Annual Report 2004
of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food 2004
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Department of Agriculture and Food
Head Office, Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01 6072000; Lo-Call: 1890 200 510
Annual Report of The Minister
for Agriculture and Food
Mission Statement
(Statement of Strategy, 2003-2005)
“Our mission is to lead the sustainable development of
a competitive, consumer focused agri-food sector and
to contribute to a vibrant rural economy and society”
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
1
The Department’s Offices
The Department’s Offices
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Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Contents
REVIEW OF THE YEAR BY THE MINISTER
4
INTRODUCTION BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL
6
ORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT
8
REPORT ON DEPARTMENTAL GOALS
1. Agri-Food Development and Trade
13
2. Food Safety, Animal Health and Welfare and Plant Health
26
3. International Framework
38
4. Rural Economy and Environment
42
5. Scheme Delivery and Financial Management
46
6. Operational Capabilities
54
ABBREVIATIONS
64
APPENDICES
1. Performance Indicators
68
2. Customer Service Action Plan
94
3. Programme for Government Commitments
98
4. National Development Plan 2000-2006 – Agriculture and Food
104
5. Vote 31 – Agriculture and Food
106
6. FEOGA/EAGGF Guarantee Expenditure 2004
108
7. Prompt Payment of Accounts
110
8. Orders and Regulations
111
9. The Land Acts in 2004
120
10. State Bodies Under the Aegis of the Department in 2004
121
Contents
3
Review of the Year
Review of the year
by the Minister for Agriculture and Food
I am very pleased to present my first Annual Report
as Minister for Agriculture and Food. At the outset,
I want to pay tribute to my predecessor, Joe Walsh,
T.D., who in September 2004 concluded his long and
successful tenure of the Agriculture portfolio. I know
that all concerned with agriculture, whether at home of
abroad, will share with me in acknowledging his major
contribution to the development of Ireland’s agri-food
industry over the years.
The year 2004 was highly significant for Irish agriculture
marking the commencement of a major transition in
EU agricultural policy. Arising from the decision to opt
for full decoupling of direct payments from production,
arrangements for implementation of the Single Payment
Scheme was the focus of much attention throughout
the year and significant progress was made in what is
a major undertaking. The Scheme will allow farmers
to concentrate on producing what the marketplace
wants rather than devoting disproportionate time
and effort to aligning and repeatedly re-aligning farm
enterprises with the requirements of ever more complex
schemes, retention periods, stocking densities etc. It will
also significantly reduce the amount of paperwork for
farmers. In addition, a new Dairy Premium scheme was
introduced in 2004. It was coupled to milk production
in 2004 and based on the available milk quota held
by eligible farmers on 31 March 2004. Payments
commenced on target on 16 October 2004.
Ireland held the EU Presidency for the first six months
of the year and in relation to agriculture, substantial
progress was made on all three of the Presidency
objectives of facilitating the application of the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP) to the new Member States,
continuing the process of simplification of the CAP
initiated by the Mid-Term Review and enhancing food
safety standards.
The Government’s continuing commitment to the
agri-food sector was evidenced with Direct Payments
from my Department totalling over €1.6 billion. This
commitment was also demonstrated in the December
Budget, which was an extremely good one for farmers.
As well as benefiting from the general improvements
in taxation and social welfare measures, the Budget
provided a further €20 million in tax concessions for
the farming community.
I was pleased to receive the Agri-Vision 2015 Report
in December. The Agri-Vision Committee, which
included experts from farming, the food industry,
research, academia and State agencies was asked in
early 2004 to review the strategy and recommendations
contained in the Agri-Food 2010 Report in the context
4
of developments since that report was completed. The
Report identified the rapidly changing nature of Irish
agriculture and set out a vision of the future for Irish
agriculture, identified the developmental adjustments
that are required and forecast its potential positioning
in 2015. It also rightly placed great emphasis on
meeting consumer requirements and on the role of
competitiveness in the context of an increasingly global
market. The Report contained 53 recommendations
covering diverse areas of the sector. Of particular note
was the clear message that there must be action by all
players in the sector, and not just by the Government,
for the agri-food sector to prosper.
It is clear that there are significant new challenges facing
agriculture and the agri-food sector in the years ahead,
with the policy framework clearly based on the principles
of sustainability and market orientation. For the agrifood sector this will mean anticipating and responding
to emerging consumer concerns in relation to issues
such as nutrition and good health. I believe that the
sector, which has developed on the basis of producing
quality and wholesome food, can prosper in the more
consumer-focused environment, provided increased
emphasis is given to product innovation and research.
Turning to the main commodity areas, I announced in
December details of a new Milk Quota Restructuring
Programme, following an in-depth review of the previous
scheme and wide-ranging consultation. While the
existing scheme had been effective in increasing average
quota size, the Mid Term Review CAP reform and the
WTO framework agreement made it imperative to
introduce changes to accelerate this process and ensure
that the maximum volume of milk will be available in a
timely manner to active committed producers.
I am satisfied that the new restructuring programme
provides more certainty for farmers in making decisions
in the medium term. The simplification of the allocation
categories should also make the scheme more effective in
securing the long-term future of the dairy industry in an
increasingly competitive and market orientated environment.
Prices for dairy products remained strong on EU and
international markets in 2004, continuing a trend set
in the previous year. World prices for butter, skim milk
powder, casein and other milk products remained
buoyant in 2004 and showed increases averaging of
23% over the 2003 prices. Export of Irish dairy products
and ingredients experienced a 6% rise in 2004 to
almost €1.86 billion, as Irish exporters responded well
to improved demand. The prices paid to milk producers
remained broadly similar to that paid in 2003.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
John Browne, T.D.,
Minister of State
Brendan Smith, T.D.,
Minister of State
Mary Coughlan, T.D.,
Minister for Agriculture and Food
The year 2004 saw a strong performance by Irish beef
in European markets, with a 7.4% rise in exports to
Continental Europe. According to An Bord Bia, beef exports
were valued at €1.4 billion, representing almost 20% of
total Irish agri-food exports, an increase of almost 8% on
the 2003 value. Beef prices also remained strong for the
whole year. With regard to market access, agreement on
a common EU certificate for beef exports to Russia was
reached in October 2004, which should improve exports
there for 2005. The Algerian market for fresh/chilled beef
re-opened during 2004. My Department, together with the
Department of Foreign Affairs and An Bord Bia, continued
in its efforts to re-open other important markets such as
Iran, the Gulf States, South Africa and the Philippines.
There was a strong market for sheepmeat in 2004. Supplies
increased by 16% over 2003 levels, while prices remained
about the same and exports increased by 17%.
My Department continued to support the food industry
in 2004. Support for the food initiatives in the National
Development Plan 2000-2006 totals €358 million
and is provided for market-focused and cohesive and
comprehensive responses to the needs of the industry.
The range of initiatives seek to enhance the innovative,
marketing and human resources capabilities of the industry
in line with consumer requirements, while ensuring that
development continues to be underpinned by adherence
to the highest food safety and quality standards. Progress
continued to be made in 2004 across all initiatives, and
by year-end some €187 million had been committed.
Review of the year
Another significant development was the return of
responsibility for the development of the forestry sector
to my Department on 1 January 2004. A study of Irish
forestry strategy since 1996 was commissioned in March
and was presented in September. It supported an annual
afforestation target of 20,000 hectares up to the year
2035. The study forms the basis of objective and rational
discussion as to how the forestry sector in Ireland should
be developed.
Overall, 2004 was a very eventful year in which progress
and development was made across a wide range of
areas, but it will undoubtedly be remembered, from
an agri-food perspective, as the year which completed
a highly successful Presidency of the European Union
and which saw major progress made in relation to the
transition to the new Single Payment Scheme.
Mary Coughlan, T.D.
Minister for Agriculture and Food
5
Introduction
Introduction by the Secretary General
by the Secretary General
Following the appointment of a new Minister for Agriculture
and Food in September, a draft Statement of Strategy to
cover the period 2005-2007 was prepared in December
2004, in accordance with the requirements of the Public
Sector Management Act, 1997. This is the fifth Strategy
Statement to be published by the Department.
Tom Moran,
Secretary General
I would firstly like to acknowledge the significant
leadership role played by my predecessor, John Malone,
who retired as Secretary-General of the Department
at the end of 2004, and who skilfully steered the
Department through a very challenging period.
I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of
the staff of the Department in achieving our mission
and goals in 2004 and delivering a range of measures
and services to a wide spectrum of customers and
stakeholders. In particular, the Presidency of the European
Union involved a substantial increase in the workload
of the Department. There were seven meetings of the
Council of Ministers, including the Informal Council in
Killarney in June. Officials chaired almost 100 meetings
of the various Committees and Working Groups which
prepared proposals for submission to the Council. The
Departments management of the Agriculture aspects of
the Presidency was extremely successful.
This Annual Report details progress in relation to the
Department’s goal and strategies contained in our
fourth Statement of Strategy, published in 2003. This
describes the environment, both internal and external
within which the Department operates and identifies the
challenges ahead. It states our mission for a three-year
period, pinpoints the goals and strategies and describes
the evaluation and monitoring process. The Statement
is the framework document, which encompasses all
Departmental operations as it forms the basis of all the
Divisional Business Plans as well as all individual role profiles.
6
Over the period covered by the new Statement
of Strategy, the Department will be seen to give
additional focus to issues which are of increasing
concern to consumers and society more generally, and
which are very much an integral part of its brief. The
Department will be increasingly active in facilitating
developments and programmes aimed at ensuring
that the food industry can respond to emerging
consumer requirements. On issues such as environmental
management, whether in relation to forestry
development, REPS or in other ways, the Department
will equally be active in promoting a well-managed
countryside, which will sustain not alone a vibrant
agriculture sector, but which will add generally to the
quality of life, through its contribution to air and water
quality, biodiversity and recreational opportunity.
Quality service to the customer continued to be a
major priority. During 2004, the Department issued a
Statement of Provisional Single Payment Entitlements for
the Single Payment Scheme to some 133,000 farmers,
including over 10,000 notifications to Special Condition
cases. We also received some 17,500 applications under
Force Majeure and a further 6,500 applications from
farmers who commenced farming during the reference
period Arrangements were put in place (including a
Lo-call Helpline) for dealing with enquiries from farmers.
Substantial progress was again made during 2004 across
a number of key policy areas. These included ongoing
development of our main agri-food industries in line
with the need for greater competitiveness and increased
emphasis on supplying high value added markets, both
in the EU and non-EU countries. Our contribution to
shaping a new CAP and negotiating an acceptable WTO
outcome continued throughout 2004.
It was particularly encouraging to see during the year
a decrease of almost 31% in confirmed BSE cases.
Our focus on consumer issues was further developed
throughout the year and the Department’s Consumer
Liaison Panel continued its work.
In relation to the environment, a major initiative was
the introduction of REPS 3. Under the new scheme,
payments were increased by, on average, 28%, and
for the first time there is a payment on every hectare.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
A new ICT (Information Communication Technology)
Strategy was developed in March 2004, which supports
the Department’s near-term business priorities and
focuses on the use of Information Technology to
facilitate strategic change. The new Strategy incorporates
the Department’s eGovernment strategy.
In relation to the Government’s decentralisation
programme, a Decentralisation Implementation
Committee was set up in the Department to oversee all
aspects of decentralisation of staff. Ongoing liaison took
place with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to provide a
single headquarters building in Portlaoise for 850 people,
laboratories in Macroom for 100 people and local office
in Fermoy for 100 people.
The decentralisation programme and the fundamental
changes to the Common Agriculture Policy agreed by the
Council of Ministers in 2003 will have a very significant
impact on the Department’s business. These changes to
the environment in which we operate represent major
challenges for the Department, but I am confident that
we will adapt successfully, as we have done in adapting
to policy and operational shifts in the past.
Tom Moran
Secretary General
Introduction by the Secretary General
7
Organisation of the Department
Organisation of the Department
As at 31 December 2004, the Department had a staff
complement of 4,753 (638 of whom workshared). There
were 2,693 administrative staff, 355 in veterinary grades,
245 in inspectorate grades, 1,170 in technical grades,
190 in specialist grades and 100 in other grades.
The senior management team is the Management Advisory
Committee (MAC), headed by Mr Tom Moran, Secretary
General and is comprised of nine Assistant Secretaries
General, the Chief Veterinary Officer and the Chief Inspector.
Mr John Malone retired as Secretary General on
31 December 2004.
Their areas of responsibility are set out across.
MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(as at 31 December 2004)
Jim Beecher
Assistant Secretary General
Bart Brady
Assistant Secretary General
Denis Byrne
Assistant Secretary General
John Fox
Assistant Secretary General
John Gillespie
Assistant Secretary General
Seamus Healy
Assistant Secretary General
Tom Moran
Assistant Secretary General
Aidan O’Driscoll
Assistant Secretary General
(appointed Secretary General on
1 January 2005)
Philip O’Reilly
Assistant Secretary General
8
Paddy Rogan
Chief Veterinary Officer
Tom Teehan
Chief Inspector
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Organisation Chart
(as at 31 December 2004)
Head of Division
Agricultural
Payments
Policy
Corporate
Development
Secretary General
John Malone
(Retired 31st December,
replaced by Tom Moran)
John Fox
Assistant Secretary General
Direct Payments
––
––
––
––
––
Agri-Environment/Structures – Michael O’Donovan
Area Aid/Premiums – Paud Evans
Headage/Premiums/Quotas – Andy McGarrigle/Pat Lynch
Integrated Controls – Vacant
Agricultural Environment & Structures – Dan Gahan/Oliver Healy
Denis Byrne
Assistant Secretary General
Market Supports/On Farm
Investments/Forestry
––
––
––
––
Beef Control – Tom O’Hanlon
On-Farm Investments/Subsidies & Storage – Mick Prendergast
Export Refunds – Ray Dollard
Forestry – Ronan O’Flaherty, Diarmuid McAree
Bart Brady
Assistant Secretary General
EU/Corporate Affairs
–– EU/Trade – Tony Burke
–– Corporate Affairs – Aidan Murray
Tom Moran
Assistant Secretary General
Livestock Policy
–– Meat Policy – Philip Carroll
–– Meat Hygiene and Animal By-products – Andy Irving
–– Milk Policy – Martin Heraghty
Jim Beecher
Assistant Secretary General
Economics, Food
& Crop Policy
––
––
––
––
Food – Marian Byrne
Crop Policy & State Bodies – Bridie O’Neill
Economic & Planning Unit – Kevin Smyth
Food Safety Liaison Unit – Joe Shortall
Aidan O’Driscoll
Assistant Secretary General
Financial Systems
––
––
––
––
Finance – Brendan Gleeson
Accounts – Geraldine Mullen
Internal Audit – Michael Flynn
Structural Funds Division – Mick Cronin
John Gillespie
Assistant Secretary General
Human Resources
––
––
––
––
––
Management Services – Luke Mulligan
Personnel – Bert O’Reilly
Accommodation & ISO Project – Danny Carroll
Health and Safety – Brendan McInerney
Legal Services – Randall Plunkett
Philip O’Reilly
Assistant Secretary General
Information Systems
––
––
––
––
––
ISD – John McCarthy
ISD – Christy Philpot
ISD – Robert Butler
ISD – Stephen Fitzpatrick
ISD – Michael Bunyan
Tom Teehan
Chief Inspector
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
Dairy Regions – Denis Corcoran
Dairy HQ & Labs – John Doody
Seed Certification – Vacant
Livestock, Beef & Sheepmeat – Ignatius Byrne
Feedingstuffs, Fertilisers, Grain, Pigs & Poultry – Dermot A. Ryan
Pesticide Registration – Mark Lynch
Pesticides Residues – Dan O’Sullivan
Crop Variety Testing – Nicholas McGill
Horticulture & Plant Health – Michael Hickey
Research, Food & CODEX Co-Ordination – Tony Smith
Special Farm Services, Environment & Evaluation – Matt Sinnott
Crop Production & Safety – Jarlath Coleman
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
––
RVO South West – Pat Flanagan
RVO North West – Oliver McDonagh
RVO North East – Michael Fallon
RVO South East – John Murray
ERAD – Brucellosis – Garry O’Hagan
ERAD – TB – Margaret Good
Beef & Sheepmeat – Paula Barry Walsh
Trade, EU, Class A Diseases – Billy McAteer
Pigmeat & Poultrymeat – David Nolan
BSE, Scrapie, Medicines – John Griffin
Veterinary Zoonoses, Animal Health & Welfare – Pat Brangan
Regional Veterinary Laboratories – Michael Gunn, Deputy Director
Bacteriology VRL – John Egan
Pathology VRL – Paul Collery
Virology VRL – Pat Lenihan
––
––
––
––
ERAD/Disease Eradication – Richard Healy
Animal Health & Welfare – Tom O’Donnell
Beef Assurance Scheme – Brid Cannon
District Veterinary Operations – Dermot Ryan
David Beehan
Deputy Chief Inspector
Paddy Rogan
Chief Veterinary Officer
Food Safety,
Animal Health
Martin Blake
Michael Sheridan
Martin O’Sullivan
Deputy Chief Vet. Officers
John Ferris,
Director, Veterinary
Research Laboratories
Seamus Healy
Assistant Secretary General
Animal Health
Footnote. Mr Paul Dillon, Director, Agriculture Appeals Office reports directly to the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
Organisation of the Department
9
Report on
Departmental Goals
Report on the Department’s Goals for 2004
Goal 1
Agri-Food Development and Trade
Develop an internationally competitive agri-food sector and support and facilitate
trade in agriculture and food products.
Goal 2
Food Safety, Animal Health and Welfare, Plant Health
Ensure the highest standards of food safety and consumer protection, animal
health and welfare and plant health.
Goal 3
International Framework
Achieve the optimum framework for the agri-food sector, rural economy and
the natural environment at EU and at the wider international level and enhance
North/South cooperation.
Goal 4
Rural Economy and Environment
Promote the development of the rural economy and of environmentally friendly
and sustainable systems of agriculture and food production.
Goal 5
Schemes Delivery and Financial Management
Operate all our schemes and programmes in an efficient and effective manner,
and ensure the highest standards of corporate and financial management and
accountability in all our activities.
Goal 6
Operational Capabilities
Develop our human and physical resources, our operational capabilities and ensure
the delivery of quality service to our customers, both internal and external.
12
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
GOAL 1.0
Agri-Food Development and Trade
Develop an internationally competitive agri-food sector and support and
facilitate trade in agriculture and food products
AGRI-FOOD DEVELOPMENT
Sustaining Progress
“Sustaining Progress“, which is the social partnership
agreement for the period 2003-2005, has two major
elements relating to this Department, i.e. the agriculture
provisions and issues relating to public sector pay.
As mentioned elsewhere in this report, very
satisfactory progress was made in 2004 on the
agriculture provisions agreed with the Farming Pillar,
particularly in the following areas:
■
the outcome of the CAP Mid Term Review and the
WTO negotiations has protected farm incomes and
the gains achieved in the Agenda 2000 agreement;
■
mechanical grading has been introduced for cattle
to encourage production for market requirements
and the number of markets closed to Irish beef has
been reduced;
■
■
■
■
increased funding of €16 million was approved for
food research projects under the FIRM programme,
and the value of the prepared consumer food sector
increased in 2004;
the incidence of brucellosis and BSE reduced in
2004 and the review of levies in early 2004 resulted
in a 25% reduction in bovine disease levies for the
farming community;
the published Land Bill will significantly reduce the
burden of land purchase annuities for a large number
of farmers and reduce the overall administrative
burdens associated with land transfers;
Agri-Vision 2015 Committee had Terms of Reference, which
said it should “Review the strategy and recommendations
contained in the Agri-Food 2010 Report in the context of
developments since the report was completed.“
The Committee was comprised of experts from the
farming organisations, the food industry, research,
academia, the state agencies and retailing. They held
regular meetings that covered a comprehensive range
of topics and identified the rapidly changing nature of
Irish agriculture and the issues facing the agriculture
and food industries over the coming decade, such as
the full implementation of the Luxembourg Agreement,
the economic effects of EU Enlargement and WTO
trade negotiations. The report set out a vision of the
future for Irish agriculture, the changes required
and its potential positioning in 2015.
The report contained 53 recommendations covering a
comprehensive range of areas:
■
developing a competitive Irish agriculture and food
industry;
■
building a knowledge based Irish agriculture and
food industry;
■
managing the regulatory environment;
■
the all-island dimension;
■
supporting the public goods output of agriculture;
■
strengthening rural development;
■
improving integrated policy response.
there was increased participation in environmental
schemes in 2004 particularly in REPS where the
take-up is expected to increase due to the higher
payment rates approved in June 2004 and progress
has been made on the implementation of the
Nitrates Directive.
Programme for Government
Very satisfactory progress was made on implementing
the Programme for Government and full details are set
out in Appendix 3.
Agri-Vision 2015
The former Minister for Agriculture and Food, Joe Walsh
established the Agri-Vision 2015 Committee to set out a
vision for the agriculture and food sector over the next
decade. This was to build on the work of the Agri-Food
2010 Committee, which reported in March 2000. The
Goal 1.0
Minister Coughlan at the launch of the 2015 Agri-Vision Report
with Committee Chairman, Alan Dukes, December 2004.
13
Competitiveness
Following previous studies, which were sponsored by the
Department as a result of recommendations from the AgriFood 2010 Committee, results were received of work on
the important area of productivity and competitiveness.
GOAL 1.0
A study was undertaken with the support of the
Department’s Research Stimulus Fund by Alan
Mathews and Carol Newman titled “Measuring And
Understanding Productivity Growth In Irish Agriculture1“
and used data from the Teagasc National Farm Survey.
Fiona Thorne examined the competitiveness of Irish milk,
beef rearing, beef finishing, cereals and sheep production
in “Measuring the Competitiveness of Irish Agriculture,
1996-2000“2. The cash costs for these sectors were
compared with the average costs for some other EU
Member States. This was facilitated by data from the
Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) for the years
1996 to 2000.
POLICY DEVELOPMENTS
Policy Analysis
The Minister launched the Annual Review and Outlook
for Agriculture and Food 2003/2004 in May 2004. The
report contained a broad range of analysis and statistics
relating to the primary agriculture sector and the food
industry. A fact sheet on Irish Agriculture is regularly
up-dated and is available on the Department’s website
www.agriculture.gov.ie, as well as a Compendium
of Irish Agricultural Statistics, which was updated in
November 2004.
Tax Policy
Budget 2004 provided a number of provisions of value
to the agri-food sector. Of particular significance were
the changes to the income tax exemption for land leased
out on a long-term basis. The minimum age for leasors
was reduced from 55 years to 40 years and the rental
income exemption limits for this relief were also raised
from €7,618.43 to €10,000 for leases of seven years or
more and from €5,079 to €7,500 for leases of five to
seven years.
The accelerated rate of capital allowances for investment
in necessary pollution control facilities was renewed
for three years until 31 December 2006. The farming
sector also benefited from an increase in the flat rate
VAT refund for unregistered farmers from 4.3% to 4.4%
and a 25% reduction in disease levies. There were also
increases in social welfare rates including the Farm Assist
Scheme (operated by the Department of Social and
Family Affairs).
AGRICULTURE STATISTICS
OUTPUT, INPUT AND INCOME 2004
Agricultural Output At
Producer And Basic Prices,
Gross Value Added And
Operating Surplus In
Agriculture
Goods Output At Producer Prices
€m
4,967.6
Plus Contract Work
255.1
Plus Subsidies Less Taxes On Product
873.0
Agricultural Output At Basic Prices
6,095.7
Less Intermediate Consumption
3,409.2
Gross Value Added At Basic Prices
2,686.5
Less Fixed Capital Consumption
654.5
Plus Other Subsidies Less Taxes On Production
601.6
Less Compensation Of Employees
424.0
Operating Surplus
2,209.6
Source: CSO Preliminary Estimate Output, Input and Income in Agriculture, February 2005
14
1
Mathews, A. , Newman, C. “Measuring and Understanding Productivity Growth in Irish Agriculture”,
Wissenschaftsverlag Vauk Kiel KG, Kiel, 2004, 179pp.
2
Thorne, F. (2004) “Measuring the Competitiveness of Irish Agriculture, 1996 - 2000”, Teagasc Rural Economy
Research Series No.9
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
COSTS OF PRODUCTION OF MAIN AGRICULTURE SECTORS (2003)
System
Costs of
production of
main agriculture
sectors (2003)
Direct costs
per farm €
Direct costs as
% of output
(excluding
Direct
Payments)
Total costs
per farm €
Total costs as %
of net output
(excluding
Direct
Payments)
All Systems
14,814
43%
29,698
87%
Dairying
31,350
37%
57,551
68%
Dairying +Other
28,592
43%
53,790
80%
Cattle Rearing
5,983
55%
13,527
124%
Cattle Other
8,242
58%
17,725
125%
Mainly Sheep
8,111
49%
18,003
108%
Mainly Tillage
26,164
43%
57,169
94%
Source: Teagasc, National Farm Survey, 2003
FARM NUMBERS
2003
Number of Family Farms
135,300
Source: CSO
AGE PROFILE OF FARMERS (2003)
Age profile of farmers (2003)
Age
No. of farmers
% of farmers
<35
15,000
11%
35-64
92,700
69%
>=65
27,400
20%
Source: CSO
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Agri-Food Measures
The National Development Plan (NDP) provides for
significant public investment over the 2000-2006 period
in actions that directly impact on rural areas. The main
agricultural element is the CAP Rural Development
Plan covering the Rural Environment Protection Scheme
(REPS), early retirement, compensatory allowances
and forestry. Complementary measures under various
Operational Programmes provide support for a wide
range of initiatives under the following broad headings:
■
■
■
■
■
on-farm investment such as farm waste
management and dairy hygiene;
research, training and advisory services;
ancillary forestry investment;
installation aid for young farmers;
food-related capital investment, research and
marketing initiatives.
Goal 1.0
Details of expenditure in 2004 and for the 2000-2004
period under the various measures are set out at
Appendix 4. In 2004, overall progress was good with
expenditure on target in many areas. The changes
introduced to the REPS scheme deserve particular
mention. These were approved by the EU Commission in
May 2004 and, in line with recommendations from the
mid-term evaluation of the CAP Rural Development Plan,
included substantial increases in payment rates.
Modulation
In 2004, there was widespread public consultation and
Departmental consideration on the most appropriate use
of modulated funds. Modulation involves set deductions
from the direct single agricultural support payments.
The sums involved are then available to use for certain
rural development measures – commencing in 2006. For
2006, the potential use is limited to existing measures in
the CAP Rural Development Plan – REPS, compensatory
allowances, early retirement and forestry – and the new
15
possibilities introduced by the CAP mid-term review –
meeting standards, animal welfare, food quality, advisory
services. From 2007, potential use will be extended to all
measures included in the 2007-2013 rural development
framework, while any multi-annual commitment
measures chosen will also extend into that period.
GOAL 1.0
It is estimated that some €16 million in EU funding will
be available for use in 2006. This rises to €31 million in
2008 and subsequent years. It will not be possible to be
definitive on these figures until after payments under
the Single Payment Scheme are made. A decision on
the issue will be taken in 2005 and the necessary EU
approval will then be sought.
On-Farm Investment and Installation
Aid Schemes
Work continued during 2004 on the On-Farm Investment
Schemes (i.e. Farm Waste Management Scheme, Dairy
Hygiene Scheme and Alternative Enterprises Scheme) and
the Installation Aid Scheme, established under the aegis
of the National Development Plan 2000-2006. In line
with the commitments contained in the 2003 Sustaining
Progress Agreement, revised Farm Waste Management
and Dairy Hygiene Schemes were introduced at the
beginning of 2004. The changes included an increase
in the maximum income limit for farmers from 200 to
450 Income Units, higher maximum eligible investment
ceilings and the introduction of a standard grant rate of
40%. As a result, there was a substantial up-turn in the
number of applications received under both Schemes
during the course of the year.
Expenditure during 2004 on the Schemes was as follows:
(see top of next column)
NDP Scheme
Amount Paid
(€m)
16.655
Farm Waste Management
Dairy Hygiene
2.952
Alternative Enterprises
0.654
Installation Aid
6.480
In addition to the above Schemes, residual payments
continued under the On-Farm Investment Schemes which
preceded the Schemes introduced under the National
Development Plan:
Pre-NDP Schemes
Amount Paid
(€m)
0.032
Farm Improvement (Horticulture)
National Dairy Hygiene Scheme
0.025
National Farm Pollution/Control of
Farm Pollution Schemes
National Scheme of Installation Aid
0.400
0.548
Pullathomas Landslide Damage
Relief Scheme
A sum of €100,000 was paid during the year to those
farmers affected by the landslide in the Pullathomas area
of Co. Mayo in late 2003.
Forestry Grant and Premium Schemes
Responsibility for the development of the forestry sector
transferred from the Department of Communications,
Marine and Natural Resources to the Department of
Agriculture and Food in January 2004. Funding for
forestry was substantially increased during 2004.
Summary of output in 2004 under all Forestry Grant and Premium Schemes.
Measure/Sub-measure
Grant Scheme
CAP Rural Development
Plan 2000-2006. Forestry
Measure
Regional Operational
Programmes 2000-2006.
Woodland Improvement
Sub-Measure
Woodland Improvement
Forest Roads
Payments €m
Area Hectare (unless
otherwise stated)
Afforestation Grants
25.221
9,739*
2nd Instalments
10.555
Forest Premiums
54.067
0.262
50
High Pruning
0.04
64
Reconstitution
3.991
3,658
Shaping Broadleaves
0.087
659
Native Woodland
0.588
217
NeighbourWood
0.149
130
Forest Roads
1.391
70 (kilometres)
* This figure only refers to the number of hectares in respect of which grants were actually paid in 2004. The actual
area planted would have been somewhat higher.
16
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
FOOD INDUSTRY
Development Programme for the
Food Industry
Funding for the food initiatives in the NDP 2000 -2006 is
provided under the Productive Sector and Employment &
Human Resource Development Operational Programmes.
These “food“ initiatives, which take account of the
recommendations of the Food Industry Development
Group and the Agri-Food 2010 Committee, are marketfocused and designed to provide a cohesive and
comprehensive response to the needs of the industry.
Administered jointly by the Department and the
development agencies, the range of initiatives seek to
enhance the innovative, marketing and human resources
capabilities of the industry in line with customer
requirements, while ensuring that development continues
to be underpinned by adherence to the highest food
safety and quality standards.
NDP Approvals and Expenditure for 2004
Measure
Capital Investment
Expenditure Expenditure
2004
2000-2004
(€m)
(€m)
10.50
34.26
Research
■ In-Company Research
1.57
8.79
■ Food Institutional
Research (FIRM)
Marketing & Promotion
6.74
32.14
4.71
28.71
Human Resources
1.55
9.46
25.07
113.36
Total
Under the Capital Investment Measure, the Department
administers a scheme to assist capital projects in the
horticulture, potato, eggs, grain and livestock marketing
and processing sectors. During 2004, 41 projects were
awarded funding of €14.65 million. Expenditure in
relation to these projects will materialise in the 20052007 period. Expenditure in 2004 totalled €3.6 million in
respect of projects awarded in 2002. The following table
shows expenditure and awards by sector to date.
Sector
Expenditure (€m)
2004
Expenditure (€m)
2000- 2004
Awards (€m)
2000-2004
HORTICULTURE
0.380
1.716
3.638
POTATO
0.336
0.907
7.224
NIL
1.176
2.756
GRAIN
2.826
6.839
12.607
LIVESTOCK
0.058
0.265
4.229
TOTAL
3.600
10.903
30.454
EGGS
Goal 1.0
17
In relation to the Food Institutional Research Measure
(FIRM), 110 projects were awarded funding following
general calls in 2000 and 2004 and a targeted call in 2001.
An amount of €7.46 million was paid out in 2004 in
respect of these projects. The following table shows awards
and expenditure under the various research themes to date.
GOAL 1.0
Theme
Expenditure (€m)
2004
Expenditure (€m)
2000-2004
Awards (€m)
2000-2004
CONSUMER FOODS
0.998
4.802
7.745
DAIRY
1.041
4.046
8.152
DNA TECHNOLOGY
1.055
1.267
2.167
FOOD INGREDIENTS
0.257
2.854
3.207
FOOD SAFETY
1.055
6.604
8.057
FOOD VIRUSES
0.362
0.776
0.947
0.0
0.213
0.607
MEAT
0.855
2.996
6.919
MISC
1.052
3.672
6.457
NUTRITION
0.152
2.387
2.539
PROCESS DESIGN
0.137
1.267
1.380
RESIDUES
0.180
0.430
0.630
TSE
0.316
0.772
1.198
7.46
32.086
50.005
FOOD WASTE
TOTAL
An Bord Bia
An Bord Bia has responsibility under the An Bord Bia Acts
1994-2004 to promote, assist and develop the marketing
of Irish food, livestock and horticulture, including amenity
horticulture, on the home and export markets through the
provision of innovative market development, promotion
and information services. The Board has overseas offices in
eight strategic locations, Amsterdam, Chicago, Frankfurt,
London, Madrid, Milan, Moscow and Paris.
In July 2004, following the enactment of the An Bord
Bia (Amendment) Act, 2004 which merged Bord Glas
with Bord Bia, the Board assumed responsibility for the
marketing and promotion of horticulture, including
amenity horticulture. The Act also provided for dedicated
horticultural representation on the Main Board and for
the establishment of a Subsidiary Board for horticulture.
This was established in 2004.
Food Marketing and Promotion initiatives of the National
Development Plan. Bord Bia operate two grant schemes
to assist the marketing capabilities of micro, small and
medium-sized enterprises food companies – the Market
Improvement Assistance Programme and the Market
Participation Programme. It also operates Quality Assurance
Schemes for beef, pigmeat, eggs and horticulture.
Bord Glas
Grant-in-aid of €2.5 million was provided to Bord Glas in
2004 to support production, marketing and consumption
of horticultural produce. Bord Glas was amalgamated
with Bord Bia on 1 July 2004.
Teagasc
Funding of €117 million was provided to Teagasc for
research, training and advisory activities by way of Grantin-Aid and funding under the National Development
Plan, 2000-2006. Expenditure by Teagasc in 2004 was
approximately €159 million.
Research Stimulus Fund & the United
States/Ireland Co-operation Programme
An Bord Bia is funded via Grant-in-Aid, statutory levies,
service fees and industry income. The Grant-in-Aid for
2004 was €17 million, including €4.7 million under the
18
In 2004 the Department spent €0.6 million under the
Research Stimulus Fund of the National Development Plan
and €0.05 million on the United States/Ireland Co-operation
Programme in Agricultural Science and Technology.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Agricultural Promotion Schemes
(Council Regulation No. 2826/2000)
The Department concluded a one-year contract with Irish
Egg Marketing Ltd to fund an information campaign
to inform consumers about new rules on the marking
of eggs. The campaign has a budget of €150,000 and
is being funded 50:20:30 by the EU Commission, the
Department and Irish Egg Marketing Ltd.
COMMODITIES REPORT
Beef
The policy framework under which the beef sector
operates is the Agenda 2000 Agreement. It provides
for increased compensation for farmers through direct
payments. Premia in the beef sector amounted to
€789 million in 2004. This was the last year of premia
payments to farmers, as under the Mid Term Review
of the Agenda 2000 Agreement, the nature of support
has changed. Under the reformed Common Agricultural
Policy, market supports will now come as part of a
Single Payment Scheme, decoupled from production.
This new policy framework will require a more marketoriented approach by farmers, with a renewed focus
on competitiveness, quality production and producer/
processor relationships.
Total slaughterings at export premises for Irish beef in
2004 decreased to 1.74 million head compared with
1.76 million in 2003. Steer slaughterings were down
6%, heifer slaughterings were down 5% and cow
slaughterings were up by 3%.
2004 saw another strong performance by Irish beef
in European markets with a 7.4% rise in exports
to Continental Europe to 174,000 tonnes. The UK
continued to be the main single market outlet for Irish
beef with 264,000 tonnes exported to this market
in 2004. The EU comprised 90% of our total exports
compared with 83% in 2003. According to Bord Bia
beef exports were valued at €1.4 billion in 2004, which
represented almost 20% of total Irish agri-food exports,
an 8% rise on 2003. In the last three years, the focus of
the Irish beef industry has been to broaden and expand
its market reach at EU retail level, shifting its orientation
away from international commodity markets and into the
higher priced internal EU marketplace. This has coincided
with reduced dependence on support measures such as
intervention and export refunds. An increased presence
in this highly sophisticated, high value market is the key
to the success of the beef industry in the long term.
Russia continued to be our main Third Country market
with a total of 47,000 tonnes exported there in 2004.
Goal 1.0
Live Cattle Exports
Irish cattle exports were 135,000 head during 2004, which
represented a fall of 39% on 2003 levels, due mainly to
the high prices available on the domestic and high value
Continental markets. The majority of cattle exported were
weanlings and stores, which accounted for over 69% of
the total at 93,000. Calf exports were 35,000 head, the
majority of which went to the Netherlands. Exports to our
principal market, Northern Ireland, increased by 18% to
47,000 in 2004 compared with 40,000 in 2003. Spain
and Italy continue to be major markets for Irish cattle,
with 21,000 exported to Spain and 20,000 to Italy during
2004. Exports to Third Countries fell from 37,000 in 2003
to almost 12,000 in 2004.
Beef Prices
Beef prices in 2004 remained strong for the whole year.
Prices in all three categories (steers, heifers and cows)
reached their highest levels in six years. Looking at the
average prices for cattle over the year, all three categories
display significant increases with steers up 9%, heifers
up 8% and cows up by 16% on 2003. Prices remained
higher in 2004 than for the comparative period in
2003 during virtually the whole year thus providing a
consistently good return for the producer during 2004.
Market Access for Beef
Exports of beef to Third Countries amounted to 55,000
tonnes, with Russia remaining our major Third Country
outlet. An agreement on a common EU certificate for
beef exports to Russia was reached in October 2004,
which should improve exports there for 2005. While
the Egyptian market was open, trade was restricted by
particular supply conditions laid down for exports from
Ireland. The Algerian market for fresh/chilled beef reopened during 2004, with hopes for the re-opening of
the frozen market in 2005. This will boost trade in the
region. Markets in general were affected by a reduction in
exports to Russia and increased international competition.
The Department, together with the Department of
Foreign Affairs and An Bord Bia, continued in its efforts
to re-open other important markets such as Iran, the
Gulf States, South Africa and the Philippines.
Beef Carcase Classification
Responsibility for the Beef Carcase Classification
Service passed to the industry on 1 August 2004. The
Department’s role is now one of supervision and control.
Three systems were approved following authorisation
tests conducted in 2003 in accordance with the provisions
of EU Regulation 1215/2003. Machines are now installed
in 24 meat plants accounting for almost 95% of our
beef exports. The remainder of the meat plants use
Department trained factory employees to classify.
19
Cattle Breeding
GOAL 1.0
The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) was formally
established in 1997 to develop national cattle breed
improvement programmes to achieve the greatest
possible genetic improvement in the national herd
for the benefit of Irish cattle farmers, the dairy and
beef industries and its member organisations. It is a
co-operative in which the AI centres, Milk Recording
organisations, Cattle Herd Book Societies and the main
farmer associations are shareholders.
During 2004 ICBF took a number of further major steps
forward in the operation and establishment of a national
cattle-breeding infrastructure. The Animal Events system
recorded 423,000 calf births, an increase of 32% on
the 2003 figure. The cattle breeding database fully
supports the information requirements of most of the
cattle herd books in Ireland. Milk recording processing
was conducted directly from the database for over
6,000 herds and almost 400,000 cows. Dairy trait
genetic evaluations were produced routinely four times
during the year in accordance with an internationally
established timetable. The economic values used in the
EBI were updated and an extensive education campaign
conducted in association with Teagasc. As a result, the
EBI is now well established as the main criterion for
dairy cattle breeding decisions in Ireland. Prototype
across breed genetic evaluations for calving traits and
the full range of beef traits were developed in 2004,
with full implementation planned for early 2005. These
evaluations make use of the extensive calving, beef
performance and slaughter data now being routinely
collected and assembled in the ICBF database. Funding of
€706,000 was provided under the National Development
Plan to assist with these projects.
Having taken over the operation of the National Bull
Performance Testing Centre at Tully in September 2002,
ICBF held its second sale of bulls in March 2004. By
the end of 2004, the Centre was full to capacity, with
bulls whose overall merit exceeds the highest average
achieved in the history of the Centre. Farmer feedback
continues to be very positive with major bull studs now
keen to contribute bulls.
A new Irish Shorthorn Society Co-operative LT.D. was
established during 2004 at the request of Irish Shorthorn
breeders. This Society intends to heighten the profile and
awareness of the merits of dairy, beef and dual-purpose
Shorthorn cattle in Ireland.
Sheep
There was a strong market for sheepmeat in 2004.
Supplies increased by 16% over 2003 levels, while prices
were about the same as in 2003, reflecting good demand
20
on the home and export markets. Nearly 3.23 million head
were slaughtered at export plants, reflecting increased
disposals of ewes and lambs, influenced by good prices
and by the impact of decoupling on the sector.
Exports increased by 17% to 51,500 tonnes with the UK
and Germany showing the biggest increases, while France
remained the principal export market with 33,500 tonnes.
Direct payments to farmers under the 2004 ewe premium
and ewe national envelope scheme totalled €107.4 million,
as compared with €109.3 million for 2003. It was the final
year for the ewe premium scheme, following the decision
to decouple direct payments from 1 January 2005.
Milk
Prices for dairy products remained strong on EU
and international markets in 2004, continuing a trend
set in the previous year. World prices for butter, skim
milk powder, casein and other milk products remained
buoyant in 2004 and showed increases averaging of
23% over the 2003 prices. Export of Irish dairy products
and ingredients experienced a 6% rise in 2004 to
almost €1.86 billion, as Irish exporters responded well
to improved demand. The prices paid to milk producers
remained broadly similar to that paid in 2003.
As part of the Mid-Term Reform of the CAP, the first
intervention price reductions for butter and SMP were
implemented on 1 July 2004. These reductions will result in
25% cut in butter intervention price over four years and 15%
cut in SMP intervention price over 3 years. The reductions will
be partly compensated by way of direct payments to dairy
farmers, which in 2004 amounted to over €60 million.
Following the publication of the Prospectus Report in
2003 which set out a strategic development plan for
the dairy sector, the Minister met with all of the major
players in the dairy industry to discuss the findings of
the report and to encourage their implementation. The
Report identified the need for increased efficiencies and
scaling up of production in the sector to enable it develop
in an increasingly internationalised marketplace. Decisions
regarding future investment and strategic direction now
rest with the individual enterprises in the industry.
Quota Management
The Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme is the main means
by which milk quota is acquired by producers. Under the
2004 scheme about 174 million litres (38 million gallons)
of quota was redistributed to 11,000 producers, just
less than half the producers currently in production. The
maximum price for quota was set at €0.31 per litre, the
same price as 2003.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
The changes made in 2003 to the Milk Quota
Regulations expanded the Partnership framework to
provide for the registration of New Entrant/Parent Milk
Production Partnerships. In the 2004 Restructuring
Scheme, 87 qualified young farmers were allocated
quota for the purpose of forming New Entrant/Parent
Milk Production Partnerships. There are now a total of
261 such partnerships. In addition there is a total of 37
Standard Milk Production Partnerships, 15 of which were
formed in 2004.
The volume of pigmeat exports in 2004 fell by 3%
compared to 2003. Domestic consumption remained
steady at 146,000 tonnes cwe. Exports to all destinations
reached 117,000 tonnes cwe. The UK continued to
account for just over half of Irish pigmeat exports while
the balance was divided equally between other EU and
third countries. The main international markets were
Japan, USA and Russia.
In the milk quota year 2003/2004 Ireland’s deliveries of
milk exceeded the national quota by 26 million litres and
a super levy liability of €9.57 million became payable to
the EU Commission.
New Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme
Changes announced to the milk quota restructuring
scheme in 2004 included the introduction of a fixed
price for the sale and purchase of quota at 17.5 cents
per litre (80 cents per gallon) in the 2005 Scheme, with
a reduction of at least 5.5 cents per litre (25cents per
gallon) to a price not exceeding 12 cents per litre (55
cents per gallon) for the 2006 restructuring pool. The
new arrangements also reduce the allocation categories
to two on a 350,000 litre (77,000 gallons) divide with a
2:1 distribution ratio. The two allocation categories will
simplify the existing scheme.
The new fixed price takes account of the decoupled support
payments and the fact that quota sold in 2005 would
not include the value of the decoupled dairy premium.
The restructuring scheme will continue to operate on
a co-op collection area basis and in the event of quota
purchased under the programme not being sold within
three months of purchase. A mechanism will be put in
place to distribute such quota on a national basis.
Poultry
Indigenous poultrymeat production in 2004 increased
by 4.5% from the previous year and this represented a
total of approximately 125,000 tonnes. The market was
competitive and the upward trend in imports continued,
but prices in 2004 remained stable for both producers
and processors.
Exports volumes increased in 2004 and were valued in
excess of €230 million. This figure includes processed
poultry products and prepared meals.
Pigmeat
Eggs
The Irish pigmeat market in 2004 was satisfactory.
Positive factors that helped the market were a decrease
in feed prices towards the latter half of the year
and the temporary introduction of export refunds
at the beginning of the year. The average price paid
to producers was €133/100kgs, (grade E carcases,
excluding VAT), an increase of 8% compared to 2003.
The Irish price was over 96% of the EU average.
The volume of egg production in 2004 was 569 million
eggs. More than 90% of eggs sold are produced in
accordance with the Egg Quality Assurance Scheme
operated by Bord Bia.
2.7 million pigs were slaughtered in 2004, a decline of 4.5%
on the 2003 kill. This was due in particular to continuing
live exports to Northern Ireland, and to a reduction of
approximately 6% in the number of pigs produced.
Goal 1.0
Cereals
A bumper EU harvest in 2004 saw total grain production
reach an estimated 284 million tonnes, an increase of 57
million tonnes on the drought-affected harvest of 2003.
In the EU-15 Member States, total production is forecast
at 221 million tonnes, while the 10 new Member States
had an estimated production of 63 million tonnes.
21
GOAL 1.0
2004 was a reasonably good year for cereal producers
in Ireland. The weather was broken for most of the
harvesting period this year, but a fine spell in late August
and early September helped to bring in a good harvest.
Record yields were achieved on many farms, with
winter wheat and spring barley in particular producing
a consistently high yield. The overall area under cereals
was in the region of 299,000 hectares. Cereal production
was up considerably, with total production reaching
2.253 million tonnes, an increase in excess of 100,000
tonnes on the 2003 harvest. Total wheat production at
955,000 tonnes accounts for most of this increase. Barley
production amounted to 1.153 million tonnes, while
production of oats was at 145,000 tonnes.
Preliminary estimates put output value at €166 million –
a decrease of 3.4% on the 2003 figure, while EU arable
aid payments of €133 million were made in 2004.
Early indications show a drop in the sowing of winter
cereals, with initial estimates suggesting that winter
sowings are back by up to 25% in some areas. This
situation is a due to a combination of the bad weather
experienced during peak sowing time in autumn
2004, uncertainty concerning entitlements following
decoupling, and farmers reconsidering their conacre
options in the light of the new Single Payment Scheme.
Sugar
There was no reduction in quotas for the 2004/2005
marketing year as exports were within WTO limits. A very
good harvest was reported and contracted beet delivered
had a high sugar content due to the good weather and
was sufficient to more than fill the full quota. A total of
seven inspections were carried out during the production
season to verify sugar production, along with an annual
stock count of all storage facilities.
In July the EU Commission published broad proposals for
reform of the EU sugar regime. In October, a WTO Panel
ruled against aspects of the regime. The EU decided
to appeal the ruling. The Commission is expected to
produce formal legislative proposals for reform in May or
June 2005, after the outcome of the WTO Panel appeal.
Potatoes
While acreage declined, improved yields generated an extra
50,000 tonnes of production. This led to an oversupply
situation in the market and downward pressure on prices.
Horticulture
The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Commercial
Horticulture Sector was launched in 2001 under the
National Development Plan 2000-2006. Under the first
two rounds of the scheme a total of €5.3 million was
paid out to some 300 applicants. Under Round 3 in 2004
a sum of €3.12 million was paid to 97 applicants.
Mushrooms continued to be the most important
horticultural crop. Market returns remained under
pressure, however, and a number of growers ceased
production. The Mushroom Task Force was set up in
December 2003 to address the problems facing the
industry. A Report was issued in May 2004 and made
a number of recommendations aimed at securing the
future viability of the industry. Implementation of these
recommendations is ongoing.
Minister of State Brendan Smith, T.D. meeting with the members of
the Mushroom Task Force Implementation Group, December 2004.
Rationalisation of the fruit and vegetable sectors
continued at production, packing and marketing levels.
Most mushroom growers and many fruit and vegetable
producers are now members of producer organisations
and can therefore take advantage of aid under the
Common Organisation of the Market (COM) for Fruit
and Vegetables to better meet market and environmental
needs. A number of Producer Organisations amalgamated
in 2004, leading to further concentration in supply.
The market for nursery stock continues to expand. This
sector plays a very important support role in making a wide
range of high quality plants available to Irish garden centres.
22
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Crop Variety Testing
Seed Certification
In the region of 330 varieties of grass, clover, barley, wheat,
oats, maize, sugar beet and potatoes were evaluated in
National and Recommended List trials in 2004. Overall,
conditions for sowing and harvesting crops in 2004 were
good and no major difficulties were encountered.
Varieties of agricultural crop species marketed in
Ireland must be listed on the Irish National Catalogue
of Agricultural Plant Varieties, or the EU Common
Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species, and
only certified seed of these varieties may be marketed.
Certified seed must meet certain quality standards
for varietal identity and purity, germination capacity
and disease levels. The main components of the Seed
Certification Scheme comprise a field inspection service;
pre and post control testing; EU Comparative Trials; seed
sampling, testing and labelling. A detailed statistical
database is maintained on the Certification Scheme;
information on seed availability is released to the seed
trade and Agri-media on a regular basis.
The varieties of each species considered most suitable
for Irish producers, given our environment and range of
soils types, were selected from these trials and published
in Recommended List Booklets and on the Department’s
website www.agriculture.gov.ie.
No. of Varieties Evaluated in 2004
Grass
82
Clover
13
Cereals
170
Maize
25
Sugar Beet
30
Potatoes
8
Open Days for the Irish Seed Trade Association and the
Maize Growers Association were held at The National
Crop Variety Testing Centre, Backweston, Co. Kildare,
during the year. The Tops Farm, Raphoe, and the Crop
Variety Testing Facilities, both at Kildalton Agricultural
College and Moorepark, Fermoy hosted groups interested
in the various trials being carried out.
A number of grass and cereal trials were carried out with
a view to ascertaining those varieties better suited to
more extensive agricultural systems. This work is ongoing.
Cooperation continued with the Malting Industry with
the provision of agronomic data from official trials, as
well as varietal samples for evaluation and analysis in
order to determine their malting potential.
Genetically Modified Crops
Work is continuing in the Department towards the
development of policy in relation to Genetic Modification
(GM) issues in the area of crop production. The
Working Group, (comprising representatives of the
Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department
of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,
the Environmental Protection Agency and Teagasc),
established by the Department to examine the
issues involved in the coexistence of GM crops with
conventional crops and organic farming, is expected to
present its Report in early 2005.
Goal 1.0
Total Area of Crops Approved for Certification
in 2004 (ha)
Cereals
9,778
Potatoes
1,338
Pulses
31
Grasses
45
During 2004, 194 varieties were maintained in vitro at
the Potato Laboratories, Tops, Raphoe, Co. Donegal.
Approximately 28,300 potato minitubers from 12
different potato varieties were grown in virus proof
tunnels and approximately 100 tonnes of pre-basic seed
potatoes were produced on the farm. Five new potato
seedlings were tested for distinctness, uniformity and
stability as prescribed by the International Union for the
Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). A reference
collection of potato varieties was also maintained.
Agricultural and horticultural seeds subject to official
certification also require to be officially tested for
purity and germination to ensure compliance with EU
seed regulations. These tests were carried out at the
Department’s Seed Testing Station and almost 11,000
were carried out in 2004.
Forest Reproductive Material
The Forest Service is responsible for implementing
Council Directive 1999/105/EC on the marketing of forest
reproductive material. Forest reproductive material (FRM)
is a collective term to describe seeds, plants and cuttings,
which are important for forestry purposes. The aim of
the legislation is to ensure that FRM which is marketed
is from approved suitable sources and is clearly labelled
and identified throughout the entire process from seed
collection to processing, storage, plant production and
delivery to the final end user.
23
GOAL 1.0
The main activities in 2004 were as follows:
24
■
Registration and auditing of suppliers of FRM – seed
collectors, nurseries, seed and plant importers;
■
Issuing of Certificates of Provenance for seed collections;
■
Maintaining National Register of Seed Stands in
association with COFORD;
■
Issuing export documents to other Member States;
■
Advising public and trade concerning FRM regulations;
■
Participated, under the Irish Presidency, the Biennial
meeting of the National Designated Authorities for
the equivalent OECD scheme for the control of forest
reproductive material moving in international trade.
HORSE INDUSTRY
Irish National Stud Company Ltd.
To date the State has purchased shares in the Company
to the value of almost €12.7 million. The funds have
largely been channelled into the purchase of top quality
stallions. The acquisition of these stallions has underpinned
the success of the Stud and brought the Company back
from a loss-making position in the early 1990’s to a viable
and profit making operation today. The Stud and gardens
continue to be one of the country’s main tourists attractions.
Irish Horse Board
The equine industry, with its many and varied facets,
including show jumping, racing, leisure activities,
breeding and training, is a very important one. It
contributes substantially to the generation of income
from a valuable alternative farm enterprise, to
employment, tourism, rural development, and the social,
community and cultural life of the country and the
economy as a whole. The Department paid €525,000
to the Irish Horse Board (IHB) in 2004.
Racing Academy and Centre for Education
In 2004 grant assistance amounting to €1.3 million was
paid to the Racing Academy and Centre for Education
(RACE) for the fitting out of new facilities at the recently
constructed equestrian centre. This Centre will facilitate
the centralising and delivery of activities on site and will
allow RACE to further develop, improve and expand it’s
existing facility for the training of young people entering
the horse racing industry.
National Development Plan 2000-2006
Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 (NDP),
the Department funded the construction of a farriery
school at RACE. Farriery has been identified as an
important support service for the horse industry and
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
the availability of quality farriery is seen as critical to the
production of marketable quality horses. Grand aid of
€712,447 has been paid by the Department towards
the costs of establishing a farriery school at RACE. The
Department made a payment of €28,687 in 2004
towards the cost of setting up a Farriery Register, which
has been made available to the industry in booklet and
electronic form. The Department also provided €309,832
under the NDP in 2004 to the University of Limerick,
towards the cost of developing and delivering third
level non degree courses in equine science, to meet
the ongoing needs of the horse industry.
Access to quality diagnostic and research services into
Equine Diseases is equally important for the breeders
of thoroughbred and sport horses. For this reason
the Department has provided €2.979 million in grant
assistance under the NDP to the Irish Equine Centre to
assist it in providing enhanced services to best meet the
needs of the horse industry in the period 2001-2004.
There are a variety of equine schemes funded under
the NDP, some of which are administered on behalf
of the Department by the Irish Horse Board, that
have the specific objective of improvement of equine
quality. These include the Stallion Performance Testing
Scheme, Quality Mare Competitions and DNA testing
to verify pedigree. Other areas of activity focusing
on improvement in equine quality funded under the
NDP, which also involve the IHB, include Studbook
Establishment and Development, formulation of Genetic
Indexes, Promotion and Marketing and the Quality
Stallion Purchase Incentive Scheme. The Department
provided €2,079,263 under the NDP up to the end of
2004 to the Irish Horse Board for these services. Funding
of €191,823 was provided to breeders for the purchase
of quality stallions for breeding purposes over the same
period. The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association
(ITBA) has received funding of €32,098 under the NDP
for education training and promotional activities.
Goal 1.0
25
GOAL 2.0
Food Safety, Animal Health and Welfare and Plant Health
Ensure the highest standards of food safety and consumer protection, animal health
and welfare and plant health
FOOD SAFETY
The Department continued to implement policies to
ensure that food is produced to the highest possible
standards of safety. It pursues this objective through
the deployment of over 1,700 staff in monitoring,
surveillance and inspection services along the links of
the food chain. A lot of this work is now governed to a
large extent by a service contract with the Food safety
Authority (FSAI). An amendment was made to the
service contract in June 2004 to include food labelling
for products such as fruit juices and jams covered by
product specific EU directives.
There is continued collaboration between the
Department and other agencies on the development of
food safety legislation. These include the Department of
Health & Children, the Department of Communications,
Marine & Natural Resources, the Food Safety Authority
of Ireland, Food Safety Promotion Board (Safefood), and
the North/South Secretariat. There is also well established
communications with the Food and Veterinary Office,
the European Commission and other European and
international agencies.
The Department made a number of presentations to
various groups, and has attended exhibitions. It has
also published leaflets to help raise awareness among
them of their primary responsibilities in producing and
supplying safe food.
Food Labelling
A report on food labelling was presented to the Minister
in December 2002. It contained 21 recommendations
covering general labelling rules, policy and enforcement,
consumer education and awareness and origin. The
enforcement of all of the food labelling regulations
has now been centralised in the FSAI. This will not
only streamline the enforcement measures, but it will
also provide a one-stop shop for any complaints on
mislabelling of food.
In relation to the labelling of the origin of meat, two
Regulations on the labelling of poultry meat were
introduced at the beginning of 2004. The first of
these Regulations required poultrymeat (loose and prepackaged) originating in a country outside the EU to bear
an indication of the country of origin when offered for
sale in a retail premises. The second, required information
regarding class, price per unit weight, condition and
slaughterhouse details in respect of loose poultrymeat
(i.e. non-prepackaged) to be provided to the consumer.
26
Controls on Imports of Animal
Products for Human Consumption
from Third Countries
To ensure protection of public and animal health
EU harmonised controls are applied to all imports of
animal products (including fish) into the EU at approved
Border Inspection Posts (BIPs). Animal products entering
the EU must have health certification and have been
obtained from approved countries and establishments
that have production and processing controls equivalent
to those within the EU. Where a consignment is found
not to comply with the animal and public health import
conditions it is seized either for re-exportation to the
country of origin or for destruction. Importers are
required under EU and national legislation to pay fees
towards the cost of these border controls.
Where an outbreak of animal disease occurs in an
approved third country, or in a third country region,
the EU may invoke safeguard measures controlling
or banning import until the risks to public health and
EU economic production have been removed. During
2004 safeguard measures were applied in respect of
outbreaks/suspected outbreaks of:
■
Avian Influenza in Thailand, Peoples Republic
of China including Hong Kong, South Korea,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Laos,
Pakistan, Vietnam, Canada, South Africa and
United States of America, and
■
Newcastle Disease in Bulgaria
Dublin Port and Shannon Airport have BIP facilities
that are approved for application of veterinary and
public health checks and this is also where the import
safeguard measures are applied. During 2004 total of
17,915,364.24kg of animal products comprising 488
consignments (363 in 2003) were checked and approved
for entry into the EU through these BIPs. During 2004 one
consignment of animal products (12 in 2003) was rejected.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Registration as an importer of animal products is a
national prerequisite and over 530 importers and their
agents were registered under new legislation (S.I. No 269
of 2004) during this year.
for import of ‘intermediate’ products have yet to be
adopted. During 2004 a total of 441 consignments of
animal by-products were presented for entry into the EU
through Irish BIPs (430 during 2003).
To reduce risks to public and animal health, the EU
adopted a Regulation providing for the banning of the
personal importation from most third countries of animal
products such as meat and milk for own consumption.
Travellers to these countries and those providing them
with travel services have been advised not to bring such
products in personal luggage. In co-operation with the
Port and Customs authorities, checks are carried out
at airports and ports. During 2004 a total of 1,269
confiscations for destruction were made (4,101 in 2003)
comprising a total of 4,775kgs of animal products
(13,147kgs in 2003).
The Department’s Food Safety Liaison Division issued import
licences for the following purposes during 2004 (2003):
In addition 28 non-compliant small commercial
consignments comprising a total of 17,929kgs were
discovered at airports/ports where there are no BIP
facilities. These were seized for destruction on account
of non-compliance with import regulations. During 2003
a total of 32 consignments weighing 26,700kgs were
discovered and destroyed.
Licences are issued for re-importation of consignments of
Irish products that have been rejected by the importing
country’s competent authority or by the consignee. Such
consignments must re-enter the EU through a BIP. A total of
19 re-import licences were issued during 2004 (49 in 2003).
Under authorisations issued by the Department of
Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the
Department’s BIPs also operate EU border controls on
imports of fish from third countries. The number of
consignments presented for checks in 2004 was 229
compared to 158 during 2003.
Controls on Imports of Animal By-Products
and of Samples from Third Countries
not Destined for Human Consumption
The provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002
on animal by-products are applied to imports from
third countries by the BIPs. Products include those
destined for use in the manufacture of in vitro diagnostic
equipment (IVD), for pharmaceutical use and for the
manufacture of technical products. Licences are also
issued for importation of samples of animal products
used for trade exhibition purposes or for research, as
well for importation of non-harmonised animal products
in accordance with national rules. This latter has applied
in particular to import of products for IVD manufacture
as harmonised provisions in Regulation 1774/2002
Goal 2.0
Import Licence Category
2004
2003
Trade & Research Samples
160
90
Non-harmonised products.
513
648
Food Safety Research
Food Safety is a priority theme under the Food
Institutional Research Measure of the Productive Sector
Operational Programme 2000-2006.To date, a total
of €8 million has been awarded for 17 food safety
projects. Topics include research to detect and control
food pathogens such as E. Coli 0157:H7, Salmonella,
Listeria and Campylobacter, the development of Hazard
Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) system in
meat, research into factors influencing the formation of
acrylamide in certain food products and the development
of a National Food Consumption database for children
for risk assessment of food borne chemicals.
National Beef Assurance Scheme
The purpose of the National Beef Assurance Scheme Act
2000 (No. 2 of 2000) is to further guarantee the safety
of beef and beef products by:
■
implementing an effective animal identification
and tracing system;
■
developing high standards of production and
processing;
■
enforcing these standards through a
registration and approval system.
One of the objectives of the National Beef Assurance
Scheme is that all persons engaged in the primary
production and processing of cattle and beef (farmers,
marts, slaughterhouses, meat processors, bovine animal
feed manufacturers and other keepers of cattle) will
be registered and approved under the Act. Delays in
commencing the inspection process and alternative
mechanisms for the inspection of farmers are being
examined. Consequently S.I. No. 723 of 2004 (National
Beef Assurance Scheme Act, 2000 (Approval) Order,
2003) was adopted to extend the period for participants
to apply for approval under the Scheme.
27
Dairy Hygiene
Statutory Instrument No. 9 of 1996, which lays downs
the rules for the hygienic production and processing of
milk and dairy products, continued to be enforced in
accordance with the terms of the service contract with
the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
The Dairy Science Laboratories continued to carry out their
testing function for Market Support Schemes, Certification
for Export, and Food Safety. Sampling for food safety
based on risk assessment which contributes to a more
efficient testing regime continued to be implemented.
GOAL 2.0
A round of inspections under the programme for the
Animal Health Inspection of dairy cows was brought
to a successful conclusion.
Veterinary Medicines and
Residue Surveillance
The viability of Ireland’s food production industry is
underpinned by a healthy animal population. Legal and
proper use of approved veterinary medicines (including
vaccines) plays an important part in ensuring the
continued high animal health status of our national herd,
and by implication, the health of consumers of Irish food.
The Department, in co-operation with the Food Safety
Authority of Ireland and the Irish Medicines Board (IMB),
oversees and implements important controls in this
area in terms of approval and distribution of veterinary
medicines, implementation of residue surveillance
measures e.g. (National Residue Plan) and follow-up
enforcement activities.
2004 saw the finalisation of a major EU review of
medicines legislation with the publication on 31 March
2004 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 and Directive
2004/28/EC. Member States must transpose the relevant
EU legislation into national law by 30 October 2005. The
new legislation contains some important improvements
which are designed to address the ‘medicines availability’
problem in the veterinary sector. These include measures
to stimulate development of new treatments through
data protection and facilitating the conduct of clinical
trials. National licensing systems will also be improved
particularly through a more effective ‘mutual recognition’
mechanism which, in tandem with improvements to
the ‘cascade’ (under which veterinarians can authorise
‘off-label’ use), should contribute to greater availability
of veterinary medicines in smaller markets like Ireland.
Specific measures are also included to improve the
availability of treatments for horses, recognising that
many horses do not enter the food chain. The EU
legislation also includes a general requirement for all
veterinary medicines for food-producing animals to be
subject to veterinary prescription. However, at the request
28
of Ireland and some other Member States, the legislation
also provides for exceptions to this general principle to
be made under a Commission comitology procedure. It
can be expected that during 2005, the Commission will
finalise criteria for the operation of this exception clause.
At national level, the Department continued to
implement on an ongoing basis a number of controls
in relation to veterinary medicines in order to safeguard
public health and also animal health and welfare. The
Animal Remedies Act 1993 and Regulations made
thereunder provide a comprehensive legislative basis
for licensing of veterinary medicines (including the role
of the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) insofar as that body
acts as competent authority under the legislation) and
also licensing of premises engaged in the commercial
distribution of veterinary medicines. In February 2004,
the Minister announced the outcome of a review of
the national legislation taking account of operational
experience, relevant developments since its enactment,
including a Report from the IMB on the availability
of intramammary veterinary medicines and the EU
dimension – current and prospective. Having engaged
in consultation with stakeholders during 2004, the
Department expects to finalise the details of the
legislative changes early in 2005.
In 2004, over 1000 individually licensed products,
70 wholesale distribution outlets and 740 retail
premises were regulated in accordance with the
detailed requirements of EU & National legislation.
The manufacture, distribution and sale of medicated
feedingstuffs and intermediate products for the
manufacture thereof is also subject to regulation by
the Minister under the European Communities (Animal
Remedies and Medicated Feedingstuffs) Regulations,
1994 as amended by the European Communities (Animal
Remedies and Medicated Feedingstuffs) (Amendment)
Regulations, 2003. The use of medicated feedingstuffs
is prohibited except under and in accordance with
the terms of a veterinary written direction issued by a
registered veterinary surgeon. Medicated pre-mixes must
be authorised by the Irish Medicines Board. In 2004,
there were in the region of 35 licensed medicated feed
manufacturers. This licensing regime has been extended
to embrace home mixers.
National Residue Plan
The Department also implements a comprehensive
National Residue Plan designed to protect
consumers from illegal residues, be they of banned
products (such as growth promoting hormones),
licensed medicines (these usually arise where animals
enter the food chain before expiry of the prescribed
withdrawal period for the medicine concerned), or
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
environmental contaminants. The Residue Plan covers 11
food-producing species (including aquaculture, where
operation of the Plan is managed by the Department of
Marine and Natural Resources). During 2004, in excess
of 40,000 samples were taken and tested at officially
approved laboratories for 18 residue groupings. All
positive results are followed up by an investigation on
the farm of origin with a view to taking the necessary
enforcement measures up to and including legal action.
Since 2000, official testing has been complemented by a
statutorily based regime under which primary processors
are obliged to implement residue-monitoring measures.
This regime, which involves annual submission to the
Department for approval of individual residue plans,
makes it mandatory for processors to subject suppliers,
whose animals or animal products test positive, to
significantly intensified monitoring. This regime of
self-monitoring is subject to Department scrutiny.
Veterinary Practice Bill 2004
In October 2004, the Minister for Agriculture and
Food published a Bill to replace the existing legislation
governing regulation of the veterinary profession in
Ireland. The primary purpose of this legislation is to
bring regulation of the veterinary profession fully up
to date, taking account of the many developments in
the environment within which the profession operates
since the original legislation was enacted. It was
also appropriate that greater transparency should be
introduced into regulation of the profession in the
public interest and that broader legal developments
should be reflected particularly in relation to disciplinary
proceedings. The Bill is comprehensive and consists of
11 Parts (139 sections) and four Schedules. The new
legislation provides in particular for:
■
A broader membership of the Veterinary Council
to reflect interests such as education, consumers
and food safety and a better balance as between
veterinarians and others;
■
A wider basis on which registration may be granted
and for registration of specialists in particular areas
of veterinary medicine;
■
The establishment of standards for continuing
professional education, compliance with which
would be a pre-requisite for retention on the register;
■
A new model to deal with complaints and a broader
range of proportionate sanctions;
■
For the first time, statutory recognition of veterinary
nurses;
Goal 2.0
■
The establishment and monitoring of standards of
veterinary premises;
■
The Veterinary Council to be given certain
investigative powers.
It is expected that the Bill will be enacted into law in 2005.
Control of Agriculture Inputs
Four pieces of EU legislation on animal feedingstuffs
were transposed into national law during the year 2004:
■
SI 185 of 2004 European Communities
(Feedingstuffs) (Method of Analysis) (Amendment)
Regulations 2004;
■
SI 424 of 2004 European Communities (Feedingstuffs)
(Genetically Modified Feed) Regulations 2004;
■
SI 711 of 2004 European Communities (Protein
Feedingstuffs) Regulations 2004;
■
SI 205 of 2004 Marketing of non EEC Fertilizers
Regulations (Amendment) Regulation 2004.
In order to monitor feedingstuffs and fertilisers for
compliance with statutory requirements some 2,100
inspections were carried out at points of import,
feedingstuff manufacturing premises, feed material
stores, intermediaries and on farms. This involved the
taking of more than 3,600 samples of feedingstuffs for
analysis to determine compliance with feedingstuffs
legislation. The Department routinely analyse all animal
feed for the presence/absence of processed animal
proteins. The inspection programme also includes both
random and targeted routine sampling and analyses
of feedingstuffs for nutrient composition and levels of
additives and Undesirable Substances and Products.
There were also 80 inspections carried out at fertiliser
manufacturing/importer premises and retail outlets which
involved the taking of 399 samples all of which were
analysed for primary nutrients and secondary nutrients.
There were 56 samples taken at ground limestone
manufacturing premises all of which were analysed.
Inspections continued on the implementation of
Council Directive 95/69/EC laying down the conditions
and arrangements for approving and registering
certain establishments and intermediaries operating
in the animal feed sector. During 2004, a further 230
establishments were approved as intermediaries of
additives or premixtures and 81 on-farm mixers were
registered or approved.
The new Standard Operating Procedure governing the
sampling and analysis of feedingstuffs for processed
animal proteins negotiated with the industry became
fully operational in 2004.
29
GOAL 2.0
Marian Finucane, Chairperson of the Department’s Consumer Liaison Panel visiting Abbotstown Laboratory, September 2004.
CONSUMER LIAISON PANEL
The Consumer Liaison Panel was established in January
2002 to strengthen communication between the
consumer and the Department. Its Terms of Reference
are to liaise on general consumer and client issues in
relation to the activities of Department and to comment
on the flow of information both to and from the public.
The Panel consists of representatives of the Consumers
Association of Ireland, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions,
the Irish Countrywomen’s Association, the Voluntary and
Community Sector Platform and nominees of major food
retail outlets. In July, the Minister announced the appointment
of Ms. Marian Finucane as Chairperson of the Panel.
Some of the issues reviewed during 2004 were food
prices, Rural Environment Protection Scheme, BSE, and
Genetically Modified Organisms.
Having discussed the issue of food prices at length,
the Panel in October 2004 invited tenders from parties
interested in conducting an assessment of data sources
on the price of food in Ireland and devising a model for
monitoring food prices and the share of these prices
absorbed at different stages of the supply chain. The
successful tenderer has now commenced work on the
assignment and the finding will be submitted to the Panel
in late 2005. Once considered by the Panel the findings
will be presented to the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
30
ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE
Animal Identification and Trace Back
System
The animal identification and tracing system is fully
operational and is used to verify the origin, identity and
life history of cattle entering the food chain. During 2004
the second CMMS (Cattle Movement Monitoring System)
Statistics Report for 2003 covering Ireland’s cattle population
of 6.6 million animals was published. The Report contains
a considerable amount of very useful data abstracted from
the database. For example, it shows that there were 2.14
million calf births, almost 1.5 million mart movements, over
800,000 farm-to-farm sales and 2.3 million disposals. The
quality of the system is such that data from the CMMS
is used for a diverse range of purposes including animal
tracking for disease purposes, compilation of analytical
reports, marketing of Irish cattle at home and abroad and
for the provision of information to individual farmers on the
number and status of animals in their herds. During 2004
the database was further enhanced and developed to ensure
and improve the accuracy and integrity of data.
The Animal Identification Movement (AIM) System is an
Internet based computer system which when fully developed
will be a generic animal database covering cattle, sheep
and pigs. It will integrate and upgrade the existing animal
identification and movement systems, including CMMS, NSIS
(National Sheep Identification System) and NPITS (National Pig
Identification and Traceability System). AIM will enable farmers
to view and process their animal identification and movement
details online, using the latest internet-based technology.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
During 2004 most elements of the tagging module
of AIM were completed and put into production. In
addition, two new facilities were provided under AIM:
■
an online Herd Profile Enquiry system, and
■
and a new facility to register calf births online.
The Online Herd Profile Enquiry facility allows farmers
to view online details of their cattle herd profiles as well
as movements in and out of herds during a specified
period. The facility to register calf births online through
the Department’s website allows farmers to complete
applications for the registration of calf births over the
Internet. It is expected that this service will be widely
used and that it will encourage greater take-up of
electronic facilities in transactions with the Department.
Class A Disease – Monitoring and Control
BSE
A total of 126 BSE cases were confirmed in 2004. In
addition, standard precautionary measures, including whole
herd depopulation, was applied in one further case where
the suspect animal tested positive to a rapid BSE screening
test, but where it was not possible to obtain a definitive
confirmation. This total of 126 cases represents a
decrease of almost 31% compared with the previous
year’s total of 182. This dramatic reduction in case
numbers comes against a background of intensive active
surveillance for the disease involving 703,552 rapid BSE tests
at meat factories and knackeries etc. Falling case numbers,
and the continuing increase in the age profile of positive
animals, provide a positive indication that the enhanced
control measures introduced in 1996 and 1997 have had a
major effect on the exposure to animals born after that time
to the infective agent, and that the incidence of the BSE will
continue to decline as older animals leave the system.
Mammalian Meat and Bone Meal and
Poultry Offal
The manufacture, purchase and use of mammalian meat
and bone meal is governed by the provisions of the
Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Transmissible Spongiform
Encephalopathies) (Meat and Bone Meal and Poultry
Offal) Order 2002 (S.I. 551 of 2002). Under this Order
the Department operates a licensing system to control
manufacturing, purchase and use of mammalian meat
and bone meal and 15 licences were issued during 2004
for the purpose of manufacture of meat and bone meal.
The above Order also provides for controls on the
incorporation of poultry offal into feedingstuffs for
animals which are not kept, fattened or bred for the
production of food and the sale of such feedingstuffs into
which poultry offal has been incorporated. Four licences
were issued in 2004 for the purpose of incorporating
poultry offal in the manufacture of pet food.
The Order also specifies conditions relating to storage
and transport (dedicated vehicles) of these products and
provides for a ban on the use of mammalian meat and
bone meal in fertiliser.
This Order introduces a ban on the keeping of dried
pet food containing mammalian meat and bone meal
on farms and also places a ban on the feeding of
mammalian meat and bone meal or poultry offal to
any animal intended for food consumption. Breaches
of this Order constitute an offence under the Diseases
of Animals Act 1966. There were no prosecutions
undertaken under the provisions of the Order in 2004.
European Communities (Diseases of Animals Act
1966) (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies)
(Meat and Bone Meal and Poultry Offal Order
2002) Regulations 2002 (S.I. No 550 of 2002). These
Regulations provide the technical measures necessary to
give full effect to the EU regime in relation to the control
of the manufacture, sale, purchase, feeding and storage
of mammalian meat and bone meal and poultry offal.
These Regulations complement S.I. No. 551 above.
Scrapie
EU policy in relation to Scrapie continued to evolve in 2004.
From October 2003, flocks in which Scrapie is confirmed are
being genotyped, and only those animals most susceptible
to the disease are being depopulated. The regime in place
prior to that date involved full flock depopulation.
Former Minister of State, Liam Aylward, T.D., during a visit to the
Equine Project in Fettercairn, Dublin, March 2004.
Goal 2.0
In May 2004 the Department established a National
Genotype Programme. The overall objective of this
voluntary scheme is to enable sheep in the national flock,
31
particularly breeding stock, to be identified by genotype
and raise the level of resistance to Scrapie among
Irish sheep by promoting the use of the most Scrapie
resistance animals for breeding.
port or airport by a licensed operator approved by the
Department of Agriculture and Food. Regular monitoring
of the proper disposal of international swill is carried out
by Department staff in addition to random checks to
ensure that swill is not being fed on pig farms.
Rabies Control – Entry of Pet Dogs and
Cats into Ireland
GOAL 2.0
Ireland has been free of rabies since 1903 and until
recently operated a control system based on compulsory
6 month quarantine for all imported pet dogs and cats
(other than those imported from the U.K., which is also
free of rabies). Following significant advances in rabies
vaccination, blood-testing and animal identification
methods a harmonised EU system for the movement
of pet animals, both intra-Community and from third
countries, came into effect in July 2004.
Pet dogs and cats can now travel directly into Ireland
provided that:
Under the Department’s active surveillance programme
a total of 20,277 sheep were rapid tested for Scrapie
at meat factories and knackeries. This programme
together with the reporting of suspect animals, led to the
identification of 29 new flocks with the disease in 2004.
Compensation payable under the current scheme
includes live valuation of the breeding animals. A rate for
factory lambs is payable in accordance with the average
factory price per kg., pertaining to the week of slaughter,
and a hardship payment of €28 per breeding ewe.
Additionally, the Department genotypes entire flocks and
a limited number of replacement rams, free of charge.
■
The animal is travelling from an eligible country on
an approved transporter;
■
The animal is identified by means of a microchip;
■
The animal has been vaccinated against rabies;
■
The animal has, at least six months before entry, been
successfully blood-tested for rabies anti-bodies*;
■
The animal has been correctly treated against tick
and tapeworm*.
(*conditions specific to Ireland, UK and Sweden).
The evidence that an animal complies with the last four
conditions is contained in the ‘passport’, a document
standardised throughout the EU.
Swill
The Diseases of Animals Act, 1966 (as amended),
Diseases of Animals (Feeding and Use of Swill) Order,
1985 (SI No 153 of 1985), Diseases of Animals (Feeding
and Use of Swill) (Amendment) Order, 1987 (SI No 133
of 1987) and Diseases of Animals (Prohibition on the
Use of Swill) Order, 2001 (SI No. 597 of 2001) prohibits
the collection and feeding of swill to animals indefinitely
for reasons of animal health, but permits the feeding
of certain non-animal products and milk products to
animals. A licence is required to remove international
swill from ports and airports under the above Swill
Orders. International swill may only be removed from a
32
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Class B and Other Diseases –
Monitoring and Control
Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis
There was a further marked decline in the incidence
of both TB and Brucellosis in 2004. The number of TB
reactors is expected to be about 25,000 or some 3,000
lower than the number recorded in 2003.
The number of Brucellosis reactors fell by about 26% over
2003 levels. More significantly, the number of depopulations
and the number of animals removed were 60% lower than
in 2003.
Bovine Brucellosis
The incidence of Brucellosis continued to decline in
2004. Annual herd incidence in 2004 was 0.16%
compared with 0.76% in 1998. The number of reactors
has declined from 6,417 in 1998 to 664 in 2004.
The aggressive depopulation and extended rest period
policies, as well as other measures in force continued to
be applied and contributed to the decline in the disease.
Since the current intensive brucellosis programme began
in 1998, very considerable progress towards eradication
has been made, as outlined below.
Brucellosis
Statistics
Number
of Reactors
Number
of Newly
Restricted
Herds
1998
6,417
1,081
1999
4,545
875
2000
3,590
659
2001
3,112
553
2002
1,530
430
2003
900
324
2004 (Est)
664
283
The volume of blood testing was just over 4.7 million
samples in 2004. The main testing measure is now
supplemented by monthly Bulk Milk Testing from each
dairy herd and blood sampling of cows in slaughter plants,
which has proved very effective in disclosing a number of
reactors that might otherwise not have been detected.
Bovine Tuberculosis
The levels of disease have been falling in recent years.
In 2004, circa 25,000 reactors were disclosed compared
with 45,000 reactors in 1998 and 1999. The revised
wildlife programme continued to be rolled out.
Goal 2.0
The 2004 TB eradication programme was completed
with 97% of the 124,500 cattle herds tested within
the twelve-month window. A total of approximately 7
million animals were subject to at least one test within
a twelve-month window and approximately 8.5 million
animal tests were carried out. The transition from the
old computer system, which had operated since 1986,
to the new Animal Health Computer System (AHCS),
incorporating electronic data transfer from the testing
Veterinary Surgeons and also CMMS, continued during
2004. The final sites will transfer to AHCS early in 2005.
Research into the role of wildlife in the epidemiology
of the disease continued. The Four Area Badger Study,
was completed and the report (“The Impact of Badger
Removal on the Control of Tuberculosis in Cattle Herds in
Ireland“ J M Griffin et al, Preventive Veterinary Medicine,
Elsevier, 2005) was placed on the PVM (Preventive
Veterinary Medicine) website (www.sciencedirect.com).
This study, which showed that the removal of badgers
resulted in significant reductions in the incidence of TB in
cattle, essentially validated the findings of the earlier East
Offaly Project. The badger Vaccine Development Project,
which is ongoing, aims to address the problems of TB in
the badger population and to identify measures to reduce
the level of TB transmission between badgers and cattle,
including the development of a TB vaccine for badgers.
Prosecutions
In 2004 the Special Investigation Unit continued the
investigation of irregularities in the Bovine TB and Brucellosis
Eradication Schemes and in bovine identification and
registration. Resulting from those investigations six successful
prosecutions were obtained during the year and seven
further cases were submitted for prosecution. Four cases
were withdrawn on legal advice and 36 cases await hearing.
Dealers
The Disease of Animals Acts 1966 to 2001 (Approval
and Registration of Dealers and Dealer’s Premises) Order,
2001 (S.I No.79 of 2001), which came into effect in March
2001, defined a dealer as “a person who purchases an
animal or poultry and sells and supplies such animal or
poultry to another person within a period of 45 days“.
All dealers must be approved and registered with the
Department. All premises used by a dealer must be
individually approved for that purpose. By the end of
2004, a total of 1,926 dealers had been approved;
■
328 dealers with premises, and
■
1,598 dealers without premises (Agents).
Review procedures were put in place to assess
applications for renewal of Dealers registrations.
33
On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme
The On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme replaced the Reactor
Grant Scheme from 2 April 2002. Approximately €26.8
million was spent on all compensation elements of the TB
and Brucellosis Eradication Schemes during 2004. This was
a significant reduction on 2003 expenditure (€36.8 million)
and resulted from the general decline in disease levels.
Bovine Diseases Levies
GOAL 2.0
Receipts from disease levies amounted to approx €17
million in 2004.
Following a review of the levies in 2004 and in light of
the ongoing improvement in TB and Brucellosis levels
and the consequent reduced costs of the Schemes, the
Bovine Diseases Levies rates were reduced by one third
with effect from 1 January 2005. The reduction is worth
some €5 million to farmers in a full year.
Johne’s Disease
Johne’s Disease is a notifiable disease regulated by the
Johne’s Disease Order, 1955 (S.I. No. 86 of 1955) and is
a Class B disease. Johne’s Disease is caused by infection
with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis
(MAP). Most affected cattle are infected early in life
by ingestion of MAP through colostrum, milk, faecal
contaminated teats, water, feed or surfaces. Adult
animals can become infected but it is rare, and they
usually have other problems such as deficiencies with
their immune system.
In 2002 the Department in an effort to raise
consciousness of the disease and to promote higher
standards of hygiene management practices and calf
rearing published and distributed two booklets on
Johne’s disease, one of which was aimed at the farmer
and the other at the private veterinary practitioner.
Notwithstanding this and other measures that had
included the purchase and slaughter by the Department
of diseased animals, a conclusion was reached that the
approach that this country had hitherto adopted to
tackling the disease in the past needed to be reviewed.
While the disease is notifiable, there is no obligation on
the State under the provisions of the Johne’s Disease
Order, 1955, to purchase and slaughter animals affected
with Johne’s Disease, notwithstanding the fact that the
Department had until recently employed the practice of
purchasing affected animals.
During 2003 and 2004, the Department met with key
interested parties such as Teagasc, Veterinary Ireland,
ICBF, the cattle breeding societies, the dairy co-ops,
farmer representative bodies and others to discuss
34
possible approaches to tackling the disease. This process
secured a general acceptance and an understanding
by the key parties of the problem. It was accepted that
success would only be achievable if all concerned made
a sustained commitment to tackle the problem within
an integrated and more effective policy approach.
Arising from this, the Department drew together the
various outputs and identified both short and longerterm imperatives. The objective is to put in place
and implement a new fully integrated and effective
approach to addressing the problem in which each of
the stakeholders will play a defined and sustained role.
Fallen Animal Collection Scheme
This Scheme provides for the subsidised collection of
fallen bovine animals from farms and their subsequent
rendering and the disposal of the resultant meat and
bone meal. The rendering and disposal of fallen animals
other than bovines is also supported under the Scheme.
The Scheme was introduced in 2001 with the aim of
minimising licensed on-farm burials, improving the
existing fallen animal collection service and facilitating
BSE-testing requirements. Total expenditure under the
Scheme in 2004 was €20.3 million.
Grants Scheme
A Capital Grant Scheme for Animal Carcase Disposal was
introduced in 2002 under the National Development Plan.
The aim of the scheme is to aid investment in appropriate
facilities for the handling and storage of fallen animals
with an emphasis on establishing a comprehensive animal
collection service in areas of the country not already
served. Under the scheme, funding will be provided
to improve wastewater collection and treatment.
In 2004, capital expenditure of €57,011 was incurred in
respect of one application and as a balancing payment
for another application.
Animal By-Products Legislation
During 2004, the Animal By-Products Section continued
to implement the system of controls provided for in
Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002 on the collection,
transport, rendering, storage and disposal of animal
by-products. These Regulations prohibit the recycling of
animal by-products into the animal feed chain, set down
a number of various methods for their use or disposal
and strengthen controls, traceability and enforcement
measures in this sector. The European Communities
(Animal By-Products) Regulations of 2003 – SI 248 of
2003 gives full effect to Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Meat and Bone Meal Disposal
Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council.
The ban on the feeding of meat and bone meal (MBM)
to farmed animals, introduced at the end of 2000,
continued in 2004.
The purpose of the Council, which is representative of
a broad spectrum of interested parties, with different
perspectives on animal welfare, is to seek consensus and
provide advice to the Minister on issues relating to the
care and welfare of farm animals.
Arising out of an EU-wide tender process in late 2003,
contracts were signed with 3 contractors to dispose
of approximately 166,000 tonnes of meat and bone
meal (MBM), blood meal and poultry meal, which had
remained in store since early 2001. By the end of 2004,
approximately 53,300 tonnes had been disposed of at
approved incineration facilities in the U.K. and Germany
at a cost of €6.75 million.
In 2004, the Department also subsidised the disposal of
approximately 29,000 tonnes of unsterilised MBM at a
cost of €5.5 million. This meal had been in long-term
storage and was disposed of by incineration at two
approved incineration facilities in the UK.
The costs of disposing MBM produced in 2004 were
borne by the industry.
There are no approved facilities for the disposal of MBM
in Ireland. All MBM produced must be exported for
disposal or put into storage pending dispatch abroad.
In 2004, some of MBM produced was put into storage.
At the end of the year, the quantity of MBM in storage
amounted to 78,000 tonnes.
ANIMAL WELFARE
Protection of Farm Animals
The Protection of Animals Acts, 1911 and 1965, are the
principal statutes governing cruelty to animals in Ireland.
The legislation is enforced by the Garda Síochána,
who may, on receipt of a complaint, investigate and
bring a prosecution against any person alleged to have
committed an act of cruelty against an animal in this
country. Reported cases of cruelty to or neglect of
animals were investigated by officers of the Department
in conjunction with the Gardaí or veterinary staff of
the Local Authorities. Staff were proactive in dealing
with cases involving welfare compromised animals at a
number of locations around the country.
The Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes
Act, 1984 has been supplemented by the European
Communities (Protection of Animals Kept for Farming
Purposes) Regulations 2000 (S.I. No 127 of 2000) giving
effect to Council Directive 98/58/EC (as amended by
Council Regulation (EC) No 806/2003). This sets the
standards concerning the protection of animals kept for
farming purposes and requires owners and people in
charge of animals to ensure the welfare of their animals.
Goal 2.0
In 2004 the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council
(FAWAC) introduced an Early Warning/Intervention
System for Animal Welfare Cases involving the
Department of Agriculture and Food, the Irish Farmers
Association and the Irish Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty of Animals. This system commenced as a pilot
system in Counties Donegal, Roscommon, Carlow,
Wexford and Kilkenny. The objective of this system is to
provide a framework within which farm animal welfare
problems can be spotted before they become critical or
overwhelming. This will in turn facilitate timely, effective
and sensitive intervention or the provision of assistance
by, as appropriate, public agencies, neighbours,
farming bodies and welfare groups. The new system
will allow for concerned individuals to approach their
local IFA representatives, their local SPCA or indeed
the Department in the knowledge that the matter will
thereafter be dealt with in the most effective, timely
and sensitive manner. However, where circumstances so
warrant, it is recognised that prosecutions may be taken
by the Department of Agriculture and Food. The role of
the Garda Síochána under the Protection of Animals Act
1911 (as amended) is also acknowledged.
Scientific Advisory Committee on
Animal Health and Welfare
This Committee is comprised of scientific experts with
experience in a variety of disciplines such as animal
husbandry, animal behaviour, bacteriology, clinical
medicine, epidemiology, parasitology and virology. The
principal function of the Committee is to provide the
Minister with advice, from a scientific perspective, on
issues where independent expert opinion is warranted.
Horns On Cattle – Best Practice To
Prevent Animal Welfare Problems
Leaflets entitled “Dealing with Horns of Cattle – Best
Practice“ and posters entitled “Horned Cattle Welfare
Guidelines“ were produced in 2004. These contained
advice from an animal welfare point of view to farmers
and others involved in the trade as to what is acceptable
in terms of horns on cattle when they are presented for
sale or export. The leaflets and posters were circulated to
Farm Organisations, Livestock Marts, Teagasc Offices and
District Veterinary Offices.
35
Welfare of Calves, Pigs and Laying Hens
VETERINARY LABORATORY SERVICES
Inspections took place in respect of the welfare of calves,
pigs and laying hens and reports were completed in
compliance with EU requirements. Work on a scheme
of grant assistance for welfare improvements in the pig
production sector was progressed.
The functions of the Veterinary Laboratory Service (VLS)
include the provision of advice, clinical and laboratory
diagnostic services to herdowners and Veterinary
Practitioners and the ongoing research into scheduled
animal diseases and animal diseases of economic
importance. On-going work in the VLS concentrates on
research and development to improve diagnostic methods.
Animal Welfare Inspection System (AWIS)
GOAL 2.0
This system was extended from the existing area of
on farm inspections to include animal welfare during
transport inspections. The main locations where these
inspections are carried out by the veterinary inspectorate
are at livestock marts and in lairages of the slaughter
plants. Training seminars were provided to facilitate staff
in operating the new system.
Animal Welfare Organisations
In 2004 the Minister approved grants totalling €1 million
to 83 animal welfare organisations involved in the direct
delivery of animal care and welfare services throughout
the country to assist in their work during 2004. The
organisations concerned had approached the Department
during 2004 seeking financial assistance. This was the
largest ever annual disbursement by the Department to
animal welfare bodies and covered organisations in every
county in the country. The 2004 grants bring to €4.76
million the total amount of financial assistance made
available by the Minister to such organisations since 1995.
The VLS is also involved in the control and monitoring of
exotic and endemic animal diseases, which are required
under EU legislation. The Central Veterinary Research
Laboratory (CVRL) is the National Reference Laboratory
(NRL) for a range of exotic diseases. The CVRL, in
association with the Central Meat Control Laboratory was
designated the NRL for zoonoses in 2004 (S.I. 154, 2004).
Confirmation of all BSE and scrapie suspect cases
– including TSE (BSE/Scrapie) rapid-test positives – is
carried out at the TSE NRL in the Histopathology Section
of CVRL. The TSE NRL is also responsible for monitoring
performance of all private laboratories approved to
carry out TSE rapid tests under EU 999/2001. As well
as collaborating with University College Dublin (UCD)
on research projects on TSE’s of cattle and sheep, the
Histopathology Section also manages a number of studies
on sheep flocks infected with classical and atypical scrapie.
The Histopathology and Biochemistry Sections of CVRL
also provided specialist support for the Department’s
Regional Veterinary Laboratories. In addition to its
diagnostic pathology service to farmers and their
veterinary practitioners, Dublin Regional Laboratory was
involved in studies on Mycoplasma infections and the
epidemiology of botulism.
As an EU, National Reference Laboratory for mammalian
and poultry virus diseases, Virology Division successfully
completed proficiency ring trials, reviewed and updated
contingency plans and introduced molecular diagnostic
techniques for a number of Organisation Internationale
des Epizooties (OIE) listed diseases.
Surveillance for exotic viral diseases was expanded.
National serological surveys were performed for Foot and
Mouth disease, Swine Vesicular disease, Classical Swine
Fever, African Swine Fever, and Avian Influenza; as well
as a wild bird survey for Avian Influenza virus.
Minister Coughlan at the presentation of funding for an ambulance
to Irish Blue Cross, November 2004.
36
A comprehensive virological laboratory service for
diagnosis, surveillance, disease control programmes, and
statutory and trade purposes was provided to the State
Veterinary Services, the Regional Veterinary Laboratories,
private veterinary practitioners and the livestock and
poultry industries.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Food safety control was a significant issue for the
Department’s Bacteriology/Parasitology Division in 2004.
A database containing information on over 500,000
microbiological tests is now in place, which will facilitate
an early alert system for food safety alerts as well as
allow more effective monitoring of trends in food safety.
It is involved in a number of projects on food safety in
collaboration with UCD, Teagasc, Dublin Institute of
Technology, the Veterinary Science Division, and the
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,
Northern Ireland. The Division also participated in an EU
funded network on antimicrobial resistance and took part
in three EU ring trials during the year.
PLANT HEALTH
Plant Protection
The Department’s Plant Protection Service carried out
activities to protect and maintain the country’s plant
health status. The action programme included the
following range of activities:
■
■
■
■
■
■
Relevant plants and plant products imported directly
into Ireland from third countries were subjected to
mandatory plant health inspections and released
only after it had been determined that EU plant
health requirements had been met;
An EU requirement that national surveys be conducted
for various harmful organisms, including those for
which Ireland has protected zone status, was fulfilled;
Monitoring of premises registered under the Plant
Health Registration Scheme, and of other outlets
where material subject to plant health requirements
moves in trade, continued throughout the year;
Quarantine and harmful organisms were intercepted
on a number of occasions but all of these were dealt
with successfully and none became established in
the country;
The Ring Rot and Brown Rot control measures
continue to be implemented. To date Ireland is one
of the few EU countries within which this disease
has not occurred;
An EU-wide survey for Sudden Oak Death revealed
that the pathogen was more widely distributed in
the Community than anticipated and measures are
to be extended to try and contain the disease;
Goal 2.0
■
Following the spread of the pest of maize known as
the Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera)
throughout Europe, measures were introduced to
contain its spread. A survey of the maize crop in
Ireland indicated that the pest is not yet present here.
Forest Protection
The Department’s Forest Service is responsible for
implementing the forestry aspects of Council Directive
2000/29/EC on protective measures against the
introduction into the Community of organisms harmful
to plants and plant products and against their spread
within the Community. The forestry aspects include the
provisions relating to wood, wood packaging, forest
plants and Christmas trees.
The main forest protection activities in 2004 were as
follows:
■
National forest survey for pine wood nematode;
■
National forest survey for sudden oak death;
■
National forest surveys for 10 forest pests and
diseases for which Ireland has Protected Zone status
within the EU;
■
Inspection of wood imports;
■
Inspection of wood packaging associated with
imports of goods of all kinds;
■
Provision of an advisory service concerning wood
import regulations and general forest pest and
disease matters.
In relation to exports the Forest Service is responsible
for the implementation of the International Plant
Protection Convention’s new International Standard for
Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 15, Guidelines for
regulating wood packaging in international trade.
The main activities in 2004 were as follows:
■
Registration and auditing of producers of wood
packaging, kiln operators and fumigation
companies;
■
Advising Irish exporting companies concerning ISPM
No. 15;
■
Issuing of Phytosanitary Certificates for the related
wood packaging scheme for exports of goods of all
kinds to China.
37
GOAL 3.0
International Framework
Achieve the optimum framework for the agri-food sector, rural economy and the
natural environment at EU and at the wider international level and enhance North/
South cooperation
Former Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Joe Walsh, T.D., with EU Agricultural Ministers, Killarney, May 2004.
EU PRESIDENCY
Ireland held the Presidency of the EU from January
to June and the Department was directly involved in
facilitating agreement on the main policy changes, which
were negotiated during the first half of the year.
The main achievements of the Irish Presidency
were in facilitating the integration of the ten new
Member States that joined the EU on 1 May into the
Common Agricultural Policy, reaching agreement on the
reform of the Common Organisations of the Markets
for Mediterranean Products and advancing the EU’s
programme of legislation for food safety.
The reform of the support regimes for cotton, tobacco,
olive oil and hops in the ‘Mediterranean Package’,
which was agreed by the Council of Ministers in April,
represented a further major step in enhancing the market
orientation and the future sustainability of the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP). The reforms extended the
principles agreed in the Mid-Term Review in June 2003
to the sectors concerned. Other reform measures that
were adopted by the Council during the Irish Presidency
related to the flax and hemp regime, organic farming,
beekeeping and a programme for the conservation,
characterization, collection and utilization of genetic
resources in agriculture. In the area of food safety there
was agreement on controls on food and animal feed
and on the four legislative texts known collectively as the
‘Hygiene Package’ which update, reform and consolidate
EU legislation on the hygiene
38
of foodstuffs. The proposal for rules on hygiene for animal
feed, on which political agreement was reached during
the Irish Presidency, was finally adopted at the Council
on 21 December. This Regulation lays down conditions
and arrangements for traceability and for registration and
approval of establishments in the feed industry.
Despite intensive efforts, the Irish Presidency failed to
secure agreement in the Council on the Commission’s
proposals relating to improvements in the arrangements for
animal transport. The Netherlands Presidency subsequently
concluded an agreement on a compromise which excluded
the issues of journey time/rest cycle, reduced stocking
densities and resting of animals on vehicles which had
proved sensitive during the Irish Presidency.
Several policy issues, including the report on the operation
of the EU’s beef labelling regime, were examined and
discussed by the Council during the year. The Council
also reviewed, on a regular basis, developments in the
negotiations on the Doha Development Round and the
proposed EU/Mercosur free trade agreement.
There were seven meetings of the Council of Agriculture
Ministers, including the Informal Council in Killarney,
chaired by the Minister during the Irish Presidency.
The Informal Council in Killarney from 10-12 May was
attended by Ministers from the 25 Member States and
the candidate countries of Bulgaria and Romania, as well
as Turkey. On the basis of an Irish Presidency discussion
paper, the Ministers debated how best to communicate
the EU’s CAP reform and trade concessions in the context
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
of international trade negotiations. The debate will
influence the manner in which the EU communicates and
negotiates in the future.
In the second 6 months of the year, there were detailed
discussions, but no decisions, on the Commission’s
outline proposals for the reform of the sugar regime
and on a new framework for rural development both
of which were published in the second half of the year.
Significant progress was made towards concluding the
negotiations on the new WTO round in the framework
agreement, which was concluded in July.
Other EU Policy Developments
In July 2004, the Commission presented proposals for
the support framework for rural development for the
period 2007-2013 (COM(2004)490) and for new rules
on financing the CAP (COM(2004)489) as part of the
package of proposals on the next Financial Perspective.
The Commission also presented outline proposals for
reform of the sugar sector in July (COM(2004)499).
The Department examined and responded to all these
proposals in the ongoing negotiations at Working Group,
Special Committee for Agriculture and Council levels.
Within the broad policy framework as agreed by
the Council of Agriculture Ministers, the day-to-day
regulatory and trading framework of the agri-food
sector is determined by decisions taken at Management
Committees and at meetings of veterinary, phytosanitary
and technical groups. The Department’s staff attended
630 EU meetings in 2004 in total. Almost 100 of the
meetings of the various Committees, Working Groups
and the Special Committee for Agriculture, which prepare
proposals for submission to the Council, were chaired by
Department officials during the Irish Presidency while the
seven Council meetings were chaired by the Minister.
Maintaining Effective Relationships
The Department maintains effective relationships with
the EU institutions and Ministries in other Member States
through our diplomatic officers abroad and through
direct bilateral contacts. Department staff are based
in the capitals of six EU Member States (UK, Germany,
France, Spain, Italy and, since September 2004, Poland)
as well as Brussels (EU) and Geneva (WTO). As part of
their responsibilities, these staff service international
organisations where appropriate (FAO, WFP, OECD).
Goal 3.0
Minister Coughlan meeting the newly appointed EU Commissioner for Health & Consumer
Protection, Mr. Markos Kyprianou, 25 November.
The official contacts with the Council Secretariat,
the Commission and the European Parliament and
other Member States were intensified during the Irish
Presidency to ensure satisfactory progress on the work
programme. On 27 January, the Minister presented and
discussed the Presidency’s work programme with the
European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and
Rural Development and Committee on Environment,
Public Health and Consumer Policy.
The Department also continued to foster relationships with
the new Member States and the applicant countries during
the year. As part of this process, the Department hosted
visits by Ministers and officials from many of the countries
and provided guidance, advice and training as requested.
The Department also undertook several visits to the
countries at Ministerial and official levels and participated
in a twinning arrangement with ARMA, the Polish
Implementing and Paying Agency for EAGGF (Guidance).
World Trade Organisation (WTO)
Agreement was reached among WTO member
countries in Geneva in July 2004 on a framework for
the new round. The framework sets out the general
rules or structure of the new agreement. The detailed
arrangements for implementing the framework will be
the subject of further negotiations. The main elements
of the framework agreement, insofar as agriculture is
concerned, are as follows:
39
Domestic Support
■
there will be a substantial reduction in the levels of
trade-distorting domestic support in member countries;
■
a cap will be introduced on the Blue Box category
of payments, i.e. direct payments to farmers under
production-limiting programmes based on fixed land
areas, fixed crop yields or fixed numbers of animals;
■
there will be a review of the Green Box category of
payments or subsidies, i.e. those which have no or
minimal trade-distorting effect.
GOAL 3.0
Market Access
■
there will be a substantial improvement in market
access for all products through tariff reductions;
the tariff cuts will be implemented through a tiered
formula in which the higher tariffs will be subject to
higher cuts;
■
WTO members may self-select a number of sensitive
products for special treatment; however, there will
be substantial improvements in market access for all
products based on a combination of tariff cuts and
tariff quota commitments.
Export Subsidies
■
all forms of export subsidies will be phased out in
annual instalments “by a credible end date“, i.e. the
parallel elimination of export refunds, export credits
(with limited exceptions), the trade-distorting practices
of State Trading Enterprises (STEs) and Food Aid not in
conformity with disciplines to be introduced.
Special and Differential Treatment or more favourable
terms and conditions for developing countries will be
an integral part of all elements of the new round.
The framework agreement represented a satisfactory
outcome from Ireland’s point of view. As a result
of the Mid-Term Review, the EU’s decoupled direct
payments qualify for Green Box status. The payments
will, therefore, be exempt from reduction in the future.
The selection and treatment of sensitive products will be
an internal matter for the EU and the objective will be
to ensure the most favourable treatment for nationally
sensitive products, especially beef and dairy products.
The objective of ensuring parallel treatment for all forms
of trade-distorting export practices was secured, thereby
ensuring that the framework agreement will result in
equal competition for all exporters on the world market.
40
Examination of detailed technical issues and negotiations for
the preparation of specific commitment levels commenced in
September in Geneva and continued on a monthly basis in the
WTO Committee for Agriculture meeting in Special Session.
The Commission negotiates in the WTO on behalf of the EU
on the basis of a mandate agreed by the Council of Ministers.
EU Enlargement
Ten new Member States acceded to the EU on 1 May
2004 (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) during the
Irish Presidency of the EU. The Informal Council of Ministers
meeting in Killarney in May was the historic, first meeting
of the Council in any formation after enlargement. In March
2004, arrangements were made to extend the Mid-Term
Review reforms of June 2003 to the new Member States as
the reforms were agreed after the accession negotiations
had been concluded. The negotiations on the agriculture
‘chapters’ in the negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania
were concluded during the Irish Presidency. The two new
Member States will join the Union in 2007.
DEVELOPMENT AID
Between January and June 2004, the main focus of work in
this area was on ensuring an effective Irish Presidency of the
EU. The Irish Presidency team succeeded in bringing about
the ratification of the International Treaty on Plant Genetics
Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). This treaty,
which was some eight years in negotiation, will help ensure
the preservation of plant genetic material and thus help
protect food security in developing countries. The other
main task of the Presidency was the Intergovernmental
Working Group, which was set up by the UN Food
and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to draw up a set of
Voluntary Guidelines on the Right to Adequate Food in
the Context of National Food Security. During the Irish
Presidency a comprehensive EU position on these guidelines
was agreed. Final negotiations were completed in the latter
half of 2004 and the guidelines were agreed in September.
The FAO European Regional Conference took place in
Montpellier in May and Minister of State Treacy represented
Ireland. Speaking on behalf of the EU, he spoke about
the importance of the EU’s comprehensive approach to
development policy and the need for all to make greater
efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
In the later half of 2004 the Department made its largest
donation yet of extra budgetary funding to FAO of
€358,327. Funding was directed towards the FAO Global
Rinderpest Eradication Programme, the implementation
of the ITPGRFA, and the FAO/WHO Codex Trust Fund,
which helps developing countries, participate in Codex
Alimentarius the Global Food Standards Organisation.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
During 2004 the Department continued its support for
the valuable work of the United Nations World Food
Programme (WFP) with its highest ever-annual donation
of €4.83 million in June 2004. The donation was made
by Minister Walsh and coincided with WFP’s major
internal management conference, which took place
in Dublin. The Department was pleased to be among
the first donors to provide aid to WFP on New Year’s
Eve, when €1 million was donated to WFP by Minister
Coughlan for use as logistical support to enable food aid
to be more effectively delivered to those areas affected
by the Indian Ocean tsunami.
NORTH/SOUTH CO-OPERATION
■
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 Department also continued its support for the United
Nations young professional scheme, and two Associate
Professional Officers and two Junior Professional Officers
took up their positions with WFP in early 2005.
■
The development of an All-Island Plant Health
and Research Strategy including co-operation
between both jurisdictions in relation to plant
protection products;
The Department’s Economic and Planning Division finalised
a public sector expenditure review of our contributions to
the FAO and WFP, and this review was submitted to the
Houses of the Oireachtas and published on the Department’s
website www.agriculture.gov.ie in October 2004.
■
Liaison on issues arising at WTO, EU enlargement
and the Mid-Term Review of the CAP;
There was continued good cooperation between the
North and South in mutual areas of interest in the
agriculture sector. Since the suspension of the Assembly
in Northern Ireland co-operation has been continued on
a “care and maintenance basis“. The areas that have
been progressed since the Good Friday Agreement are:
The following new areas of cooperation have been
targeted for development:
■
Crop Variety Testing;
Participation in International Fora
■
Organic Farming;
Overall Irish Interest in the EU’s 6th Framework Programme
for Research and Development (FP6) is co-ordinated by
Forfas, whilst officers from the Department act as National
Delegate and National Contact Point for the ‘Food Quality
and Safety’ Theme area. As well as involvement at EU level,
the Department participated in information briefing sessions
for researchers and industry personnel in order to generate
maximum Irish participation. The Department also participated
in drafting of the EU 7th Framework Programme.
■
Coexistence of GM and non-GM crops;
■
Training.
The Department acts as the Codex Contact Point
for Ireland and co-ordinates Irish involvement in the
various activities of the Codex Alimentarius. As part of
this function the Department operates the Irish Codex
Advisory Committee (ICAC) comprising representatives
of relevant Government Departments/Agencies, the
research and academic community, the food industry and
consumers. During 2004 the ICAC met on 4 occasions
and contributed to the formulation of the Irish position at
the 14 Codex sessions to which Ireland sent delegations
during the year, 11 of which were led by Department
officers. During the Irish Presidency of the EU the
Department chaired the Council Working Party on Codex,
which prepared the EU position in respect of 10 Codex
sessions and acted as EU spokesman at these sessions in
accordance with agreed competence arrangements.
Goal 3.0
41
GOAL 4.0
Rural Economy and Environment
Promote the development of the rural economy and of environmentally friendly
and sustainable systems of agriculture and food production
SUPPORTING ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY FARMING
Rural Environment Protection Scheme
(REPS)
In 2004 negotiations with the European Commission
on changes in REPS, which were formulated following
a wide-ranging consultation process with stakeholders,
were brought to a successful conclusion opening
the way for the introduction of REPS 3 which was
launched in June 2004. REPS 3 includes new pro-active
elements so that a farmer does not simply conserve the
existing environment, but restores or enhances it.
The European Commission have welcomed these new
elements and the manner in which the proposals were
developed in association with all interested parties.
REPS 3 also takes account of undertakings in Sustaining
Progress to seek Commission approval for higher payment
rates. As a result it offers substantially increased payments to
farmers (the average increase is 28%). It is also designed to
be more farmer-friendly in its operation and documentation.
At the end of 2004, there were about 42,500 farmers
participating in REPS. Some 12,500 of these were in REPS
3 and the remainder were in REPS 2. The scheme remains
75% co-funded by the EU and since its introduction in
mid-1994 it has delivered, in financial terms, over €1.5
billion in payments to farmers. These payments have not
only benefited the individual recipients but have made a
significant contribution in sustaining rural communities
and the rural environment.
2004 saw the highest expenditure on the Scheme in any
single year since its introduction in 1994, some €208
million. Demand for the new scheme has been very
encouraging and even greater demand is expected following
the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme in 2005.
Farm Waste Management Scheme
The Farm Waste Management Scheme is operated under the
aegis of the National Development Plan 2002-2006. Details
are given in Goal 1 under National Development Plan.
Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming
By the end of 2004, just 5,450 of the original 10,250
participants in the 1994 Scheme of Early Retirement
from Farming remained in the Scheme. A further 2,600
farmers had applied to join the Scheme that commenced
in November 2000. The number of new applications
received in 2004, at 321, was significantly down on
previous years. The main reason for this is the uncertainty
created by the CAP Mid Term Review proposals.
Expenditure on both Schemes in 2004 was just under
€73 million.
Organic Food and Farming
The pilot project on demonstration farm walks was completed
in 2004. The open days were well attended and the
information provided by the host farmers was very useful.
The Department proposes to extend the project in 2005.
The Organic Market Development Group produced an
information leaflet entitled “Guide to Organic Food and
Farming“. The Guide was developed to inform consumers,
in an easy-to-read format, about organic food and farming.
Substantial financial supports for the organic sector continue
to be available through REPS and the Scheme of Grant
Aid for the Development of the Organic Sector, which was
approved under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
Good Farming Practice
Agenda 2000 required farmers, in receipt of
Disadvantaged Areas Compensatory Allowances,
Livestock Premia, Arable Aid, On-Farm Investment
Grants, Installation Aid or REPS payments, together
with transferees under the Scheme of Early Retirement
from Farming, to comply with good farming practice.
The Department’s Good Farming Practice publication
of 2001 was distributed to all farmers. It sets down
the standards that must be complied with in relation
to the environment, hygiene, animal welfare, animal
identification and registration, and animal health.
Penalties are incurred for breaches of these standards.
NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY
Former Minister of State, Noel Treacy, T.D., receiving first report of
the National Steering Group for the Organic Sector, April 2004.
42
In 2000, the Government published the National Climate
Change Strategy (NCCS) to implement the Kyoto
Protocol. The target set for the agriculture sector is to
reduce annual emissions by 2.41 million tonnes (Mt)
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
CO2 equivalent (requiring a decrease from 17.94 Mt
in 1990 to 15.53 Mt in 2008-2012, a cut of 13.4%).
Emissions from agriculture in 2002 amounted to 18.72
Mt. CO2 equivalent. The most significant targets for the
agriculture sector relate to reductions in emissions of
methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).
Analysis undertaken by FAPRI-Ireland on the expected
impact on greenhouse gas emissions from Irish
agriculture of the Luxembourg CAP Reform Agreement
of June 2003 shows that in the case of full decoupling
of aid from production (the option chosen by Ireland)
emissions of greenhouse gases from agriculture are
projected to decline. However, this analysis was based on
the assumption that all EU-15 countries would opt for
full decoupling. FAPRI-Ireland is now updating its analysis
to take account of the fact that some EU-15 countries
opted for partial decoupling. This projected reduction
in emissions, if realised, would represent a significant
contribution from the agriculture sector to meeting the
national Kyoto Protocol target.
For the EU as a whole, the target under the Kyoto
Protocol is a reduction of 8% in greenhouse gas
emissions below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. A recent
report by the European Environment Agency shows
that between 1990 and 2002, the EU-15 reduced its
greenhouse gas emissions by 2.9%. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has indicated that Ireland’s
greenhouse gas emissions have reduced but are still
about 25% above 1990 levels.
A research programme, managed by the EPA,
is being undertaken under the Environmental
Research Technological Development and Innovation
Programme 2000-2006. Research objectives include
the establishment of reliable inventories of greenhouse
gas emissions from agriculture and the identification
of potential actions that could be applied to reduce
emissions of methane and nitrous oxide.
The EU Emissions Trading Directive (2003/87/EC)
has been transposed into Irish law by the European
Communities (Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading)
Regulations 2004 (S.I. 437 of 2004) under which the EPA
has been assigned responsibility for its implementation
in Ireland. Emissions trading, provided for under the
Kyoto Protocol, is designed to lower the overall costs of
achieving emissions targets by establishing a market for
greenhouse gas emissions allowances. Large industrial
installations, including those in the food and drinks
sector, will engage in pilot emissions trading from 2005,
in advance of a mandatory regime for global emissions
trading to be introduced from 2008.
Goal 4.0
Gothenburg Protocol
The European Communities (National Emissions Ceilings)
Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 10 of 2004) give effect to
EU Directive 2001/81/EC concerning national emissions
ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants (sulphur
dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and
ammonia) arising from commitments in the Gothenburg
Protocol on Transboundary Air Pollution. Ammonia
is the atmospheric pollutant of principal relevance to
agriculture, which is the source of 98% of Ireland’s
ammonia emissions (from animal excreta). The limit on
national annual ammonia emissions, to be achieved by
2010, is 116 kt (1990 emissions were 127 kt).
AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
The Department continued to be in continuous
contact with EU and national agencies and with other
Government Departments in relation to agricultural
aspects of emerging environmental policy. During 2004,
the Department worked closely with the Department of
the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on a
range of issues such as further implementation of the
Nitrates Directive and biodiversity.
Nitrates Directive
The responsibility for the Nitrates Directive is in the
first instance the responsibility of the Department of
Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Ireland
submitted an Action Programme for further implementation
of the Nitrates Directive to the European Commission on
22 October 2004. The Action Programme was developed
following a comprehensive consultative process by the
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local
Government in consultation with the Department of
Agriculture and Food and reflected the recommendations
of independent advisor, Mr. Denis Brosnan. The Department
was also involved, in conjunction with Teagasc, in the
preparation of a scientific case for a derogation from
the 170kg per hectare per annum organic nitrogen limit.
However the Commission considered that revisions to
the Action Programme were required. A response has
been provided to address the Commission’s concerns.
The Department will continue to be involved in
negotiations with the European Commission on the
nitrates issue during 2005 with a view to obtaining
agreement on the Nitrates Action Programme.
Biodiversity
In 2004, a Biodiversity Unit was established in the
Department (in Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford) in line
with a stated requirement in the National Biodiversity
43
GOAL 4.0
Plan, published in 2002 by the Department of the
Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The
establishment of the unit reflects the significant role
that agriculture plays in implementation of the National
Biodiversity Plan. The Unit worked with the Department
of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
regarding the review of the National Biodiversity Plan
and also represented the Department on the National
Platform for Biodiversity Research and at the “Biodiversity
and the EU – Sustaining Life, Sustaining Livelihoods“
conference in Malahide in May 2004.
Contribution of Forestry to Rural Economy
Nutrient Management Plans on
non-REPS farms
It is estimated that there are in the region of
16,000 people employed in the wider industry
with approximately 4,000 employed in forest crop
establishment and harvesting and in excess of 6,000
employed in timber processing. In addition, research
suggests that every 5 jobs created directly in forestry
support an additional 3 jobs indirectly elsewhere in the
economy. There are also over 16,000 farmers who own
private plantations and derive a tax-free income through
premium payments.
Revised estimates indicate that, outside of REPS participants,
up to 2,500 farmers had nutrient management plans in
place during 2004. This estimate, in addition to numbers
in compliance with bye-laws made by local authorities
requiring the preparation of nutrient management plans,
includes individual cases where the preparation of a nutrient
management plan was included as a condition of planning
permissions, Teagasc or other farms where research,
monitoring, training or demonstration is carried out,
and cases where individuals have chosen to have a plan
prepared for their farm for other reasons.
Fertiliser Use
Phosphorus use has declined by approximately 34% since
1989/90 when sales of 64,573 tonnes were recorded.
(The fertiliser year runs from 1 October to 30 September).
The figure for 2003/04 was 42,661 tonnes down from
43,832 tonnes the previous year. Nitrogen usage has
decreased to 362,525 tonnes in 2003/04, which is 18%
below the 1998/99 figure when nitrogen use peaked at
442,916 tonnes.
Irish forest policy is built upon the principles of Sustainable
Forest Management (SFM), as established at the Third
Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in
Europe (Lisbon 1998).
Irelands forest cover at 700,000 hectares, or 10% of land
area, is significantly behind the EU average of 35%, despite
very favourable climatic conditions for tree growing. The
policy objective is to increase our forest cover to 17%
by 2030 in order to create an economically viable timber
sector, compatible with protection of the environment.
Current processing capacity is reckoned to be 3.26
million cubic meters in sawmills and 1.77 million cubic
meters in panel mills.
Expenditure in the Forest Service totalled €101.95 million
in 2004, compared to €82.72 million in 2003. This 23%
increase reflected the increased allocation to the forestry
area in 2004. Approximately 11,000 hectares of new
planting was achieved during the year. This expenditure
encompassed payments in respect of premiums,
investment and the support programme. The support
programme embraces essential support for forest roads
and forest reconstitution and woodland improvement
schemes. The programme also supports Native Woodland
development and the Neighbour-Wood Scheme to
develop woodland amenity, mainly broadleaf in and
around villages, towns and cities.
Some other aspects of schemes delivery included:
■
Felling applications had a turnaround of two
months;
■
Afforestation and support schemes payments had
an average turnaround of 3 months;
■
There was a turnaround of 5/6 weeks in dealing
with appeals;
■
The development of IForIS, a map-based payment
and information system which will deliver faster
payments, continued in 2004 and should be live
by mid-2005.
Minister of State John Browne TD at the launch of the Devil’s Glen
Sculpture, Ashford, Co. Wicklow, 19 December
44
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Goal 4.0
45
GOAL 5.0
Scheme Delivery and Financial Management
Operate all our schemes and programmes in an efficient and effective manner,
and ensure the highest standards of corporate and financial management and
accountability in all our activities
SCHEME OPERATIONS
Effective and Efficient Schemes Delivery
Over one million payments valued at €1.333 billion
issued to farmers during 2004 under the various EU
Livestock Premia, Disadvantaged Areas Compensatory
Allowances and Arable Aid schemes, of which €830 million
related to payments made under the 2004 schemes. The
commencement dates for payments as set down in the
Protocol on Direct Payments to Farmers were observed.
Over the past number of years the Department, in
consultation with the farm bodies, and with the
progressive use of information technology, has made
major progress in simplifying the application
procedures under the various schemes. The changes
introduced include:
■
■
Use of bar coding on bovine animal passports
– this removed the need to list tag numbers on
applications as they can be read now from passports
using a bar-code scanner instead (except under
the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme where (1) a
herdowner is applying on heifers and/or (2) a herd is
restricted, in which case the cows must be listed;
■
Provision at all five census dates for the
Extensification Premium scheme of CMMS-based
Herd Profiles to farmers participating in the scheme
so that they can monitor their stocking densities
throughout the year and notify the Department of
any discrepancies between the number of animals
recorded on the CMMS database and the number
in the herd at a particular census date;
■
Automatic processing of entitlement to Slaughter
Premium from the CMMS database without the
need for farmers to submit applications;
■
46
Pre-printing of personal details (name, address
and herdnumber, and in the case of Area Aid
applications, land parcel identification numbers and
areas) on application forms. The correct completion
of area aid forms remains a critical task for farmers.
To assist them, the Area Aid Unit issued pre-printed
forms for the 2004 Scheme to farmers who lodged
Area Aid applications in 2003. A help-sheet was
included with each form offering step-by-step
guidelines. In addition, updated maps were issued
to those applicants who had mapping changes in
the previous year;
Removal of certain notification requirements where
the necessary information can be taken from the
CMMS database.
The rates of payment for the various livestock premia
schemes and the Arable Aid scheme were the same as
those for 2003, the maximum agreed under Agenda 2000.
Normally 60% advances are paid under the various
bovine premia schemes, commencing at the earliest on
16 October. Ireland commenced payment of these 60%
advances on 16 October together with full amounts due
under the Ewe Premium Scheme and Dairy Premium
Scheme. By 31 December 2004 a total of €469 million
had been paid. Payments under the Arable Aid scheme
commenced on 16 November and by the end of the year
a total of €129 million had been paid.
Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Compensatory
Allowances Scheme commenced on 17 September in
accordance with the commitment in the Protocol on Direct
Payments to Farmers and by 31 December 2004 a total of
€232 million had been paid to 97% of applicants.
Extensification Premium payments in respect of any
particular year normally are made in June of the following
year. Payments for 2003 commenced on 10 June 2004
and by the end of the month €153 million had been
paid to an estimated 96% of eligible applicants. Stocking
densities for 2003 were established from the CMMS
and other databases. This relieved those farmers who
normally opted for establishing stocking density by way
of the census system from the burden of submitting
details of the bovine animals that they had at five census
dates throughout the year.
Single Payment Scheme
Work commenced on establishing provisional Single
Payment entitlements for all farmers who received direct
payments in the reference period 2000 to 2002. This is a
large undertaking involving extracting information for a
number of years from livestock premia payment, Arable
Aid payment and land parcel databases. It also involved
dealing with Force Majeure applications from farmers
who feel that their production levels in the reference
years were adversely affected by circumstances beyond
their control, dealing with applications for allocations
of entitlements from the national reserve from certain
categories of farmers, ensuring that penalties applied to
payments in the reference years are not carried forward
to the Single Payment reference amount, and a number
of other complexities.
At 31 December 2004 over 130,000 farmers had been
notified of their provisional entitlements, the bulk of
applications for Force Majeure had been processed and
arrangements had been made to enable farmers apply
for allocations of entitlements from the National Reserve.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Department staff at National Ploughing Championships, September 2004.
Preparations had also begun for the issue of summary
statements of payment entitlements, maps, application
forms, Terms and Conditions and Helpsheets to farmers
in Spring 2005 to assist them in lodging applications for
activation and use of entitlements by the closing date of
16 May 2005.
Intervention Schemes
There were no cereals or beef purchases in 2004.
Purchasing activity on dairy products was high in 2003,
but lessened in 2004. This, together with receipts from
sales that took place during the year, reduced the claims
submitted to the EAGGF from €70,900,000 in 2003 to
€19,118,000 for 2004.
Export Refunds
Payments totalling €222.27 million were made in respect
of export refunds during the year. Beef refunds amounted
to €51.14 million compared to €72.26 million in 2003.
Goal 5.0
This represents a 29% decrease on 2003 but it reflects
the continuing good performance of Irish beef on the
internal market and, consequently, less reliance on beef
exports to third countries.
On the other hand, payments for other exports (mainly
dairy and processed products) increased by more than
10% in 2004. This continuing rise in payments reflects
a strong performance in dairy and other refundable
exports to third countries over recent years.
Considerable progress was made during the year on the
development of an electronic system to provide for the
submission by traders of export declarations and claims for
export refunds. The system went into live testing briefly
at the end of 2004 and should be in full operation during
2005. It will improve efficiencies both for the trader and
the Department, as well as for the Customs Service.
Wine Licences
A total of 3,484 wine import licences were issued in 2004.
47
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
involved in the refund by the EU of expenditure incurred
by the Department on EU measures.
Expenditure
The Department is obliged to ensure that implementation
of all schemes complies with EU and national requirements
on financial reporting, maintenance of accounting
and transaction details and audit trails. It operates
comprehensive financial management and control
and accounting systems to ensure this.
GOAL 5.0
The Department’s activities and schemes are funded either
from the Vote, by the EU from the Guarantee Section of
the European Agriculture Guarantee and Guidance Fund
(EAGGF) or are co-financed by the Vote and the EU from
either the Guarantee and Guidance (Structural Fund)
sections of the EAGGF.
The Department was responsible for Voted expenditure
of €1,259 million in 2004. Some of this expenditure
related to activities part financed by the European
Union, which attracted receipts amounting to €440
million from the EU. In addition, the Department spent
€1,399 million in administering EU fully funded CAP
Guarantee schemes and Intervention purchases, bringing
total expenditure to €2,724 million (see table below).
It should be noted that in any given year, expenditure by
the Department on EU measures and receipts from the
EU cannot be compared directly because of time lags
Expenditure on Irish Agriculture in 2004
Vote Expenditure
Overall there was a 4% decrease of approximately
€50 million, in total gross expenditure in 2004 compared
with 2003. This reflects a number of factors including
lower expenditure on Bovine TB and Brucellosis, Meat
and Bone Meal Rendering, on farm investment grants
and on the level of expenditure on financing of the CAP.
A comparative outturn of Agriculture and Food, Vote 31
expenditure for year 2003 and 2004 is set out in the
table opposite:
€m
Voted Expenditure
Of which: Administration
254.35
Structural Measures (1)
37.28
Rural Development (1)
619.99
Animal Health, State Bodies
324.23
Market Intervention and Other. (2)
23.14
EAGGF Guarantee direct expenditure
Of which: Premia/area Aid
Market Supports
Intervention Purchases (3)
Total Expenditure
€m
1,258.99
1,399.39
1,088.41
310.98
66.03
2,724.41
(1) Rural Development measures and certain Structural Development measures are co-financed by the EU and the
Vote. These figures are total Vote expenditure on these measures in the calendar year, as payments are made
from the Vote. The EU contribution to expenditure is subsequently recouped to the Vote as appropriations in aid,
some of which is received in a subsequent calendar year.
(2) This Vote expenditure relates to expenditure on IACS and to Intervention financial (interest) and operational
costs. The latter costs are subsequently claimed back from the EU on the basis of standard amounts.
(3) This is the amount paid by the Department on product purchased into Intervention in the year. The cost of
Intervention purchases is recouped from the EU through depreciation of stock value during the year of purchase
and at the time of sale of the product.
48
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Comparative Outturn of Vote Expenditure for Year 2003 and 2004
Expenditure Type
Net expenditure
Appropriations in Aid
- EU Receipts
Year 2003
€m
Year 2004
€m
865.874
772.766
443.035
486.220
393.569
440.223
49.466
45.997
- Other
Gross Expenditure
1,308.909
1,258.986
Note: Responsibility for Forestry transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Food from the Department of
Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on 1 January 2004. For comparison purposes only, the 2003 figures
include Forestry related expenditure.
For a detailed breakdown of Vote expenditure see Appendix 5.
EU EXPENDITURE
Financing of European Agricultural
Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Expenditure
The Guarantee Section of the European Guarantee
and Guidance Fund (EAGGF) fully finances CAP
expenditure such as direct payments to farmers and
EU market supports. In addition, the Guarantee Fund
provides the EU contribution towards co-financed CAP
Rural Development measures, 2000-2006, and the
EU contribution towards the financial and operational
costs of Intervention purchases. Under EU rules, the
Department initially pre-finances CAP Guarantee
expenditure, pending recoupment from the EU some
six weeks in arrears. Payments are made from a float
established from borrowings that were novated by the
Minister to the National Treasury Management Agency
(NTMA) in 1999, which is supplemented by shortterm Exchequer Issues at peak payment periods. The
Department submits a claim to the EU each month for
recoupment of expenditure from the Guarantee Fund.
The EU co-funding contribution towards the CAP Rural
Development measures 2000-2006 varies from 50% to
75% of eligible expenditure, subject to overall financial
ceilings. Expenditure on the CAP Rural Development
measures is initially paid in full from the Vote and a claim
for the EU contribution is included in the monthly claim
on the Guarantee Fund.
Purchases into intervention are initially financed by the
Department from borrowings arranged by the NTMA
as agent of the Minister. The Department maintains a
separate Intervention Account for this purpose. Under
EU rules, the capital cost of Intervention purchases is
recovered by recouping a flat rate of depreciation at the
time of purchase, at a rate set by the Commission, and
Goal 5.0
by recovery of any losses at the point of sale, where
stock is sold at less than the depreciated book value.
Intervention financial and operational costs are recouped
on the basis of standard amounts. Intervention financial
and operational costs are financed initially from the Vote.
Claims for recoupment of depreciation, financial and
operational costs are included in the monthly claim to
the EU Guarantee fund.
Claims submitted to the EU in 2004 in respect of measures
funded by the Guarantee Section of the EAGGF amounted
to €1,788.1 million. The details are set out in the following
table. A more detailed breakdown is set out in Appendix 6.
Claims Submitted to Guarantee Section of the
EAGGF in 2004
2003
€m
2004
€m
Livestock Premia
974.2
906.9
Area Aid
130.4
132.6
Export Refunds
228.7
214.1
Dairy Measures
107.1
149.3
7.0
8.7
Rural Development
Measures (1)
255.9
357.4
Public Intervention
storage (2)
73.7
19.1
Other Indirect Measures
(mainly PFD and SPS)
61.5
0.0
1838.5
1788.1
Direct Measures
Other Direct Measures
Indirect Measures
Total
(1)
Amounts claimed from the EU on these co-financed
measures
(2)
Amount claimed from the EU in respect of
depreciation of stocks, financial and operational costs.
49
EAGGF Guidance Fund
GOAL 5.0
The Guidance Section of the European Agricultural
Guarantee and Guidance Fund (EAGGF) is one of the
EU Structural Funds. The Structural Funds part finance
the cost of agreed national development measures
implemented over a period of a number of years,
currently 2000-2006. The Department of Agriculture
and Food is receiving Guidance funding in the period
2000-2006 towards part of the cost of certain measures
being implemented under two separate Operational
Programmes, viz. Sub Programmes on Agriculture
and Rural Development approved for each of the two
regions, the Border, Midlands and Western Region
(BMW) and the Southern and Eastern Region (S+E).
Expenditure on measures co-financed from the Guidance
Fund is funded from the Vote with EU recoupment being
subsequently claimed and credited to Appropriations-inAid. Claims for EU funding are submitted periodically in
accord with a financing programme.
Guidance Funding is also channeled through the
Department of Agriculture and Food to the Department
of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for certain
measures under the above Operational Programmes and
in respect of the LEADER Community Initiative and to the
Department of Environment and Local Government in
respect of certain PEACE II initiatives. All Expenditure is
subject to audit by the EU Commission and the European
Court of Auditors.
Ireland’s EAGGF Guidance Fund receipts in 2004
amounted to €61.930 million and included final EU
payments totaling €28 million in respect of the OPARDF
and LEADER II measures, 1994-99.
FEOGA Guidance Receipts (€m) 2003-2004
2003
€m
2004
€m
1994-1999 Round
Food Sub-Programme
10.270
0.000
OPARDF
0.000
25.630
LEADER 11 (Note a)
0.000
2.390
Total for 1994-1999
Round
10.270
28.020
NPD S&E/BMW
Regional OP’s (Note b)
4.182
20.692
LEADER Plus (Note c)
2.124
11.280
2000-2006 Round
Peace and
Reconciliation Initiative
(Note d)
Total for 2000-2006
Round
Total Guidance
Receipts
1.938
6.306
33.910
16.576
61.930
Notes
a.
All €2.390 million a Department of Community
Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA) Receipt
b.
Includes DCRGA receipts of €2.119 million in
2003 and €3.572 million in 2004
c.
All DCRGA receipts
d.
All Department of Environment and Local
Government receipts
Details are set out in the following table:
50
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
FINANCIAL CONTROLS
Compliance with National and EU
Financial Reporting Requirements
The Department must ensure that implementation of all
schemes complies with EU and national requirements
on financial reporting, maintenance of accounting
and transaction details and audit trails. It operates
comprehensive financial management and control and
accounting systems to achieve this objective. These include:
■
SAP computerised accounts system, introduced in
2001, to meet expanding national and EU financial
management and control requirements;
■
an effective Internal Audit Unit which completed a
substantial body of work in 2004;
■
an Audit Committee, consisting mainly of external
members (five out of six);
■
audit examination by 5 independent external auditors
(Comptroller & Auditor General; the Certifying Body;
EU Commission; EU Court of Auditors, and OLAF,
the independent Commission Anti-Fraud Office);
■
an Accreditation Review Group to ensure that the
Department’s status as an accredited EU paying
agency is retained and to ensure audit findings
and recommendations are followed up;
■
implementation of a formal Risk Management
Programme ensuring identification and management
of the principal risks facing the organisation.
ACCREDITATION FOR EU GUARANTEE
– FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEMS
The Department is the accredited paying agency in Ireland
for all expenditure on CAP market supports and direct
payments to producers, except for fisheries measures.
The Department is one of the largest EU paying agencies.
October 2002 -15 October 2003) totaled over €1.89 billion
in respect of FEOGA direct payments to producers and
market supports and CAP Rural Development measures.
The 2003 Annual Account was audited and certified
by the Certifying Body (Deloitte), and the audited and
certified accounts were submitted to the Commission
by the regulatory deadline of 10 February 2004 and
included in the Commission’s financial clearance decision.
The Department’s performance as paying agency
continued to be monitored in 2004 by the Accreditation
Review Group (ARG) established by the Minister and
chaired by the Secretary General. The Department of
Finance and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners
are represented on the ARG. During 2004, the ARG
ensured that the recommendations of the Certifying Body
for the previous year were implemented and that all EU
audit findings were given appropriate follow-up.
AUDITS
Internal Audit
The Internal Audit Unit completed a substantial body
of work and completed and issued 20 audit reports.
All regulatory requirements on audit and control were
completed in accordance with the prescribed timescales as
set out in the EU Scrutiny and Structural Fund Regulations.
The IT audit group, assisted by specialist external consultants,
completed a comprehensive amount of audit coverage.
The annual Audit Seminar held in conjunction with the
Department’s Audit Committee took place in November and
included audit representatives from a number of Member
States. A comprehensive training programme was again put
in place for the staff of the Unit. The Unit also presented
training courses on audit and control to both Departmental
staff and to representatives from some of the new Member
States and also the new Candidate Countries.
As a paying agency accredited in accordance with EU rules,
the Department must adhere to stringent regulatory
requirements to meet financing and accounting
standards and must submit independently certified annual
accounts of expenditure to the EU Commission. Failure
to do so could result in withdrawal of accreditation.
The Department is also the designated Coordinating Body
responsible for the supply to the Commission of EU EAGGF
financial information on its operations and those of the
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
In 2004, the Department retained accreditation status as
an EU paying agency for EAGGF Guarantee expenditure.
The EAGGF account for the 2003 EAGGF year (16
Goal 5.0
Minister Coughlan with the chairperson of the Department’s Audit
Committee, Mr. John Donnelly.
51
Audit Committee
The Department’s Audit Committee was established in
1994. The Committee is chaired by Mr John Donnelly,
Deputy Chairman of Hypo Real Estate Bank International.
The other Committee members are Mr Michael Downes,
CIE; Mr Eamon O’Connor, Revenue Commissioners;
Mr Robert Carey, Department of Finance; Professor Niamh
Brennan, University College Dublin and Mr Aidan O’Driscoll,
Department of Agriculture and Food.
GOAL 5.0
■
■
■
DG SANCO audit on BSE monitoring programmes
for years 2001 and 2002.
European Court of Auditors
The European Court of Auditors carried out the following
audits:
To advise on the operation of the internal audit
function within the Department;
Statement of Assurance audit – DAS 2003 (Audit of
Guarantee expenditure) – 3 Audit missions held in 2004;
■
To monitor the application of Council Regulation
(EEC) No. 4045/89, which deals with the scrutiny by
Member States of transactions funded under various
market support schemes funded by the EAGGF
Guarantee Fund;
Statement of Assurance audit – DAS 2003 – Audit
of EAGGF Guidance expenditure, closure of the
Food Sub Programme 1994-1999 (OP 94IR16006);
■
Statement of Assurance audit – DAS 2004 (Audit
of Guarantee expenditure) – 2 visits (October &
November) in 2004 and further visit in 2005;
To advise on best practice for risk management.
■
Audit of application of Council Regulation
4045/89 concerning scrutiny by Member States of
commercial records relating to the Guarantee Fund;
■
Audit in respect of Bovine Slaughter Premium;
■
Audit of application of Regulation 386/90 on Export
Refunds export controls.
The Committee presents an annual report to the Minister
in accordance with its Charter. The Committee met
four times in 2004 and received presentations on many
aspects of the Department’s operations. It also held one
of its meetings in the Wexford offices of the Department.
The Chairman of the Audit Committee also meets
regularly with the Minister and the Secretary General.
In the Audit Committees Annual Report for 2003,
issued in March 2004, the Chairman reported “ The role
of the Audit Committee is to advise the Minister, the
Secretary General and the officials of the Department on
the effectiveness of the systems and controls operated
within the Departments, in respect of the many schemes
operated by the Department. I am satisfied that the
Audit Committee discharges its obligations in respect of
that role.“ The report continued that the Chairman was
“satisfied that the Internal Audit Unit is well led and is
appropriately resourced“.
EU AUDIT PROGRAMME
European Commission
During 2004 there were four EU Commission audit visits
covering;
52
Clearance of EAGGF Guarantee accounts – Milk &
Milk Products (Audit of SMP into Casein);
■
The Audit Committee has three main roles:
■
■
■
Clearance of EAGGF Guarantee accounts – Rural
Development Programmes (Compensatory allowance);
■
Clearance of EAGGF Guarantee accounts – Audit of
Agricultural Expenditure – Export Refunds Scheme;
Risk Management
The overall objective of the Risk Management
Programme (RMP), as set out in the Department’s
Statement of Strategy, is to identify and assess the
key risks (strategic, operational, financial, reputational)
facing the Department in achieving its objectives and to
outline measures at Departmental and Divisional level for
addressing those risks.
A Risk Management Team (RMT), consisting of
representatives of the Administrative, Veterinary and
Agricultural Inspectorate streams, reports to the Risk
Management Committee (RMC), which is chaired by the
Secretary General. The RMC consists of senior officials
of the Department and has responsibility for overseeing
the Risk Management programme. The RMC met on four
occasions during 2004.
The Department’s Management Advisory Committee also
agreed a list of broader strategic risks, at a workshop held
in May 2004, which will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
The risk reporting system (database) was rolled out
throughout the Department in 2003. In the quarter
ending 30 June 2004, following the transfer of Forestry
functions to the Department, the Forest Service, including
the Forestry Inspectorate, was integrated into the RMP.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
The consultants engaged to facilitate implementation
finalised their review of the programme’s progress
in October 2003, and their recommendations were
implemented by the Department during 2004, monitored
by the RMC.
Also in 2004, a proposal to help improve the efficiency of
the RMP was agreed by the RMC. The proposed changes
take account of the results of feedback received from
users, and experience to date. It is expected that the
revised system will be implemented in 2005.
Management Information Framework
(MIF)
With the implementation of the SAP Accounts system in
July 2001 (with enhanced functionality added in 2003),
the Department was one of the first Departments to
select and install a MIF compliant Financial Management
System. There are now in excess of 1,000 staff across the
Department with appropriate access to the SAP system.
The biggest single benefit of the system is the fact that
up to date financial information is available to all relevant
staff on an ‘online’ basis.
In addition to providing financial information, the SAP
Accounts system is the basis for the generation of all
payments made by the Department. To that end, in excess
of one million payments are generated from the system
annually. The system, which is capable of producing both
cash and accrual-based information, is fully configured to
provide electronic payments facility to all clients.
The Department’s MIF implementation team continues
to place major emphasis on the provision of Financial
Management training. A comprehensive training
programme was delivered to some 1,000 staff in 2004.
Staff were provided with training in a range of financial
disciplines including detailed Government financial
procedures, basic accrual accounting and usage of the
SAP accounts system. Further training will be delivered
throughout 2005, aimed primarily at senior and middle
management, covering the MIF environment and the
effective use of financial and non financial information.
Expenditure Review Initiative (ERI)
The Expenditure Review Initiative (ERI) is overseen by
the Expenditure Review Central Steering Committee
(ERCSC) in the Department of Finance. The current
three year expenditure review work plan was agreed by
Government for the period May 2002 to April 2004.
During 2004, two expenditure reviews were completed
to evaluation stage by year end, while work was
commenced on two other reviews.
Goal 5.0
53
GOAL 6.0
Operational Capabilities
Develop our human and physical resources, our operational capabilities and ensure
the delivery of quality service to our customers, both internal and external
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENTS
HUMAN RESOURCES
Statement of Strategy 2003-2005
Partnership
A draft Statement of Strategy to cover the period
2005-2007 was prepared in December 2004. This
is the fifth Strategy Statement to be published.
During the year the Local Partnership Committee
structure continued with local committees for Galway,
Roscommon and Limerick Local Offices continuing to
develop partnership arrangements during 2004. These
operated in addition to the existing regional partnership
committees at the main decentralised offices, i.e. Cavan,
Castlebar, Portlaoise and Johnstown Castle.
The Statement of Strategy describes the environment,
both internal and external, within which the Department
operates and identifies the challenges ahead. It states
our mission for the three years ahead, identifies the
goals and strategies and describes the evaluation and
monitoring process. One of the reporting mechanisms is
the Annual Report, which gives a detailed account of the
progress made on these goals and strategies during the
year in question.
The Strategy Statement is the framework document,
which governs all Departmental operations as it forms
the basis of all the Divisional Business Plans as well as
all individual role profiles.
The Strategy Statement developed from an initial indepth analysis of the work of the Department by the
Management Committee and Heads of Divisions at
specially convened workshops and evolved through
discussions and consultation with staff at seminars,
through the intranet and the Partnership Committee.
In addition, the views of a wide range of Department
customers and external stakeholders were sought
through direct contact with over 200 bodies as well as
through the interdepartmental Change Management
Network. The Minister and Ministers of State were also
involved in the consultation process.
Sustaining Progress Commitments
In 2004, the Civil Service Performance Verification Group
(CSPVG) continued to review the extent of progress
made by the Department on the modernisation agenda.
Comprehensive Progress Reports were submitted through
the Partnership Committee in April and September 2004
outlining the progress made on issues such as customer
service, efficient use of resources, modernisation and
flexibility and improved regulatory, HR and ICT management.
Substantial progress was made in the required areas and
a favourable decision was given by the CSPVG. A revised
Action Plan setting out further commitments for 2005
and 2006 was forwarded for approval by this group in
November 2004.
54
Superannuation Unit
A dedicated Superannuation Unit was established within
Personnel Division to provide superannuation estimates,
process applications for retirement and resignation,
process applications for purchase of notional service
and deal with pensions matters.
Incremental Credit
Due to changes in the payscales of Executive Officers
and Clerical Officers, it was necessary to calculate
incremental credit in respect of over 200 applications
from staff of the Department. This detailed work was
carried out efficiently and payments were made promptly
to the staff concerned.
Performance Management and
Development System (PMDS)
By mid 2004, the PMD system had been fully implemented
in the Department. In addition, we introduced the Upward
Feedback element of PMDS at the beginning of 2004
making this one of the first Departments to introduce
this additional element to the system.
There has been a concerted effort by senior
management to ensure that the PMD system is used
effectively and its implementation has been a consistent
item on the Management Committee agenda as well
as being continuously emphasised during the series of
countrywide staff seminars, which dealt with issues of
importance to the Department and staff.
This Department also participated in the Sub-Committee
of General Council which is progressing the fuller
integration of PMDS with the wider HR processes such
as increments, promotion, etc., as required under the
Sustaining Progress Agreement.
Substantial progress was made in the required areas and
a favourable decision was given by the CSPVG. A revised
Action Plan setting out further commitments for 2005
and 2006 was forwarded for approval by this group in
November 2004.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Local Office Accommodation
Over 100 staff in Galway city moved into new offices
at Dockgate, Galway. Discussions continued during the
year with OPW about the provision of new offices in
Roscommon, Limerick, Navan and Leitrim.
Energy Efficiency
Minister Coughlan meeting Department Staff at the National
Ploughing Championships, September 2004.
Training and Development
In 2004, PMDS training was completed with all grades.
Training on the Upward Feedback element of PMDS was
also completed with 2,200 staff.
Under the European Computer Driving License (ECDL)
programme, over 4,500 training days were provided.
Over 1,400 staff undertook some 3,100 examinations,
with a 94% success rate. The new Syllabus was
introduced on 1 January 2004.
Training was also delivered in other competencies, which
included Induction, Microsoft Office Products, Effective
Writing, Report Writing, Speech Writing, Smart Reading,
Legislation, Retirement Planning, Scientific and Specialist
Courses.
The total cost of training for the Department, including
specialist training undertaken by Divisions amounted to
€5,206,316. The overall number of training days for
2004 was 16,016.
Building Management Systems have been installed in
recent years at Department Offices in Abbotstown,
Agriculture House (Dublin HQ), Ballina, Cavan,
Longford, Navan, Portlaoise, Sligo and Tralee. Building
Management Systems are set up to avail of off peak/
low rate electricity where possible. In 2004 the Office
of Public Works (OPW) extended the use of Building
Management Systems to Department offices in Cork
City, Galway, Kilkenny, Mullingar, and Tullamore. In 2005
OPW plan to extend the use of Building Management
systems to all other Department offices, not already
equipped with such systems, with a floor area greater
than 1,000 square metres.
New Laboratory Complex at Backweston
and Longtown Farm, Co. Kildare
Work progressed satisfactorily on the building for the
new complex in Backweston which will house the
Department’s Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, the
Dublin Regional Veterinary Laboratory, the Central Meat
Control Laboratory, the National Seed Testing Station,
the Pesticides Control Laboratory and the Dairy Science
Laboratory. The Complex is expected to be completed
before the end of May 2005.
The brief for Longtown Farm (to replace Abbotstown
Farm) is still under development.
ACCOMMODATION
OTHER ORGANISATIONAL
DEVELOPMENTS
Decentralisation
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
A Decentralisation Implementation Committee was set up
in the Department to oversee all aspects of decentralisation
of staff to Portlaoise (new Department headquarters),
Macroom (new Laboratory Complex) and Fermoy (new
Local Office).
Ongoing liaison took place with the Office of Public
Works (OPW) to provide a single headquarters building
in Portlaoise for 850 people, laboratories in Macroom for
100 people and local office in Fermoy for 100 people.
Temporary accommodation for 40 people was secured in
Portlaoise.
Goal 6.0
Farmers
The promotion of this payment method continued during
2004 and by the end of the year over 50,000 farmers
had their scheme payments from the Department
transferred electronically into their bank accounts.
This represents over one third of payments to farmers.
Department Staff
The proportion of staff being paid by EFT rose to 86%
during 2004.
55
GOAL 6.0
New Laboratory Complex at Blackweston.
Suppliers
The Department now pays over 85% of its suppliers by EFT.
ISO Projects Management
The ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation)
is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies.
Obtaining accreditation to ISO 9001: 2000 Standard
gives an independent verification of the quality of the
Department’s services. The Department is committed to
providing quality assurance of services and to enhance
customer satisfaction.
The Veterinary Medicines Section in Maynooth and
the Beef Export Refunds Division in Wexford are both
accredited to the ISO 9001:2000 Standard. The ISO
Project Management Division is now working with
Livestock Breeding Section who continue to progress
toward accreditation and hope to be accredited to ISO
9001:2000 in 2005. The Department plans to introduce
the ISO Quality System to a number of payment Divisions
where practical and appropriate.
Health and Safety
204 of the Department’s staff (mainly agricultural
field staff) completed a one day Safe Pass course, and
were subsequently issued with a safe pass card. This
training arose from the Health & Safety Authority (HSA)
Guidelines for the implementation of the Construction
Regulations 2001.
56
48 staff underwent fire training while 25 staff were
trained in manual handling.
44 of the Department’s line managers attended health
and safety training courses. The training familiarised
participants with employers and employees responsibilities
under the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act, 1989
and the 1993 (General Application) Regulations, gave
them an understanding of health and safety legislation in
Ireland and the EU, explained the hazard identification,
risk assessment and risk control process and outlined the
requirements of a Department Safety Statement.
42 staff successfully completed a course in occupational
first aid, and a further 14 members attended a one
day refresher first aid course. These courses met the
requirements of the 1993 Regulations and of the HSA
Guidelines on refresher training.
Change Management Fund
This was the sixth year of the Fund’s operation and the
Centre for Management and Organisational Development
(CMOD) co-financed projects on the basis of:
■
Targeting one or more of the key initiatives of the
SMI/Delivering Better Government programme of
change, with priority being given to the on-going
implementation of PMDS and development of the
Management Information Framework (MIF) project;
■
Being supported by a clearly defined business case
for the project;
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
■
Covering a small number of transient posts, the
funding for which was provided on a decreasing
sliding scale basis;
■
Having one central co-ordinator in the Department
to liaise with the CMF Working Group.
The Department received €46,662 from the Fund
towards the cost of continued implementation of
Performance Management Training.
DEVELOPING I.T. CAPACITY
A new ICT (Information Communication Technology)
Strategy was developed in March 2004, which supports
the Department’s near-term business priorities and
focuses on the use of Information Technology to facilitate
strategic change. The new Strategy incorporates the
Department’s eGovernment strategy. Some of the key
information technology initiatives developed during 2004
are detailed below.
Corporate Customer System
The Department’s Corporate Customer System (CCS)
provides a single comprehensive view of the Department’s
customers and allows for easier maintenance of accurate
customer information. All business roles and links that
customers have with the Department are centrally
recorded and associated with a single customer record.
All customers, whether or not they have financial dealings
with the Department, are recorded on the System. The
CCS provides a number of benefits to the Department
through clarification of customer identity and the
association of all the customer’s various business roles
(e.g. herdowner, general supplier etc.) and business
identifiers (e.g. herd numbers, REPS numbers etc.) under
one customer identifier.
The Department now uses the Personal Public Service
Number (PPSN), previously known as the RSI number, as
the unique identifier for individual customers. This is in
keeping with the Government’s REACH initiative and the
general approach being followed by other Departments.
The unique identifier to be used for companies/
traders/firms will be the firm’s VAT number and/or the
Companies Registration Office (CRO) number.
The system was rolled out countrywide in 2004.
Authorised staff at any location in the Department can
update identity details for their customers on to the CCS.
Strict authorisation features provide a very high level of
control over how the information is used, maintained
and interfaced to the SAP Financial System.
Goal 6.0
CCS provides the customer information to all of the
Department’s newer systems such as Animal Health
Computer System (AHCS), the Single Payment System
(SPS), Animal Identification and Movement System (AIM)
etc. The Forestry System, GPAS, was also successfully
integrated with the Corporate Customer System and the
SAP Financial system in 2004.
Export Refunds Electronic SAD (eSAD)
Project
The Department embarked on an initiative with the
Revenue Commissioners Customs Service and the Revenue
Online Service (ROS) in mid-2003, to develop an electronic
system to cater for the submission of Common Agricultural
Policy (CAP) export declarations. The Project received
support from the Information Society Commission.
The system streamlines the existing paper Single
Administrative Document (SAD) procedure and greatly
benefits both the export trader and the two Government
agencies involved. It provides traders with the facility
to electronically complete and transmit the required
Customs declarations. These declarations are then
processed electronically and the trader receives the
necessary responses electronically. On completion of
all Customs formalities, in accordance with the EU
regulations, the required information is then electronically
validated and transmitted to the Department of
Agriculture and Food, to allow the payment of the
appropriate Export Refund to be processed. The system
went live in July 2004 and the first electronic declarations
were received from Traders in December 2004.
SPS/iMAP
The introduction of the Single Payment Scheme (SPS)
represents a significant shift for the Department of
Agriculture and Food. It changes radically the basis on
which payments are made to farmers by decoupling
payment and production while consolidating what
was a range of payments into one single payment.
The iMap system delivered in early 2002 has already
given important functionality, but most notably it has
also positioned the Department well strategically for
the SPS. The existing iMap system can now be used as
the basis for the SPS system with considerable re-use of
existing component functionality.
SPS comes with a range of new business processes to
be supported by the Department. Since the project
commencement the Department has made significant
headway to date in the implementation of the SPS
and the new business processes involved. SPS Phase 1
57
commenced in late 2003, which led to the issue of
Provisional Entitlements to Farmers in September
2004. The IT functionality is in place to process Force
Majeure, New Entrant/Inheritance and National Reserve
applications and all correspondence with applicants both
to and from the Department is stored electronically.
Work began in late 2004 on Phase 2 of the SPS Project
to enable the Department to meet its next significant
undertaking of processing over 140,000 Single Payment
Scheme applications from April 2005 and the subsequent
issue of payments in December 2005.
GOAL 6.0
Rural Environment Protection Scheme
(REPS)
During the year, facilities to support REPS 3 were
implemented as well as other required upgrades and
enhancements. Further substantial development work was
carried out on the three On-Farm Investment Systems.
IForIS
The Forest Service embarked on a major IT project,
IForIS, in 2004. IForIS is the Integrated Forest Information
Computer System. It is a map based forest management
tool which will incorporate three key areas for the Forest
Service, a) Grant and Premium payments, b) Forest
Planning and c) Forest Inventory.
IForIS provides functionality to streamline the payment
of forestry grants thereby improving the service to Forest
Service customers. Payments to customers will therefore be
processed more efficiently and in a manner consistent with
the most up to date EU and national auditing standards.
Recently introduced EU Regulations calling for cross
checking with other area-based schemes, such as those
administered by the Department of Agriculture and Food’s
Area Aid Unit, were incorporated into the IForIS design.
In terms of forest planning, IForIS provides a means of
ensuring that new forests are established with due regard
to environmental constraints and considerations at both
national and local level. Data developed as part of the
Forest Soils project forms an important element of the
planning component of IForIS. Soils information relating to
forest productivity guides forest planning in the direction
of the most suitable soils for forestry development from
both a commercial and silvicultural perspective.
IForIS incorporates existing forest resource information
and has functionality to capture information on new
forests thereby updating current forestry data. The system
consolidates forest inventory data into a single database
allowing easy access to forestry data by all interested
parties. IForIS is due to go live in September 2005.
58
eGovernment Initiatives
The Department’s eGovernment programme has provided
improved services to our external customers and agents.
In communicating with customers by SMS and email,
and the provision of information via self-service kiosks,
the Department is also advancing the wider Information
Society Agenda. The Department has provided direct
electronic links with many of our agents (marts, meat
plants, export lairages, private veterinary practices, tag
vendors and those involved in the collection of bovine
registration and movement data).
The internal use of new technologies is widespread
throughout the Department. As well as standard
productivity tools such as email and electronic diaries,
extensive use is being made of video conferencing
to facilitate essential meetings involving staff at
the Department’s various decentralised offices or
those in Brussels. Livestock Inspectors are using SMS
technologies on mobile devices to communicate with
the Department’s CMMS databases directly from the
field and resolve some anomalies on the spot. Inspectors
carrying out livestock and Area Aid inspections can now
record inspection reports directly to a central database,
using WAP applications on their mobile phones.
During the year the Department continued to work
closely with the Information Society Policy Unit at
the Department of the Taoiseach and other crossdepartmental agencies such as REACH.
Security measures for the Department’s eGovernment
services will continue to be maintained and upgraded
over the coming year. In addition, the Department has
transferred all internet services to provision via the
Government VPN.
The Department implemented phase 1 of the e-Cabinet
system during 2004.
Reachservices
In keeping with the commitment to deploy services
through the Public Services Broker (PSB), the Department
has worked closely with REACH during the course of
the year to ensure that we are fully prepared for the
changing environment.
The Department remains fully committed towards the
PSB and, over the course of the year, has been engaged
with the REACH agency in the many facets of this
project. A large number of Department services were
identified and information pertaining to these services
as well as links to application forms were made available
to the public through the Reachservices website. A
service involving communication of Common Agricultural
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Policy (CAP) Export declarations between the Revenue
Commissioners and the Department was completed and
utilises the broker infrastructure for message transfer.
Furthermore, the underlying infrastructure has been put
in place that will enable full connectivity between our
own technical architecture and the PSB.
Short Messaging Service (SMS)
Registration and Authentication
Department Livestock inspectors were also provided
with the capacity to record inspection results for Ewe
Premium, Good Farming Practice, Area Aid and Bovine
schemes using WAP (Wireless Application Protocol)
applications on their mobile phones. These facilities
reduce the necessity for inspectors to go to their HQ to
record the results on a PC and allow for better and faster
management information.
Work continued within the Department and with the
REACH agency to facilitate the future transfer of the
Department’s eServices registered customers to the Public
Services Broker. Issues surrounding the evolution of
the Public Services Identifier (PSI) and the development
of an equivalent identifier for businesses have been at
the forefront of these discussions. The Department has
actively participated in the SAFE (Standard Authentication
Framework Environment) project and is leading on the
interdepartmental subgroup examining infrastructural issues.
eServices and the Department’s website
The homepage of the Department’s website
www.agriculture.gov.ie now presents users with a button
providing access to the eServices page. Registered clients
will receive a PAC (Personal Access Code) and password
for secure interaction with existing and future services.
The Department has two main eServices available to
clients at present:
iMap - provides access to individual Area Aid
application information, scanned images
of Area Aid correspondence and colour
mapping of land parcels.
AIM -
provides access to the Animal Identification
and Movement system, which includes a
calf birth Registration facility and a Herd
Profile Enquiry utility. The latter allows a
herdowner to view details of her/his animals
in the herd on the Cattle Movement
Monitoring System (CMMS) as well as
movements into and out of the herd.
The Department’s eServices initiative has also provided
online access for our internal clients to the Animal Health
Computer System (AHCS) and AIM.
The Department’s website allows on-line access for
customers to many application forms as well as allowing
customers to register for SMS and email information
updates. The website has improved accessibility, including a
facility which allows users choose their preferred font size.
Goal 6.0
In an extension of the Department’s Short Messaging
Service (SMS), Livestock and Veterinary staff were
provided with a facility to find the name and address of
a herdowner and the number of bovines on a holding by
sending the Herdnumber to the CMMS database by SMS.
SMS was also utilised to enhance communication
between officers. A new website on eZone, our Intranet
portal, was developed to afford officers the ability to
send text messages to specific officers or to many officers
in a distribution list.
Communications Initiatives
In 2004, the Department canvassed the agri-community
in order to build a database of clients who were
interested in availing of mobile Government services. In
conjunction with this move, the infrastructure was put
in place to enable the development of a transactional
mGovernment service using XML (Extensible Markup
Language) technology. This infrastructure provides the
backbone that will facilitate the ongoing rollout of
mobile services to our clients.
The Department has also implemented a system which
allows officers to access their email through their mobile
phone while away from the office. This system also
allows access to calendar information and permits the
scheduling/rescheduling of meetings.
The number of Department locations at which public
service Kiosks have been made available for customer
usage was further increased in 2004. The Kiosks use
touch screen technology to provide access to the
Department’s website, other Government Agencies’
websites, as well as websites of the EU Institutions.
At the end of the year Kiosks were available at 12
of the Department’s locations, namely Agriculture
House – Dublin, the Local Offices in Cavan, Castlebar,
Clonakilty, Ennis, Enniscorthy, Galway, Raphoe, Sligo,
Tralee, Waterford and the Portlaoise office. The kiosks are
fitted with swipe card readers, which will enhance the
customer’s interaction with the Department in the event
of a public services card being launched.
59
Animal Health Computer System (AHCS)
GOAL 6.0
By the end of 2004 the Animal Health Computer
System (AHCS) had been rolled out to a total of 20
District Veterinary Offices, the Sligo Regional Veterinary
Laboratory, the Brucellosis Laboratory in Cork and the
Department’s Headquarters in Dublin and Maynooth.
The system was developed to meet the Department’s
current and future needs in relation to its many and
varied animal health and welfare programmes. It replaced
the standalone cattle disease testing system, while at
the same time provides a greater range of functionality
by taking advantage of the latest information and
communication technologies. The new system is a
modern, fully networked facility, which allows staff to
access information in respect of all herds and animals
throughout the country. The AHCS is an internet-based
system, developed on the java J2EE platform, utilizing
three-tier architecture with an Oracle database at root.
The AHCS is fully integrated with the Corporate
Customer System (CCS). It also integrates with the
Department’s SAP financial system to generate payments
to farmers and veterinary practitioners. The system
also augments and shares data with other computer
systems developed by the Department in recent years
particularly those relating to cattle traceability such as
the Cattle Movement Monitoring System (CMMS), the
Animal Identification and Movement system (AIM) and
the Bovine Tagging and Registration system (BTR) to give
a fully comprehensive picture of an animal’s history from
birth to death thus providing further assurance regarding
the safety and quality of Irish produce.
A major feature of the AHCS is that Private Veterinary
Practitioners, who carry out testing under the disease
eradication schemes, are able to access the system across
the Internet. This gives them access to tests that are
scheduled to them and allows them to input data online
and to upload and download data, thus facilitating the
direct electronic capture of test data. As a result the
Department is able to process disease test results more
speedily and efficiently, thereby enhancing its ability to
manage testing programmes more effectively.
Internet facilities were provided in April 2004 that enable
Herd Keepers to view their bovine herd profiles and
animal movement details through the eServices facility
on the Department’s website (www.agriculture.gov.ie).
Herd Keepers can also register the birth of their bovine
animals online through eServices since November 2004
and further Internet facilities were also provided to tag
vendors for the processing of sheep and pig tag orders
from Farmers (bovine tag orders have been processed
on the AIM system since November 2003).
SAP based Accounts System
The Department operates a SAP R/3 System, which
provides the functionality to issue payments, fully
account for all income and expenditure and provides
functionality for purchasing and asset tracking
throughout the Department. It is a high quality, secure
system whose modules are fully integrated and are
operating smoothly. The system successfully produced
valuable management information throughout 2004
and fully satisfied the Department’s significant National
and EU accounting and reporting requirements. It also
provides functionality to support the purchase, storage,
sale and inventory control of intervention products. The
SAP R/3 System has also contributed to the Department’s
retention of accredited Paying Agency status.
PROVIDING QUALITY CUSTOMER
SERVICE
Customer Service Action Plan
The Department’s Customer Service Action Plan (CSAP)
2001-2004 sets out clearly how the Department is giving
practical effect, in its dealings with customers, to the
revised Principles of Quality Customer Service.
Animal Identification and Movement
(AIM) System
Development of further modules of the AIM system
continued. The system will be fully integrated with the
Department’s client and animal health systems and over
time, will replace and improve a number of existing
major Departmental systems including CMMS, NSIS
and NPITS
Staff in Department’s Head Office, Agriculture House.
60
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
The Plan incorporates the three new Principles of
Quality Customer Service – Equality and Diversity,
Official Languages Equality and the Internal Customer.
Particular emphasis has been placed in 2004 on the
implementation of the Internal Customer principle, as
the provision of an excellent customer service hinges
on the support of and consultation with all internal
customers. During 2004, work was advanced on
preparing a new CSAP, to cover the 2005-2007 period,
and the Department’s first ever Customer Charter.
Protocol on Direct Payments to Farmers
The “Protocol on Direct Payments to Farmers“ was
agreed with the farming organisations in July 2000 under
the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. It set out
specific delivery targets for direct income payments to
farmers. A Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee
was established under the agreement to monitor
progress. This committee, comprising of representatives
of the Social Partner Farm Organisations and the
Department, continued to meet regularly under the
chairmanship of Dr Jim O’Grady. There is a large measure
of consensus on service delivery issues and to date the
Department has met most of its Protocol targets.
(A schedule setting out the actual performance achieved
by the Department in meeting those targets for 2004 is
attached at Appendix 2).
The Agriculture Appeals Office
The Agriculture Appeals Office provides an appeals
service to farmers who are dissatisfied with decisions of
the Department of Agriculture and Food regarding their
entitlements under certain schemes. The operation of the
Office is governed by the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001
and the Agriculture Appeals Regulations 2002.
The mission of the Office is to provide an independent,
accessible, fair and timely appeals service for Department
of Agriculture and Food scheme applicants, and to
deliver that service in a courteous and efficient manner.
In 2004 the Agriculture Appeals Office:
■
Published its second Annual Report, in English agus
as Gaeilge, available on the Office’s own website,
www.agriappeals.gov.ie;
■
Was involved in a major new area of work, the
Single Payment Appeals Committee, which was
established to make recommendations to the
Department regarding appeals against decisions on
Single Payment entitlements;
Goal 6.0
■
By way of Regulation, added the ‘Landslide Damage
Relief Scheme for the Pullathomas Area of County
Mayo’ to the Schedule of Schemes that can be
examined by the Office.
In 2004, the Office received 1,116 appeals, 793 of which
were closed at the year-end. A summary of the outcomes
of the cases closed is set out below:
Summary
%
Appeals Allowed, Partially Allowed or Revised
by the Department
35
Appeals Withdrawn, Not Valid or Out of Time
13
Appeals Disallowed
52
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1997 came into
effect in April 1998. The Act is intended to enable
members of the public to gain access, to the greatest
extent possible, consistent with the public interest and
the right to privacy, to information in the possession
of public bodies. The Act also enables members of the
public to have personal information about themselves
corrected if it is factually incorrect and in certain
circumstances to be given reasons for decisions affecting
them. Accordingly, the FOI Act provides for a right of
access to records held by public bodies, for necessary
exceptions to that right of access and for assistance to
be given to members of the public to enable them to
exercise that right. It also provides for the independent
review by the Office of the Information Commissioner
of FOI decisions by public bodies.
In 2004, a total of 271 FOI requests were received
covering all aspects of the Department’s operations.
Of these, 74% were requests for personal information,
with the remainder covering requests from a variety of
sources, including the media, Oireachtas members and
business/interest groups. A total of 40 of these have
proceeded to internal review, with 19 being appealed
to the Office of the Information Commissioner.
Since the commencement of the FOI Act until
31 December 2004, a total of 2,277 FOI requests
have been received in the Department, of which 269
have proceeded to internal review and 124 have been
appealed to the Office of the Information Commissioner.
OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN
The Office of the Ombudsman received a total of 83
complaints relating to the Department in 2004 compared
to 136 in 2003. The Department met the statutory
deadlines for reply to the Ombudsman in all cases.
61
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
A formalised complaints procedure was introduced in the
Department in July 1998. The facility to have complaints
independently investigated has been publicised through
direct communication with both individual customers
and representative organisations. An explanatory leaflet
on the procedure is available at all public offices and has
been distributed and explained at farmer meetings and
at major agricultural events.
GOAL 6.0
Complaints are investigated by a dedicated Quality Service
Unit in the Department and are settled in accordance with
the Ombudsman’s guidelines using the principles of good
practice in public administration. In 2004, the majority
of complaints came from individual persons involved in
farming and related to the topics detailed below:
Complaint Category
2004
Delay in payments
8
Delay in responses to queries
4
Lack of courtesy
1
Other
5
Total
18
Staff from Johnstown Castle receiving Input Certificate of
Achievement from Minister of State John Browne, T.D.
Internal Customer Panel
Progress on the implementation of the first Internal
Customer Panel report is ongoing. During the course
of 2004, two progress reports were posted on the
Department’s intranet. Customer satisfaction levels with the
speed and level of implementation will be reviewed in 2005.
Staff Suggestion Scheme
STAFF SEMINARS
The Department has operated an active suggestion
scheme, INPUT, since 1995. Suggestions to the scheme
can be made under a number of headings such as:
A number of staff seminars were held around the country
for all staff in the period September to December 2004.
Each seminar consisted of an opening address, given by
either the Secretary General or a MAC member of the
Department, which provided information on a broad
range of relevant topics including strategic planning,
agricultural policy, decentralisation, the Single Payment
Scheme and the challenges facing the Department for
the future. This was followed by two presentations on
developments of specific interest to staff, with the focus
this year being on the introduction of upward feedback
as part of the Performance Management Development
System (PMDS) and the use of structured interviews for
internal promotion competitions.
■
improving service to the public;
■
reducing costs;
■
increasing safety;
■
eliminating waste.
In 2004, awards under the scheme were presented to 22
members of staff. In addition, awards were also made
to staff who had submitted projects in connection with
3QC, the EU Quality Conference which is held every two
years. The two projects were awarded €500 each. These
were entitled:
■
‘The Enhancement of Food Safety Surveillance in the
Republic of Ireland’, and
■
‘Herdfinder’ – an interactive web based
Geographical Information System.
Further seminars will be arranged in 2005 for the remainder
of staff who did not attend the seminars held in 2004.
The awards were presented by Minister of State with
responsibility for Customer Service, Mr John Browne, T.D.
62
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Goal 6.0
63
Abbreviations
64
AHCS
Animal Health Computer System
AIM
Animal Identification Movement System
APM
Action Programme for the Millennium
BTR
Bovine Tagging and Registration
C&AG
Comptroller and Auditor General
CAP
Common Agricultural Policy
CCS
Corporate Customer System
CMMS
Cattle Movement Monitoring System
CMOD
Centre for Management and Organisational Development
CODEX
Codex Alimentarius Commission
COM
Common Organisation of the Market
CVRL
Central Veterinary Research Laboratory
DVO
District Veterinary Office
EAGGF
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
EFT
Electronic Funds Transfer
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
EPPO
European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation
ESRI
Economic Social Research Institute
EU
European Union
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organisation
FEOGA
Fonds Européen d’Orientation et Garantie Agricole
FOI
Freedom of Information
FSAI
Food Safety Authority of Ireland
FVO
Food and Veterinary Office
HR
Human Resources
ICBF
Irish Cattle Breeding Federation
ISO
International Organisation for Standardisation
IT
Information Technology
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
LPIS
Land Parcel Identification System
MAC
Management Advisory Committee (of the Department of Agriculture and Food)
NDP
National Development Plan
NGP
National Genotype Programme
NMP
Nutrient Management Plan
NSAI
National Standards Authority of Ireland
NSMC
North/South Ministerial Council
NTMA
National Treasury Management Agency
OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OIE
Organisation Internationale des Epizooties
OPARDF
Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry
OPW
Office of Public Works
PFD
Purchase for Destruction
PMDS
Performance Management and Development System
PPF
Programme for Prosperity and Fairness
PQ
Parliamentary Question
REPS
Rural Environment Protection Scheme
SAD
Single Administrative Document
SAP
Software Applications and Products in Data Processing
SPS
Single Payment Scheme
SI
Statutory Instrument
SMI
Strategic Management Initiative
SMS
Short Messaging Service
TB
Tuberculosis
VLS
Veterinary Laboratory Service
WFP
World Food Programme
WTO
World Trade Organisation
Abbreviations
65
Appendices
APPENDIX 1.0
Performance Indicators
GOAL 6.1 – AGRI-FOOD DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE
Develop an internationally competitive agri-food sector and support and facilitate trade
in agriculture and food products
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.1.1 Undertake policy and economic
analysis to identify policy options and the
most favourable support framework for
agriculture, food, rural economy and the
natural environment in Ireland
(Cross Ref to 3.3)
Quality and Number of policy reviews
prepared
Annual Review and Outlook published in
May 2004. Fact Sheet updated regularly
and available on website. Compendium
up-dated in November 2004 and available
on website.
6.1.2 Review the measures in the Agri-Food
2010 Plan of Action
Review to be completed by end 2003.
The 2010 Committee work was updated by
the Agri-Vision 2015 Committee. Economics
& Planning Division acted as Secretariat and
had the report produced by year-end.
Examine Competitiveness Reports and take
appropriate action
A new report on productivity by Carol
Newman and Alan Matthews and a report
by Fiona Thorne were finalised in 2004.
Share of domestic and export markets
Food and drinks exports increased by almost
3% to €7.1 billion.
6.1.3 Develop, consult on and implement
appropriate national policies that promote
and underpin competitiveness, efficiency
and development of the agri-food sector
and the rural economy
6.1.4 Promote market orientation,
productivity and innovation in agriculture
and food
Food Division supported Bord Bia activities
to develop routes to markets.
GVA of agriculture and the food industry
The agri-food sector accounted for 8.4%
of total merchandise exports in 2004. The
estimated GVA of the sector was €11.3
billion in 2004 approximately 9% of GDP
at factor cost (CSO).
Average farm income
Average full-time farm income €29,000
and part-time €6,584 (Teagasc, NFS 2003).
Examine Competitiveness Reports and take
appropriate action
A new report on productivity by Carol
Newman and Alan Matthews was finalised
during 2004.
Funding of Research Projects
20 Irish partners in R&D Projects achieved
funding of €2.807 million in the Food
Quality and Safety Theme area.
Progress on relevant NDP industry indicators
as reported to the NDP Monitoring
Committees
2004 witnessed satisfactory progress
– particularly in the case of on-farm
investment, installation aid and forestry.
Reports sent to Monitoring Committees on
awards and expenditure by Department and
Development Agencies.
6.1.5 Support the agri-food industry in its
efforts to retain and expand export markets
by:
a)
68
ensuring that it maintains and enhances
its competitive position on world markets
Trade volumes to EU and other third country The value of agri-food exports in 2004 was
markets and the level of penetration of high almost €7.1 billion (CSO Trade Statistics).
values retail markets
The EU-15 accounted for 77% of the
total trade and was worth approximately
€5.5 billion in 2004, an increase of 3.2%
from 2003. The UK is the largest market
accounting for almost 48% of agri-food
exports in 2004. The 10 New Member
States and Non-EU countries accounted for
approximately 23% of agri-food exports.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
b)
implementation of systems of testing,
licensing and certification of product
Ratio of EU sales to total sales
c)
implementation of systems of
inspection, registration, licensing and
certification in relation to live animals
90% of Beef exports for 2004 were to
the EU, compared with 83% in 2003. Irish
beef exports were valued at €1.4billion in
2004, which represents an increase of 8%
on 2003.
d)
active liaison with our embassies and
An Bord Bia to support and develop
sales of Irish food products, and
Growth in value added products
The value of agri-food exports for 2004
exceeded €7 billion.
Secure third country markets open to Irish
Processors
No markets closed.
e)
in the context of changing international Growth in volume of prepared consumer
trading conditions, actions to resolve
foods
trading difficulties, and ensure
appropriate EU export support
f)
promote and cultivate a culture of
innovation and research in the agrifood industry with an emphasis on
value added products
6.1.6 Operate and promote services to ensure
high quality standards in food products
The value of prepared consumer foods
exports is estimated to have increased by
9% to €1.59billion, with exports to Ireland’s
largest market for prepared foods, the UK
up by 12.6% to nearly €600 million.
Maintain appropriate EU export support
Special rate of Beef Export Refund still in
place for exports of beef to Egypt.
Appropriate action taken to open, maintain
and secure markets
The Algerian market for fresh/chilled beef
re-opened in October, 2004 with the
prospect of frozen product being allowed
in the near future. Veterinary Certification
agreed with the Iranian authorities with
political agreement outstanding.
Number of research projects funded under
Irish and EU research Programmes
Ongoing payments to 28 RSF projects
approved in 2001 and 2002 and to the
US/Ireland Co-operation Programme.
Implementation of Breeding Programmes
During 2004 the Irish Cattle Breeding
Federation took a number of further
major steps forward in the operation and
establishment of a national cattle-breeding
infrastructure. These developments will
continue to draw together the various
sources of breeding data and process the
information in one central database. This
database will improve the accuracy and
scope of the data that can be used in
genetic evaluations.
Annual results in respect of the Pedigree
Sheep Breed Improvement Programme were
issued according to the agreed deadlines.
Implementation of product quality standards
6.1.7 Encourage and support, in conjunction Number of quality assurance schemes,
with other agencies and through partnership products covered and level of participation
arrangements between producers, processors
and retailers, quality assurance schemes that
give additional guarantees to the consumer
at home and abroad and allow greater
penetration of high value markets
Appendix 1.0
5,000 inspections carried out on Fruit &
Vegetables, which revealed high level of
quality standard compliance.
Generic guidelines for quality assurance
schemes to EN45011 standard by NSAI
at an advanced stage.
69
APPENDIX 1.0
Strategy
70
Performance Indicators
Progress
The extent of the presence of Irish products
on high value EU markets
90% of Beef exports for 2004 were to
the EU, compared with 83% in 2003.The
UK market accounted for almost 54% (or
264,000 tonnes) of Irish beef exports in
2004 an increase of 4% on 2003. Beef
exports to other EU markets were up 7.4%
on 2003 to 174,000 tonnes.
Change in the supply pattern of Irish beef
to meet market demands
Supply pattern has changed to reflect
market requirements. The fact that payment
of the Deseasonalisation Premium has not
arisen is evidence of this.
6.1.8 Operate and support services to
ensure basic inputs to the agri-food sector
are of the highest quality, including crop
variety testing, seed certification and testing
and animal breeding
Comply with target delivery times relating
to animal breeding, testing/certification/
approval of seed variety, feed, fertiliser,
biocide and pesticides and other support
services set out in Customer Service Action
Plan 2001-2004
All crop variety testing, seed certification
and testing, inspection of feed and feed
premises and fertiliser, biocides pesticides
and animal breeding control targets met.
6.1.9 Support Teagasc, An Bord Bia, Bord
Glas, the National Stud, and the National
Milk Agency in the discharge of their
statutory functions and ensure effective
implementation of their work programmes
Annual reports and accounts submitted to
Government within required timeframe
Annual reports were submitted within the
required timeframe.
Publication and implementation of
Statements of Strategy of Non-Commercial
State Sponsored Bodies
Statements of Strategy were published
and implementation commenced for NonCommercial State Sponsored Bodies.
Production of annual business plans
Annual business plans were produced.
Compliance with Code of Practice for the
Governance of State Bodies
Code complied with.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
GOAL 6.2 – FOOD SAFETY, ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE, PLANT HEALTH
Ensure the highest standards of food safety and consumer protection, animal health and
welfare and plant health
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.2.1 Maintain and develop the most
effective food safety monitoring, inspection
and control programmes at primary,
producer and processing levels to ensure
effective implementation of appropriate
legislation across all the Department’s areas
of operation including zoonoses, veterinary
medicines, feedstuffs, plant protection
products and other agricultural inputs
Number and results of inspections, and
actions taken
40 Food Hazard notifications were issued by
the Dairy Inspectorate during the year.
Number of tests carried out, level of noncompliance
A full round of inspections was completed
under the Animal Health Inspection for
Dairy Cows by 31st December 2004.
Levels of residues/contaminants, and actions
taken
1,674 samples were taken for salmonella
testing in the eggs and poultry sector in
2004 of which 95% were found to be
negative.
Number of surveillance programmes
3,620 feedingstuffs samples were tested
in 2004 for the presence of processed
animal proteins. The sampling programme
also monitored levels of other undesirable
substances in feedingstuffs and assessed
compliance with statutory requirements
on nutrient composition. 349 minor
infringements were detected and warning
letters issued. Two serious infringements
were detected and the consignments
impounded.
399 samples of fertilisers were taken in
2004. From these samples 1,048 nutrients
were analysed, of which 87 were non
compliant. Warning letters issued in all
cases.
2,622 seed lots of certified seed were
sampled in post control tests, in 2004. Of
these, 30 samples (1.14%) failed to meet
the statutory standards. Warning letters
issued in each of these cases.
Some 1,379 samples of food of plant and
animal origin analysed for their pesticide
residue content. Each sample was analysed
for up to 118 different compounds
(pesticides and their metabolites). In
addition meat and milk samples were
analysed for the contaminant PCB. Some 33
breaches of Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs)
were reported resulting in the destruction of
consignments of grapes of Indian origin and
lettuce of Irish origin.
Some 275 inspections of wholesale and
retail outlets for plant protection and
biocidal products were conducted during
the year during which some 136 minor
infringements were detected (minor
labelling issues).
Appendix 1.0
71
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
11 inspections at farm level were conducted
following suspected illegal use of plant
protection products. Formal warnings were
issued following 8 of the inspections.
APPENDIX 1.0
142 Animal Remedy Merchants Licences, 70
Animal Remedy Wholesale licences and 35
licences to manufacture Medicated Feeding
Stuff issued following inspection by the
veterinary inspectorate.
Under the National Residue Plan, in excess of
40,000 samples were taken and tested for
a range of banned substances, residues of
veterinary medicines and environmental. During
2004, arising from enforcement work, 6 persons/
companies were convicted of offences with fines
of almost €15,000 imposed, 1 person sentenced
to a term of imprisonment (suspended) and
I person received the Probation Act.
Progress as indicated in quarterly and
annual reports to FSAI
All of the quarterly reports for 2004 were
returned to the FSAI in categories of work
included under the service contract. These
are for; Meat Hygiene, Milk and Milk
Products, Eggs and Egg Products, Pesticide
Control Service, Laboratories from these
areas, Border Inspection Posts and National
Residue Monitoring Programme.
Reports by FSAI and FVO
The audits on the Department by the FVO
during 2004 did not involve areas of work
that come within the FSAI service contract.
However, the FVO carried out a mission on
the disposal of unfit food and animal by –
products. A member of the FSAI’s Audit and
Compliance Division observed this mission.
The FVO also carried out a fact-finding
mission in November, which included
interviews with officials from the Department.
The FSAI carried out the following audits:
Revised Specified Risk Material (SRM)
Audit Programme (this was continuous
throughout 2004); Audit on Tractability
and Recall incorporating beef and poultry
labelling (January – February 2004); Audit
to determine the current status of the
agreed corrective actions arising from the
following FVO missions: meat products,
meat preparations, minced meat and
casings DG (SANCO)/133/3/2001 (24-26th
February 2004); eggs and egg products
DG (SANCO)/18577/2002 (24th-28th May
2004); residues in live animals and animal
products (15th-19th November 2004) and
Audit of Compliance with the requirements
of the FSAI/DAF Service Contract (This was
commenced in September 2004 and will
continue through 2005).
72
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.2.2 Participate in and influence the
development of new food safety, animal
health and welfare and plant health
legislation at international (Codex
Alimentarius and OIE) and EU level and
in consultation as appropriate with FSAI,
FSPB, FVO, EPPO, IPPC and other national
and international agencies and progress,
on an all-Ireland basis, the development
of a strategy on animal and plant health
and maintain effective controls at Border
Inspection Posts
Response to external audit/inspections
Responses to both the FVO and the FSAI
to these audits were returned within the
timeframe given.
Meetings attended, reports produced, etc
Officials from the North and South
continued co-operation on a number of
issues including the development of a
strategy on animal and plant health.
Membership of FSAI Committee on Novel
Foods, EPA Committee on GMO’s and All
Ireland Steering Committee on Invasive
Alien Species. Liaise with State Lab on
Nitrate Monitoring.
Developments in EU food safety legislation
There was a major development in the
legislation of food safety issues during 2004
with the publication of what is known as the
Hygiene Package. The aim of this legislation is
to improve the consistency and effectiveness
of controls across the EU and consequently to
raise standards of food safety and consumer
protection and to facilitate the functioning of
the internal market.
Further controls were introduced on the
import and transit of fresh meat and animal
by-products. Legislation on animal health
conditions and veterinary certification was
also updated. A number of protective
measures were introduced during the year to
contain the spread of avian influenza. Control
measures were also put in place where there
were specific food safety concerns, such as
contaminants in food, food additives etc.
Because of the accession of the ten new
member states into the EU in 2004, legislation
was amended to assist the movement of food
products while maintaining the appropriate
food safety controls.
Appendix 1.0
Progress in development of an all-Ireland
animal health strategy
Meetings of the various NSMC policy
working groups continued to be held
throughout the year and there have been
valuable exchanges of data on issues of
mutual interest, particularly in relation to
cross-border issues. An all-island animal
health and welfare strategy is the ultimate
objective and this was advanced in 2004.
Volume of product rejected resulting from
inadequate documentation and food safety
concerns
The number of consignments of animal
products undergoing checks at Border
Inspection Posts during 2004 totalled 1158
(compared to 951 for 2003), comprising
488 (food of animal origin) 229 (food of
fish origin) and 441 (animal by-products).
One consignment of milk products was
rejected in this period (12 during 2003).
73
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
In co-operation with the Port and Customs
authorities checks are carried out on
personal baggage at airports and ports.
During 2004 a total of 1,269 confiscations
for destruction were made (4,101 during
2003) comprising a total of 4,775kgs of
animal products (13,147kgs in 2003).
APPENDIX 1.0
In addition 28 non-compliant small
commercial consignments comprising a total
of 17,929kgs were discovered at airports/
ports where there are no BIP facilities. These
were seized for destruction on account of
non-compliance with import regulations.
(During 2003 a total of 32 consignments
weighing 26,700kgs were discovered and
destroyed).
6.2.3 Promote and enhance the concept of
producer and processor responsibility for
the safety and quality of food produced
with all stakeholders
Number and type of joint actions
undertaken with NI counterpart
During 2004, the Minister met with Ian
Pearson MP, Minister for Agriculture and
Rural Development. The Secretary General
met with the Permanent Secretary of DARD
twice. There were a number of meetings on
animal health, plant health and the Single
Payment Scheme.
Number of reports submitted and decisions
implemented
There were no reports published during
2004.
Number of additional ‘own-checks’/HACCP
systems in place
94 approved self monitoring plans in the
bovine, ovine, porcine, poultry, and milk
sectors in operation during 2004.
The Department participates in achieving
this goal by encouraging the concept of
producer/processor responsibility for quality
and safety of food and participation on the
board of Bord Bia.
Level of client participation in relevant
assurance schemes
The deadline for application of participants
to apply for approval under the National
Beef Assurance Scheme was extended to
31 December 2005.
Compliance level with regard to regulations
6.2.4 Maintain existing systems of animal/
product identification, labelling and traceback systems and develop new systems to
improve the level of information available to
consumers about the origins of food on sale
in this country including the introduction of
a distinct label for Irish food
74
Effective operation of existing systems
During 2004 the CMMS database was
further enhanced and developed to ensure
and improve the accuracy and integrity of
data.
New systems introduced
Two new facilities, an online Herd Profile
Enquiry system and an internet facility to
register calf births, were provided under
the Animal Identification Movement (AIM)
and most elements of the tagging module
of this system were completed and put into
production.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
The Department, in conjunction with
Teagasc, conducted a pilot project of
training in Offaly and Clare to assist farmers
with fulfilling their obligations in relation to
animal identification and registration and
database notification requirements.
Implement appropriate recommendations of
the Food Labelling Group
The service contract between the
Department and the FSAI was amended
to include food labelling. The enforcement
of all food labelling legislation is now
centralised with the FSAI.
New legislation on the labelling of poultry
meat was introduced at the beginning of
2004. There were discussions between this
Department and the Department of Health
and Children on the issue of labelling the
origin of meat in the service sector.
Development of the ‘Food Ireland’ concept
Bord Bia carried out a comprehensive
programme of activities in 2004 to promote
Irish food and drink under “Ireland the Food
Island“ banner.
Bord Bia organised Marketplace Ireland
2004 which was very successful in providing
international food and drink buyers with
targeted opportunities to meet Irish
suppliers of new and innovative products.
Food products carrying distinct food labels
Membership of the Féile Bia scheme which
encourages the sourcing and labelling of
quality products in the foodservice sector
increased in 2004 and there are now some
1,350 outlets participating.
NSAI made significant progress with the
drawing up of a national standard for
quality assured schemes.
EU approval was secured for the inclusion
of origin and a symbol on the Bord Bia logo
for quality assured products.
6.2.5 Promote farm bio-security in
the context of disease eradication and
implement policies in relation to surveillance
and monitoring of other animal diseases
such as AD, PRRS, Johne’s Disease and EBL
Uptake by farmers of recommended biosafety measures
6.2.6 Support and promote research into
food safety
Number/scale of projects under the Food
Institutional Research Measure
Satisfactory. 17 Projects awarded under
food safety theme.
Joint initiatives with other agencies, e.g.
FSAI, FSPB
The Department was represented on a
number of committees and working groups
in the FSAI. These include:
Appendix 1.0
Reduced levels of disease
During 2004 the Department pursued
discussions on possible approaches to
tackling Johne’s disease with key interested
parties such as Teagasc, Veterinary Ireland,
ICBF, the cattle breeding societies, farmer
representative bodies, the dairy co-ops and
others. Arising from this, the Department
drew together the various outputs and
identified both short and longer-term
imperatives.
75
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee; The Additives,
Contaminants and Residues Scientific
Subcommittee; The BSE Sub committee and
the Microbiological Subcommittee
Working Groups
Code of Practice, Incidents and Alerts; GMO
Guidance Note; Imported Food Controls;
Interagency Contaminants Group and the
Meat/Beef Labelling working group.
APPENDIX 1.0
Surveys
Bacteriological safety of eggs produced
under Bord Bia Egg Quality Assurance
Scheme; Bacteriological safety of cheese
made from pasteurised milk.
Reports
Salt and Health: Review of the Scientific
Evidence and Recommendations for Public
Policy in Ireland.
There were meetings held on many specific
aspects relating to food safety.
The Department collaborated with the
Food Safety Promotion Board (FSPB) and
the National Council for Curriculum on the
development of a module in the post primary
school curriculum on food labelling. This
initiative was launched jointly between the
Department and the FSPB at the Ploughing
Championships in September 2004.
There were also two meetings of a high
level steering group with representatives of
senior management of DAF and FSAI.
6.2.7 Implement and review systems for
preventing and dealing with outbreaks
of Class A diseases including contingency
planning, training, awareness programmes
and import controls
Maintenance of EU/OIE status
Policy operated in relation to swill including
licensing system for disposal of International
swill.
Results of monitoring/surveillance
Regular monitoring of the proper disposal
of international swill is carried out by
Department staff as well as random checks
to ensure that swill is not being fed on pig
farms.
Level of preparedness
New harmonised EU pets import control
system implemented July 2004.
Review of Contingency Plan Manual-Field
Simulation
76
Review completed in 2003.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.2.8 Implement the TSE monitoring and
control/eradication programmes with the
aim of eliminating BSE and Scrapie from
the national herd and address the issues of
animal by-products and fallen animals
Incidence of BSE in the cattle herd
The incidence of BSE declined by almost
31% in 2004. 126 cases were identified
and one further herd was depopulated on
a precautionary basis after testing positive
to a rapid BSE screening test but where
it was not possible to obtain definitive
confirmation. This compares to 182 cases
in 2003. This decline took place against
a background of more than 700,000 BSE
tests as part of the Department’s active
surveillance programme.
Incidence of Scrapie in the sheep flock
29 new flocks were identified with the
disease in 2004 (37 in 2003).
New initiatives adopted
A National Genotype Programme for
Scrapie established in May 2004.
Implementation of control/eradication
programmes
Depopulation/surveillance measures in place
as outlined above.
Successful operation of the Fallen Animal
Scheme
In 2004, a total of 216,260 animals were
collected. Payments in 2004 totalled €20.3
million-€8.1 million for collection services
and €12.2 million for rendering and
destruction services.
Achievement of an acceptable means of
dealing with meat and bone meal
A number of storage plants, intermediate
plants and processing plants were approved
under the Animal By-Products legislation in
2004.
6.2.9 Intensify the Brucellosis control/
eradication programme in order to make
significant progress towards eradication
Incidence of Brucellosis in cattle herd
The number of Brucellosis reactors fell by
26% on 2003.
Implementation of control/eradication
programmes
97% of the 124,500 cattle herds tested in
2004.
6.2.10 Improve the TB control/eradication
programme including surveillance,
inspection and research with the aim of
reducing further the incidence leading to
eventual eradication
Incidence of TB in the cattle herd
The number of TB reactors fell by
approximately 17% on 2003.
Implementation of control/eradication
programmes
97% of the 124,500 cattle herds tested in
2004.
Progress on wildlife and research aspects
The Four Area Study was completed and
the report revealed that the removal of
badgers resulted in a very significant decline
in the incidence of TB in the removal areas
both by comparison with the reference
areas and between the pre-study and the
study period, particularly in the final two
years of the latter.
6.2.11 Promote and secure compliance with
animal welfare regulations, for production,
transport and slaughter
Implementation of annual monitoring
programmes and resulting actions taken
In 2004 the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory
Council (FAWAC) introduced an Early
Warning/Intervention System for Animal
Welfare Cases involving the Department
of Agriculture and Food, Irish Farmers
Association and the Irish Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty of Animals. The
objective of this system is to provide a
framework within which problems can
be spotted before they become critical
or overwhelming.
Appendix 1.0
77
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
Leaflets entitled “Dealing with Horns of
Cattle – Best Practice“ and Posters entitled
“Horned Cattle Welfare Guidelines“ were
produced in 2004. These contained advice to
farmers and others involved in the trade as
to what is acceptable from an animal welfare
point of view in terms of horns on cattle
when they are presented for sale or export.
Inspections took place in respect of the
welfare of calves, pigs and laying hens and
reports were completed in compliance with
EU requirements.
APPENDIX 1.0
National Transport Register maintained.
Under new regulations which came into
effect on 1 October 2003 all national hauliers
and transporters of live animals for distances
of over 50 kilometres must be registered. In
total 111 national hauliers and transporters
have registered with the Department.
Council Regulation (EC) No. 1 of 2005 on
the protection of animals during transport
and related operations and amending
Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and
Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 was formally
adopted on the 22nd December 2004
The new Regulation will restrict the
transport of young and pregnant animals,
upgrade vehicle standards with better
ventilation and watering facilities for the
animals, introduce satellite tracing of
lorries, compulsory training for drivers and
clearly identify who is responsible for what
throughout the animals’ journey. Travelling
time limits and space allowances for animals
on tracks will remain unchanged. Cattle,
sheep and goats can be tracked for up to 29
hours under current rules, whilst pigs and
horses can be tracked for up to 24 hours.
6.2.12 Provide efficient veterinary, dairy
science and pesticide laboratory services
for surveillance, diagnosis, research and
control purposes
Annual Report of Farm Animal Welfare
Advisory Council
The Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council
will present the Biennial Report to the
Minister for 2003/2004 during 2005.
Performance on relevant Customer Service
Action Plan targets
All dairy products were tested within time
frame.
5,498 samples of milk and milk products
were analysed in accordance with the
requirements of Dir 92/46/EEC.
Diagnostic services in support of the major
eradication schemes and research on
diseases was provided by the Veterinary
Laboratory Service (VLS).
78
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
The period taken by the Pesticide Control
Service for processing applications for
registration of plant protection products
was maintained at 2003 levels, while
additional systems were put in place for
the regulation of biocidal products and
the monitoring programme for pesticides
residues in food was further expanded.
Number of laboratories achieving
accreditation
ISO 17025 Accreditation maintained in
Dairy Science Laboratory Dublin.
The Pesticide Control Laboratory has been
accredited since December 2000 and has
successfully maintained its accreditation
status.
6.2.13 Operate an efficient and effective
Results obtained and actions taken
plant health service including implementation
of the annual inspection plan
Appendix 1.0
See page 37 of main report.
79
GOAL 6.3 – INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK
Achieve the optimum framework for the agri-food sector, rural economy and the natural
environment at EU and at the wider international level and enhance North/South
cooperation
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.3.1 Negotiate appropriate EU policies that
underpin and promote the development of
the agri-food sector the rural economy and
natural environment and help facilitate the
integration of applicant countries joining
the EU
Outcome of mid term reviews of Agenda
2000.
Political agreement on reform of the CAP
was reached at Council on 26 June 2003.
Legal texts were adopted at Council on
29 September 2003. The agreement
represented a successful outcome for Ireland.
Outcome of other EU negotiations on
market and structural policies
Successful outcome to negotiations on
legislative proposals presented by the
Commission in a number of areas, including
the Mediterranean Package and food safety.
APPENDIX 1.0
Strategy
Participation in discussions on proposals
for reform of the sugar regime, rural
development policy and financing the CAP.
Discussions and decisions on legislative
proposals and options presented by the
Commission in a number of areas, including
reform of feed hygiene, official food and
feed controls.
Number of cooperation projects engaged in. The Department hosted visits by Ministers
and officials from applicant countries and
provided guidance, advice and training;
several visits to those countries were
undertaken at Ministerial and official levels.
6.3.2 Actively defend the interest of the
agri-food sector in the current round of
multi-lateral trade negotiations under
the WTO
Outcome for Irish agri-food sector in the
WTO negotiations
Agreement was reached in Geneva in July
2004 on a framework for the new round.
The framework agreement was a satisfactory
outcome for Ireland.
Participation in further negotiations towards
specific commitment levels in Geneva at
the WTO Agriculture Committee meeting in
Special Session.
Ireland’s particular interests are reflected in
the EU’s negotiating mandate.
6.3.3 Undertake policy and economic
analysis to identify policy options and
the most favourable EU and international
support framework for agriculture, food,
rural economy and natural environment in
Ireland (Cross ref to 1.1)
Number and quality of policy papers
prepared relating to the CAP, WTO and
other international issues
The proposals for the next EU financial
perspective, rural development policy,
financing the CAP and outline proposals
for reform of the sugar sector were the
subject of intensive continuous evaluation
and analysis in the context of determining
Ireland’s position in Working Group, SCA
and the Council of Ministers.
An Irish policy paper on WTO/CAP Reform
and better communication of the EU
position was the basis for the Agriculture
Ministers’ debate at the Informal Council
meeting in Killarney in May 2004.
80
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.3.4 Plan and organise an efficient and
effective Irish Presidency of the EU Council
in 2004
(Cross ref to 6.15)
Advance planning and preparation activities
A successful Presidency in policy and
organisational terms was undertaken.
Number of meetings chaired
105 meetings were chaired, including
7 Councils.
Number of successful outcomes reached
Final agreement was secured on 20
legislative proposals and political agreement
reached on 3 other proposals.
Number of actions on behalf of the EU in
international fora
6.3.5 Actively participate in OECD, CODEX,
OIE and other international fora in pursuit
of national policy objectives
Outcome of negotiations on issues of
significance to Ireland
The Department acts as the Codex
Contact Point for Ireland, co-ordinates Irish
involvement in Codex Alimentarius and the
Irish Codex Advisory Committee (ICAC) with
representatives of relevant Government
Departments.
The Department and London Counsellor
service the International Coffee and Cocoa
Councils. Ireland is a member.
4 Meetings of CoAg, APM and JWP
attended.
6.3.6 Maintain effective relationships with
the EU institutions and other Member
States through direct bilateral contact with
EU institutions and with other Member
States and applicant countries and through
our diplomatic officers abroad
Outcome of midterm reviews of Agenda
2000, and other policy negotiations and
WTO
6.3.7 Participate in Ireland’s development
aid effort through our involvement with
FAO and WFP and other fora; in particular
membership of the WFP executive board,
follow up to the World Food Summit and
operation of APO/JPO scheme, in close
cooperation with Ireland Aid and NGOs
Financial contributions to FAO and WFP
A comprehensive programme of contacts
and consultations contributed effectively
to a successful Irish Presidency and to
satisfactory outcomes on negotiations on
CAP and WTO issues.
Arrangements were made for the
assignment of a Department representative
to Poland for the first time.
€1.3 million to FAO
(including extra budgetary funds)
€5.83 million to WFP
(including €1 million for tsunami relief).
Participation in WFP executive board
meetings in 2003
Input to FAO/WFP and other development
fora meetings, reports
As EU President, Ireland chaired Brussels
and Rome meetings from January-June
2004. Ireland collaborated closely with the
Dutch Presidency in the latter half of 2004
in achieving the successful agreement of
the Voluntary Guidelines.
Acted as EARD-InfoSys Contact Point.
ARD Information disseminated regularly.
Attended 5 EU meetings on ARD Policy.
Implementation of APO/JPO scheme
Funding of €480,000 supported the
implementation of the Young Professionals
Scheme.
A further two APO and two JPOs were
recruited They will take up their posts in
early 2005.
Appendix 1.0
81
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.3.8 Actively promote North South
Cooperation in the context of the
NSMC and implement the agreed work
programme in agriculture and otherwise
promote north/south cooperation in these
sectors
Number of North/South (Agriculture
Section) Meetings
There were no formal meetings of the
North/South (Agriculture Section) because
of the suspension of the Assembly in
October 2002. However meetings were
held between officials of this Department
and the Department of Agriculture & Rural
Development, Northern Ireland covering
mutual areas of interest.
Number and type of joint actions
undertaken with NI counterpart
Number of reports submitted and decisions
implemented
APPENDIX 1.0
Bilateral meetings were held with DARDNI
officials in the areas of Crop Variety
Testing, Plant Health; Horticulture; Animal
Feedingstuffs and GM coexistence.
82
Meeting were also held with the SEUPB and
InterTrade Ireland in relation to mushrooms
and potatoes.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
GOAL 6.4 – RURAL ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT
Promote the development of the rural economy and of environmentally friendly and
sustainable systems of agriculture and food production
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.4.1 Promote the maintenance of the
maximum number of farm households and
ensure that those households can aspire to
attractive and sustainable livelihoods
Number of farm households
135,300 farm households in 2003 (CSO).
Farm household income
€29,692 average annual farm household
disposable income 1999/2000 (CSO) (see
also 6.1.3).
6.4.2 Develop and implement policies,
schemes and services that
Schemes implemented
Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS)
including REPS 3 which was launched in
June 2004, On-Farm Investments Schemes,
Installation Aid Scheme and both Schemes of
Early Retirement continued to be implemented.
Level of expenditure
Direct payments to farmers total some
€1.6 billion in 2004.
Number of participants in Schemes
42,697 participants in REPS at end of 2004.
a)
help sustain the rural economy
b)
facilitate structural change, and
c)
promote the use of communications
technology in the farming community
7,906 participants in both Early Retirement
Schemes at the end of 2004.
6,595 participants in On-Farm Investment
Schemes at the end of 2004.
1,987 participants in Installation Aid
Scheme at the end of 2004.
Policy initiatives undertaken
EU Commission approval obtained to
significantly improve the benefits available
under REPS.
Revised Farm Waste Management and
Dairy Hygiene Schemes were implemented
at the beginning of 2004 in line with
the commitments contained in the 2003
Sustaining Progress Agreement.
Expenditure reviews of the Installation Aid
Scheme and the Farm Waste Management
Scheme were forwarded to the External
Evaluators in 2004.
6.4.3 In conjunction with Teagasc, adapt
the farmer training programmes to the
general developments in the rural economy
Appendix 1.0
Promote electronic communication channels
where possible
Development of electronic communications
was ongoing during the year. The eCabinet
facility implemented fully by end of year.
Development of Teagasc Programmes
There is on-going review and development
of existing vocational and third level training
programmes. During 2004 a pilot course,
leading to the Certificate in Agricultural
Skills was developed for early school leavers
and for people with learning disabilities.
This course is run jointly by Kildalton
College and Mooncoin Vocational School
Co Kilkenny. A new course leading to
an Advanced Certificate in Agriculture
– Drystock Management – commenced in
Gurteen Agricultural college in 2004.
83
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
Numbers of farmers/rural families
participating in training/education
programmes
599 participants in 3rd level courses.
3,343 participants in Vocational courses.
905 participants in 100 hours and 80 hours
courses incl. e-learning.
APPENDIX 1.0
8,358 participants in Adult Farming training.
6.4.4 Through the Teagasc Rural Viability
Service, implement a Rural Opportunities
Programme for Farm Families
Number of farm families participating in
Teagasc Opportunities Programme
By the end of 2004, 11,167 farm families
had completed stage 1 of the programme
and 6,300 families had completed stage 2
of the programme.
6.4.5 Implementation of Advisory Group
Report on Women In Agriculture in
association with other Departments
Number of recommendations implemented
Progress report completed and
recommendations implemented
as far as practicable.
6.4.6 Contribute to the implementation of
the revised National Anti Poverty Strategy
in co-operation with the other participants
in the Strategy to ensure that the initiatives
to combat poverty in rural areas are
comprehensive, sustained and successful.
Performance against poverty targets for
farm and non-farm rural households
The Department supports farm income
through direct payments which total
€1.6 billion in 2004.
6.4.7 Implement the good farming practice
standards
Level of compliance with good farming
practice.
High level of compliance with Good
Farming Practice.
EPA water quality reports
See 6.4.14.
Progress on delivery of the agricultural
commitments agreed by Government
A research programme being undertaken
continued in 2004 to focus on establishing
reliable inventories of greenhouse gas
emissions from agriculture and to identify
potential actions that could be applied to
reduce emissions of methane and nitrous
oxide.
6.4.8 Support the delivery of commitments
in the agricultural sector related to the
Climate Change Strategy, the Gothenburg
Protocol and other relevant policies
FAPRI-Ireland has projected that greenhouse
gas emissions from agriculture, arising from
reforms agreed as part of the Luxembourg
Agreement in June 2003, will decrease by
2012 to a level 16% below that recorded in
1990. This projected reduction in emissions
from agriculture would exceed the targets
set down for the sector in the National
Climate Change Strategy.
6.4.9 Effective liaison with Teagasc and
other institutions to encourage and develop
research which will help to underpin
sustainable agriculture production practices
and protect our rural environment
84
Share of research expenditure targeted at
sustainable agriculture
In 2004, a wide variety of projects were
funded by the Department of Agriculture
and Food under the Conservation of
Genetic Resources for Food & Agriculture
fund.
Number of research programmes on
sustainable agriculture
Membership of Teagasc Education Forum.
6.4.10 Ensure the promotion of sustainable
farming practices through
Number of participants on REPS courses
4,687 participants in Teagasc REPS training
courses in 2004.
a)
Number of participants in Teagasc courses
for farm entrants
4,137 participants in Teagasc young entrant
training programmes in 2004.
Information and training programmes
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
b)
Number of new and revised specifications
and standards
11
Number of consultations with field staff,
planners etc on-going issues
Approximately 10 per week.
6.4.11 Implement measures specifically
supporting environmentally friendly farming
including:
Review of REPS Scheme in 2003
Achieved
Number of farmers grant aided for waste
management and capacity
5,034 farmers at the end of 2004.
0.557m3 approx. at the end of 2004.
a)
Farm waste management
b)
Rural Environment Protection Scheme
(REPS)
Number of participants in REPS and land
areas involved
42,697 participants.
1,502,026 ha.
Number of REPS participants availing of
organic support measures and land areas
involved
518 participants
17,500 Ha
Number of organic farmers and processors
grant aided
20
Regularly updating designs and
standards (including environmental
landscape and storage) for all grant
aided structures
c)
Organic farmers supported through
REPS
d)
Commonage Framework Plans
e)
Scheme of grant aid for the
development of the Organic Sector
Increase in waste storage capacity
Outturn at the end of 2004 – 0.557m3
approx.
f)
Promotion of Farm Safety
EPA water quality reports
See 6.4.14
Reports on Farm Safety
The Department contributed positively to
the work of the Farm Safety Partnership
Advisory Committee and nominated a
Department representative to it. This
committee reports to the Board of the
Health and Safety Authority. The HSA
publishes a report annually. It is envisaged
that the Department will make contributions
to this committee again in 2005.
6.4.12 Implement provisions of the Organic
Action Plan
Number of actions implemented
8
Target land area converted to organic
production by 2006
Under review.
6.4.13 Enhance the contribution of
horticulture to the economy
Increase in horticultural production
Horticultural production remained stable in
2004.
Support for Horticulture
Scheme of Investment Aid in the Commercial
Horticulture Sector under the NDP. €3.12
million was paid under this scheme in 2004.
Scheme of Grant Aid to Producer
Organisation under the Common
Organisation of the Market for Fruit and
Vegetables. €5.59 million was paid under
this scheme in 2004.
Ongoing promotion of mushroom
consumption. The budget includes 50%
EU funding and 50% national funding.
Appendix 1.0
Number of Quality Assurances schemes in
operation
There were seven Quality Assurance
Schemes operated by An Bord Bia and
one pilot scheme in operation in 2004.
Number of participants in Quality Assurance
Schemes
There were 614 participants in Quality
Assurance Schemes operated by An Bord
Bia at the end of 2004.
85
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.4.14 Maintain effective cooperation
with the Department of Environment and
Local Government and other relevant
Departments and agencies in dealing with
agri- environmental matters, including
EU environmental legislation and the
development of existing emergency
planning arrangements
EPA water quality Reports
The EPA’s “Quality of Drinking Water“
report for 2003 shows an overall
compliance rate of 96.1% in relation to 53
parameters. However, private group water
schemes achieved a compliance rate of just
74.9% in relation to faecal coliforms.
APPENDIX 1.0
Strategy
The Phosphorus Regulations National
Implementation Report, 2003 presents an
overview of existing river and lake water
quality in each local authority area. The
report shows that 62% of river monitoring
stations and 64% of lakes, for which
information is available, are compliant
with the regulations.
NMPs on non REPs farms
2,500 NMPs.
Increase in waste storage capacity
Outturn at the end of 2004-0.557m3
approx.
Improvements in water quality
The EPA’s “Quality of Drinking Water“
report for 2003 reported a slight increase
in water quality in 2003 as compared with
2002, including an increase in compliance
with faecal coliform standards.
Level of use of nitrogen and phosphorous
Both nitrogen and phosphorus use
decreased in 2003/04 to 362,525 tonnes
and 42,661 tonnes respectively.
Participation on interdepartmental
committees
Participation in inter-departmental
committee established to implement
the National Biodiversity Plan.
Consultation with Departments and
environmental agencies
Participation in the National Platform
for Biodiversity Research.
There was ongoing liaison with the
Department of the Environment and the EPA
concerning matters of mutual interest arising
from the implementation of Regulation
1774/2002 in Ireland and the implications
for the application of waste legislation.
A working group has been established
between the Department of Agriculture
and Food and Environment Infrastructure
and Services Division, Department of the
Environment, Heritage and Local Government
to facilitate that Department in meeting
targets on diversion of biodegradable waste
set out in the Landfill Directive.
6.4.15 Develop measures to ensure the
survival and appropriate use of plant and
animal genetic resources for food and
agriculture
86
Regular updates of emergency planning
arrangements to be completed
Regular updates completed. Department
actively participated in office of Emergency
Planning activities.
The timely production of the national report
on animal genetic resources
National Plant and Animal Genetic Resource
Grant Scheme operated effectively and
efficiently.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
GOAL 6.5 – SCHEME DELIVERY AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Operate all our schemes and programmes in an efficient and effective manner, and ensure
the highest standards of corporate and financial management and accountability in all
our activities
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.5.1 Ensure the highest possible level of
service in the delivery of CAP and national
support schemes, including premia and
grant schemes and measures under the
National Development Plan in accordance
with the principles and targets set out in
the Customer Service Action Plan
Performance on established deadlines,
procedures and protocols including the
Protocol on Direct Payments to Farmers and
the targets in the Customer Service Action
Plan
See Appendix 2.
Percentage of applicants approved and paid
See Appendix 2.
6.5.2 Improve information flows and
awareness of Department activities and
scheme requirements by continuing to
liaise with client groups and state agencies
and maintaining strong communications
between operational and policy areas of the
Department and to examine in consultation
with the farming organisations, issues
relating to simplifying, where possible,
application and processing procedures
Number of publications and public meetings
The Department with the Food Safety
Authority published booklets for the trade
and the public on juices and jams.
Policy briefing for management
Regular briefings provided.
Regular updates of the Department’s website
to ensure that the most up-to-date information
on schemes is available at all times
Website updated regularly.
Level of customer satisfaction with
application and processing procedures
5 Focus Group meetings held in relation to
revision of Customer Service Action Plan.
6.5.3 Operate to the highest standards of
financial management, both centrally and
at scheme level, and ensure full compliance
with EU and national financial requirements
(financial reporting, maintenance of
accounting and transaction details, audit
requirements, irregularity reporting and
recovery etc), including those relating to
accreditation as a FEOGA paying agency
and to EU Structural Funds
Audit reports by Internal Audit Unit,
C&AG, FEOGA certifying body, European
Commission and the EU Court of Auditors.
Prompt follow up on EU audit findings.
No major or intermediate findings by the
Certifying Body.
6.5.4 Operate the most effective physical
and other controls, using risk management
techniques, to ensure full compliance with
related EU and national requirements and
prevent and detect irregularities and fraud
20 Internal Audit Reports issued during the year.
Accreditation status as FEOGA paying agency
Department’s EU Accreditation status retained.
PAC and Audit Committee reports
Audit Committee’s Annual Report issued in
March 2004.
Number and scale of disallowances by
European Commission
Since 1994 to date, Ireland has the third
lowest level of disallowance in the EU.
Audit reports by Internal Audit Unit,
C&AG, FEOGA certifying body, European
Commission and the EU Court of Auditors.
Satisfactory progress. No significant adverse
findings.
Accreditation status as FEOGA paying agency
See 6.5.3 above.
PAC and Audit Committee reports
See 6.5.3 above.
Number and scale of irregularities and frauds
See 6.5.3 above.
6.5.5 Further enhance the efficiency and
effectiveness of accounting and payment
procedures through the development of the
Department’s accounts system and wider
use of electronic payments
Implementation of phase 2 of SAP accounts
system
Achieved.
Percentage of clients and staff paid
electronically
33% of farmers, 85% of suppliers and
86% of staff being paid electronically by
the end of 2004.
6.5.6 Identify the key risks facing the
Department, and ensure optimum controls
are in place and risk ownership clearly
defined, through the implementation of a
comprehensive enterprise risk management
programme
Publication of risk management policy in
early 2003.
Achieved.
Implementation of risk management
programme throughout DAF by end 2003
A Revised Risk Management Programme
was agreed in 2004 and will be
implemented during 2005.
Quarterly reports to (internal) Risk
Management Committee and (external)
Audit Committee.
Quarterly reports provided for both Risk
Management and Audit Committees.
Appendix 1.0
87
APPENDIX 1.0
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.5.7 Build upon the investment in our
accounts system by further developing our
financial information systems as part of
the implementation of a comprehensive
Management Information Framework
Costs centre based financial reports to
be produced in 2003
In excess of 1,000 staff access the system
on an ongoing basis.
Outcome of DAF’s participation in
pilot project on integration of financial
management and business planning
The Department commenced the first
phase of its MIF training in 2004 with
detailed training delivery on the Financial
Framework, Accrual Accounting and SAP.
This training will continue in 2005.
6.5.8 Conduct a full programme of EU
scrutiny audit, Structural Funds Audit
and internal audit, including IT audit, in
accordance with best practice and as agreed
in multi-annual and annual plans
Quarterly and annual reports on audit
performance to MAC and Audit Committee
Quarterly and Annual Reports submitted to
MAC and Audit Committee.
Number of audit reports completed and,
of major recommendations implemented
20 internal audit reports completed and all of
the 2003/04 EU scrutiny programme completed.
6.5.9 Undertake regular evaluations of key
spending areas through the expenditure
review programme and the mid-term
evaluation of the NDP and CAP rural
development plan measures
Number of expenditure reviews and
evaluations completed
Systematic follow-up process in place to
ensure that all major internal audit findings
are, or will be, implemented.
During 2004, external evaluators were
appointed to assess the quality of seven
programme expenditure reviews being
undertaken under the Expenditure Review
Initiative (ERI), i.e. Beef Classification,
Purchase for Destruction Scheme,
Installation Aid Scheme, Potato Sector,
Overseas Development Assistance, Early
Retirement Scheme and Farm Waste
Management Scheme. Of these, three
reviews were finalised and made available
on the Department of Agriculture and Food
website: Purchase for Destruction Scheme,
Potato Sector and Overseas Development
Aid (ODA). The other four reviews are
expected to be published in 2005.
Work was commenced on two further reviews
under the ERI. The Department also initiated
a review in one other operational area.
6.5.10 Examine, in conjunction with the
EU Commission, in the context of the midterm review of the CAP Rural Development
Plan, the possibility of extending the
disadvantaged areas classification to the
whole BMW Region
Reports presented to MAC and to CAP
rural development and regional monitoring
committees
No reports presented in 2004 (reports were
presented in 2003).
Progress in relation to mid-term review of
CAP Rural Development Plan
EU Commission approval obtained to
significantly improve the benefits available
under REPS in line with commitments
contained in the Sustaining Progress
Agreement.
Revised Farm Waste Management and
Dairy Hygiene Schemes were implemented
at the beginning of 2004 in line with
the commitments contained in the 2003
Sustaining Progress Agreement.
% of country classified as Disadvantaged
% of BMW areas classified as Disadvantaged
88
The EU Commission remained reluctant
to increase disadvantaged areas. The
classification of such areas is a main issue
under the new Rural Development proposal
for the 2007 to 2013 period. This proposal
is still under discussion.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
GOAL 6.6 – OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES
Develop our human and physical resources, our operational capabilities and ensure the
delivery of quality service to our customers, both internal and external
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.6.1 Implement the Human Resources
Strategy and the Department’s Training
Programme
Ongoing satisfactory implementation of
the HR Programmes contained in the HR
Strategy
90% of Role Profiles completed within
defined time frame.
Implementation programme for HR
Strategy to be drawn up and issues
to be dealt with prioritised
The implementation programme has
been produced and progress made in
implementing the specific actions identified.
Number of training days and action taken
on feed back
16,016 training days.
HR practices implemented
Monitoring and implementation continued
during 2004.
6.6.2 Continue to monitor and implement
human resource regulations and schemes
In accordance with regulations
100% Partnership structure in place and
extended if possible.
In line with quality standards defined in
our Customer Service Action Plan
6.6.3 Install and implement a computerised
Human Resource Management System to
facilitate the implementation of strategic
HR policies
System installed and fully operational by
May 2003
Achieved in 2003.
6.6.4 Review current HR strategies in the
light of the results from the Employee
Survey
Results and analysis of survey disseminated
Completed in 2003.
6.6.5 Achieve gender equality for all staff
Female participation targets achieved by
2005.
Key areas of concern/interest selected and
specific strategies developed to deal with
issues
Progress continues to be made in meeting
the Department’s goal to have equality as
an uncontested principle in all aspects of
the work of the Department;
Grade
AP
VI/RO
AI
31%
18%
13%
Target Representation
by 2005
33%
20%
10%
Current female
Representation
6.6.6 Implement Customer Service Action
Plan 2001-2004
Meet targets set in Customer Service Action
Plan
Action Points implemented
6.6.7 Examine policy and operational areas
of Department and report on possible
improvements in structure (staffing and
processes)
MSD surveys, projects or other reviews
undertaken
■
Satisfactory progress on
implementation of 2003 Report
on review of Local Offices
■
Reviews completed on Schemes and
Services of 6 Divisions and 2 further
reviews commenced
■
Report on management framework
for new structure of Department’s
laboratories completed.
Appendix 1.0
See Appendix 2 for service delivery
achievements.
89
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
Progress on standardisation, improvement
and, where appropriate, certification to
international standards accreditation models
of work systems, processes and procedures
Veterinary Medicines Section in Maynooth
and Beef Export Refunds Division in Wexford
are accredited to the quality standard ISO
9001:2000. Livestock Breeding Section
continue to progress towards achieving
Accreditation to ISO 9001:2000 Standard.
APPENDIX 1.0
It is planned to extend the system to a
number of Divisions where appropriate.
6.6.8 Deal efficiently with requests
for information under FOI Act and
Ombudsman’s queries
Meet statutory deadlines on FOI and
Ombudsman’s queries
Statutory deadlines met.
6.6.9 Further develop internal and external
communications to improve awareness of
activities and schemes carried out by the
Department
Number and range of publications/press
releases/press briefings
25 Publications; 198 Press Releases.
Regular updates of Department’s website
Website updated regularly.
6.6.10 Further develop the Legal Services
Division with a view to providing a
dedicated legal advisory service to all
divisions in the Department and in cooperation with other State legal agencies,
to manage more effectively the prosecution
and defence of litigation involving the
Department
Timely provision of accurate opinions
and legal advice to the divisions in the
Department
A significant number of legal opinions,
general advices, draft and engrossed
agreements, documents and letters were
provided in 2004 by the Legal Services
Division to line divisions.
Timely and effective completion of all
litigation involving the Department
More detailed involvement in litigation by
the preparation and provision of detailed
case papers to the CSSO in litigation
involving the Department. Attendance at
many consultations and court hearings.
The introduction of required primary and
secondary legislation in a timely fashion
Over 50 Statutory Instruments were prepared
by the Legal Services Division and many other
contributions made to line divisions. Ongoing
assistance was given to the introduction of 4
primary pieces of legislation.
Surveys from divisions having received
advice to identify areas requiring specific
legal services
Ongoing discussion with line divisions
regarding the type and level of legal
assistance required for best results.
Minimal downtime
Downtime within 1% limit and 1-day
recovery achieved.
Procedures in place for timely restoration
of service in the event of interruption.
No successful hacking attempts in 2004
as a result of security and maintenance
measures in place.
IT Security policy in place
Achieved.
Protections in place to minimise to exposure
to viruses, and procedures for regular/
constant update of these protection methods
Achieved.
Appropriate procedures in place to carry out
efficient clean up and recovery tasks where
viruses penetrate our infrastructure
Achieved.
Maintain appropriate monitoring of our
security
Achieved.
IT and Internet usage policy in place
Achieved.
IT Disaster Recovery plans in place and tested
Achieved.
Appropriate physical security of IT facilities
in place
Achieved.
6.6.11 Provide a high quality stable IT
Infrastructure to support the Department’s
operations.
90
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.6.12 Deliver the strategic systems
identified in the IT strategy including
improvements to existing systems that
support our core business
Meet the protocol and EU/National
deadlines
All Headage & Area Aid Payment deadlines
met.
CCS rolled out countrywide in 2004.
2 further modules of AIM delivered in
April and November 2004.
Under SPS, provisional entitlements to
farmers issued in September 2004.
NGP Laboratory module rolled out in June
2004.
AHCS rolled out to 19 offices in 2004.
Intervention System EFA reporting delivered
in September 2004.
Two maintenance releases of Express
(Export Refunds) in 2004.
6.6.13 Participate with business users in
developing future service delivery models
Service delivery models produced and
reviewed
eGovernment Strategy and facilities in place.
6.6.14 Progress the transition of the
Department’s operations towards
eGovernment
Department’s strategy updated and
reviewed
Continued QA and monitoring through
eGovernment Assistant Secretary Group
and the IT Steering committee.
eGovernment opportunities identified and
prioritised by eGovernment Steering Group
Opportunities identified and implemented
thus far include the facilities provided to
herd keepers to enable them to register
the births of bovine animals and to view
their herd profiles online, as well as various
initiatives utilising mobile technologies that
increased internal productivity. This is an
ongoing process.
Implement secure environment for systems
with external Internet access
Achieved.
Appropriate supports identified
Requirements of Department staff analysed
and appropriate support delivered.
Technologies to provide such supports
selected
Supported use of Wireless Technology
and mobile computing for users during
Presidency.
Implementation planned and executed
Achieved.
Technologies tested to ensure smooth
running during Presidency
Achieved.
6.6.16 Improve internal administration
(policy formulation) through expanded
use of the internet
Internet access available to all staff by 2003
Achieved.
6.6.17 Provide a high quality service to the
Minister and Ministers of State including
appropriate briefing, advice, material for
PQ answers and speeches
Number of PQs, speeches, and briefings
prepared
1,494 PQs replied to and all speech/briefing
requests met.
6.6.15 Provide appropriate technologies
and support for the Departments activities
during the EU Presidency
(Cross ref to 3.4)
Appendix 1.0
Facilities will require continuous upgrade.
Ongoing maintenance and upgrading of
the environment will continue over the
coming years.
91
Strategy
Performance Indicators
Progress
6.6.18 Enhance the development of
strategic planning within Divisions and the
Department
Business Plans in place for 2003, 2004,
2005
Business Planning process, including PMDS,
in place in all 64 Divisions.
Analysis of Business Plans
Analysis of Business Planning process
undertaken and feedback given to HODs.
Meetings of SMI Co-ordination Group
Meetings held as required.
PMDS undertaken
See Business Plans above.
Staff training
282 employees completed their PMDS
training in 2004 and training on the
Upward Feedback element of PMDS
was also completed with 2,200 staff.
APPENDIX 1.0
Division meetings
6.6.19 Maintain existing consultation
mechanisms and establish, where required,
new mechanisms to ensure informed,
effective policy formulation and decision
making in relation to cross Departmental
issues
Meetings held
6.6.20 Implementation and monitoring
of Programme for Government and the
commitments that might be entered into by
the Government and the Social Partners in
“Sustaining Progress“
Delivery of commitments
The Department was represented on
approximately ninety interdepartmental
committees/bodies during 2004.
Flow of information
Implementation of Cross Departmental
policy
See Appendix 3 also.
Satisfactory reports from CSPVG on delivery
of commitments under the modernisation
agenda of SP.
Positive feedback from Taoiseach’s
Department with regard to implementation
of commitments in PfG.
4 Progress Reports submitted in 2004 on
the implementation of the commitments
in the Agricultural Chapter of Sustaining
Progress.
Completion of Mid Term Review of
Agriculture Chapter, key mechanisms of
which were 2 bilateral meetings with the
farming pillar.
92
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Appendix 1.0
93
APPENDIX 2.0
Customer Service Action Plan
PAYMENT OR DECISION TARGETS
IMPORTANT NOTE:
TARGET DELIVERY TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO ALL DOCUMENTATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS BEING CORRECT AT TIME OF APPLICATION.
Schemes of Direct Payments to Farmers
Service
Target Delivery Time
2004 Performance
Suckler Cow Premium
Advance payments of 60% will commence
on 16 October of the year of application as
provided for in EU rules.
Payment of 60% advances commenced
on 16 October and some €140 million
had been paid to 96% of all applicants
by 31 December 2004.
Where the retention period is completed by
16 October all eligible advance payments
will be made by 1 December.
In other eligible cases such advance
payments will be made within 30 days
of the end of the retention period.
Balancing payments under the 2003 scheme
commenced on 23 March 2004. Payments
in all eligible cases were completed by 30
June 2003 in accordance with EU Rules.
Balancing payment will be made in March/
April of the following year in respect of
clear cases. Payment in all other cases
subsequently found eligible will be made
by 30 June in line with EU rules.
Special Beef Premium
Advance payments of 60% will commence
on 16 October of the year of application as
provided for in EU rules.
Where retention period is completed by
16 October all eligible advance payments
will be made by 1 December.
In other eligible cases such advance
payments will be made within 30 days
of the end of the retention period.
Payment of 60% advances commenced on
16 October and in excess of €108 million
has been paid in respect of 97% of January
to October applications.
Balancing payments under the 2004 scheme
will commence in April 2005. Payments in all
eligible cases will be completed by 30 June
2005 in line with the EU deadline for payments.
Balancing payments will commence in
the following year when the quota usage
for the year of application is determined.
Payment in all eligible cases will be made
by 30 June in line with EU rules.
In the event of a likely quota over-run
consideration will be given to the issue
of a second advance payment.
94
Ewe Premium
Payment of Ewe Premium including Rural
World Premium will commence on
16 October of the year of application
as provided in the EU Rules.
Payments of full premium commenced on
16 October 2004 and almost €101 million
has been paid to 97% of applicants.
New Slaughter Premium
(including National Envelope)
Advance payments of 60% will commence
on 16 October of the year in which
eligibility is established, as provided for in
EU rules. Balancing payment will commence
in the following year when the quota usage
for the year of application is determined.
Payment in all eligible cases will be made
by 30th June in line with EU rules.
Payment of 60% advances commenced
on 16 October and in excess of €85
million issued in respect of eligible animals
slaughtered/exported in the period January
to November 2004.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Service
Target Delivery Time
2004 Performance
National Envelope advances of almost
€5.2 million. has also issued.
Balancing payments under the 2004 scheme
will commence in April 2005 when the Quota
usage for 2004 is established. All eligible
cases were paid their entitlement by 30 June
2005 as per EU Rules.
Deseasonalisation Slaughter Premium
(when triggered)
Payment will be made within 60 days of
application.
No Scheme in 2004.
Extensification Premium Scheme
All payments will be made in June of the
year following the year for which eligibility
is established.
Payments under the 2003 scheme
commenced on 10 June 2004 and by
30 June 2004 all applicants found eligible
had been paid over €153 million.
Dairy Premium
Full payment will commence on 16th
October of the year of applications as
provided for in EU rules.
Payment of 100% commenced on
16 October and in excess of €60.5 million
has been paid to 97% of all applicants.
Arable Aid
Payment in eligible cases will be made in
the first payment run which will commence
on 16 November. In cases where there
are still outstanding problems with the
application, payment will, as provided for in
EU rules, be made by 31 January provided
that the applicant has responded to any
queries from the Area Aid Unit and that the
response is sufficient to clear all outstanding
difficulties.
On 16 November 2004, over €121 million
was paid to 97% of all applicants. By the
year’s end €128 million had been paid to
98% of all applicants.
Disadvantaged Area Compensatory
Allowances
Agreement was reached with the farming
organisations that payments in all eligible
cases would commence on 21st September
of the year of application with a view to
having all payments made by 1st December.
Payments under the Disadvantaged
Areas Compensatory Allowances Scheme
commenced on 17 September 2004 and
over €232 million was paid to 97% of
applicants by 31 December 2004.
Early Retirement Scheme #
Processing of valid application to scheduling
for payment stage:
99% within target
Rural Environment Protection Scheme
■
Application for admission to scheme #
Appendix 2.0
■
Applications not selected for prepayment inspection within 10 weeks*
■
Application selected for pre-payment
inspection within 12 weeks*
■
Issue of payment following approval
within 6 weeks*
■
Payments monthly thereafter for
duration of pension period.
Processing of valid application to scheduling
for payment:
■
Applications not selected for prepayment inspection within 12 weeks*
88%
■
Applications selected for pre-payment
inspection within 14 weeks*
74%
■
Issuing of payment following approval
within 1 month
100%
95
Service
■
Application for annual payment ø
APPENDIX 2.0
Farm Waste Management Scheme #
Dairy Hygiene Scheme #
Alternative Enterprise Scheme #
Installation Aid #
Target Delivery Time
2004 Performance
■
Processing of valid application
to scheduling for payment within
10 weeks*
77%
■
Issue of payment following approval
within 1 month
100%
■
Issue of approval following receipt of
valid application within 3 months*
99%
■
Approval for payment following receipt
of notice of completion of works and
valid supporting documents within 3
months*
■
Issue of payment following approval
for payment within 6 weeks*
■
Issue of approval following receipt of
valid application within 3 months*
■
Approval for payment following receipt
of notice of completion of works and
valid supporting documents within 3
months*
■
Issue of payment following approval
for payment within 6 weeks*
■
Issue of approval following receipt of
valid application within 3 months*
■
Approval for payment following receipt
of notice of completion of works and
valid supporting documents within 3
months*
■
Issue of payment following approval
for payment within 6 weeks*
Processing of valid application to scheduling
for payment stage:
■
Applications not selected for
pre-payment inspection within
10 weeks*
■
Applications selected for pre-payment
inspection within 12 weeks*
■
Issue of payment following approval
within 6 weeks*
100%
100%
100%
# In the case of schemes the applicant will be notified when his/her application has been approved for payment and of the amount due.
ø All REPS participants receive advance payments. In the case of annual payments, payments will not be delayed pending inspections.
Where an inspection takes place after the annual payment has been made, in the event of a penalty arising the penalty will be recovered
from the following year’s annual payment. Where the inspection takes place in the final year any money to be recovered will be deducted
from payments due to the participant under other schemes.
* To apply from commencement of new schemes
96
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Disease Eradication Schemes/Disease Control
Service
Target Delivery Time
2004 Performances
Compensation – Bovine TB and Brucellosis
eradication schemes
TB and Brucellosis compensation will be
paid within 2-4 weeks of the date of receipt
of the required documentation.
Reactor Grant, Valuation compensation
payments made in 2004 indicates that 84%
of payments were made within 4 weeks of
receipt of all the required documentation
and 96% were made within 8 weeks.
Income Supplement, Depopulation and
Hardship Grant payments made in 2004
indicates that almost 78% were paid
within 4 weeks of receipt of the required
documentation and over 93% were
made within 8 weeks.
BSE Depopulation
Payment will be made within 4 weeks of
receipt of necessary documentation.
Herd Payments – 100%
Cohort & Progeny Payments – 90.62%
Intervention Schemes
Scheme
Target for Payment
2004 Performance
Purchase of butter into intervention
45 days
97%
Purchase of SMP into intervention
120 days
98%
Purchase of barley into intervention
30 days
No purchases in 2004
Purchase of beef into intervention
45 days
No purchases in 2004
Target Delivery Time
2004 Performance
2 months
100%
Export refunds for processed products
60 days
90%
Export refunds for dairy products
60 days
85%
Export refunds for pigmeat and cereals
60 days
88%
5 days
100%
Export Refunds
Scheme
Export refunds for beef
Issue of import/export licences
Appendix 2.0
97
APPENDIX 3.0
Programme for Government Commitments
Progress is outlined below in relation to the commitments contained under the Programme for Government
2002-2007. The relevant strategies (in the NEW Statement of Strategy 2005-2007) that align this Department’s
priorities with those of the Government are also specified.
All commitments contained in the Programme have been met or are ongoing commitments that are being met.
No.
Commitment
Relevant
Strategies
Status & Progress to Date
1
We will maintain the Government and diplomatic
offensive to improve world access and the opening of
markets.
1.6
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
We are continuing with the top-level campaign to
improve and expand world market access.
In relation to beef, the initiative to regain international
access has been very successful. All restrictions on
trade with Russia have been removed. The Egyptian
and Algerian markets have been opened to Irish Beef
and efforts are continuing in relation to the Gulf States.
2
We will broaden the scope of agricultural education,
anticipating that in some cases, farming may be
combined with other occupations
3.5
COMMITMENTS ARE BEING MET:
1.8
And
3.1
Teagasc has operated distance-learning programmes
on a pilot basis during the past year and a pilot
e-learning programme is now being undertaken.
A number of Vocational Certificate in Agriculture
students are being taught part of their programme
through e-learning. Improved IT has facilitated the
provision of 3rd level courses to the Agricultural
colleges.
We will ensure that courses are delivered in a flexible
manner suited to potential participants involving
increased use of approaches such as night courses and
distance learning.
In 2005 it is planned to extend the range of courses
delivered to include food training and horticulture.
And
We will seek to develop the agricultural colleges as
wider rural development resources.
3
4
98
ACHIEVED:
Teagasc and private colleges are used extensively by
the Teagasc Advisory and Research Services, other
outside agencies and local community groups.
We will provide through Teagasc a dedicated service
which will help part-time and transitional farmers
use their capabilities and time to better advantage
and efficiency and, where necessary, to diversify their
income through appropriate training through an
Opportunities Programme.
3.5
We will implement the recommendations of the
Advisory Group on the role of Women in Agriculture.
3.8
ACHIEVED:
The ‘Planning Post Fischler’ Programme (formerly the
Opportunities Programme) focuses on assisting farmers
adjust their farm and family situation post-decoupling.
Teagasc is now running night and weekend courses
to facilitate the work patterns of part-time farmers.
Teagasc is also running the three year Vocational
Certificate in Agriculture programme at times suitable
for part-time farmers in 11 counties. Over 10,000
adult farmers participate in Teagasc adult farmer
training programmes each year with the majority of
courses held at night.
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
Significant progress has been made. The recommendations
have been fully considered and have been implemented
insofar as possible.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
No.
Commitment
Relevant
Strategies
Status & Progress to Date
5
We will work to protect the fundamental principles
of the CAP in the EU enlargement negotiations. As
necessary, we will also support measures such as
adequate EU finances, in order to ensure the smooth
integration of the agriculture of the application
countries of Central and Eastern Europe joining the
European Union, while preparing to take advantage of
new market opportunities.
1.1
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
The accession of 10 new Member States took place
on I May 2004 and negotiations on the ‘agriculture
chapter’ were concluded with Bulgaria and Romania in
June 2004 without any adjustment to the fundamental
principles of the CAP. The European Council in
October 2002 decided on the budget allocations for
the CAP for the EU 25 (market supports and direct
payments) to the period 2013. The Department is
satisfied with the funding provided for the period to
2006 and from 2007 to 2013, the period of the next
Financial Perspective, although careful management
of the budget will be required in this period to ensure
that expenditure remains within the ceilings set.
Agreement was reached in June 2003 on the Midterm Review of the CAP and in August 2004 on the
framework for a new WTO agreement, both of which
will ensure that the benefits of the Agenda 2000
Agreement to Irish agriculture and rural communities
will be safeguarded. The Department will monitor
closely, and participate in, the negotiations on the next
Financial Perspective and the new WTO agreement
to ensure that the interests of Irish agriculture are
represented and protected.
6
We will continue to promote the highest standards of
food safety and foster a culture of innovation, quality
and excellence in the food industry.
2.1-2.9
inclusive
1.4-1.8
inclusive
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
To ensure that food at all stages in the food chain is
produced to the highest possible standards of safety,
an extensive monitoring, surveillance and inspection
programme is in place. We established a Food Labelling
Group to address consumer concerns on labelling and
origin of foodstuffs and are ensuring, as far as possible,
that it’s recommendations have been implemented.
A strategic report for development of the Dairy
Industry has been published. A series of actions has
begun, aimed at advancing the implementation of the
Prospectus recommendations.
We have placed increased emphasis on the necessity
for a more competitive agri-food sector. In this regard,
a number of reports were commissioned:
A further €17 million was approved in September
2004 for 36 food research projects under the Food
Institutional Research Programme bringing cumulative
NDP approvals to €55 million.
Bord Glas was merged with Bord Bia on 1 July 2004
to further consolidate market developments initiatives.
Appendix 3.0
99
No.
Commitment
7
We will continue to pursue actions through the EU to
2.2
ensure that the same high standards apply to imported
foods as to domestic products.
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
We will seek to improve the level of information
available to consumers about the origins of the food
on sale in this country through initiatives such as the
introduction of a distinct green label for Irish food.
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
2.3
Status & Progress to Date
Current EU requirements on food imports are that
such imports must reach standards equivalent to
those in the EU. Vigilance is maintained to ensure
that this position is maintained where amendments
to regulations are proposed
The National Beef Assurance Scheme, operated by the
Department, aims to further guarantee the safety of
beef and beef products through the implementation of
an effective animal identification and tracing system.
APPENDIX 3.0
8
Relevant
Strategies
The continued growth in the membership of quality
assured schemes is being promoted by Bord Bia.
Considerable progress has been made in implementing
the recommendations of the Food Labelling Group. In
relation to the two central recommendations of the
Group the position is that enforcement of the food
labeling legislation has been centralised in the FSAI
and new regulations on origin have been introduced
for poultry meat. Many of the other recommendations
have been fully implemented or are in the process of
being implemented.
9
We will encourage the food industry to build long-term
relationships in premium export markets with a strong
emphasis on growth in value-added products and
We will encourage the Irish beef industry, in particular,
to make the development of sustainable EU markets
its over-riding priority with the twin objectives of
gaining greater stability and closing the gap between
Irish and European prices. The key to making this
happen is the building of an integrated supply chain
through partnership arrangements between producers,
processors and retailers, underpinned by the National
Beef Assurance Scheme and industry quality schemes
in product promotions
1.4
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
1.6
An Bord Bia is spearheading a drive to achieve
increased penetration of the higher value-added EU
markets on a longer term basis. The value of Irish
agri- food and drinks exports to the EU has grown
in recent years and amounted to €5,500 million or
77% of the total exports in 2004 while exports to
third countries amounted to €1,596 million or 23%
of the total. Throughout the 1990s, the beef industry
exported approximately 50% of its products into nonEU markets. In 2003, this share dropped to just 17%
(in volume) while the share to the high priced EU
markets has increased proportionately.
1.7
Irish cattle prices continue to be strong and the gap
between Irish producer prices and those in the EU
are narrowing.
The prepared consumer foods sector has shown
remarkable growth with total sales increasing from
€0.949 billion to €2.63 billion between 1993 and
2002. Exports alone are estimated to have increased
by 9% in 2004 to reach €1.59 billion, of which the
UK accounted for nearly €600 million.
10
100
We will promote the preservation of the environment
through good farming practice supported by grants
and special tax incentives to assist on-farm investment
and careful waste management. We will seek to
ensure that supports are available to all farmers.
3.6
ACHIEVED:
The new broad based Farm Nutrient Management
Scheme came into force in January 2004. The success
of the scheme to date is shown by the fact that
applications under the Farm Nutrient Scheme have
increased in the first six months of 2004 by 96%
compared to the same period in 2003. In the case
of the Dairy Hygiene Scheme, the increase is 240%.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
No.
Commitment
Relevant
Strategies
Status & Progress to Date
Since its introduction in 2001, expenditure on the
Farm Nutrient Management Scheme has amounted to
€43.473 million (end-September 2004). Expenditure
on the Dairy Hygiene Scheme over the same period
totalled €6.44 million.
The accelerated rate of capital allowances for
investment in necessary pollution control facilities
has been renewed for a further three years until
31 December 2006
11
12
13
We will foster a clean and attractive countryside
with a high quality of life that can be enjoyed and
appreciated by all. As part of this policy we will seek
to make the REPS scheme more attractive.
3.6
ACHIEVED:
3.5
A revised REPS was introduced on 1 June 2004 and
provides for increased rates of payment as agreed in
Sustaining Progress. Under this enhanced Scheme,
farmers will receive a average increase of 28% in
payments. A provision of €260 million has been made
in the 2004 Estimates, compared with €190 million
in 2003. The Department of Agriculture and Food will
promote increased take-up of the revised Scheme.
We will enhance cooperation with the Northern
Ireland authorities on keeping the island of Ireland
disease-free.
1.9
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
We will enhance the contribution of horticulture,
by supporting the production of product in an
environmentally friendly manner and marketed to
uniformly high standards.
1.4
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
3.6
The amalgamation of Bord Glas with Bord Bia on
1 July will create synergies and new opportunities
for promoting horticulture.
Regular meetings continue to be held at Ministerial
and official levels to progress alignment of policies and
protection arrangements and to build on the valuable
experience gained during the Foot and Mouth crisis
of 2001
The Quality Programme has been extended to
all sectors, both food and non food. This Quality
Programme has become the industry standard.
The implementation of the recommendations of the
Mushroom Task Force (published May 2004) will put
the mushroom industry on a more competitive footing
Ensuring that there is full traceability from ‘farm to
fork’ for potatoes, the Potato Growers and Potato
Packers Act 1984 has been amended (May 2004)
14
15
We will further develop the organic sector through an
increase at production level and the development of a
single national label to take advantage both of ‘clean
green’ image of Irish agriculture and the added appeal
of organic food.
3.6
We will set the quality of service, including the
efficient and timely delivery of payments, as an
integral part of all operational priorities.
4.1
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET.
The Organic Action Plan was produced in April 2002
and to date the key recommendations have being
implemented.
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
Our record in relation to the timely delivery of direct
payments is comparable to the best in other EU
Member States.
Following a consultative process on all aspects of the
Department’s interaction with its customers, a new
Customer Service Action Plan (2005-07) as well as
a Customer Charter have been published.
Appendix 3.0
101
APPENDIX 3.0
No.
Commitment
Relevant
Strategies
Status & Progress to Date
16
We will give urgent consideration to the potential for
tax incentives for long-term leasing of land as a means
of increasing the supply of land available to young
farmers.
3.1
ACHIEVED:
■
€7,618.43 to €10,000 for leases of 7 years or
more; and from
■
€5,079 to €7,500 for leases of five to seven
years.
These amendments will help improve land mobility,
facilitating better long-term planning and land
utilisation by farmers who may be required to scaleup production at a reasonable cost, especially in the
context of decoupled support payments.
17
18
19
102
The 2004 Finance Act extended the rental income tax
exemption for land leased-out on a long-term basis.
The age limit for farmers eligible for the relief was
reduced from 55 years to 40 years and the income
exemption rates were also increased from:
We will agree a series of proposals with farming
organisations designed to tackle red tape and argue
strongly for their adoption at EU level.
4.1
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
We will examine, in conjunction with the EU
Commission, the possibility of extending the
disadvantaged areas classification to the whole BMW
Region.
1.1
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
3.1
Possible extension or reclassification of Ireland’s
Disadvantaged Areas was raised informally with the
Commission in 2003 and early 2004. In mid-2004
the Commission published a Draft Regulation on Rural
Development. Negotiations on this Draft will continue
into 2005. The case for reclassifying all of Monaghan
as More Severely Handicapped has been prepared and
submitted to the Minister of Finance for approval,
following which it will be sent to the EU Commission.
We will work to increase forestry planting levels to
20,00 hectares per annum
3.7
COMMITMENT IS BEING MET:
While much progress has been achieved in this area with
the greater use of IT, the introduction of decoupling and
the Single Payments system will greatly facilitate the
simplification of application and processing procedures
We are spending €101 million (capital) on forestry in
2004, representing an increase of over €20 million on
the capital outturn for 2003 provision. Planting levels
are expected to be in the region of 10-12,000 ha in
2004 We have secured a very positive outcome for
forestry in relation to the Single Payment Entitlement.
Farmers who have planted or will plant part of their
holdings will continue to be allowed to obtain their
full payment under the Single Payment Scheme. The
Bacon Report on Ireland’s Forest Development Strategy
was presented to the Minister on 23 September. This
report, assessed in the light of the provisions of the
new Rural Development Regulation (currently being
negotiated), will inform future forest strategy.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Appendix 3.0
103
APPENDIX 4.0
National Development Plan 2000-2006
- Agriculture and Food
EXPENDITURE 2000 – 2004 AND IN 2004
1.
Programme
Sub-Programme/Measure/Sub-Measure
Expenditure
2004
€m
Exp. to end
2004
€m
Guarantee Funded
Rural Development
Programme
REPS
166.019
866.719
Compensatory Allowances
237.745
953.943
72.681
410.181
Forestry
100.790
534.702
Total CAP Rural Development Plan (Agriculture)
577.235
2,758.947
Early Retirement
Programme
Sub-Programme/Measure/Sub-Measure
Border, Midland &
Western Region €m
Exp. €m
2004
2.
Productive Sector
Operational
Programme
Employment and
Human Resources
Development
Operational
Programme
4.
Exp. €m
2004
Exp. to end
2004
R & D (Agriculture) (1)
- Teagasc Research
1.346
6.899
7.066
33.358
- Research Stimulus Fund
0.026
0.403
0.617
1.910
1.372
7.302
7.683
35.268
5.249
24.261
7.891
36.756
International Equine Institute
-
-
0.310
1.136
Total Training (Agriculture)
5.249
24.261
8.201
37.892
11.191
32.100
16.259
50.655
Installation Aid for Young Farmers
1.984
5.591
4.506
12.991
Farm Waste Management
8.188
23.171
8.467
23.622
Improvement of Dairy Hygiene Standards
0.962
2.634
1.989
4.967
-
-
-
-
0.057
0.268
-
-
Agriculture (1)
Teagasc Training
Border, Midland
Sub-Programme on Agriculture and Rural Development
and Western
Regional Operational
Programme
Measure 1: General Structural Improvement
and
Improvement of Animal Welfare Standards (Pigs Only)
Animal Carcase Disposal
104
Exp. to end
2004
Sub-Programme on Research, Technological Development & Innovation
Total R&D (Agriculture)
3.
Southern & Eastern
Region €m
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
5.
Southern & Eastern
Development of Grain Storage Facilities On Farm
Regional Operational
Improvement of Cattle Breeding Infrastructures
Programme
Improvement of Equine Breeding Infrastructure
-
0.436
-
1.986
-
-
0.706
3.038
-
-
0.591
4.051
Measure 2: Alternative Enterprises
1.272
4.266
2.931
9.630
Development of the Horticulture Sector
0.710
2.232
2.397
5.895
-
0.298
-
0.609
Development of the Organic Sector
0.130
0.456
0.037
0.627
Improvement in Equine Quality
0.122
0.597
0.153
1.376
Housing/Handling Facilities for Alternative Enterprises
0.310
0.683
0.344
1.123
Measure 4: Services for Agricultural Development
5.508
26.480
4.506
21.644
Teagasc Advisory Services
5.508
26.480
4.506
21.644
Measure: Local Enterprise Development
4.092
24.154
3.578
20.067
-
1.385
-
0.736
Woodland Improvement
3.101
13.648
2.017
6.858
Forestry Development
0.440
4.728
0.761
7.341
Forestry Roads
0.551
4.393
0.800
5.132
22.063
87.00
27.274
101.996
28.684
118.563
43.158
175.156
Development of the Potato Sector
Harvesting
Total Agriculture & Food (Regional OPs)
Totals
2-5
All Structural Measures (Agriculture & Food)
Total Structural and Guarantee Measures
for Agriculture/Food
Expenditure
2004
€m
Expenditure
to end 2004
€m
649.077
3,052.666
(1) Overall allocations are indicative only.
Appendix 4.0
105
APPENDIX 5.0
Vote 31:
Expenditure on Agriculture and Food for 2004
Administration
254.350m
A1
Salaries Wages and Allowances
A2
Travel and Subsistence
200.986m
A3
Incidental Expenses
A4
Postal and Telecommunications
A5
Office Machinery
A6
Office Premises Expenses
5.707m
A7
Consultancy Services
6.535m
A8
Supplementary Measures to protect the Financial Interests of the EU
0.416m
A9
Laboratory Equipment
0.437m
A10
EU Presidency
1.119m
A11
Information Society
0.227m
13.155m
6.135m
7.512m
12.121m
Other Services
Education Research & Advisory Services
B
Research and Testing
J
Teagasc Grant-in-Aid for General Expenses
125.920m
20.328m
105.592m
Livestock Improvement & Eradication of Disease
140.090m
C
Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis Eradication
53.136m
C
General Disease Control and Eradication
76.863m
C
National Beef Assurance Scheme
9.203m
B
Cattle Breeding Authority
0.888m
Development Aid
20.056m
K
Bord Bia for general Expenses Footnote (a)
19.531m
M
Assistance for Non-thoroughbred Horse Industry
0.525m
Pension Payment etc.
2.219m
M
Pension payments etc. (Pay)/Dairy Disposal Co Ltd
0.139m
M
Rationalisation Dub/Cork District Milk boards (PAY)
1.445m
M
Life Annuities and Premiums (EU Directive No. 72/160)
0.635m
Schemes Operated in Implementation of EU Guarantee Regulations
Financing of the Common Agricultural Policy, Market Intervention etc.
D
Market Intervention Losses by Deficiency, Accident, etc
D
IACS – LPIS
F
Rural Environment Protection Scheme
G
Early Retirement
I
Forestry
101.946m
E
Compensatory Allowances
237.745m
M
Rural Development Technical Assistance
17.534m
2.108m
3.502m
207.614m
72.681m
0.001m
Schemes Operated in Implementation of EU Structural Regulations and National Development Plan
106
643.131m
D
37.277m
G
Installation Aid – NDP Scheme
6.480m
H
On Farm Investment – Pre NDP
0.457m
H
NDP Agricultural Development
26.739m
H
Grants for Marketing and Processing
3.601m
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Miscellaneous
35.943m
C
Control of Horses
C
Temporary Veterinary Inspectors
D
School Milk Scheme
1.076m
G
Installation aid (old scheme)
0.548m
L
Food Aid Convention
4.830m
M
International Co-operation
3.005m
M
General Legal Expenses
3.765m
M
Miscellaneous services
0.546m
Total Gross Expenditure
Appropriations in Aid
Administration A in A’s
01
Recoupment of Salaries
02
Forfeited deposits and securities under EC intervention, export refunds etc. arrangements
03
Refunds from fees for veterinary inspections services at poultry plants and meat inspection fees
04
Receipts from veterinary inspection fees for live exports
05
Receipts from fees for dairy premises inspection services
Other Services
1.746m
20.427m
1,258.986m
-486.220m
-23.237m
0
-1.026m
-15.800m
-1.297m
-5.114m
-22.760m
06
Receipts from sale of vaccines, livestock, farm produce etc
-0.892m
07
Receipts from seed testing fees, certification fees, Licensing fees, pesticides registration etc.
-2.063m
08
Receipts from licences and from sale and leasing of livestock etc.
-0.038m
09
Receipts from farmer contributions towards the cost of eradicating Bovine Disease (Subhead C)
010
Land Commission receipts (Subhead A3)
-2.500m
011
Other Receipts
-0.371m
EU Services
-16.896m
-440.223m
012
Market Intervention expenses and financing costs for other FEOGA (Guarantee) section measures
(Subhead D)
013
Receipts for Intervention Stock Losses
014
National Development Plan – Guarantee Receipts (Subhead E, F, G, I)
015
BSE Receipts (Subhead C)
016
Veterinary Fund (Subhead C)
017
Other Guarantee Receipts
018
Operation Programme for Agriculture Rural Development and Forestry (OPARDF) 1994-1999
-25.630m
019
NDP – Structural Receipts
-17.120m
Net Expenditure
-11.727m
0m
-357.400m
-19.311m
-8.163m
-0.872m
772.766m
Footnote
(a) During 2004, the functions of An Bord Glas were transferred to An Bord Bia, and An Bord Glas was dissolved.
Appendix 5.0
107
APPENDIX 6.0
FEOGA/EAGGF Guarantee Expenditure 2004
Detailed Breakdown of Claims Submitted to the EAGGF in the Calendar Year 2004
€, 000 (net)
Arable Crops
Export Refunds
Production Aids
Intervention Costs (Cereals)
Dehydrated Fodder
Arable Crops -Area Aid
Total
Sugar
Export Refunds
Reimbursement for Storage
Refunds for Sugar used in Chemical Industry
Total
Fruit and Vegetables
Export Refunds
Promotion Measures
Withdrawal Compensation
Aid for Flax Production and Flax Seed
Aid for Grass Seed Production
Aid for Hops
Producer Organisations
Total
108
40
49
0
292
132,640
133,021
8,374
0
1,630
10,004
0
0
0
0
12
0
5,595
5,607
Dairy Products
Export Refunds (including Food Aid)
Aid for Skim Milk Powder for Animal Feed
Aid for Liquid Skim Milk for Animal Feed
Aid for Casein
Dairy Premium
Additional Payments to Milk Producers
Intervention Costs (Skim Milk Powder and Butter)
Private Storage
Measures to Reduce Butter Fat Surplus
Milk Co Responsibility Levy
Milk Super Levy
Reimbursement of Super Levy
Aid for Supply of School Milk
Market Development Measures
Improvement of Milk Quality
Compensatory Aid
Total
100,362
2,036
0
95,534
41,589
18,677
19,118
2,442
2,055
-9,543
0
0
878
0
7
68
273,223
Beef and Veal
Beef Export Refunds
Live Animal Export Refunds
Private Storage
Intervention Costs
Suckler Cow Premium
Special Premium
Deseasonalisation Premium
Extensification Premium
Promotion Measures
Slaughter Premium Scheme
BSE Compensation Measures
Quality Beef Marketing/Promotion
Control and Monitoring Measures
Total
49,849
1,965
0
-5
198,390
262,751
2
162,612
25
133,528
40,993
0
0
850,110
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Sheepmeat
Ewe Premium
Private Storage
Total
108,608
0
108,608
Pigmeat
Export Refunds
Private Storage
Total
313
152
465
Poultry and Eggs
Export Refunds
Egg Promotion measures
Total
Processed Products
Export Refunds
Total
Other Measures
Plant Promotion
Bee Keeping Programme
Total
CAP Rural Development*
- Accompanying Measures (Rural Environment Protection Scheme and Early Retirement and Forestry)
- Compensatory allowances (Headage)
Total
All Sectors
Recoveries
Agri- Monetary Measures
Clearance of Accounts by EU
Total
Grand Total
23
1
24
53,243
53,243
0
25
25
357,399
357,399
-3,563
7
-37
-3,593
1,788,136
* CAP Rural Development measures are part financed by the EU. The figure is the amount claimed from the EU in the year.
Area-based payments (formerly compensatory allowances/headage) in less favoured areas are co-financed by EAGGF Guarantee
and the Exchequer since 2000. Previously they were co-financed by EAGGF Guidance. (Structural Funds).
Appendix 6.0
109
APPENDIX 7.0
Prompt Payments of Accounts Act 1997 and
European Communities (Late Payment in
Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2002
It is the policy of the Department of Agriculture and Food to fully comply with the terms of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act
1997 and with the terms of the Regulations on combating late payment in commercial transactions, (European Communities-Late
Payment in Commercial Transactions -Regulations 2002). The Act and the 2002 regulations have been brought to the attention of
all staff, procedures are in place to meet their requirements and there is ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance with the their
provisions.
In 2004 a total of 535 invoices valued in excess of €317.44*, incurred late payment penalties. The value of all invoices that were
paid late amounted to €3,018,114.21. This represents 2.19% of €137,779,504.98, total payments falling within the terms of the
Regulations. The total interest paid during 2004 resulting from late payments amounted to €13,971.25.
* Threshold as prescribed in the guidelines to Public Bodies by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
110
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
APPENDIX 8.0
Orders and Regulations
The following Orders and Regulations were made during 2004
Title
S.I. No.
Description
European Communities (Ethyl Alcohol)
Regulations 2004
30
The principal effects of these Regulations are to provide for penalties for
breaches of certain provisions of the European Regulations on ethyl alcohol
and confer powers of entry on authorised officers.
Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Classical
Swine Fever) (Restriction on Imports from
France) (Amendment) Order 2004
37
This Order amends control measures relating to certain products from France
due to the outbreak of classical swine fever in that country.
European Communities (Labelling and
Marketing Standards for Poultrymeat)
Regulations 2004
42
These Regulations require compliance with European Union legislation on the
marketing standards for poultrymeat. These standards concern such matters
as labelling, water content, quality grading, free range production etc. The
Regulations also create penalties for non-compliance and provide for the
authorisation of officers to conduct inspections.
European Communities (Beef Carcase
Classification) Regulations 2004.
45
These Regulations provide for dressing, classification, weighing and labelling
of carcases of adult bovine animals slaughtered at export approved premises.
These Regulations also concern the use of mechanical classification and also
price reporting by plants.
European Communities (Avian Influenza)
(Control on Imports of Avian Products
from Thailand) Regulations 2004
48
This Order gives effect to Commission Decision No.2004/84/EC of 23 January
2004 concerning certain protective measures with regard to avian products
imported from Thailand.
European Communities (Labelling and
Marketing Standards for Poultrymeat)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004
50
These amended Regulations require further standards for Labelling in
compliance with European Union legislation on the marketing standards for
poultrymeat. These standards concern such matters as class, price per weight
unit, condition and registered number of slaughterhouse or cutting plant.
The Regulations also create penalties for non-compliance and provide for the
authorisation of officers to conduct inspections.
European Communities (Fees for Health
Inspections and Controls of Fresh Meat)
Regulations 2004.
74
This Statutory Instrument updates the provisions for the payment of fees
due to the Department of Agriculture and Food for meat inspections in
accordance with a revised accounting system introduced in August 2003. This
S.I. provides for a billing period of a calendar month. It also sets a due date
for payments of 30 days to bring it into line with the provisions for charging
interest for outstanding debts, in the European Communities (Late Payment in
Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2002, S.I. No. 388 of 2002.
These Regulations should be read in conjunction with the Council Regulations.
It is no longer necessary to provide for a Certificate of Indebtedness as an
invoice is now issued in all cases.
European Communities (Organic Farming)
Regulations 2004.
112
These Regulations give full effect to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91 as
amended and specify more stringent rules for the production of livestock and
livestock products in Ireland in accordance with Article 12. They also give the
Department of Agriculture and Food powers to prosecute contraventions of
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91 as amended.
European Communities (Introduction of
Organisms Harmful to Plants or Plant
Products) (Prohibition) (Amendment)
Regulations 2004.
117
These regulations give effect to council Directive 2003/116/EC, as amended,
on protection measures against the introduction of organisms harmful to
plants and plant products and to prevent the spread of harmful organisms.
European Communities (Pesticide
Residues) (Foodstuffs of Animal Origin)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
118
These Regulations amend existing Regulations on the fixing of maximum
residue levels for pesticides in and on foodstuffs of animal origin.
European Communities (Pesticide
Residues) (Cereals) (Amendment)
Regulations 2004.
119
These Regulations amend existing Regulations on the fixing of maximum
residue levels for pesticides in and on cereals.
Appendix 8.0
111
APPENDIX 8.0
Title
S.I. No.
Description
European Communities (Pesticide
Residues) (Fruit and Vegetables)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
120
These Regulations amend existing regulations on the fixing of maximum levels
for pesticide residues in and on fruit and vegetables.
European Communities (Minimum
Conditions for Examining of Vegetable
Species) Regulations 2004.
121
These Regulations give effect to Council Directive 2003/91/EC setting out the
minimum conditions for examining certain varieties of vegetable species.
European Communities (Characteristics
and Minimum Conditions for Examining
Agriculture Plant Species) Regulations 2004.
122
These Regulations give effect to Council Directive 2003/90/EC setting out the
minimum conditions for examining certain varieties of agriculture plant species.
European Communities (Pesticide
Residues) (Products of Plant Origin
including Fruit and Vegetables)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004
134
These Regulations amend existing regulations on the maximum residue levels
for pesticide residues in and on products of plant origin, including fruit and
vegetables.
European Communities (Monitoring
of Zoonoses) Regulations 2004.
154
The purpose of these Regulations is to implement Directive 2003/99/EC
on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents. The Regulations also
provide for the authorisation of officers to investigate food-borne outbreaks
of illness and for the approval of laboratories to conduct tests.
European Communities (Feedingstuffs)
(Methods of Sampling and Analysis)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
185
These Regulations amend the European Communities (Feedingstuffs) (Methods
of Sampling and Analysis) Regulations 1999 to 2000, so as to give effect to
Commission Directive 2002/70/EC of 26 July 2002 and Commission Directive
2003/126/EC of the 23 December 2003 which establishes Community
methods of analysis for the determination of levels of dioxins and dioxinlike PCBs in feedingstuffs and methods of analysis for the determination of
constituents of animal origin in feedingstuffs respectively. The Regulations
should be read in conjunction with the Commission Directives.
(Please refer to Explanatory Note attached to Regulation for list of EU
Directives and corresponding methods prescribed for.)
112
European Communities (Protection
of Animals at Time of Slaughter)
(Amendment) Regulations, 2004.
192
The purpose of these Regulations is to change from 24 hours to 12 hours the
length of period after which animals kept in a slaughter-house are required to
be provided with suitable food.
European Communities (Authorisation,
Placing on the Market, Use and
Control of Plant Protection Products)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
197
These Regulations give effect to Commission Directive 2003/119/EC of
5 December 2003. These Regulations, which amend Council Directive
91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the
market provide for the inclusion of the active substances Mesosulfuron,
Propoxycarbazone and Zoxamide to Annex I to Council Directive 91/414/EEC.
European Communities (Assembly Centres)
(Amendment) Regulations, 2004.
200
The effect of this Order is to provide for revised conditions for the approval
of Assembly Centres for the purpose of intra-Community trade.
Marketing of Non-EEC Fertilisers Regulations
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
205
These Regulations provide for the list of Authorised Biological agents for use
with Type Designated Fertilisers Containing Certain Forms of Nitrogen
European Communities (Milk Quota)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
208
These Regulations further amend the European Communities (Milk Quota)
Regulations 2000, by modifying some of the definitions and some of the
provisions relating to milk quota transfers, Milk Production Partnerships,
dormancy, temporary transfers, milk purchaser obligations and producer records.
An Bord Bia (Amendment) Act, 2004
(Commencement) Order, 2004.
220
This Order appoints 1st July 2004 as the date on which specified sections
of the An Bord Bia (Amendment) Act 2004 (No.14 of 2004) come into
operation, to provide for the transfer of the functions of An Bord Glas to
An Bord Bia, and to amend the Registration of Potato Growers and Potato
Packers Act 1984 to require that both the grower’s and packer’s registration
number be displayed on pre-packaged potatoes offered for sale and empower
the Minister to update the register.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Title
S.I. No.
Description
An Bord Bia (Amendment) Act, 2004
(Transfer Day) Order, 2004.
221
This Order appoints 1st July 2004 as the date on which Part 2 of the An Bord
Bia (Amendment) Act 2004 (No. 14 of 2004) comes into operation. As from
1st July 2004, An Bord Glas will stand dissolved and its staff, property and
liabilities will transfer to An Bord Bia.
European Communities (Introduction
of Organisms Harmful to Plants or Plant
Products) (Prohibition) (Amendment)
(No. 2) Regulations 2004.
224
These regulations give effect to Commission Directive 2004/31/EC,
Commission Directive 2004/32/EC and Commission Directive 2004/70/EC of
28 April 2004 as amended, on protection measures against the introduction
of organisms harmful to plants and plant products and to prevent the spread
of harmful organisms.
European Communities (Pesticide
Residues) (Products of Plant Origin
including Fruit and Vegetables)
(Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2004.
231
These Regulations amend existing regulations on the maximum residue levels
for pesticide residues in and on products of plant origin, including fruit and
vegetables.
European Communities (Pesticide
Residues) (Foodstuffs of Animal Origin)
(Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2004.
239
These Regulations amend existing Regulations on the fixing of maximum
residue levels for pesticides in and on foodstuffs of animal origin.
European Communities (Pesticide
Residues) (Cereals) (Amendment) (No. 2)
Regulations 2004.
240
These Regulations amend existing Regulations on the fixing of maximum
residue levels for pesticides in and on cereals.
European Communities (Recognition of
Qualifications in Veterinary Medicine)
Regulations 2004
265
These Regulations extend the circumstances which the Veterinary Council
of Ireland is obliged to take account of when examining applications for
recognition from persons with a relevant Third Country qualification where
such qualification has already been recognised in another Member State. The
Regulations also amend the mutual recognition arrangements to take account
of the accessions form 1 May 2004.
European Communities (Avian Influenza)
(Control on Imports of Avian Products
from the United States of America)
Regulations 2004.
266
This Order gives effect to Commission Decision 2004/363/EC concerning
certain protective measures with regard to live birds or avian products
imported from the United States of America.
European Communities (Control on
imports of animal products for personal
consumption) Regulations 2004.
267
These Regulations provide for enforcements for the operation of Commission
Regulation (EC) No. 745/2004 prohibiting, on the grounds of protection of
animal and public health, the importation from third countries in the personal
baggage of passengers of meat and meat products and milk and milk
products that are destined for own consumption.
European Communities (Avian Influenza)
(Control on Imports of Avian Products
from Canada) Regulations 2004.
268
This Order gives effect to Commission Decision 2004/364/EC concerning
certain protective measures with regard to live birds or avian products
imported from Canada.
European Communities (Registration
of Importers of Animal Products)
Regulations 2004.
269
These Regulations provide that for import of animal products the importer
and importing agent must be registered.
European Communities (Marketing
Standards for Olive Oil) Regulations 2004.
397
The purpose of these Regulations is to give legal effect to Commission
Regulation (EC) No. 1019/2002 of 13 June 2002 as amended by Commission
Regulation (EC) No. 1176/2003 of 1 July 2003, which prescribe, within the
European Union, standards for the marketing of olive oil.
European Communities (Equine Stud-Book
and Competition) Regulations 2004.
399
These Regulations, which give legal effect to Directives 90/427/EEC and
90/428/EEC and Decisions 93/623/EEC and 2000/68/EEC (copies of which
may be obtained from the Government Publications Sale Office, Molesworth
Street, Dublin 2), set out the criteria which a body must meet if it is to
maintain an officially recognised stud-book, provide for the non-discriminatory
treatment of competition horses and provide for the issuing of identity
documents for and control of movement of non-registered horses.
Appendix 8.0
113
APPENDIX 8.0
Title
114
S.I. No.
Description
Food-and-Mouth Disease Order 1956
(Amendment) Order 2004.
412
This Order augments the powers of the Minister for Agriculture and Food to
control the movement of animal based products and to restrict the operations
of premises engaged in the processing of such products in the event of an
outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease.
European Communities (Pet Passport)
Regulations 2004.
423
These regulations give further effect to Regulation No. 998/2003 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 which provides the rules for
the movement of pet cats, dogs and ferrets between Member States and
from certain third countries, with particular emphasis on the control of rabies.
European Communities (Feedingstuffs)
(Genetically Modified Feed) Regulations
2004.
424
These Regulations give effect to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No
1829/2003 and Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of the 22 September 2003.
European Communities (Avian Influenza)
(Control on Imports of Avian Products
and Live Birds from certain Asian
countries) Regulations 2004.
432
This Order gives effect to Commission Decision 2004/122/EC of 6 February
2004 concerning certain protective measures with regard to avian products
and live birds imported from certain Asian countries.
Diseases of Animals (Inspection Fees)
Order, 2004.
439
This Order provides for the capping of veterinary inspection fees payable on
exports of live pigs.
European Communities (Authorisation,
Placing on the Market, Use and
Control of Plant Protection Products)
(Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2004
498
These Regulations give effect to Commission Directive 2004/30/EC of 10
March 2004.These Regulations, which amend Council Directive 91/414/EEC
concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market provide
for the inclusion of the active substances Benzoic Acid, Flazasulfuron and
Pyraclostrobin to Annex 1 to Council Directive 91/414/EEC.
European Communities (Trade in Bovine
Breeding Animals, their Semen, Ova and
Embyros) Regulations 2004
499
These Regulations implement into national law, insofar as bovine breeding
animals are concerned, the provisions of Council Directive 2003/43/EC
amending Directive 88/407/EEC laying down the animal health requirements
applicable to intra-community trade in and imports of semen of domestic
animals of the bovine species.
Diseases of Animals Act (Importation of
Sheep) Order, 2004.
503
This Statutory Instrument revokes the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Foot
and Mouth Disease) (Importation of Sheep) Order, 2001 (S.I. No. 364 of
2001), makes it an offence to import, have, slaughter, sell or supply a sheep
imported in contravention of an import licence or a General Authorisation
issued by the Minister, and requires the owner, operator or person in charge
of a slaughter plant at which imported sheep are to be slaughtered to give
24 hours prior notification of the importation to the Veterinary Inspector in
charge at that slaughterhouse.
International Carriage of Perishable
Foodstuffs Act 1987 (Specified Person)
Order 2004.
504
This Order confers the function of issuing approval in respect of “type
equipment“ manufactured in Ireland for the purposes of carriage of
perishable foodstuffs on the NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland).
Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 (Amendment
of Schedule) Regulations 2004
507
This Order amends the schedule to the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001 to
include the “Landslide Damage Relief Scheme for the Pullathomas Area of
County Mayo“ in the Schedule of Schemes that can be examined by the
Agriculture Appeals Office.
Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Control
on Animal and Poultry Vaccines)
(Amendment) Order 2004
508
This Order provides for the removal of certain diseases from Part 1 of the
Second Schedule of the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Control on Animal
and Poultry Vaccines) Order 2002 (SI 528 of 2002)
European Communities (Avian Influenza)
(Control on Imports of Avian Products
from South Africa) Regulations 2004.
509
This Order gives effect to Commission Decision No. 2004/594/EC of 10
August 2004 concerning certain protective measures with regard to avian
products imported from South Africa.
European Communities (Seed of Fodder
Plants) (Amendment) Regulations 2004.
527
These Regulations give effect to Commission Directive 2004/55/EC amending
Council Directive 66/401/EEC on the marketing of fodder plant seed.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Title
S.I. No.
Description
European Communities (Removal of Bovine
Vertebral Column) Regulations 2004.
528
The purpose of these Regulations is to make it an offence to remove vertebral
column in butcher’s premises without authorisation to do so.
European Communities (Avian Influenza)
(Control on imports of Avian Products and
Live Birds from Certain Asian Countries)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
536
This Order amends S.I No 432 of 2004 and gives effect to Commission Decision
2004/606 of 20 August 2004 concerning certain protective measures with
regard to avian products and live birds imported from several Asian countries.
European Communities (Control on
Imports of Animal Products from China)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
537
This Order amends S.I No 141 of 2002 and gives effect to Commission
Decision 2004/621 of 26 August concerning certain protective measures with
regard to the products of animal origin imported from China.
European Communities (Avian Influenza)
(Control on Imports of Avian Products
from South Africa) (Amendment)
Regulations 2004.
538
This Order amends S.I No 509 of 2004 and gives effect to Commission Decision
2004/614 of 24 August 2004 concerning certain protective measures with
regard to highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Republic of South Africa.
International Carriage of Perishable
Foodstuffs Act 1987 International
Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs
(Consolidation) Regulations 1993.
545
This Order confers the function of “qualified authority“ in respect of examining
and testing transport equipment in Ireland for the purposes of the carriage
of perishable foodstuffs on Cambridge Refrigeration Technology (CRT) and
designates the premises in the schedule where such testing will be carried out.
International Carriage of Perishable
Foodstuffs Act 1987 (Section 7 (2))
International Carriage of Perishable
Foodstuffs (Consolidation) Regulations 1993.
546
This Order confers the function of “certifying authority“ in Ireland for the
purposes of the carriage of perishable foodstuffs on the NSAI (National
Standards Authority of Ireland).
Animal Remedies Consultative
Committee (Prescribed Organisations)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
571
These Regulations update the list of organisations from which nominations of
candidates for appointment to the Animal Remedies Consultative Committee
are invited.
European Communities (Authorisation,
Placing on the Market, Use and Control
of Biocidal Products) (Amendment)
Regulations 2004.
572
These Regulations amend existing Regulations on the fixing of fees in relation
to biociodal products.
European Communities (Pesticide
Residues) (Cereals) (Amendment) (No. 3)
Regulations 2004.
576
These Regulations amend existing Regulations on the fixing of maximum
residue levels for pesticides in and on cereals.
European Communities (Pesticide
Residues) (Foodstuffs of Animal Origin)
(Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2004.
577
These Regulations amend existing Regulations on the fixing of maximum
residue levels for pesticides in and on foodstuffs of animal origin.
European Communities (Phytosanitary
Measures) Regulations 2004
578
These Regulations amend existing Regulations on provisional emergency
phytosanitary measures to prevent the introduction into and the spread within
the Community of Phytophthora ramorum Werres, De Cock & Man in’t Veld
sp. nov.
(Sudden Oak Death)
European Communities (Pesticide
Residues) (Products of Plant Origin
including Fruit and Vegetables)
(Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2004.
579
These Regulations amend existing regulations on the maximum residue levels
for pesticide residues in and on products of plant origin, including fruit and
vegetables.
European Communities (Authorisation,
Placing On The Market, Use And
Control Of Plant Protection Products)
(Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2004.
580
These Regulations give effect to Commission Directive 2003/70/EC of 17 July
2003, Commission Directive 2003/79/EC of 13 August 2003, Commission
Directive 2003/81/EC of 5 September 2003 Commission Directive 2003/82/EC
of 11 September 2003, Commission Directive 2003/84/EC of 25 September
2003, Commission Directive 2004/63/EC of 26 April 2004 and Commission
Directive 2004/64/EC of 26 April 2004.
Appendix 8.0
115
Title
S.I. No.
Description
APPENDIX 8.0
These Regulations, which amend Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the
placing of plant protection products on the market, consolidate Annex I of that
Directive and provide for the inclusion of the active substances: Mecoprop,
Mecoprop-P, Propiconazole, Molinate, Thiram, Ziram, Coniothyrium minitans,
Flurtamone, Flufenacet, Iodosulfuron, Dimethenamid-p, Picoxystrobin,
Fosthiazate and Silithiofam to Annex I to Council Directive 91/414/EEC,
and for the inclusion of Annexes IV and V to Directive 91/414/EEC.
116
European Communities (Authorisation,
Placing on the Market, Use and
Control of Plant Protection Products)
(Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2004.
581
These Regulations give effect to Commission Directive 2004/60/EC of
23 April 2004, Commission Directive 2004/62/EC of 26 April 2004 and
Commission Directive 2004/71/EC of 28 April 2004.
European Communities (Authorisation,
Placing on the Market, Use and
Control of Plant Protection Products)
(Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2004.
650
These Regulations give effect to Commission Directive 2004/65/EC of
26 April 2004 amending Directive 2003/68/EC as regards time limits.
European Communities (Authorisation,
Placing on the Market, Use and
Control of Plant Protection Products)
(Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2004.
651
These Regulations give effect to Commission Directive 2004/66/EC of
26 April 2004 amending Directive 2003/68/EC.
European Communities (Registration
of Importers of Animal Products)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
661
This Order amends S.I No 269 of 2004, which provides that for the import
of animal products the importer and importing agent must be registered.
Control of Bulls for Breeding (Permits)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
662
These Regulations are made under the Control of Bulls for Breeding Act, 1985
to provide for the continuation of the system of granting permits to persons
to keep unregistered bulls for breeding purposes and to extend permits
already issued under previous Regulations until 31 October 2006.
National Stud (Amendment) Act 2000
(Vesting) Order 2004
668
This Order vests the land contained in the Schedule in the Irish National Stud
Company Ltd. with effect from 1 October 2004.
European Communities (Identification
and Registration of Bovine Animals)
Regulations 2004.
687
These Regulations amend the procedures for the completion of calf birth
registrations in electronic format.
Diseases of Animals Act 1966
(Bluetongue) (Restriction on Imports from
Spain) Order 2004.
690
This Order gives effect to Commission Decision No.2004/697/EC of 14
October 2004, concerning restrictions on the importation of live animals,
semen and the ova or embryos of species susceptible to bluetongue, from
specified regions in Spain, due to the outbreak of bluetongue in that country.
European Communities (Avian Influenza)
(Control on imports of Avian Products
from Italy) Regulations 2004.
691
This Order gives effect to Commission Decision 2004/666/EC of 29 September
2004 concerning certain protective measures with regard to avian products
imported from Italy.
European Communities (Marketing of
Fruit Plant Propagating Material and Fruit
Plants Intended for Fruit Production)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
706
These Regulations relate to additional fruit genera and species which were not
included in Annex II to Council Directive 92/34/EEC.
These Regulations, which amend Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the
placing of plant protection products on the market provide for the inclusion
of the active substances Quinoxyfen, Mepanipyrim and Pseudomonas
chlororaphis to Annex I to Council Directive 91/414/EEC.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Title
S.I. No.
Description
European Communities (Authorisation,
Placing on the Market, Use and
Control of Plant Protection Products)
(Amendment) (No. 7) Regulations 2004
710
These Regulations give effect to Commission Directive 2003/112/EC of 1
December 2003; Commission Directive 2003/119/EC of 5 December 2003;
Commission Directive 2004/20/EC of 2 March 2004; Commission Directive
2004/30/EC of 10 March 2004; Commission Directive 2004/58/EC of 23
April 2004; Commission Directive 2004/60/EC of 23 April 2004; Commission
Directive 2004/62/EC of 26 April 2004; Commission Directive 2004/63/EC
of 26 April 2004; Commission Directive 2004/64/EC of 26 April 2004;
Commission Directive 2004/71/EC of 28 April 2004 and Commission Directive
2004/99/EC of 1 October 2004. These Directives, which amend Council
Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on
the market, provide for the inclusion of the active substances Mesosulfuron,
Propoxycarbazone, Zoxamide, Benzoic Acid, Flazasulfuron, Pyraclostrobin,
Quinoxyfen, Mepanipyrim, Pseudomonas chlororaphis, Chlorpropham,
Paraquat, Alpha-cypermethrin, Benalaxyl, Bromoxynil, Desmedipham, Ioxynil,
Phenmedipham, Acetamiprid and Thiacloprid to Annex I to Council Directive
91/414/EEC. Commission Directive 2004/63/EC, Commission Directive
2004/64/EC of 26 April 2004, Commission Directive 2004/65/EC of 26 April
2004 and Commission Decision 2003/565/EC of 25 July 2003 refer to time
limits. This Regulation also gives effect to Council Directive 2004/66/EC of
26 April 2004 regarding new accession countries.
European Communities (Protein
Feedingstuffs) Regulations 2004.
711
These Regulations give effect to the provisions of Council Directive 82/471/
EEC of 30 June 1982 (as amended) which lays down marketing controls to
be applied on bioproteins in feedingstuffs.
National Beef Assurance Scheme Act,
2000 (Approval) Order, 2004
723
The effect of this Order is to extend the period for participants to apply for
approval under the National Beef Assurance Scheme.
European Communities (Seed of Fodder
Plants) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations
2004.
754
These Regulations give effect to Commission Directive 2004/55/EC amending
Council Directive 66/401/EEC on the marketing of fodder plant seed.
European Communities (Trade in the
Production, Processing, Distribution and
Introduction of Products of Animal Origin
for Human Consumption) Regulations
2004.
820
These Regulations implement Council Directive 2002/99 of 16 December 2002
laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing and
distribution of products of animal origin for human consumption. They also
provide for the appointment of authorised officers to implement the
Regulations and for prosecution of offences.
Control of Animal Remedies and their
Residues (Amendment) Regulations 2004.
827
These Regulations give effect to Directive 2003/74 of the European Parliament
and of the Council by restricting further the availability and administration of
animal remedies containing oestradiol 17ß and its esther-like derivatives. Such
animal remedies may only be administered by a registered veterinary surgeon
for the three specific purposes specified at Section 2(d) of these Regulations.
Bovine Diseases (Levies) Regulations, 2004.
838
These Regulations, which come into effect on 1 January 2005 prescribe
new rates of disease levies on milk for processing and on bovine animals
slaughtered or exported live.
European Communities (Fresh Meat)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
874
The purpose of these Regulations is to give effect to Regulation (EC) No.
178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food safety.
European Communities (Meat Products
and Other Products of Animal Origin)
(Amendment) Regulations 2004.
875
The purpose of these Regulations is to give effect to Regulation (EC) No.
178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food safety.
European Communities (Minced Meat
and Meat Preparations) (Amendment)
Regulations 2004.
876
The purpose of these Regulations is to give effect to Regulation (EC) No.
178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on food safety.
Appendix 8.0
117
Title
S.I. No.
Description
893
These Regulations implement Council Directive 2002/99 of 16 December
2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the importation of
products of animal origin from third countries for human consumption.
They also provide for the appointment of authorised officers to implement
the Regulations and for prosecution of offences.
European Communities (Control of
Organisms Harmful to Plants and Plant
Products) Regulations 2004.
894
These Regulations prescribe import, export and movement controls on plants
and plant products to comply with European Community measures to prevent
the introduction or spread of plant diseases and pests.
European Communities (Avian Influenza)
(Control on imports of Avian Products and
Live Birds from Certain Asian Countries)
(Amendment) Regulations 2005.
913
This Order amends S.I No 432 of 2004 and gives effect to Commission
Decision 2004/851 of 14 December 2004 concerning certain protective
measures with regard to avian products and live birds imported from several
Asian countries.
APPENDIX 8.0
European Communities (Introduction of
Products of Animal Origin from Third
Countries for Human Consumption)
Regulations 2004
118
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Appendix 8.0
119
APPENDIX 9.0
The Land Acts in 2004
Activities under the Land Acts were as follows:
120
■
The Land Bill 2004 was introduced to the Oireachtas and it is hoped that it will be enacted into law by summer 2005.
■
Arrangements were finalised for the disposal of some 136 hectares of land originally acquired by the former Land Commission.
■
Documentation required for the registration of title to former Land Commission land was prepared in respect of 179
individuals.
■
Some 16,800 consents were issued in respect of the subdivision/leasing of agricultural holdings.
■
Consent issued in 429 cases for the purchase of land by non-qualified persons i.e. mainly non-EU resident individuals and
companies.
■
Completion of 3 Vesting Orders in respect of commonage division and re-arrangement.
■
Completion of 9 Partition Orders.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
APPENDIX 10.0
State Bodies Under the Aegis of the
Department in 2004
Teagasc, Agriculture and Food Development Authority
Oak Park, Carlow
059 9170200 : www.teagasc.ie
Teagasc provides integrated research, advisory and training services for the agricultural and food industry and for rural communities.
It was established in September 1988, under the Agricultural (Research, Advisory and Training) Act, 1988. Research is carried out at
eight dedicated centres. Advisory services are provided from 95 regional and local centres. Training is provided from 8 colleges, 45
local training centres and research centres. It is governed by an eleven member authority. The chair and five ordinary members are
appointed by the Minister for Agriculture and Food; remaining members are appointed by the Minister following nominations from
designated organisations.
Bord Bia
Clanwilliam Court, Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2
01 6685155 : www.bordbia.ie
Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, has responsibility for the market development and promotion of Irish food and horticulture including
amenity horticulture at home and abroad and champions the success of the Irish food and horticultural sectors through delivery of
effective and innovative market development, promotion and information services to secure new business for clients. In July 2004,
following the enactment of the An Bord Bia (Amendment) Act, 2004 which merged Bord Glas with Bord Bia, the Board assumed
responsibility for the marketing and promotion of horticulture, including amenity horticulture. It operates quality assurance schemes
for beef, pork and bacon, horticultural and egg products. Its trade brand Ireland the Food Island is used to support the marketing
activities of all sectors and products. Bord Bia has a network of international offices, providing a full range of customer support
services, in Amsterdam, Chicago, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan, Moscow and Paris.
The Irish National Stud
Tully, Kildare, Co Kildare
045 521251, 521301, 521377 : www.irish-national-stud.ie
The Irish National Stud Company Limited was established in 1946 under the National Stud Act, 1945. Its primary object is the
management of a stud farm for thoroughbred horses, and in particular to provide the services of first-class stallions at reasonable
prices. It is involved in educational programmes for breeders and students of stud farm management. The Stud and it’s world
famous Gardens, which are open to the public, are among the 20 top tourist attractions in Ireland. The Minister for Agriculture and
Food, after consultation with the Minister for Finance, appoints the chairperson and six board members.
The Minister for Finance holds all the issued share capital. To date the State has purchased shares in the Company to the value of
almost €12.7 million. The funds have largely been channelled into the purchase of top quality stallions. The acquisition of these
stallions has underpinned the success of the Stud.
National Milk Agency
IPC House, Shelbourne Road, Dublin 4
01 6603396 : www.nationalmilkagency.ie
The National Milk Agency was established in 1994 under the Milk (Regulation of Supply) Act, 1994.
The Agency is responsible for the regulation of the supply of milk for liquid consumption throughout the State. It is funded by
means of a statutory levy on milk used for liquid consumption.
The Agency has a number of statutory responsibilities under the Milk (Regulation of Supply) legislation: the regulation of the milk
supply for liquid consumption throughout the state; the registration of producers and processors; the registration of milk supply
contracts, and of course the collection of the levy.
The staff of the Agency includes a small inspectorate which has the function of ensuring that the data furnished in registered
contracts is accurate and correct. The Agency produces an Annual Report which includes the Accounts of the Agency and also
commissions studies on various aspects of the drinking milk sector from time to time.
The chairman of the Agency is appointed by the Minister for Agriculture and Food. The five members of the Agency representing
producers are directly elected by registered producers while the other members – processors (4), distributors (1), retailers (1) and
consumers (2) – are appointed by the Minister following nominations from designated organisations.
Appendix 10.0
121
COFORD (National Council for Forest Research and Development)
Arena House, Arena Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18
01-2130725 : www.coford.ie
COFORD is a non-statutory agency under the aegis of the Department. COFORD’s remit is to fund and co-ordinate research and
development projects with the aim of developing the forestry industry through technical innovation and good silvicultural practice.
APPENDIX 10.0
COFORD’s overall objectives are:
122
■
To establish and strengthen links between research competence and industrial needs
■
To determine forest research needs to maintain international competitiveness, provide sustainable employment, encourage
innovation and enhance environmental harmony
■
To evaluate research progress and transfer technology to ensure maximum benefit.
Coillte Teoranta
Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow
01-2011111 : www.coillte.ie
Coillte Teoranta is a private limited company, which operates in forestry and related activities on a commercial basis. The company is
co-owned by the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Agriculture and Food. The company was established under the Forestry
Act, 1988 which sets out its objectives and duties.
Principal Objectives:
■
To carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis and in accordance with efficient silvicultural
practices,
■
To establish and carry on woodland industries,
■
To participate with others in forestry and related activities consistent with its objects, designed to enhance the effectiveness
and profitable operation of the company, and
■
To utilise and manage the resources available to it in a manner consistent with the above objects.
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Notes
Notes
123
Notes
Notes
124
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
We are constantly seeking to improve the information we provide to our customers and you can help us with this.
We would like to hear your views on the presentation, layout and content of this Report.
You can do this by writing to:
Corporate Affairs Division (Annual Report),
Block 6 East,
Department of Agriculture and Food,
Agriculture House,
Kildare Street,
Dublin 2,
Ireland.
Or by e-mail to:
[email protected]
Thank you
© Government of Ireland 2005
The assistance of An Bord Bia and Coillte in relation to cover images is acknowledged.
Price €10
This Annual Report is available on the Department's website: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie
Department of Agriculture and Food
Head Office, Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01 6072000; Lo-Call: 1890 200 510
Annual Report 2004
of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Annual Report of the Minister for Agriculture and Food 2004
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