Results 12,541-12,560 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

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

Michael Creed: It is unfortunate that the Deputy uses the term "destructive industry". All around our coastline, people with aquaculture operations, either for fin fish or shellfish, are operating according to the letter of the law and giving valuable employment in regions where there are very often no alternative operations.

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

Michael Creed: It is valuable nonetheless. Every job is valuable for the person who holds it. The Deputy appears to be prepared to throw all of that industry under the bus.

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

Michael Creed: My Department is motivated by ensuring we maximise the potential of the sector without compromising the potential in other sectors. That is contingent on compliance with licences that are issued. In the context of the specific question raised by the Deputy, we do not have any evidence to suggest fish were taken to the Marine Institute to confirm they escaped from salmon aquaculture...

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

Michael Creed: I am only telling the Deputy in the context of the question he asked. The industry is valuable, has a future and it can expand. However, we should only facilitate such growth through compliance with regulation, which is really important. It is the only way everything can co-exist.

Other Questions: Farm Data (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: In March this year the Central Statistics Office, CSO, released its preliminary estimate of output, input and income in agriculture and this indicates that aggregate farm income, or operating surplus, increased by 35% to €3.498 billion in 2017. This followed an increase in aggregate farm income of 3.6% in 2016 and 2.3% in 2015. Last week Teagasc released preliminary results of its...

Other Questions: Farm Data (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: In the context of the Teagasc farm income survey or the CSO figures we have seen a picture of two Irelands in agriculture. We have just concluded a CAP road show that was in Carlow, Charleville-----

Other Questions: Farm Data (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: -----Navan and in the west of Ireland in Carrick-on-Shannon, and that picture was abundantly clear. It would be incorrect to dwell too much on the dairy figures as it is not that long ago since dairy prices were below the cost of production. The sector had quite a good year last year and volatility is something that must be managed. I accept the point that sheep and cattle rearing in...

Other Questions: Farm Data (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The Deputy has said we need something now. We secured €25 million extra for areas of natural constraint in the 2018 budget. We face choices in how that will be allocated. I await approval from the European Union on the decision as to where ANC fits in the rural development programme. We took a decision not to spread that thinly across everybody but to focus on those with the highest...

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The development of free trade agreements between the European Union and Australia-New Zealand is at an early stage. Last week, the European Council authorised the Commission to open trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand and adopted negotiating directives for each of the negotiations. Trade agreements with both countries would aim primarily at further reducing existing...

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The byword here is vigilance in the context of the negotiations. As the Deputy said, we export our products in the agrifood space to more than 180 countries around the world so it is not a sustainable position to take the view that trade is only in one direction. Bearing that in mind, it is not envisaged that there would be full trade liberalisation on products in which we would have a...

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: -----that, on balance, works for all sides but we will be particularly vigilant on those issues that will be of concern to agriculture.

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Bord Bia has just concluded a market prioritisation in terms of where we will drive our focus for various product areas, whether it is seafood, the drinks industry, prepared consumer foods, beef, pork meat, sheepmeat, the dairy sector or whatever. That will inform the Department and will primarily inform the industry as to where best it should focus because that is quite a detailed piece of...

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: We try to negotiate the best possible deals, bearing in mind that we pool our sovereignty in that area with the European Union. It negotiates the trade access for us. If we were a small player globally outside the European Union we would be-----

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: We would not be a party to trade agreements. Our industry would be very much in the dark ages because we would not have access to the markets that we have currently as a member of the European Union.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The pursuit and development of new markets for Irish agrifood exports are ongoing and central components of the strategic development of the agrifood sector, as evidenced by its placement at the centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry’s strategy for development in the coming decade. This is all the more relevant after the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union,...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: It is important to state geography should always be a determinant of where we trade. It is our hope and ambition that the United Kingdom will always remain an important market for us. In that regard, we are putting much effort into working with our retail partners in the United Kingdom. It is the market we understand most, the one we can access most efficiently financially and the best...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The subtext behind the idea that we would review our Food Wise targets seems to be that we should dismantle our ambition. I do not share that belief. In fact, I think our ambition is eminently achievable. Never was it more important to have a plan like Food Wise than in the current situation. I chair the implementation committee of Food Wise. We meet with all the relevant stakeholders....

Other Questions: Live Exports (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Live exports play a vital role in stimulating price competition in the livestock industry and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. Last year, my Department reduced the veterinary inspection fee payable on live exports of calves under three months of age to €1.20 per animal from €4.80. This gave an important boost to the trade in young calves and brought greater...

Other Questions: Live Exports (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Obviously, this is an issue we keep under review. There will be continued expansion in the dairy herd. I would like to see more of the expansion in the dairy herd come from improved genetics and yield than from a headlong rush to increased numbers but I do accept that there will be increased numbers. These markets for calf exports are significant. One of the critical issues we will need...

Other Questions: Live Exports (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: It is not so much in the area of calves but there are emerging markets in Libya in the area of live exports for beef cattle. Breeding stock is also being exported, some to Russia and elsewhere. The numbers are not huge but it is an area in which we remain active in terms of seeking out opportunities. There were some tentative inquiries previously about Egypt as a significant market for...