Results 10,141-10,160 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (28 Sep 2017)

Michael Creed: The person named commenced their AEOS3 contract on 1 May 2013. Payments have been made for the 2013 to 2015 scheme years. During an on-the-spot inspection carried out on 8 July 2016 an issue arose regarding the stocking density on the commonage land. This issue has now been resolved and the 2016 payment will be processed shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (28 Sep 2017)

Michael Creed: The contract between an Advisor and a GLAS participant is entirely a commercial matter between those two parties. This is an issue that falls outside the remit of the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (28 Sep 2017)

Michael Creed: The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received a payment in respect of the 2015 scheme year. During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue presented on the computerised crosscheck of Department databases. Department officials are actively working to resolve this issue with a view to further processing the application...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Premium Payments (28 Sep 2017)

Michael Creed: The person in question has not complied with the terms and conditions of the afforestation scheme. It was a condition of the scheme under which he planted that the applicant must provide the Department with satisfactory proof of ownership in the form of folio documents, title deeds or leases. This site was planted in 1993 and over the intervening years and, despite repeated requests,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (28 Sep 2017)

Michael Creed: Almost 14,000 applications were submitted for the third tranche of GLAS (GLAS 3) on the online application system. All Tier 1 and Tier 2 applications which are delivering higher environmental benefits have been accepted into the Scheme and all Tier 3 applications which have met the minimum score of 16.5, as set out in the Scheme terms and conditions, have also been accepted into Scheme....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Planning Issues (28 Sep 2017)

Michael Creed: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that neither I nor officials from my Department made a submission to An Bord Pleanála regarding planning permission to build an incinerator.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland (28 Sep 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. HRI have advised that historically, any bookmaker operating at a racecourse could only operate from one position within the betting ring in line with the relevant rules...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (28 Sep 2017)

Michael Creed: I note the points raised in proposals by the named organisation and the challenges of reaching forestry targets. Planting figures for 2015 and 2016 combined actually exceed the targets set out in the Forestry Programme 2014 -2020. My Department is currently involved in a detailed midterm review of the Forestry Programme and is engaging with stakeholders in its development. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Aid (28 Sep 2017)

Michael Creed: I am in regular contact with Commissioner Hogan and my European counterparts in relation to the threat posed by Brexit, and the currency related difficulties that have been and are continuing to be experienced. I will have an opportunity to voice this once again at the Agriculture Council next month and I intend to avail of the that opportunity. I know that the Commissioner is acutely aware...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Question Heading for question(s) 234 (28 Sep 2017)

Michael Creed: I am very much aware of the significant challenges Brexit poses for Ireland’s agrifood sector which has been adversely affected due to the fall in value of sterling.  My Department, in conjunction with the Government, has been actively engaged in developing responses to help mitigate Brexit's more immediate effects, particularly those associated with the sterling/euro...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (28 Sep 2017)

Michael Creed: The Bovine Data Genomics Programme provides for six years of payments to farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability. As part of the scheme applicants must complete a carbon navigator with an approved advisor thereafter and provide data for an annual update to their carbon...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: For the Deputy's information, there is a later question tabled on the Mercosur trade negotiations, Question No. 45; therefore, we may have an opportunity to discuss the matter which is of critical importance. The areas of natural constraint, ANC, scheme is a very important source of financial support for farmers across the country, under which over €200 million is paid each year to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: I thank the Deputy for his support. As he will be aware, total payments of approximately €250 million were made to eligible farmers under the ANC scheme in 2008. That sum was cut substantially by the Fianna Fáil Government at the time. We are attempting to make up some of the ground lost in budget 2018. Obviously, until the budget is announced, there will be no certainty in...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: As I am not in the business of counting chickens before they are hatched, I am not going to engage in speculation about how money that has not been secured in budget 2018 may be spent. That is a debate I am sure we will have on another day should we succeed in securing the funding. I appreciate the Deputy's anxiety and support to make up some of the funding cut by Fianna Fáil in 2008.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: As we have said ad nauseamin this Chamber, there will not be one penny left behind under the rural development programme.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The Deputy understands the position on the rural development programme. We have had this before-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The rural development programme is a rolling programme. When farmers present for payment in certain schemes, we are obliged to meet that obligation. In respect of the Deputy's support for this particular proposal on the rural development programme, it is the subject of the negotiations within Government for 2018.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: I accept that weather conditions in recent weeks have been challenging and this has created difficulties for farmers. My Department has been monitoring grass growth rates, weather conditions and feed supplies across the country. Grass growth rates are currently substantially ahead of recent years but there are difficulties in utilising grass in some regions due to above average rainfall...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: I concur with the Deputy that the last thing any of us wants to see is any welfare issue arising on Irish farms, and we will take all steps necessary to avoid it. That has always been the position of the Department, and remains so. We have a dedicated animal welfare line in respect of farmers who may be facing individual problems. Individual holdings may have a problem and I appreciate the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The Deputy made the point that we were in this position this time last year. However, we did not have a fodder scheme subsequently. The responses that were available by my Department in terms of animal welfare issues were adequate to deal with any issues that arose. The Deputy is making this point in the first week of October. While I appreciate that we have had a difficult year and that...