Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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6. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date by Bord Bia with the milk quality assurance scheme; the number of quality assurance officers it has funded to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26116/14]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My question refers to the milk quality assurance scheme for the dairy industry. I would like the Minister of State to outline how that is working, the progress made to date and whether he is satisfied with the scheme.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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In 2012, the Minister announced a proposal for a new national sustainability programme for the dairy sector. This programme is a key element of Ireland’s strategy for marketing and promotion of dairy products on international markets, particularly in the context of expanded milk output following the abolition of milk quotas in April 2015.

It is evident from the engagement with potential customers for Irish food products and potential investors in the Irish agrifood sector that the sustainability message has a strong resonance with both. This programme is independently verified and establishes a point of differentiation that sets our dairy products apart in world markets. The newly developed carbon footprint element is key to demonstrating the strong climate change credentials of Ireland’s dairy sector, and indeed it has already been established that Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions from the dairy sector are the joint lowest in the EU.

Dairy farmers join the sustainable dairy assurance scheme by applying through their milk purchaser. Each milk purchaser has staff trained in the operation of the scheme who can advise dairy farmers on how to prepare for application and correct any deficiencies in their operations. Once the farmer is satisfied that the operation is at the standard required by the scheme, the milk purchaser submits an application to Bord Bia through an integrated database system. Applications are then selected by Bord Bia for auditing, and following the correction of any non-compliance issues, entry to the scheme is granted. All major non-compliance issues, such as failure to have water quality tested, must be corrected before entry to the scheme is approved. Minor non-compliance issues do not prevent entry but must be corrected in time for the next audit visit. To date almost 3,500 milk producers have applied to their milk purchasers to join.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In my question I sought information on the number of quality assurance officers who have been funded by Bord Bia to date. I am somewhat surprised that this element of the question was not answered.

I understand that in some cases when inspectors visit and find non-compliance issues, the farmer corrects that non-compliance issue but there is a massive delay in scheduling a second inspection to ensure all issues have been fully addressed. That delay keeps the farmer out of the scheme. I ask that the Department ensures that where there is non-compliance but the issue is dealt with by the farmer, arrangements can be made to carry out a further inspection to ensure compliance without undue delay so that farmers do not miss out.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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As I said already, 3,500 milk producers have applied for the scheme. Milk purchasers have sent 1,020 applications to Bord Bia for auditing. Of these, almost 400 have become fully certified members of the scheme, while the remaining 620 are moving through the audit or review process ahead of the final certification decision. Approximately 11,000 information packs have issued to milk purchasers for use by milk suppliers when applying to join the scheme.

An initial panel of 36 people trained to conduct audits for the scheme are now being augmented by an additional 12 people who have been identified as suitable candidates for training. These additional auditors will be added to the panel in the coming months which should improve the situation to which the Deputy referred.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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It has been brought to my attention that many of the people being appointed to the panels are retired or former State employees. I would have thought that with a scheme like this which is being funded by the State through Bord Bia, the Minister would have ensured young graduates or other suitably qualified unemployed people would be given priority for this work. Can the Minister of State assure me that an instruction will be given that this State money will be focused on employing people who are not in receipt of pensions and who do not have work at the moment?

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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In general it is Government policy to employ graduates, if available, for positions such as these and training is provided on the operation of the scheme.

I will certainly raise the matter with Bord Bia if it is the major problem the Deputy says it is, but, historically, the case in this country has been as set out. Deputy Ó Cuív was in the Department and will have known the position.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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It is a long time since I was in the Department. I was there for a year in 2001.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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He was there. It built up over a number of years and, as the Deputy knows, it takes time to change. I will certainly lend my weight behind young people getting those jobs. I hope that will satisfy the Deputy.