Results 9,601-9,620 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Management (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Planting targets for the next four years are set out under the Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020. The programme which represents almost €0.5 billion in State funding, aims to establish almost 44,000 hectares of new forests during this period. In 2015 and 2016 the total area planted was 12,793 hectares which is slightly higher than the target set. Future planting targets along with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Whilst dairy markets are currently broadly stable, the Deputy will be aware that between mid 2014 and the end of 2016 dairy markets experienced significant difficulties. This was due to a combination of factors including increased global supply, the effects of the Russian ban on the import of EU agri-food products and reduced global demand, notably for dairy products...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: I do not accept that the Irish fishing industry is in a state of crisis. That said, the potential of Brexit to impact negatively on our industry is a matter of very serious concern. At this stage it is impossible to say with certainty what effect Brexit will have on the Irish fishing industry. We don't yet know what changes the UK Government may seek to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Under the current Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020 a single premium rate for farmers and non-farmers was introduced as part of my Department’s redesigned afforestation scheme. This means that all applicants, apart from public bodies, are eligible for the same annual premium payment. Up to this point European Council Regulation 1698/2005 on support for rural development had set a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: I and my officials began engaging with our UK counterparts, including in Northern Ireland, shortly after the Referendum result was announced in June 2016. The Secretary General of my Department met with his UK counterpart in London last September and then met with the Permanent Secretary of Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: The €150,000 limit on basic payments is enshrined in Regulation 1307/2013, which establishes the current rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the CAP.  The lowering of this limit would require a legislative change in Council, something that has not been envisaged as part of the Commission's ongoing simplification programme. Since...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Inspection Service Administration (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) Laboratories are an integral part of the Department, providing critical scientific evidence and expertise (in animal health, food safety and plant sciences) which allows the Department to function effectively as a regulator, to deal with new and emerging risks and to rapidly respond to disease outbreaks and food safety incidents. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Licences (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy may be aware, under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, the functions of sea-fishing boat licensing were transferred from the Minister to the Licensing Authority for Sea-fishing Boats, which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in that Act and Ministerial Policy Directives. As Minister I have responsibility for policy in relation to sea-fishing boat...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: I am taking it that the Deputy is referring to the request I received from the Irish South and West Fish Producer Organisation to allocate the increase over 2016 of Ireland’s mackerel quota for 2017 entirely to the Polyvalent Segment on a 1 year pilot basis in exchange for the recipient vessels forgoing demersal fishing in order to gauge the impact on the demersal vessels. This matter...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Funding (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Horse Racing Ireland is a commercial state body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. Horse Racing Ireland receives financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001.The level of financial support provided to Horse Racing Ireland is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Trade within the EU of dogs, including greyhounds, is governed by EU law.  According to EU law, if dogs are exported to another EU country from Ireland, they must be accompanied by an EU pet passport, be microchipped, and have a valid rabies vaccination, which effectively ensures they are at least 15 weeks old at the date of export.  Also under EU law, the premises...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland (22 Jun 2017)

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 current Foal Levy scheme, which was introduced in 2000 on a statutory basis, applies to all thoroughbred foals registered in Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: The cap of €150,000 on basic payments is set down in the Direct Payments Regulation, 1307/2013.  This regulation establishes the current rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the CAP.  The lowering of the limit below this amount would require a legislative change in Council, something that has not been envisaged by the Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: I fully recognise the potential difficulties that may arise in the agri-food and fisheries sectors from the UK Brexit vote. These sectors are of critical importance to our economy given their regional spread and the fact that they underpin the socio-economic development of rural areas in particular. I am determined to safeguard the interests of these vital sectors. While the main...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: The EU regulations governing the various area-based Direct Payment Schemes and Rural Development measures require my Department to carry out on-the-spot inspections annually to ensure compliance with the eligibility requirements, including land eligibility, of the various schemes. In the case of land eligibility inspections, the requirement is for 5% of beneficiaries to be inspected and such...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: The applicant has submitted a claim under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II. There is an issue with ineligible receipts submitted with the claim for payment. The case will be processed within the next number of days and finalised with a view to issuing payment as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company. This matter was, however, raised with Coillte who advise that Coillte facilitates grazing on its lands, in certain circumstances, under a licence as opposed to a lease, and that, in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts Data (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: The monetary value of all work contracted out by my Department to external agencies or consultancies for work completed or investigations undertaken in human resources and industrial relations including hiring and interviewing of staff, disciplinary procedures and workplace related issues such as allegations of bullying and so on or dignity at work issues was €100,150.75 in 2015 and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon is a commercial State body, established in 1958 under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon has informed me that, following mediation and a ballot of its members, the Dublin Greyhound Owners & Breeders Association on Thursday 15th June 2017, decided to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Last month I welcomed the release of preliminary information from the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) regarding the uptake of the Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme. The Scheme, which was developed by my Department in co-operation with SBCI, makes €150 million available to farmers at interest rates of 2.95%. Distributed and administered through AIB, Bank of...