Written answers

Tuesday, 6 November 2012

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Northern Ireland Issues

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the type and frequency of North South engagement his Department undertakes; the current priorities in this area; the number of whole time equivalent staff assigned to these matters; the grades involved and the amount of time each grade spends on North South Activities as a proportion of their WTE employment; the co-ordination arrangements that have been put in place; if there are any current vacancies in North South Co-operation unites; the duration of this vacancy and the steps being taken to fill the vacancy. [48538/12]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am and my officials are directly involved in ongoing and frequent North-South engagement up to and including the highest levels. This involves having extensive contact between officials in my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland and interested parties in the food, agriculture and fishing sectors in both jurisdictions. This work is undertaken in the context of actively pursuing our priorities for advancing co-operation through the structures of the North-South Ministerial Council, most recently at the agriculture sectoral meeting of the Council which took place last Wednesday, 31 October in Armagh. Both Departments continue to enjoy excellent co-operation in the development of an All-Island Animal Health Strategy for control of animal movements and the prevention, containment and eradication of epizootic diseases in Ireland; the development of an All-Island Plant Health and Research Strategy including co-operation between both jurisdictions in relation to plant protection products and liaison on issues arising at WTO, EU enlargement and the mid-term review of the CAP.

There is also co-operation in other areas of common interest as specific matters arise, the most recent being issues relating to farm safety and the outbreak of the Chalara Fraxinea disease commonly known ash dieback. The engagement involves many officials in the Department.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 218 of 24 October 2012, the way the corporate affairs division of his Department coordinates north south matters; the proportion of time each grade allocates to North South matters in view of the fact that agriculture is a designated area of cooperation under the Good Friday Agreement. [48556/12]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There is a North South coordinator at Assistant Principal level working in Corporate Affairs Division. The role of this AP is, among other things, to develop common areas of co-operation between my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland and to identify possible new areas of cooperation. The work is carried out through contact with other Departments and the North-South Joint Secretariat. There is also ongoing contact with other Divisions within my Department that are closely involved in North-South co-operation.

The AP reports to a Principal Officer and is assisted by a Higher Executive Officer and Clerical Officer. The amount of time spent on this work varies depending on the issues that arise during the year.

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