Total aquaculture production in the EU is around 1.3 million tonnes. As the world’s largest market for fish imports, the EU has a major interest in improving market access conditions both at multilateral and bilateral level. As an EU Member State it is not possible to restrict imports nor do I believe such a policy would be beneficial for the seafood sector in Ireland which is strongly dependant on the export market. Ireland’s Seafood Sector is an export orientated industry with an estimated €420m of Seafood Exports in 2011 up 13% on 2010. After the recent success at the December 2011 Council of Fisheries Ministers where I secured an estimated €250m of fish quotas for Irish vessels, the prospects for exports are again positive for 2012. The export market is also critically important for our aquaculture sector. In terms of import tariffs, tariff quotas (annual limits) are laid down by the EU within which certain products originating in countries outside the EU may be imported at preferential rates of duty (either at a reduced or zero rate). Ireland’s position is, in general terms, supportive of the principle of Community preference for products, such as herring and mackerel, where EU is a major supplier to meet internal demand. I am committed to continuing the path set out in Food Harvest 2020 for the development of the seafood sector in Ireland into 2012. Food Harvest 2020 identifies the potential of the seafood industry to increase employment from the present level of 11,000 to 14,000 full time equivalent jobs by 2020, mostly in peripheral coastal communities. It also identifies the potential to increase turnover in the sector from €700 million to €1 billion by 2020. These opportunities for the growth of our seafood industry will be driven by an expected growth in world population, particularly in Asia, and a consequent increased demand for seafood. I am pursuing three key strategies to grow the Irish seafood industry and realise the potential identified in Food Harvest. These are — growing our aquaculture production, adding value to our product and improving the scaling and competitiveness of our processing sector. These are my priorities which I believe will deliver on the potential of the seafood sector in Ireland. Fish Stocks 594. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 603
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Questions— 14 February 2012. <strong>Written</strong> <strong>Answers</strong><br />
The proposal to revise <strong>the</strong> Common Organisation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Markets (CMO) for fishery and<br />
aquaculture products follows a very lengthy consultation phase.<br />
The CMO is intended to provide market stability, to ensure a stable supply <strong>of</strong> quality products,<br />
to guarantee a fair income for producers and ensure a fair price to consumers.<br />
I have welcomed <strong>the</strong> proposal to revise <strong>the</strong> CMO and support many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> elements contained<br />
in it including a greater emphasis on informing <strong>the</strong> consumer. Current labelling requirements<br />
are very broad and give little useful information to <strong>the</strong> consumer.<br />
I believe in greater traceability and in that regard I am seeking to have more meaningful,<br />
recognisable, local catch origin labelling and product information so that consumers can usefully<br />
differentiate fish on <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> a recognisable local area <strong>of</strong> origin.<br />
593. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked <strong>the</strong> Minister for Agriculture, Food and <strong>the</strong> Marine<br />
his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding imports. [8464/12]<br />
Minister for Agriculture, Food and <strong>the</strong> Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): EU is increasingly<br />
dependent on imports <strong>of</strong> fish and fishery products to meet its needs. In 2009, <strong>the</strong> EU imported<br />
€15.5 billion worth <strong>of</strong> fish and fishery products, accounting for more than 60% <strong>of</strong> it fish consumption.<br />
Europe exported €2.5 billion worth <strong>of</strong> fisheries goods in 2009, <strong>the</strong> bulk <strong>of</strong> it to large<br />
markets like Norway, Russia and Japan. Total aquaculture production in <strong>the</strong> EU is around 1.3<br />
million tonnes. As <strong>the</strong> world’s largest market for fish imports, <strong>the</strong> EU has a major interest in<br />
improving market access conditions both at multilateral and bilateral level.<br />
As an EU Member State it is not possible to restrict imports nor do I believe such a policy<br />
would be beneficial for <strong>the</strong> seafood sector in Ireland which is strongly dependant on <strong>the</strong> export<br />
market. Ireland’s Seafood Sector is an export orientated industry with an estimated €420m <strong>of</strong><br />
Seafood Exports in 2011 up 13% on 2010. After <strong>the</strong> recent success at <strong>the</strong> December 2011<br />
Council <strong>of</strong> Fisheries Ministers where I secured an estimated €250m <strong>of</strong> fish quotas for Irish<br />
vessels, <strong>the</strong> prospects for exports are again positive for 2012. The export market is also critically<br />
important for our aquaculture sector.<br />
In terms <strong>of</strong> import tariffs, tariff quotas (annual limits) are laid down by <strong>the</strong> EU within which<br />
certain products originating in countries outside <strong>the</strong> EU may be imported at preferential rates<br />
<strong>of</strong> duty (ei<strong>the</strong>r at a reduced or zero rate). Ireland’s position is, in general terms, supportive <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> principle <strong>of</strong> Community preference for products, such as herring and mackerel, where EU<br />
is a major supplier to meet internal demand.<br />
I am committed to continuing <strong>the</strong> path set out in Food Harvest 2020 for <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> seafood sector in Ireland into 2012. Food Harvest 2020 identifies <strong>the</strong> potential <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> seafood<br />
industry to increase employment from <strong>the</strong> present level <strong>of</strong> 11,000 to 14,000 full time<br />
equivalent jobs by 2020, mostly in peripheral coastal communities. It also identifies <strong>the</strong> potential<br />
to increase turnover in <strong>the</strong> sector from €700 million to €1 billion by 2020. These opportunities<br />
for <strong>the</strong> growth <strong>of</strong> our seafood industry will be driven by an expected growth in world<br />
population, particularly in Asia, and a consequent increased demand for seafood.<br />
I am pursuing three key strategies to grow <strong>the</strong> Irish seafood industry and realise <strong>the</strong> potential<br />
identified in Food Harvest. These are — growing our aquaculture production, adding value to<br />
our product and improving <strong>the</strong> scaling and competitiveness <strong>of</strong> our processing sector. These are<br />
my priorities which I believe will deliver on <strong>the</strong> potential <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> seafood sector in Ireland.<br />
Fish Stocks<br />
594. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked <strong>the</strong> Minister for Agriculture, Food and <strong>the</strong> Marine<br />
603