Results 12,221-12,240 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Other Questions: Harness Racing (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: I welcome the Deputy's remarks. We endeavour to work with the national umbrella body for harness racing as well and while I take the point the Deputy makes about Crossmaglen, there are organised and regulated sulky events held in the Republic of Ireland also. It should not be forgotten that people have opportunities to be part of structured and organised events rather than the unregulated...

Other Questions: Agriculture Scheme Appeals (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: The Agriculture Appeals Office is an independent office established in 2002 to provide an appeals service to farmers who are dissatisfied with decisions concerning designated schemes operated by my Department. The Agriculture Appeals Act 2001, along with the agriculture appeals regulations 2002, as amended, set down the functions of the director and the appeals officers, the decisions that...

Other Questions: Agriculture Scheme Appeals (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: The review which was published is a very good assessment of where we are at. Additional staff have been appointed to the office. I would encourage farmers who feel aggrieved by decisions to bring those decisions to the attention of the Agriculture Appeals Office. The office is there to serve farmers. I think that is acknowledged in the report which was carried out independently of my...

Tillage Sector: Motion (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: Does Deputy McGrath lament the loss of all that?

Tillage Sector: Motion (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: On a point of information, our fishing industry is multiples the size it was when we joined the EU.

Tillage Sector: Motion (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: We have more to do.

Tillage Sector: Motion (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: It has been fascinating to listen to the debate and I acknowledge the work done by the committee, its individual members, the secretariat and the Chairman in bringing forward a report. It is timely as we are at a critical stage in negotiating the shape of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2020. The viability of the tillage sector is contingent on the appropriate policy framework being...

Tillage Sector: Motion (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: There could be some unintended consequences for a sector that requires high payments to sustain a model which, let alone in the long term, is probably currently financially unsustainable in terms of its dependence on rented land. There is a real challenge in that regard. I am not sure if that is something the committee has specifically got its head around in respect of a model for the...

Tillage Sector: Motion (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: Kilbeggan Organic Foods. It is an extraordinary success story.

Tillage Sector: Motion (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: We also had a discussion earlier about the organic sector and its potential, with the Minister of State, Deputy Andrew Doyle, and Deputy Eamon Ryan. There is huge potential on the organic side. The two sectors in which consumer demand is greatest are probably tillage and dairy. I remember being in a supermarket in South-East Asia which was part of one of the prime retail chains. It...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Negotiations (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: As I have stated before, fisheries has from the outset been a high priority for Ireland in the Brexit negotiations, and so it will remain. I am determined to ensure that fisheries remain high on the Brexit agenda in the EU and that the interests of Ireland's fishing communities are fully safeguarded. My continued objective is to ensure that the implications for fisheries are fully taken...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports to China (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: My officials continue to work towards opening and enhancing access to as many markets as possible. This is a key part of our response to the challenges and uncertainty posed by Brexit, and in line with the market development theme of the Food Wise 2025 strategy. A wide range of staff across my Department are involved in market access work which is co-ordinated by an internal High-Level Market...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports to China (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: My officials continue to work towards opening and enhancing access to as many markets as possible. This is a key part of our response to the challenges and uncertainty posed by Brexit, and in line with the market development theme of the Food Wise 2025 strategy. A wide range of staff across my Department are involved in market access work which is co-ordinated by an internal High-Level Market...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports to China (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: The recent opening of the Chinese beef market to Irish beef is hugely significant for the Irish beef industry, all along the chain from farmers through to processors and exporters. It marks the culmination of a number of years work involving my Department, the Irish Embassy in Beijing and with the close co-operation of the Chinese Ambassador in Dublin and his Embassy staff, Bord Bia, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: The GLAS scheme surpassed the original target of 50,000 participants well ahead of the targeted date - such is the popularity of the scheme. Given that the first approvals under the scheme run from 1 October 2015 it is a remarkable achievement to have exceeded this target within a period of 15 months. GLAS, like previous agri-environment schemes supports participants in improving their...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Applications (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: Under the EU regulations, 2018 is the first year that all applications for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) are to be submitted online. Recent years have seen significant growth in the number of farmers applying for the BPS online, and this is reflective of the range of benefits that online application brings for farmers. Among the benefits available to online applicants is the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: The long term vision for the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, is an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise the capacity for sustainable food production. We are taking a number of steps on this pathway, with the Department funding a range of initiatives and schemes to improve the sustainability of the sector. Examples include over 50,000 farmers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Inspection Service (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: Following a competitive tender process, my Department has commissioned a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of options that have been proposed for the future development of the Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs). The team conducting the CBA includes internationally-recognised, independent experts in economic analysis and animal disease surveillance. It is currently engaged in research work...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports to China (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: I was delighted to recently announce the opening of the Chinese beef market to exports from Ireland. This key market presents an excellent opportunity for the Irish beef sector, from farmers through to processors, in line with the market development theme of our Food Wise strategy. Opening and developing new markets is also a key part of our response to the uncertainties arising from Brexit....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Negotiations (26 Apr 2018)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy is aware the biggest challenge facing the Irish fishing industry is Brexit which is the reason the sector has been a high priority for Ireland in the Brexit negotiations, and will continue to be so for the Government. I am determined to ensure that fisheries remain high on the Brexit agenda in the EU and that the interests of Ireland's fishing communities are fully safeguarded....