Results 4,081-4,100 of 5,550 for speaker:Martin Ferris

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (25 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: 873. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers availing of the early retirement scheme that have, as a result, lost their entitlements to single farm payment. [13445/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: Do the witnesses think it is possible to protect that €18 million by moving the grassland scheme into the single farm payment? Do they have any methodology in mind that could protect it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: Right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: I understand the point Mr. Lynskey is making. The association's presentation referred to the increase in stock, particularly with regard to ewes, between 2010 and 2012. It seems that this was followed by a decline of 3.1% from 2012 to 2013.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: The reduction in breeding stock was 1.2%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: The reduction in overall sheep numbers was 3.1%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: If the support systems are not in place, the projected targets for Harvest 2020 will not be met. Have these points been made to the Minister?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: What has been his response?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: He has not signed off on getting rid of the grassland scheme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: In effect, the association is asking us, as elected representatives, to try to ensure the grassland scheme is maintained at €18 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Grassland and Single Farm Payments: Irish Farmers Association (25 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: Okay. That is fair enough.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: 2. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has attempted to procure export markets for live Irish beef to help alleviate the crisis being experienced by farmers here. [13993/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: The Minister is probably aware of the reduction, not the collapse, in beef prices. My question pertains to live exports. What has he done about live exports? Has he opened new markets abroad? What is the potential in this regard?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: I thank the Minister for the reply. It is welcome that there was an increase in live exports of 25% in 2013. The Minister mentioned a shipment of 2,500 bulls to Libya, which is also to be welcomed. However, there are a number of problems in the beef sector. One is that, despite the Minister's best efforts, not enough bulls are being exported. There are not enough live exports in total....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: The immediate problem concerns live exports and, as Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív said, bulls.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: Live exportation removes pressure in terms of oversupply. Where there is oversupply and a cartel is operating-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: I applaud and I am fully supportive of the Minister's point on jobs retention and processing. However, if producers are not making a living, the market will collapse in any case because they will no longer produce. This aspect must be considered also. It is welcome that the Minister is trying to open more markets abroad for live exports in addition to slaughtered beef. While this is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: That is the reason the price is decreasing.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (26 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: 5. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has applied for help from the European Union solidarity fund to aid Irish fishermen who have not been able to put to sea for months. [13994/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (26 Mar 2014)

Martin Ferris: Every Member of the House is aware of the terrible weather we have experienced since the middle of December and the effect it has had on fishing communities. Has the Minister sought any funding from the European Union Solidarity Fund to help alleviate the crisis for inshore fishermen whose boats effectively have been tied up since last December?