Results 12,521-12,540 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (29 May 2018)

Michael Creed: I am aware of the recent investigation by Eyes on Animals on a number of transporters from different countries leaving Rosslare port. I wish to assure the Deputy that in relation to the Irish trucks involved, a thorough investigation has taken place into the circumstances of the journeys undertaken. This was carried out in conjunction with the French authorities. Penalties have been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (29 May 2018)

Michael Creed: An authorised officer of my Department met with the land owner on site on the 2ndFebruary 2018. The uprooting and clearance of trees was investigated and replanting will not be required. A further investigation with regard to compliance with the EIA (Agriculture) Regulations, which came into force on 8thSeptember 2011 was also carried out by my Department. An EIA screening application...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Issues (29 May 2018)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491 and 492 together. The person named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017 and has received the 2017 advance payment. The finalisation of a commonage management plan is a requirement for any GLAS participant claiming the Commonage action and its submission is entirely a matter between them and their advisor....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Prices (29 May 2018)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy is aware, the Irish dairy market, following on from broader EU and international trends performed strongly in 2017 following a period of low prices in 2015 and 2016. Whilst prices have eased somewhat recently the overall dairy sector is now in a much better place overall than it has been in recent years. I am very conscious of the pressure volatility in dairy markets can...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Administration (29 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The TAMS II Scheme has been very successful to date in terms of uptake with the number of approvals that have issued exceeding 14,500.  All of these approvals represent committed expenditure under the TAMS II measure of the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020.   Payments under the Scheme to date have exceeded €56m and approvals and payments continue to issue on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Teagasc Administration (29 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The details requested by the Deputy are an operational matter for Teagasc who deliver the Green Cert.  The Deputy’s question has been passed on by my Department to Teagasc who have been requested to respond to the Deputy within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Data (29 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be sent directly to the Deputy when it is available.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The Multi-Annual Financial Framework, MFF, proposals for the period 2021 to 2027 were published by the budget Commissioner Gunther Oettinger on 2 May. The negotiation of the framework is a matter for Finance Ministers and the proposals will ultimately require the approval of the European Council and the European Parliament. In so far as funding for the Common Agricultural Policy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: I assure the Deputy and all Members of the House that we share a common objective. What we are engaged in is a series of strategic alliance building efforts to try to bring about a situation where member states will agree to increase their contributions. It is important to be realistic about it. When the Commission published its proposals on CAP, there were a number of member states that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: We are building alliances, making bilateral arrangements and having meetings with Ministers. I am going to Madrid tomorrow to meet a series of member states that share our analysis but there are many member states that do not.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: I share the Deputy's analysis that Pillar II is very important because we have used it to be quite innovative in terms of the challenges we face. The Deputy mentioned GLAS and there is also beef data and genomics programme, BDGP, which is helping us meet the objectives of the environmental area and climate change, perhaps ahead of other member states. We have used Pillar II very...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The CAP regulations are expected to be published by Commissioner Hogan shortly. Until the formal proposals are received, it is difficult to make any assessment regarding their effects. While I am aware of leaked drafts, I will not be commenting until my Department has had an opportunity to examine the published draft guidelines. It is also important to note that, following publication, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: I am aware of this issue in my constituency and that it is a national issue. The question of the definition of "genuine farmers" and "active farmers" always crops up. I wish to reassure farmers who lack the capacity to generate a sufficient income from their holdings. We have recently seen the publication of figures for farm incomes which point to two Irelands. I refer, in particular, to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: We share the same objectives. What we have to guard against are the unintended consequences. Yes, at a high level people will talk about "armchair farmers", those who gather income under the Common Agricultural Policy and who may not be considered active by other farmers. I am anxious to ensure the category about whom the Deputy spoke, those with small and marginal holdings from which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Ireland's position on the EU-Mercosur trade negotiations is well known and has not changed. We have consistently opposed any agreement that will have negative consequences for the Irish and EU agriculture sectors and the beef sector, in particular. This position has been reiterated many times, for example, by me and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Andrew Doyle, at meetings of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Our objective is to secure the best deal, of which beef would not be any part. That is what we have been campaigning on. The reality is that an offer of 70,000 tonnes has been made. We are not happy with it, but Ireland is only one member state of the European Union and the negotiations are not being conducted by the Agriculture Commissioner; rather, they are being conducted by Trade...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: What we continue to do within the European fold is to influence and secure the best possible outcome. After that, it will be a decision for all the appropriate bodies, including national parliaments.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The important point is there is no deal yet. The direction of travel in beef is worrying and we have made our views quite clear on that. I am advised that whether this Parliament ultimately has a say is contingent on the nature of the deal that will be concluded. We see opportunities in certain respects in agriculture but we see significant threats in beef. We will continue to apply all...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aquaculture Regulation (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Aquaculture in the marine environment is regulated by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 and related national and EU legislation. Regulatory agencies such as the Marine Institute also play an important role in the regulation of the industry from a scientific perspective. Decisions in regard to aquaculture licence...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aquaculture Regulation (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Aquaculture and the associated angling and tourism interests can coexist. My Department is fully committed to a properly regulated aquaculture sector. We will have no truck with abuses of licences attached to aquaculture operations. We are significantly underachieving in the context of realising the potential of the Irish aquaculture sector to expand further. My figures are from...