Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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412. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dedicated staff deployed in the protected geographical indication, PGI, sector; the breakdown of grade structure of staff in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39357/20]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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413. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of protected geographical indication applications being dealt with by the sector; the breakdown of the starting dates of each of these applications; the number of PGI applications submitted to this section over the past five years and that have not been brought to national consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39358/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 413 together.

The EU Quality schemes for agriculture products include Protected Geographical Indications (PGI), Protected Designations of Origin (PDO), and Traditional Specialties Guaranteed (TSG) and also Geographical Indications (GIs) for wine and spirits.

Over the past five years, 16 applications have been received from food producers seeking to have their products registered as PGIs as follows:

2015Two

2016Three

2017One

2018None

2019Five

2020Five

Of these, one product has been registered (Sneem Black Pudding); the national opposition procedure has been completed for another three (Irish Grass Fed Beef, Comeragh Mountain lamb and Wexford Blackcurrants) and two applications are currently at an advanced stage of scrutiny by my Department.

The remaining applications have not progressed for various reasons, including that they do not currently conform to the terms of Regulation (EU) No. 1151/2012 on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs, or they fail to sufficiently demonstrate the information required to allow the application proceed for registration. Five of these applications have been received from the same applicant group.

In regard to staffing, Food and Spirit Drink GI applications are currently dealt with by four officials in Food Industry Development Division in addition to other functions.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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414. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the length of time the Bord Bia protected geographical indication application took to be processed to national consultation level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39359/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Following a Geographical Indications conference arranged by my Department in early 2019, it was decided that an application to have an Irish beef product registered as a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) should be submitted to the European Commission. The conference was attended by the EU Commission officials as well as farming and industry stakeholders.

From that time, Bord Bia prepared the application and my Department provided advice on the EU regulatory and guideline requirements, where appropriate.

This approach was endorsed by stakeholders in the Beef Sector Agreement of September 2019 which noted that "DAFM and Bord Bia are actively engaging with the EU Commission on the development of a Protected Geographical Indication for Irish beef'. It was also reflected in the Programme for Government commitment to 'work at EU level for the development of a PGI for Irish beef'.

The time taken to finalise an application can depend on a number of factors, including the level of detail provided by the applicant in the initial draft, the nature of the product and the time required for scrutiny of the dossier, including the Single Document and the Specification Document, to ensure compliance with the EU requirements.

The result of the work undertaken since early 2019 is reflected in the documents published by my Department on 14 August 2020 under the National Opposition Procedure provided for in the PGI governing EU rules.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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415. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the competent authority regarding protected geographical indication application submissions; if the comments made by his officials after reviewing the single and specification documents of these applications are to be considered as instructions that must be followed or just as recommendations that, if followed, will increase the likelihood of a successful PGI application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39360/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, as the Competent Authority for food and spirit drink Geographical Indications (GIs), scrutinises all applications received under the EU GI Quality Schemes to check for manifest errors and also to ensure that the application conforms to the requirements of the EU Regulations.

As the Competent Authority, my Department must also be satisfied, in submitting a PGI application to the EU Commission, that there is a verification system in place to ensure that, if successful, the PGI is protected and that the claims made in a PGI application are verifiable.

Applicants are advised when their application does not conform to EU Regulations. In the course of examination of the Specification and Single Documents that form the application for registration of a product name, officials of my Department advise applicants on the rules that must be adhered to as provided in the EU Regulation and guidelines. It is open to applicants to act on that advice.

However, it is important to note that any GI applications submitted to the EU Commission must be accompanied by a declaration by the Member State Competent Authority that it considers that the application lodged by the applicant meets the conditions of the Regulations and its provisions. Every effort is made by my Department to ensure that applications sent to the EU conform with the requirements. Applications sent are subject to EU scrutiny.

Under the EU quality schemes, achieving Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) recognition for products enables consumers to trust and distinguish quality products while also helping producers to market their products better. It is important therefore that the information provided to the EU Commission at time of application is as complete and correct as possible.