As a Member of this House from County Kildare, I can assure the Deputy that the importance of the horticulture industry is something of which I am acutely aware. I have worked closely with what is a very strong amenity horticulture sector in my area. We are all aware of the importance of the sector. We should be mindful of the fact that the challenges we face now came about as a result of a recent decision of Bord na Móna to cease harvesting peat earlier. The impact of that on the peat supply has been felt by the i…

I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this important point. As he will be aware, political agreement on CAP reform was reached at the end of June. The agreement strikes the right balance between ensuring a fair distribution of payments between farmers and achieving a higher level of environmental and climate ambition. This is a fair, flexible and farmer-friendly deal in the context of the many competing pressures we face in reaching a solution. The agreement provides member states with the flexibilities required to imp…

Absolutely. Deputy Durkan will be aware that the changes brought about by Brexit comprise entirely new ground for us. These are challenges that Irish agrifood businesses face. We in the Department are dealing with the agrifood businesses every day to make them as prepared as possible for all the next stages, with 1 October being another important date in the calendar for companies that export products of animal origin to or through Great Britain. We work really closely with those concerned. Extensive planning and t…

It is not possible to touch on all the points raised here in the minute I have. The points Deputies McNamara and Durkan raised are valid. They relate to all the challenges Brexit presents. My Department has been preparing for this eventuality since before the people of Britain voted to leave. We have been working extensively on it since. Part of the work has involved examining our dependency on the UK market and reducing it. Previous Governments have been successful in reducing it. In my area, new market developmen…

I thank Deputy Griffin for raising what is a crucially important issue for us and a very timely one in light of the fact that next week is Farm Safety Week, when we bring an additional focus to the need for farm safety and for a change in the culture across how we operate on our farms and the unacceptably high level of farm fatalities on Irish farms. To highlight the importance of farm safety, the Government, as part of my ministerial portfolio, assigned me specific responsibility for farm safety, and I am very pro…

Absolutely. My general approach is to make sure that in everything we do, we do not talk about farm safety as a separate issue. Every engagement my Department has with farmers is an opportunity to drive home the message of farm safety and to support the work of the HSA and others. I have seen from the start the opportunity CAP provides for us to incorporate farm safety across all measures in CAP to make sure it is central to what we do. I acknowledge the support of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, in…

The CAP is a fantastic opportunity for us to do that, but there other measures I have introduced over the past year. My Department and I launched a call under the locally led innovation partnership model, specifically related to farm safety and a first for farm safety, at the end of 2020. It will see the provision of at least €1 million in funding support for farm safety initiatives. Initial project proposals were submitted in January and we were delighted to be overwhelmed with a large number of good-quality appli…

I move: That— (a) notwithstanding the Order of the Dáil of 16th December, 2020, the sequence in which Leaders shall be called upon to put questions between 15th September, 2021, and 7th October, 2021, pursuant to Standing Order 36 (ca) shall be in accordance with the rota contained in the report of the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform dated 14th July, 2021, entitled ‘ Rota for Leaders’ Questions pursuant to Standing Order 36 for 15 September to 7 October 2021 incl. ’; and (b) the Resolution of the Dáil …

I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft, Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 9th July, 2021, be referred to the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in accordance with Standing Order 95(5), which, not later than 14th July, 2021, shall send a message to the Dáil in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 101, and S…

I move: "That Dáil Éireann approves the following Regulations in draft: Planning and Development Act 2000 (Section 254 – Overground Telecommunication Cables) Regulations 2021, a copy of which has been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 9th July, 2021.”

As we discuss the proposed new CAP today, it is important to take a moment to acknowledge the vital role it has played and will continue to play in the future for Irish agriculture and for farm families. The CAP protects family farm incomes, supports the rural economy, ensures the production of high-quality safe food for consumers and protects rural landscapes and the environment. It is not a case of simply supporting farmers. It does so much more than that and is a policy that Ireland has continually led on and su…

I am delighted to have the opportunity to respond on this important Bill. I thank Deputies for their consideration of the Maritime Jurisdiction Bill and for their contributions to this Second Stage debate. As the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, indicated in his opening statement, this Bill will update and clarify the law relating to the maritime jurisdiction of the State in a single, accessible, stand-alone enactment. It describes the different maritime zones and the national jurisdiction recognised by internatio…

Committees have the right to waive pre-legislative scrutiny because they will be doing it. It is in a committee's gift to do so. When I was on committees, members would decide whether pre-legislative scrutiny was warranted. That is the role of Oireachtas committees and they have the right to make that decision. I would also like to put it on the record that officials from the Department made themselves available to Deputies and were happy to provide detailed briefings to the Opposition Members who requested same. A…

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

I congratulate the Leas-Chathaoirleach too. It is good to see him in the Chair. I first must apologise that the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, was unable to make it to the House today. I am happy to take this Commencement matter on the Minister's behalf. Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, is a commercial State body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, IHRB, …

Senator Murphy is right that pony racing gets to the heart of the rural pursuits that are so intrinsic to so much of our history. It is so important. That is why the engagement that is happening between the HRI and the IHRB about strengthening those connections matters because, for a long time, pony racing has stood on its own and managed without support but also without that close contact. Any dialogue taking place about its future and which gives the opportunity for the pony racing organisations to highlight and …

I thank Deputy Verona Murphy for raising what is a really important issue and one about which I share her concern, namely, the discovery and recent reporting of black grass in wild seed mixes. The standards for quality and purity of seed and propagating material are implemented at EU level through a suite of EU directives and regulations. In total, this legislation is implemented through 12 directives and a number of associated regulations. The legislation is applicable to the main agricultural crops, covering fodd…

The Deputy can take it from me that we are taking this matter very seriously. She mentioned extending inspection of imported seeds. That option is not open to us under EU regulations. We can control what is propagated here. The seed that was discovered in the Teagasc plant was imported from the UK. We envisage that the vast majority of wild seed used in Ireland in future will be propagated here and that where seed from abroad is used, it will be assembled here and we will have control over that. In all those circum…

I am an active suckler farmer. My mother took over the enterprise at home after my father passed away until I was old enough to take it on. I know what it is like to derive one's sole income from farming, along with the pressure and work that go with that. I assure Deputy Tóibín and others that the Government is determined that we have a strong and vibrant beef sector for the next generation. I extend to the House the apologies of the Minister, who is in Brussels and who cannot be here for this important debate. We…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which we in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine take with the utmost seriousness. I extend the apologies of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, who is in Brussels this evening and very much regrets that he is not able to take this debate. We recognise that this issue is giving rise to serious practical problems for our fishing vessels in making landings. The recent revocation by the European Commission of Ireland's sea-fisheries control…