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467 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 468[Mary Coughlan.]dates must be between 1 September 2004 and 30April 2005.In choosing the starting date for a parcel a personwill need to be mindful of declarations inrespect of that parcel for 2004. In 2004 forage parcelshad to be available and accessible for rearinganimals for a seven months period commencingbetween 1 January 2004 and 31 March 2004. Careshould be taken that there is no overlappingbetween the ending of the seven months periodfor 2004 and the beginning of the ten monthsperiod for the 2005. In the case of parcelsdeclared in 2004 for arable aid the ten monthsperiod for 2005 single payment scheme shouldnot commence until after harvesting of the 2004crops. Also, in the case of rented or leased landsthere should be no overlapping between the endingof a rental agreement or lease for 2004 andthe commencement of the ten months period for2005.It will not be possible, for the reasons outlinedto automatically set 1 September 2004 as the startdate for all parcels. Some farmers will, however,be free to commence afforestation after 1 July2005 on parcels declared for the 2005 single paymentscheme where they have indicated a validstart date of 1 September 2004.WTO Talks.301. Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Agricultureand Food his views on a submission(details supplied); his plans to address the submissionin regard to the WTO talks; and if shewill make a statement on the matter. [5948/05]Minister for Agriculture and Food (MaryCoughlan): The negotiations on the new WTOround are taking place under the mandate,known as the Doha Development Agenda,agreed at the WTO ministerial conference inDoha in November 2001. This mandate providesthat special and differential treatment fordeveloping countries will be an integral elementof all aspects of the agriculture negotiations. Significantprogress was made towards concluding anew round with the framework agreement agreedin Geneva in August 2004. The framework agreementrecognises the critical importance of agricultureto the economic development ofdeveloping countries and the need to allow themto pursue agricultural policies that are supportiveof their development goals, poverty reductionstrategies, food security and livelihood concerns.The framework agreement sets out, in broad outline,the terms of special and differential treatmentwhich will apply to developing countries inthe form of longer implementation periods andless demanding commitments than will apply todeveloped countries. Negotiations on details arecontinuing with a view to reaching a conclusionat the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kongin December 2005. I fully support the approachto assisting developing countries outlined in theDoha Development Agenda and the frameworkagreement.Garda Investigations.302. Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Justice,Equality and Law Reform his position in relationto the arrest of a person (details supplied) as partof the investigation into a series of robberies atDublin Port in recent years. [5610/05]Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform(Mr. McDowell): I am informed by the Gardaauthorities that the person in question wasarrested and detained in respect of an offenceunconnected with the Dublin Port robberies andwas subsequently released without charge.Garda Complaints Procedures.303. Mr. Gregory asked the Minister forJustice, Equality and Law Reform if he has satisfiedhimself that the allegations made by a person(details supplied) in Dublin 7 regarding amember of the Garda Síochána which have beenwidely reported in the media, have been fully andproperly investigated; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [5637/05]Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform(Mr. McDowell): I have been informed by theGarda authorities that an investigation file in thiscase has been forwarded to the Director of PublicProsecutions. As the Deputy will appreciate, Ihave no official responsibility to the Dáil in thismatter which is one for the Director of PublicProsecutions who is independent in his function.Inquiries into Garda Activities.304. Mr. Costello asked the Minister forJustice, Equality and Law Reform if the Governmenthas accepted all the recommendations(details supplied) made in the first report of theMorris tribunal; the progress made to date inimplementing these recommendations; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [5682/05]319. Mr. Costello asked the Minister forJustice, Equality and Law Reform if the Governmenthas accepted all the recommendations madein the first report of the Morris tribunal, includingthe need for a more pro-active role for Gardaheadquarters in the management of Garda divisions;the need for improved recording andreporting of incidents; the restoration of the practiceof members of inspector rank and abovekeeping daily official journals; the need for anurgent and independent review of policy on thehandling of informants; the need for a specificobligation on members of the Garda Síochána toaccount truthfully for any actions taken in thecourse of duty; the progress made to date inimplementing those recommendations; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [5964/05]Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform(Mr. McDowell): I propose to take QuestionsNos. 304 and 319 together.
469 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 470I am informed by the Garda authorities thatthe Garda Commissioner has accepted the recommendationsmade in the first report of the Morristribunal. The Garda Commissioner has establishedan implementation group under the chairmanshipof the Deputy Commissioner, Mr. PeterFitzgerald, to examine the issues arising from therecommendations contained in the first report ofthe Morris tribunal.A number of working groups have been establishedto deliberate on matters raised in thereport. These working groups are examining thefollowing areas; (1) role of assistant commissionerand accountability framework; (2) erosion of discipline;(3) issues involving personnel; (4)migration management and policy of tenure; (5.)management development; (6) internal audit; (7)informant management; (8) religious and ethnicminorities.The working groups have almost completedtheir deliberations and the issues referred to willbe addressed therein. A composite report, containingfirm recommendations, will be preparedby the implementation group for the Garda Commissionerand myself.Legal Aid Service.305. Ms Harkin asked the Minister for Justice,Equality and Law Reform the nature of hisresponsibility in ensuring the implementation ofthe European Agreement on the Transmission ofApplications for Legal Aid (details supplied).[5697/05]Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform(Mr. McDowell): Under the provisions of a EuropeanAgreement on the Transmission of Applicationsfor Legal Aid my Department has nominatedthe Legal Aid Board as the transmittingand receiving authority for this jurisdiction.Under the terms of this agreement, the nominatedauthorities are required to assist personswho are applying for legal services in anothercontracting state in providing assistance, includingany necessary translation of documents, toenable a person make an application in that state.The agreement also provides that legal aidgranted in the member state in which the court issitting shall cover the costs directly related to thecross-border nature of the dispute includingtranslation costs. Accordingly, in the case of theperson whose case the Deputy has referred to,once the applicant is granted legal aid by the relevantauthority, the board’s role is completed andall issues with regard to the on-going provision oflegal services is a matter for the authority whichhas granted legal aid.Drug Seizures.306. Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister forJustice, Equality and Law Reform his views onrecent comments in a publication (detailssupplied) indicating that there is an increase indemand and availability of cocaine recently in theNorth and that much of the cocaine entering theregion is sourced from the Republic; and if he willmake a statement on the action being taken tocounteract not only demand but also supply.[5733/05]Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform(Mr. McDowell): Intelligence available to theGarda Síochána indicates that there is cross-Border movement of controlled drugs in bothdirections.The Garda Síochána and the Police Service ofNorthern Ireland have been involved in a numberof joint drugs investigations which have resultedin significant seizures, including seizures ofcocaine. There is and continues to be close cooperationbetween the two police services in thisregard. Whenever available information so merits,and if appropriate, the Garda and PSNI authoritiesinitiate a joint investigation or operationwith the objective of seizing illicit drugs andapprehending traffickers.In September, 2004 the Garda Síochána andthe Police Service of Northern Ireland launchedthe first ever joint threat assessment on cross-Border organised crime. The threat assessmentcovers a number of crime areas, including drugs.Following on from the launch of the joint threatassessment the two police forces are workingclosely together to further develop the strategicresponse to cross-Border organised crime.The Deputy will appreciate that demandreduction relating to cocaine use in NorthernIreland is not an issue into which the Garda authoritiescan have any practical input.Garda Mounted Unit.307. Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister forJustice, Equality and Law Reform the number ofhorses acquired for the mounted Garda corps; hisplans to increase this number in view of the commentsof the PSNI that one mounted officer canbe the equivalent of five officers on the beat, followingits mounted patrols recently with horseson loan from the Garda Síochána mounted unit;and if he will make a statement on the matter.[5734/05]Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform(Mr. McDowell): I am informed by the Gardaauthorities who are responsible for the detailedallocation of resources, including personnel, thatthe Garda Mounted Unit currently has a complementof thirteen horses with plans to increasethe unit to its full complement of fifteen horsesin the near future.The Garda Mounted Unit is a nationalresource in support of regional policing requirementsand was established in March 1998. Thecurrent strength of the unit stands at fourteen, allranks. A competition will commence in the nearfuture to return the strength of the unit to itsauthorised strength of 18 members, two sergeantsand 16 gardaí.
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