Results 12,201-12,220 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: The Deputy has stumbled across one of the dilemmas in the context of this proposal, namely, whether it is a working capital scheme or a capital investment scheme. My Department is engaged in consultations with the SBCI on that matter. The previous scheme was, as the Deputy said, a working capital scheme. An interest rate of 2.95% applied on that occasion, but the trade-off between the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: I appreciate that working capital at this time of year is always an issue in the context of merchant credit, etc. On the difficult weather, I have engaged with many, if not all, of the co-operatives directly and have been assured by all of them, in the context of the difficulty that some farmers are experiencing, that merchant credit is not an issue. I appreciate that this has to be paid...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: A question has been tabled in respect of that matter.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: A question has been tabled in respect of it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: Food Wise 2025, the ten-year vision for the Irish agrifood industry, identifies competitiveness as a key theme and recommends that stakeholders work to improve access to finance for agriculture, forestry, seafood producers and agrifood companies. One of my priorities as Minister is to improve access to finance for the agrifood sector. I announced in budget 2018 that my Department is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: I welcome the fact the credit union movement has developed a product. It is a signal that there is a degree of competition emerging to the main pillar banks. That is very welcome. Many credit unions are active in sub-branch networks in coastal areas and that is very important. The scheme I am developing, to which I referred in response to Deputy Cahill, is one that will be available to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: It is our intention to develop the scheme as quickly as possible. It is not an easy scheme to design. The issue that must be worked out is whether it is for working capital or for capital investment. I am engaged with all the actors, including the pillar banks, arising from their experience of the previous loan fund, which I accept was not targeted at the fisheries sector. This one will...

Other Questions: Beef Exports (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: I am firmly committed to increasing market access and opportunities for all Irish agrifood exports, including Irish meat, around the world. Total agrifood exports amounted to €13.6 billion in 2017, according to the Central Statistics Office trade statistics, an increase of 74% since 2009. In 2017, meat exports totalled almost €3.8 billion, including beef exports of €2.4...

Other Questions: Beef Exports (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: The effort that goes in to opening any market - take the Chinese market as a case in point - is quite extensive. It involves a lot of political engagement, a lot of technical engagement in my Department and a lot of diplomatic effort. I acknowledge the enormous assistance that we were given in that context by the Chinese ambassador in Dublin. My Department has officials in the embassy in...

Other Questions: Beef Exports (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: On the latter point, one of the points which the industry made to me in the context of the significance of the Chinese market was that they could see an opportunity specifically for what the industry would refer to as the fifth quarter. If one can get a better price there, there is an opportunity to raise the overall price for the carcass, which has to be good for the primary producer. I...

Other Questions: Farm Household Incomes (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: In March this year, the Central Statistics Office, CSO, released its preliminary estimate of output, input and income in agriculture for 2017, and this shows that aggregate farm income, or operating surplus, increased by 35.2% to €3.498 million in 2017. This followed an increase of 3.6% in 2016. The value of goods output for the sector increased by 13.6% to €8.016 million....

Other Questions: Farm Household Incomes (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: I acknowledged earlier that the recent adverse weather has caused difficulty on some individual farms. Our response has been measured and appropriate in the context of an ongoing developing situation. We will continue to observe and respond accordingly if it is considered that it is required to extend the fodder scheme. The Deputies will be aware that all the indicators of grass growth in...

Other Questions: Animal Welfare Expenditure (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department supports the animal welfare sector directly with a scheme of ex gratiapayments.  In December 2017, 111 animal welfare organisations received funding of €2.56 million which represents the largest annual amount allocated to date. This record allocation together with the fund raising efforts of the animal welfare charities will greatly assist their work...

Other Questions: Animal Welfare Expenditure (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department brings prosecutions under the 2013 legislation and also through arrangements with approved organisations such as those mentioned in the reply, the DSPCA and the ISPCA, which are authorised officers of my Department in certain circumstances where welfare issues arise. To date, 47 cases have been prosecuted, and 27 are currently ongoing. I consider that resorting to the courts...

Other Questions: Animal Welfare Expenditure (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: On the issue of the legislative framework dealing with equines, where there are cases of abuse and cruelty, the 2013 legislation is available and we take action under that. Where horses stray onto public grounds and are abandoned or maltreated, it is, in the first instance, the function of the local authority, under the Control of Horses Act, to move in those circumstances. I appreciate...

Other Questions: Compensation Schemes (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, EMFF, operational programme is the vehicle for financial supports to the seafood sector up to 2021. The programme delivers a wide range of supports for aquaculture, fisheries and seafood processing through a suite of 17 schemes. I have made in excess of €50 million available to the seafood sector in 2018 through a range of EMFF...

Other Questions: Compensation Schemes (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: I thank the Deputies for their questions. The Government is committed to the blue economy. It is interesting to note that the growth in the blue economy is faster than the growth in the mainstream economy. I had the privilege yesterday to attend a global seafood fare in Brussels and met representative of the fishing industry, 23 different companies from all around the coast stretching from...

Other Questions: Compensation Schemes (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: One of the most positive and important developments in recent times has been the establishment of a forum for the inshore sector. While it is still in its infancy, the National Inshore Fisheries Forum, NIFF, is co-ordinating on needs and is being well used by fishermen. We will shortly be putting out to public consultation a number of policy matters that are relevant to the livelihoods of...

Other Questions: Harness Racing (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides a robust and wide ranging protection for all animals. This includes horses and ponies used in road racing. Horse owners or keepers who allow harm to come to the animals in their care will have committed an offence under this Act. The relevant road traffic legislation is also applicable to all road users. The issue of regulating sulky...

Other Questions: Harness Racing (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: As I said when I visited Clondalkin at the opening of the facility out there, the horse is a part of our DNA as evidenced by the great Punchestown festival taking place this week. The urban horse is as much a part of the story of the Irish horse and cannot be forgotten or written out. That said, there is an issue around welfare that is disproportionately evident in that area. While we have...