The agri-food sector has huge potential to contribute to export-led economic recovery. Agri-food exports are worth almost €8 billion sustaining over 150,000 jobs and 128,000 farms. But the agri-food industry has seen farming income fall by 40% between 2007 and 2009, three times more than the EU average. Farm incomes have recovered somewhat in the past year but the average still rests at approximately €16,500, significantly lower than the average industrial wage. Fine Gael will provide agri-food businesses with the environment needed to position Ireland as a world leader in the food industry.

1.1       A Decent Living for Farmers

Fair Trade Bill: Removing unfair practices to competition will lower food prices for consumers and will give producers a fairer price for their produce. We will enact a Fair Trade Act, which will ban a number of unfair trading practices in the retail sector such as ‘hello money’ which suppliers have to pay to get their goods on supermarket shelves.

Competition, Consumer and Utilities Commission: To save taxpayers’ money and to streamline resources, Fine Gael will merge the Competition Authority, the National Consumer Agency (NCA), Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) into a single, more powerful Competition, Consumer and Utilities Commission. We will seek to empower this new over-arching regulator and consumer champion to enforce our Fair Trade Act.
Farm Gate Schemes: Fine Gael recognises the contribution that farm gate schemes make to farm incomes and will do the utmost to protect farm-gate supports from further cuts.

AEOS: Fine Gael particularly values the contribution that agri-environment schemes play as an income support for farmers. We will investigate the possibility of expanding the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) to those farmers locked out of the scheme following the conclusion of their REPS 3 contracts by delivering efficiencies within the current budgetary framework.

1.2       Promoting Farming Interests in Europe

CAP Reform: Fine Gael is committed to negotiating a fair deal for Irish farmers and will use our membership in the European People’s Party, the strongest political grouping in Europe, to campaign for a good deal for Ireland under the Common Agricultural Policy. Our primary aim is to secure a fair overall budget for agriculture under the renegotiated CAP. We will also prioritise a Single Farm Payment system which best benefits active farmers and the Irish system of production.

Trade Negotiations: Domestic economic problems must not overshadow emerging threats from ongoing trade negotiations. Fine Gael will work with our partners in the European People’s Party to avoid any damage to the agricultural sector from future trade deals.

Market Volatility: We will negotiate a pragmatic approach in the EU to address the impact of volatility in commodity prices on producers.

1.3       Positioning Ireland as a world leader in agri-food

A More Efficient Department: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has traditionally acted as a payment processing facility rather than a driver of growth in the agri-food industry. We will move responsibility for agri-payments to a new one-stop-shop under our Reinventing Government proposals. We will also develop a new innovation unit in the Department to drive new policy initiatives in the agri-food industry.

Added Value Products: We will develop a stronger, collaborative approach to food research and will amend the R&D tax credit regime to make it more attractive and accessible to smaller businesses.

Marketing Ireland: We will develop a single brand for our agri-food sector globally, to market Ireland as the Green Food Island.

Regional Branding: We will encourage co-operation between Bord Bia and local business support centres to give small businesses assistance in developing individual food brands and will seek protected geographical indicator status for indigenous foods, which will help Irish products to increase exports.

Food Tourism: We will develop a culinary tourism strategy through Fáilte Ireland to sell Ireland’s network of artisan food producers, cookery schools and restaurants.

1.4       Reforming Rules and Regulations

Freedom to Farm: We will conduct an audit of existing regulations for farmers to identify ways of reducing the burden of compliance without compromising on animal welfare, environmental or food safety standards.

Agri-proof EU legislation: We will examine new EU rules for any practical difficulties before finalisation in the EU, through a new European Legislation Committee.

1.5       Food Safety

Single Food Safety Agency: Building on the existing Food Safety Authority, Fine Gael will create a single food safety monitoring agency responsible for food safety inspection from farm to fork. This will enhance the food traceability system and reduce the burden of red tape on business. Food safety is paramount in maintaining Ireland’s reputation internationally as a producer of healthy food. However, there are currently too many different agencies involved in food safety including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, local authorities, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Children, the Health Services Executive and Sea Fisheries Protection Authority.

1.6       Enhancing the competitiveness of Irish Agri-food Businesses

Reducing Labour Costs: Fine Gael will review Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) to deliver a more competitive environment for job creation in the agri-food sector. We will allow farmers to negotiate a collective agreement at farm level with their staff which would exempt them from the ERO but not minimum wage and other employment protections.

Business Inspections: We will cut down on inspections for small business by rationalising the existing structures dealing with health and safety laws and labour laws. We will cut the red-tape burden for small businesses by 25%.

Greater Access to Public Procurement: Fine Gael will ensure small Irish businesses including those in the agri-food sector are given every opportunity to win valuable public sector contracts for goods and services.

Carbon Tax: Fine Gael will exempt farm diesel from further increases in the carbon tax.

1.7       Encouraging Young People in the Agri-Food Industry

Young Farmers: Fine Gael will increase the educational opportunities available to young people interested in a career in farming or in the agri-food sector through our agricultural colleges and third level institutions, as well as practical workplace opportunities in agri-food businesses.

New Farm Models: We will review current farm partnership arrangements with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners to identify reasons for the poor take up of this model. We will publish revised arrangements for farm partnerships and shared farming arrangements and promote new arrangements through Teagasc.

CAP Reform: We recognise the need to support young, active farmers. Fine Gael will work with the European Commission to ensure that the value of young farmers in ensuring a sustainable agricultural sector within the EU is a key policy of the CAP.

Tax Commitments: Stock relief is an important benefit for young farmers at a time when other incentives and supports have been abolished. We will maintain the existing relief.

SME Loan Guarantee Scheme: We will introduce a partial loan guarantee scheme for small and medium sized businesses, including sustainable small agri-food enterprises.

1.8       Animal Welfare

Outdated Legislation: We will enact new animal welfare legislation to update existing animal welfare rules which are outdated and need to be reformed.

All-island Approach: We will encourage greater co-operation across the island of Ireland on animal welfare issues.

1.9       Food Labelling

Single Irish Food Label: We will introduce a single food label for all Irish produce, which will be simple and easily recognisable in both domestic and international markets and will emphasise Ireland’s ability to produce green, quality, healthy food.

Country of Origin: We will seek final agreement at an EU level on an extension of country of origin labels to a broader range of food products.

Nutritional Information: To promote quality Irish products as part of a healthy lifestyle, we will work with industry to introduce a Guideline Daily Amounts label for a broader range of food products.

1.10    Protecting the Environment through Renewable Opportunities

Forestry: We will deliver an afforestation programme of almost 15,000 hectares of forestry per annum through our NewERA plan, creating new jobs for rural communities.

Biomass: We will merge Coillte and Bord na Mona into a new company called Bioenergy and Forestry Ireland which will expand Ireland’s position in biomass. This will not only create additional jobs for rural Ireland but will also provide farmers with a very real market opportunity for renewable crops.

Anaerobic Digestion: We will develop a new agriculture energy and land use policy for the country and will investigate opportunities for anaerobic digestion as a means of producing electricity and providing an added income option for farmers.

Sugar Production: We will carry out a feasibility study into the possibility of redeveloping the sugar beet sector, particularly with a view to the possibilities for biofuel production.

1.11    Supporting the Seafood Sector and Marine

Expanding the Industry: Fine Gael believes Ireland, as an island nation with a strong and valued fishing tradition has huge potential to succeed as a serious competitor in the international seafood sector.  The seafood industry currently generates annual revenues of €718 million and provides direct employment for 11,000 people. With an estimated 40 million tonnes of seafood to be required annually by 2030, there is significant scope for further expansion.

Common Fisheries Policy: We will negotiate the best possible deal for Irish fishermen in the context of the ongoing review of the Common Fisheries Policy.  Our priorities are:
- A progressive reduction of discards, fishery by fishery and in all maritime regions in the EU.
- Protection of the Hague Preferences
- A uniform and transparent regulation regime
- A clear, independently audited database of infringements across the EU
- The development of a sustainable aquaculture plan
- A strong focus on seafood marketing, labelling and country of origin to ensure imports meet the same standards on safety, hygiene, traceability, recall, information and audit.

Sea Fisheries Bill: We will publish legislation to replace the criminal sanctions system for minor fisheries offences with an administrative sanction system to bring Ireland into line with other European jurisdictions.

Funding for Fisheries: Fianna Fáil and Green Party in-fighting has limited Ireland’s ability to draw down EU funds for seafood development. We will resolve difficulties blocking the drawdown of available funds.

Aquaculture Licensing: An additional 42 million tonnes of farmed seafood will be required to keep pace with demand each year by 2030, just 20 years away. We must increase our raw material supply and expand our aquaculture sector. We will remove administrative obstacles and clear the backlog of aquaculture licences currently preventing the creation of thousands of jobs in the aquaculture sector.

Value Added Products: Currently, 85% of all Irish seafood is commodity traded. There is a significant opportunity to generate more value from this raw material base.  Fine Gael will task Bord Iascaigh Mhara with  assisting Irish companies in adding value to their products through innovation.

Single Food Label: We will create and market a single label for all Irish produce and will drive a targeted marketing campaign to grow the Irish brand in new markets.

1.12 Steering the Marine

Marine Department: Marine and fisheries policy is currently spread across three Departments. Fine Gael will merge these responsibilities under one Department for better co-ordination in policy delivery.

National Marine and Coastal Plan: We will develop an integrated marine and coastal planning process to reach the full potential of our coastline in fishing, aquaculture, ocean energy and tourism.

Ports Development: We will support the development of our ports and marine sector as important drivers of economic growth.  We will also replace the Boards of all State Port companies and Harbour Commissions within one year of entering government.

From the Irish Times

Questions for Gormley on Poolbeg conflict of interest

STEPHEN COLLINS

INSIDE POLITICS: Hundreds of millions of euro of taxpayers’ money could be
at stake over hold-ups in granting a licence for an incinerator in Dublin

REBEL FIANNA Fáil TDs created a hullabaloo in the Dáil over John Gormley’s
plans to ban stag hunting but a far more important policy of the
Minister’s, which threatens to cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of
euro, has generated surprisingly little comment.

The issue is Gormley’s handling of the planned Poolbeg incinerator in
Dublin’s docklands, or the energy-from-waste project as its promoters
prefer to call it. At stake is the city’s future waste disposal system, its
natural environment, hundreds of jobs, Ireland’s image as a place to do
business and a potentially massive bill to the taxpayer.

The politics of the case, as distinct from its merits or demerits, is that
Gormley is an inveterate opponent of the project, as are TDs from all
parties in Dublin South East where it is located. On the other side the
backers of the plan are the four Dublin local authorities who have a duty
to develop the safest and most efficient waste disposal system for the
capital in line with EU directives.

Gormley and the local authorities are locked in an increasingly bitter
battle. Potential EU fines are starting to clock up, because the continuing
over- reliance on landfill is in clear breach of an EU directive which came
into effect at the beginning of this year. Meanwhile the commercial
developers of the project may be lining up for a multi- million euro legal
action over the delaying tactics that have blocked its development.

Gormley has made no secret of the fact that he is not going to allow the
project to get off the ground under any circumstances while he is Minister
for the Environment and one of his latest moves has been to employ a senior
counsel to try to pick holes in the contracts.

The project, first mooted over a decade ago, has been approved by An Bord
Pleanála, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Development
Finance Agency and the Department of the Environment itself. Site clearance
work is complete but, before it can proceed, a foreshore licence is
required for the construction of a water cooling system.

Dublin City Council first lodged an application for a foreshore licence
almost two years ago and until it is issued the US developer of the
project, Covanta Energy, will not be able to proceed. All the preliminary
work on the licence has been done and the paperwork has been sitting on the
Minister’s desk for months but no decision has emerged.

Questioned in the Dáil a month ago, Gormley told Fine Gael’s Phil Hogan
that more than 700 foreshore applications were being processed. “As the
licence application in question is one of a large number at different
stages of consideration under the foreshore consent process my department
will be in contact with Dublin City Council on the matter as soon as
possible.” Gormley said.

He went on to say that his understanding was that the various processes had
not yet been gone through. The whispers in the corridors of power, however,
are that the Attorney General has told the Minister there is no legal
reason for him not to issue the licence but so far it has not emerged from
the department and there is no sign of it doing so.

To put the delay in context, a foreshore licence was issued within days to
facilitate repair work when the Donabate to Malahide railway bridge
collapsed a year ago. Of more relevance to Poolbeg, a foreshore licence
application was made for the controversial Shell Corrib project in January
of this year.

Significant work will be carried out in a special area of conservation and
the Shell application had to go to a public consultation with hundreds of
written objections being considered. Nonetheless, the permit was granted
last week, five months after its initial lodgement. The sponsoring Minister
for this project is Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources Eamon Ryan and the licence was granted by his Green Cabinet
colleague, John Gormley.

The Shell decision shows how the system can work, even for a highly
controversial project, if the focus is there at political and official
level. The Dublin incinerator issue is clearly a matter of strategic
national importance not only for the people of the city but for the
taxpayers of the entire State.

Apart from refusing to sign the foreshore licence, the Minister has also
moved to undermine the Poolbeg plan through the introduction of waste
facility levies designed to penalise large incinerator projects. Forfás,
the IDA and Enterprise Ireland have made a submission to Gormley opposing
the measure and pointing out the damage it will do to job creation as well
as the waste-energy market.

The agencies point out that the countries with the best records, like
Denmark, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands, have reduced landfill to
minuscule proportions and rely heavily on incineration, while Ireland is
bracketed with countries with poor environmental records like Poland,
Hungary and Britain which still rely heavily on landfill.

It is extraordinary that one Minister can simply block the project
indefinitely, regardless of national policy, EU policy and legal
considerations. Given his clear conflict of interest on the issue Gormley
should never have been put in a position where through the exercise of his
official functions he could simply hold up the project for as long as he
remained in office.

Either the Minister should have taken himself out of the equation in the
exercise of his official functions on Poolbeg or the Taoiseach should have
insisted that he do so. Gormley and the Greens have many fine achievements
to their credit in office in terms of improved planning, alternative energy
and political reform but that legacy is in danger of being tarnished by the
handling of one major project in the Minister’s backyard.