Results 12,361-12,380 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Quality Assurance Schemes (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I have no role in setting pricing structures for any market commodity. The Quality Assurance Schemes operated by Bord Bia have been developed over a period of years and extend beyond the farm gate as vertical industry integrated schemes. Participation in the schemes is voluntary. The latest iteration of the quality assurance...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Data (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Planting under the forestry Programme 2014 – 2020 commenced in 2015. My Department recently completed a mid-term review of the Forestry Programme, the results of which were published last February. The table below, included in the MTR, shows the target area in each of the categories and that actually planted for the years 2015 to 2017. Grant and Premium Categories (GPC) ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Data (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department is currently collating the figures for the planting categories by Farmer and non-Farmer as requested and they will be with the Deputy shortly. Following the recent mid-term review of the Forestry Programme, the results of which were published on my Department’s website, I introduced new Grant and Premium rates for each of the grant and premium categories....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The current forestry programme does not differentiate between a “farmer” and “non-farmer” but targets funding at all landowners who wish to convert lands to forestry. It's important to note that the non-farmer category also includes recently retired farmers and the family members of existing farmers. I have no plans to change the current situation and will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Most productive marginal land is already eligible for planting and many farmers avail of the generous grants and premiums on offer to plant this land. There are some restrictions on planting land in designated areas and other environmentally sensitive areas. There is also a restriction on the proportion of unenclosed land, Grant Premium Category 1(GPC1) planted, capped at 20% in any one...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Data (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The Environmental Requirements for Afforestation guidelines require that up to 15% of the afforestation site must be treated with particular regard to biodiversity, comprising a combination of open spaces and retained habitats and this includes setbacks beside habitats, watercourses, setbacks beside public roads and archaeological monuments that are not planted. The land set aside as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The amount allocated and expenditure incurred by my Department on forestry schemes for each of the years 2014 to 2017 is indicated in the table. Allocation for Afforestation Scheme and Forestry Support Schemes (million) 2014 109.77 2015 109.56 2016 111.68 2017 109.05 Expenditure on Afforestation Scheme and Forestry Support Schemes 2014 108.09 2015 102.70 2016 102.02 2017 99.51

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: A shortage of labour has been building up in certain sub-sectors of the Irish agri-food sector in recent times. The Deputy is correct to refer to the dairy sector, but labour pressures also exist in the horticultural and meat processing sectors. While the reasons for the shortages are varied, they include the significant value added growth expansion of the sector in recent years; the growth...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bioenergy Strategy (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The agriculture and forest sector has a critical role to play in contributing to our national climate change ambitions, and bioenergy represents a key component of that contribution. I have noted with interest the study to which the Deputy is referring and this study has been examined by the relevant division in my Department. While the EU study illustrates that small Member States have a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Maintenance (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Pursuant to the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 (as amended), this Department is responsible for the management, control and operation of the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros an Mhíl. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Action Programme Implementation (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government is the lead authority for the Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulations which gives legal effect to the Nitrates Directive and to our Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). The Nitrates Directive is one of the Statutory Management Requirements for which my Department inspects 1% of Basic Payment Scheme applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Programmes (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The 'Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme' is an innovative Government/ industry collaborative initiative and a new approach to achieving improvements in water quality and wider sustainability. It involves the establishment and joint funding between my Department, the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government (DHPLG) and the Dairy Industry of a resource of 30...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (8 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The two projects referred to by the Deputy were funded by my Department. The recently completed Sustainable nitrogen fertiliser Use and Disaggregated Emissions of Nitrogen (SUDEN) project generated, for the first time, Irish specific ammonia emission factors for dung and urine deposited by grazing cows. The project also identified that farmers can maintain yields and reduce ammonia loss to...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 May 2018)

Michael Creed: He cannot guarantee satisfactory questions either.

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The Deputy made reference to the crisis that occurred on some individual farms due to the prolonged period of bad weather and fodder shortages. The Department's response was appropriate and measured at all times, given what was a dynamic and changing situation. We have also introduced a widely availed of €150 million loan scheme at an interest rate of 2.59%. We are developing a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme (9 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The Monitoring Committee for Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014–2020 was set up in accordance with Article 47 of (EU) Regulation 1303/2015, which requires that it be in place within three months of the Commission decision to adopt the new RDP.  The Monitoring Committee was therefore formed in July 2015, following a comprehensive selection process....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farmers Charter Review (9 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The current Farmers’ Charter of Rights has been in place since 2015.  The Farmers' Charter of Rights Monitoring Committee monitors agreed targets and standards. This Monitoring Committee is comprised of representatives of farming organisations, staff of my Department and an independent chair. While my Department is satisfied that the committee is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Knowledge Transfer Programme (9 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Knowledge Transfer is one of a suite of measures included under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and involves the formation of knowledge transfer groups across the beef, dairy, equine, sheep, tillage and poultry sectors.  Department-approved agricultural consultants acting as Knowledge Transfer Facilitators administer groups operating over a three-year period. The governing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Appeals (9 May 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department notes the decision of the Agriculture Appeals Office in this case and is working now to give full effect to the appeal outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Appeals (9 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The person named was allocated 28.63 entitlements under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme.  For the 2016 Scheme Year, the person named submitted two Transfer of Entitlements applications to my Department to transfer 21.98 entitlements by way of gift to a third party and to lease 6.25 entitlements to a third party for a seven year period. As the person named did not submit a 2016 or 2017...