Results 10,221-10,240 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Laboratory Facilities (3 Oct 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: Greyhound Industry (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the competent authority with regard to the maintenance of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book. The objects of the ICC are set out in the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 and among these objects is 'the promotion of the breeding of thoroughbred greyhounds (including maintenance of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book)'. The ICC has been responsible for the Irish Greyhound Stud...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: One of my priorities has been to address the impact of the volatility in the sterling exchange rate and lower commodity prices in some agriculture sectors. I see lower cost finance as an effective way of doing this and we developed the “Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme” with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI). The Scheme made €150 million...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Aid (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: It is important to clarify from the outset that State Aid is aid funded by Member State, not by the European Commission.  Such aid is subject to common EU rules designed to avoid distortion of competition within the European Union. It is already possible to provide aid for farmers subject to a cumulative maximum limit of €15,000 per farmer over three years....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.  Regarding a possible dredging project in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre, preparation work has been underway for some time.  A report from site investigation works, which was commissioned in 2015, was received by my Department in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: I am pleased that the cattle export trade in 2017 is flourishing, after two years of decline.  Exports of live cattle have increased by nearly 48% in the period January to mid-September, compared to the same period last year.  Exports of cattle to Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain have risen significantly this year compared to 2016. My Department’s role is to create the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon has informed me that it has carried out an extensive review of procedures for regulatory control with many new standard operating procedures either finalised or close to finalisation. New secondary legislation is now in place with the result that any adverse analytical finding from a greyhound tested for prohibited substances after October 1st 2015 will be published and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Welfare Scheme (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: I am very aware of the importance of the sheep sector, and of the challenges which many farmers in that sector face.  In view of this, in December 2016, I launched the  Sheep Welfare Scheme.  This new scheme was introduced by way of a formal amendment to our Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020, and aims to contribute to the continued development in animal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: Exports are a very important component of Ireland’s livestock industry and provide essential competition in the beef market place. In view of this fact, and due to the nature of the shipping routes from this island, my Department implements very high standards in respect of the welfare of animals we export. The EU Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on animal transport provides...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: Horse Racing Ireland is a commercial state body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. This is a matter ultimately for the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Horse Racing Ireland has informed me that they have had two meetings to date at Chief Executive Officer level with the Director General of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The Irish dairy market, following on from broader EU and International trends, is currently in a much improved position compared to the relatively recent past. Raw milk prices remain in the region of 35/36c/l which is around 2-3% ahead of the EU average and over 50% ahead of where they were this time last year.  Peak production months have passed in Ireland and by end...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Issues (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: Soil is considered to mean the top forming layer of the earth’s crust situated between the bedrock and the surface. It is formed by mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms.  Soil protection aspects can be found in a wide variety of policy instruments, with different community policies contributing varying degrees of both direct and indirect measures for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The identification of alternative markets for Irish food and food products within the EU and elsewhere has been a key priority for me and my Department and we have renewed our efforts in this regard against the background of Brexit.  It is critical at this time to work towards diversifying market outlets for our agri products, while at the same time retaining access to the critically...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme is a very important source of financial support for farmers across the country, paying over €200 million each year to over 95,000 farmers.  The Programme for a Partnership Government provides for a commitment of a €25 million increase in funding for the Scheme in 2018. This now falls for consideration in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: I am concerned at recent reports that the Commission intends making an opening offer in respect of the Mercosur Freet Trade Agreement that includes a Tariff Rate Quota for beef. I and my Department have been very active in highlighting the potentially very damaging impact of a Mercosur deal on the European beef sector. At political level, I have raised the issue with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon is a commercial state body established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and improve and develop the greyhound industry  I understand from Bord na gCon that in the years 2014, 2015, and 2016 it procured 5860, 5074, and 5383 samples respectively for the purposes of the detection of prohibited substance testing. Bord na gCon has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities.Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature concerning sea fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Naval Service.  As Minister I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: Exporters must comply with EU law on the protection of animals during transport (EC No 1/2005), while the transport of animals by air is also governed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations. There are no requirements or facilities for recording the breed of dog as part of the export certification process. Once animal health and welfare certification...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Data (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: Payments under the 2017 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme commenced as scheduled in the third week of September.  To date payments worth €170m have issued to some 80,000 farmers. As is normal at this juncture many farmers are not yet eligible for payment as they have not yet fulfilled the necessary stocking requirements under the ANC scheme but can still...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Data (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The budget allocation for TAMS II in 2017 is €50m. Total expenditure to date on TAMS II is €23.7m, of which just under €20m was paid in 2017. Payment claims continue to be processed at an average rate of €1m per week following the busy construction period over the summer months.   All approved participants who have completed the approved works are...