Results 6,021-6,040 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Council Meetings (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The most recent Council of Agriculture Ministers was held on 18 July, in Brussels. The main outcome was the presentation by the Commission of a further package of measures to deal with the ongoing market difficulties, particularly in the dairy sector. The key component of this is a new fund of €500 million, which is in turn comprised of two elements. The first is a €150...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Colleges (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The provision of places in the Teagasc Agricultural Colleges is an operational matter for Teagasc. In excess of 3,500 learners participate annually in Teagasc education through full-time, part time and distance education programmes. Typically, over two-thirds of learners attend the 7 agricultural colleges in the Teagasc network with the balance attending part-time programmes at 12...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Payments (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Total allocated funding in respect of Payments under Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme under the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme is €1,370m, or annually €195m. The 2016 Revised Estimates have committed an additional €7m in funding under ANC 2016. The Programme for a Partnership Government sets out the commitment to increase the budget for the ANC Scheme by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 735 and 736 together. The main targets set out in the Food Harvest report published in 2010 were, by 2020, to increase the value of primary output by 33% and agrifood exports by 42% (both from a 2007-09 average baseline); and to increase value added production by 40% (from a 2008 baseline). In addition to these value increases, the dairy industry targeted...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Applications Data (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table. No payments have been made to date however it is expected that the computer system to enable applicants to submit payment claims online will be available in the coming weeks. County Number of applications received to 24 June 2016, end of the 3rd tranche Number of approvals issued to date Carlow 76 44 Cavan...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: A total of 24,620 herds have submitted some or all of the data and 23, 839 herds have submitted some or all of the genomic samples required under the BDGP. Payments amounting to almost €40m have issued to 22,068 participants who had submitted sufficient genotyping samples and data to be eligible to receive a payment. My Department has recently written to all applicants who have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The BDGP was launched in 2015 and 29,862 applications were received. Some 4,851 herds have since withdrawn from the BDGP. A further 1,172 herds have not submitted any genomic samples in respect of the 2015 scheme year. These applicants have been contacted reminding them of the requirement to submit genotyping samples.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Genomics Scheme (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is a part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and provides Irish suckler farmers with some €300 million of funding over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the large investment in data recording and genomics which have been made in recent years and will continue to drive further developments and improvements in this area. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Expenditure (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The figure requested by the Deputy is not readily available and work is now underway to calculate an estimate of the additional cost. My Department will communicate with the Deputy when this work is concluded.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Support under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is payable upon activation of an eligible hectare per payment entitlement. In general terms an eligible hectare is one that is used for an agricultural activity or, where the area is also used for a non-agricultural activity, is predominantly used for such activities. An area is predominantly used for agricultural activity if that activity can be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Living Wage (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Based on introducing a minimal threshold hourly rate of €11.50, the estimated additional annual cost in 2016 for current staff employed by my Department would be approximately €129,000, after the sanctioned increase of 2.5% under the Lansdowne Road Agreement is taken into account. The parallel information in respect of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Living Wage (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The living wage is a voluntary concept at this stage and has no legislative basis. It is not a statutory entitlement and for that reason it cannot be imposed on either suppliers or contractors by the Department. Therefore my Department has not had any discussions with suppliers or service contractors in relation to the payment of the living wage to employees. In relation to State...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Agencies Board Appointments (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The appointment of Chief Executive Officers to State Bodies is a matter for the Board of each State Body, with the approval of the relevant line Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The guidelines for such appointments are issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Those for commercial State Agencies provide that CEOs appointed after July 1999 should...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Applications (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS II Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme. The application is currently being processed. Once it has been determined that all the terms and conditions of the Scheme have been complied with a letter of approval to carry out the works will issue.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Freedom of Information Data (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: As of the 18th July, my Department has received 191 requests this year under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. Data in respect of these FOI requests is set out in the following table. Number of FOI Requests..... Granted Part granted Refused Withdrawn Transferred Responded to outside of FOI Ongoing Total - 45 46 16 26 6 15 37 191 The figure in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Expenditure (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The information requested by the deputy is set out in the attached table. The kilometres and other travel expenses were claimed and paid in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regulations. Time Period Minister /Minister of State Kilometres claimed Kilometre costs paid Other domestic expenses paid Foreign travel expenses paid 01/01 / 2016 to 10 /03/2016...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Advisers Data (21 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: UK Referendum on EU Membership (21 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The pursuit and development of new markets for Irish agrifood exports is of course an ongoing and central component of the strategic development of the agrifood sector, as evidenced by its placement right at the centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry’s strategy for development over the coming decade. Indeed, this is all the more relevant after the UK’s decision to leave the EU,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Staff (16 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The appointment of the Chief Executive Officer is a matter for the board of HRI, subject to the consent of the relevant Ministers. I understand that the Board has decided to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Staff (16 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: The current guidelines on contracts for the CEO’s of State Bodies provide for a seven year period of appointment. In the case of Horse Racing Ireland the Chairman of HRI made a case for an exceptional extension to the term of appointment of the CEO, based on a number of business imperatives. The appointment of the CEO is a matter for the Board of HRI under the relevant legislation....