Results 5,801-5,820 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The new Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of €25 million to be provided in Budget 2017. This provision in the programme for Government demonstrates a clear commitment of the Government to the sheep sector in Ireland which builds on the existing range of supports to sheep farmers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: At present, land used for recreational trails is not eligible land for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).  In order to incorporate walking trails into the BPS, it would be necessary to designate such trails as landscape features under the terms and conditions of the Scheme.  It should be noted that the nature of these trails would represent a small amount of eligible land...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: UK Referendum on EU Membership (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The decision of the UK to leave the EU is one that creates considerable challenges for the agrifood sector. The UK is by far our largest trading partner. Last year we exported almost €5.1 billion worth of agricultural products. This included more than €1.1 billion in beef products and almost €970 million in dairy products. Ireland is also the UK’s largest...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: UK Referendum on EU Membership (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK may not commence for some time yet, and will take a considerable amount of time to complete - at least 2 years, and maybe longer. Within my Department, I have ensured that my officials have been examining all potential implications across a range of very complex issues in fisheries. Unlike other sectors, when it comes to fish...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: UK Referendum on EU Membership (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: In my response in relation to contingency planning, I mentioned that the negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK may not commence for some time yet, and are also likely to take a long time to complete. This in turn affects the question of what the likely consequences will be for the Irish fishing sector and for the Common Fisheries Policy. I think it is simply too...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The conditions under which circus animals are kept and managed come under the scope of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 which contains rules relating to the welfare of all animals. Officials from my Department have met with representatives from circus groups and with animal welfare organisations and with colleagues in the Wildlife Service (NPWS) – the latter body on account of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Funding (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The sheep sector generally makes an important contribution to the agrifood economy generating an output value of €320 million and exporting in excess of €230 million in 2015. Furthermore the sector also makes a vital contribution to the economy supporting 34,000 farm families directly in addition to providing several thousand jobs indirectly in rural areas also. The new...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Eligibility (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Last year a suite of six new measures were announced under TAMS II. These measures were launched under the new Rural Development Programme 20142020 and are co-funded under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Under the scheme support is provided for the following measures: - Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme - Dairy Equipment Scheme - Organic Capital Investment...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Cases (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: In the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes and Rural Development measures, my Department is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms. These inspections address a range of issues in relation to land eligibility, scheme specific eligibility and other EU regulatory requirements. The basis for these inspections is governed by EU legislation and there are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Livestock Theft (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The theft of livestock is primarily a matter for the Garda Síochána and any incident involving the theft of livestock should be reported to the Garda Síochána in the first instance. Officers of my Department assist with investigations when requested to do so by the Garda. There is also close liaison with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland aimed at addressing the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: GLAS is an agri-environment measure under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014–2020 approved by the European Commission and aims to deliver overarching benefits in terms of the rural environment and address European Union issues of climate change mitigation, water quality and the preservation of habitats and species. GLAS is a voluntary scheme under which farmers are compensated...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Programme for Government Initiatives (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The agrifood commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government align closely with Food Wise 2025. My Department has 65 detailed commitments in the Programme for Partnership. The Food Wise strategy for the sector contains detailed recommendations aimed at improving value added and productivity at farm and food industry level through a focus on sustainability, efficiency, knowledge...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Irish agrifood exports have increased from less than €8 billion in 2010 to an estimated €10.8 billion in 2015. Dairy exports in 2015 were valued at over €3.2bn and the dairy sector is by a number of measures the country’s largest indigenous industry. 2015 was also a very successful year for meat exports. According to Bord Bia, overall exports of beef, sheepmeat...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The new Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of €25 million to be provided in Budget 2017. A submission will soon be made to the European Commission in this regard. Any such scheme must meet certain specific criteria laid down by Rural Development Regulation. This scheme, in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: I have been working very closely with the farming organisations and with all the relevant stakeholders in the agrifood sector in order to ensure that we deal effectively with the challenges facing the sector. The most immediate of these are, of course, the need to deal with the ongoing market difficulties that have affected the dairy and pigmeat markets in particular, and the new challenges...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: UK Referendum on EU Membership (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The decision of the UK to leave the EU is one that creates considerable challenges for the agrifood sector. The UK is by far our largest trading partner. Last year we exported almost €5.1 billion worth of agricultural products. This included more than €1.1 billion in beef products and almost €970 million in dairy products. Ireland is also the UK’s largest...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Household Incomes (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The new Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme, with a budget of €25 million to be provided in Budget 2017. This will have a positive impact on all sheep farmers including those farming on the hills, where sheep farming is the most common farm enterprise. This commitment recognises the contribution the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Coillte is the national state forestry company, which was established in 1989, pursuant to the Forestry Act 1988, at which time the bulk of the State’s forest properties were vested in the company. Coillte has developed significantly in the intervening period and currently owns and manages 7% of the country’s land, some 440,000 hectares, the bulk of which is under forest, and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Neither I nor my officials have had meetings or contacts with counterparts from other European Union Member States in this matter. I understand that this trade has ceased and I am confident that the advice being offered by Bord na gCon to owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations with high animal welfare standards is now being acceded to and the imposition...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Credit Availability (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: I am fully aware of the pressures on farmers right now, and I have committed to working with all the stakeholders, both at national and EU level, to address these issues and ensure that we continue to have a sustainable and resilient sector. One of my priorities is to support the provision of lower-cost, more flexible finance. The EU Commission has announced some limited flexibility on...