Wednesday, 14 Jun 2023

Written Answers Nos. 121-130

Courts Service

Questions (121)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

121. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the number of charged persons who are awaiting trial for criminal offences for more than two years, and for more than five years. [28800/23]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy is aware, court proceedings are under the remit of the Courts Service.

Management of the courts are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and the separation of powers in the Constitution.

The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: [e-mail].

To be of assistance, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Courts Service for direct reply.

Question No. 122 answered with Question No. 119.

Emergency Planning

Questions (123)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

123. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement he has had with other Government Departments regarding the European Commission’s Copernicus Emergency Management Services (EMS) issuance of a warning on 8 June 2023 stating that Ireland is at an extreme risk of wildfires; the contingency plans that are in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28619/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage are responsible for Wildlife Acts, including enforcement of the prohibition on burning land during the nesting season.

Fire fighting is a matter for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services and these are overseen by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management at the Department of Housing.

The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, Chaired by the Minister for Defence, provides national level coordination on natural disasters and involves a range of Government Departments and bodies.

My Department and other Government bodies are aware of the warning issued by Copernicus EMS on June 8 2023.

My Department is monitoring current conditions with regard to fire risk on lands and is satisfied that current Condition Orange Warnings issued to date are consistent with prevailing risk levels.

My Department provides guidance and advice to forest owners and monitors forest fire risk throughout the main risk period and provides Fire Danger Notices when conditions dictate, in conjunction with Met Éireann. This information can be found at gov.ie - Fire Management (www.gov.ie). Forest Fire protection information is also available at www.teagasc.ie

Advice to the general public in relation to wildfire risk can be found at gov.ie - Be Summer Ready (www.gov.ie).

Agriculture Industry

Questions (124, 125, 128)

Michael Ring

Question:

124. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Irish sheep meat plants that have formally applied for approval to export to the US; if he will confirm the number of plants given approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28703/23]

Michael Ring

Question:

125. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will set out the exports (details supplied), on a monthly basis in tabular form since the deal on bilateral veterinary certification with the USA was announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28707/23]

Michael Ring

Question:

128. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken by him and his Department to support and encourage exports to a market (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28710/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 125 and 128 together.

In April of last year I was pleased to announce that agreement was reached between my Department and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a bilateral sheepmeat certificate. This agreement followed many years of negotiation at political, diplomatic, administrative and technical levels, with UDSA recognition in 2019 of the equivalence of Ireland’s sheep meat inspection system with US domestic standards being a key development.

As a result of this agreement, interested Food Business Operators can submit to my Department a site-specific, time-bound work programme demonstrating how they will achieve compliance with US requirements. Once a sheep meat plant successfully completes the USDA approval process, my Department will notify the Food Safety Inspection Service of the USDA that the plant can be registered to export sheep meat to the US.

At present, no sheep meat plants have submitted a documented work programme. My Department is actively engaging with interested plants in assessing how they can comply with the requirements for this trade.

As no plants have made a formal application for US approval, to date, no trade has taken place to date.

While the role of my Department is to open up international markets in consultation with stakeholders, it is up to the industry — with the support of my Department and Bord Bia’s marketing expertise — to capitalise on the resulting opportunities for trade.

Question No. 125 answered with Question No. 124.

Horse Racing Industry

Questions (126)

Paul Murphy

Question:

126. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of horses injured and killed at the 2023 Punchestown horse racing festival; the nature of the injuries; how many horses had their final race at the festival and were later killed elsewhere; and if consideration will be given to ending State funding to Horse Racing Ireland in view of the growing number of horse deaths at tracks around Ireland. [28708/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

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 question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.

Horse Racing Industry

Questions (127)

Paul Murphy

Question:

127. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the six-month portion that a one-year jockey licence withdrawal (which was suspended on condition that no further breaches occurred), will now be reimposed given that racecourse stewards suspended the jockey in question for 21 days in May for a separate matter (details supplied). [28709/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) is the regulatory body for all horseracing in Ireland.

The role of the IHRB is provided for under the Horse Racing Ireland Act 2016 and subsequent Statutory Instruments.

The question raised by the Deputy is a matter for this organisation.

Question No. 128 answered with Question No. 124.

Aquaculture Industry

Questions (129)

Michael Ring

Question:

129. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the position in relation to an application (details supplied); when a survey will be carried out to progress matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28793/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department considers applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act (as amended) and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation. Decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all consultations and public interest elements of each application, including environmental considerations.

All aquaculture licence applications, including the application referred to by the Deputy, must be screened for an Appropriate Assessment. The Marine Institute as the scientific advisors to the Department have been requested to undertake the necessary assessment. Following receipt of the screening report, the Department will be in contact with the applicant on the next stage of the process.

Disabilities Assessments

Questions (130)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

130. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) in County Donegal can expect an assessment for autism to be carried out. [28702/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.