Results 5,941-5,960 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farmers Charter Review (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: A Farmers’ Charter Review Group was set up in 2014 with a view to agreeing a new Farmers’ Charter of Rights. The Farmers’ Charter Review Group was chaired by an Assistant Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and comprised of senior Department officials and representatives of the main farmer representative organisations. Following on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Advisers Data (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: In response to the Deputy’s question, political staff appointments are in progress and decisions regarding these appointments are imminent. In accordance with the Ethics legislation, Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, information relating to staff appointed by me will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas upon their appointment.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Appeals (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The legal case to which the Deputy refers has not yet reached its conclusion, and as the matter progresses I will be obtaining legal advice as appropriate. Accordingly, issues such as those raised by the Deputy can only be addressed following the completion of the legal process.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Funding (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: I am considering including Financial Instruments (FIs) in Ireland’s 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP). Financial instruments can take the form of loans, guarantee funds or equity investments and the funding for any such FIs would have to draw on Ireland’s existing RDP allocation of European funding as well as National Exchequer funding. It is also possible to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Payments (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Payments under the 2016 Areas of Natural Constraints and Areas of Specific Constraints (Island) Scheme can only commence once the rigorous set of checks and controls required by EU regulation are completed. As with previous years, payments for the 2016 scheme are scheduled to begin issuing in the third week of September. This schedule is in line the timelines agreed in the Farmers’...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Superlevy Fine (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: I am fully aware of the pressures on dairy farmers right now and I am committed to working with all players in the sector to address these issues and ensure that we have a sustainable dairy sector going forward. With respect to superlevy repayments, the rules governing the EU milk quota regime, including the superlevy system for production above quota, were set at EU level. It is not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: When GLAS was approved as part of Ireland’s 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme, the overall target for GLAS was to attract 50,000 farmers into the scheme. To date some 38,000 farmers have been approved into the first two Tranches of GLAS, 26,500 in GLAS 1 and 11,500 in GLAS 2. I plan to launch Tranche 3 of GLAS (GLAS 3) later this year with a view to maximising the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Meetings (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: I note and welcome the recent appointment of Ms. Andrea Leadsom MP as UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Given that she has just been appointed, it has not been possible for me to make any plans to meet with her, but I look forward to getting an opportunity to do so in due course. However, at the meeting of Agriculture Ministers yesterday, I had the opportunity...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Young Farmers Scheme (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The person named submitted applications under the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers’ Scheme to my Department. At the time of making the application the person named had applied for a herd number but it had not been allocated to him. The person named has subsequently provided his herd number and the applications under the National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme have been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The Beef Roundtable forum was established in April 2014 in order to bring all relevant stakeholders together and to facilitate open discussion between industry, farming organisations and others on the strategic path forward for the beef sector. The Forum has met on seven occasions, and has been a useful vehicle for engagement for all those involved in the sector. As part of the programme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Food Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agri-food sector published in July last year, replaced Food Harvest 2020. It identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 400 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Tariffs (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Farmers across the EU continue to be severely affected by the ongoing difficulties on agricultural markets. The recent packages of support measures from the Commission are welcome, but we should continue to deploy any and all available options that might help to mitigate the effects of these difficulties. Such options should include measures that will help to reduce production costs for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Aid (19 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. I recently met with the CEOs of the main banks and stressed the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: At yesterday’s Council of Agriculture Ministers, the Commission announced a €500m support package for EU farmers. This is to be divided into two tranches, the first €150m will be reserved for an EU-wide scheme compensating farmers who reduce their milk output over certain reference periods towards the end of 2016. For the other element of the package, €350m is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Fleet Protection (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Under Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 (the new Common Fisheries Policy basic regulation), changes to fisheries policy involving access or restriction to fishing opportunities or fishing areas come within the sole competency of the EU.  Only the EU Commission may propose changes and any such proposal must be adopted under the co-decision process by the EU Parliament and EU Council. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Exports (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Bord Bia is prioritising supports for client companies exporting to the UK, which remains Ireland’s largest market for food and drink products, accounting for 41% of exports. Their strategy to support the industry in the current uncertain environment is focused on maintaining competitiveness, addressing in particular: - The provision of regular information updates - Advice on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: On the 13th June 2016 Ireland was added to the list of Countries approved to export live cattle to Turkey. The market was opened following a period of detailed engagement by DAFM with the Turkish authorities, which culminated in a visit to Ireland by a Turkish Veterinary team in May 2016. A Veterinary Certificate allowing live exports of cattle from Ireland to Turkey is now in place in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The issue of the Russian ban on agrifood exports from the European Union is one that is regularly discussed at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. There are essentially two bans in place. The Russian Federation imposed a temporary ban on importation of pigs, pork and reproductive material certified from the EU after 26 January 2014 in response to the discovery of two cases of African...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: My Department carefully monitors developments in the pig sector, both domestically and internationally, and meets with stakeholders regularly to hear their views on developments. I am conscious of the fact that prices have come under pressure over the last year and the difficulties that this is causing for producers. Having said that, it must be noted that Irish prices have remained broadly...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility (19 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: I am particularly aware of the income difficulties facing farmers this year. Accordingly, I have been engaging with my colleagues in other Member States and also with Commissioner Hogan in order to ensure a coherent response is put in place. Following on from this process, Commissioner Hogan has announced a new package which includes provision for 70% advance payment under the Basic Payment...