Results 12,921-12,940 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Data (11 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: A Data Protection Officer was appointed by my Department in advance of and in accordance with the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation EU 679/2016. The Data Protection Officer is leading the Data Management Division of the Department and also has other related work responsibilities within the wider remit of data management, including inter alia, the ISO...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: General Data Protection Regulation (11 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: Article 35 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires that Data Protection Impact Assessments (also known as privacy impact assessments) be undertaken in processing activities which are likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals. Prior to undertaking such processing activities, the controller (the Department) is required to carry out an assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Activities (11 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of its forest estate, are the responsibility of the company. The matter was, however, raised with Coillte who advise that the company has a fire plan for each of its forest properties which includes the creation of fire breaks in strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (11 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department has statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of farmed animals under the European Communities (Welfare of Farmed Animals) Regulations, 2010(Statutory Instrument No 311/2010) and the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.  Irish fur farmers are subject to the same animal welfare legislation as any other livestock farmer.  There has been an unannounced...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Slaughtering Data (11 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: Meat production can be tracked according to the volume of animals slaughtered. Figures on animals slaughtered in Department approved meat plants indicate that production increased in all categories in 2017 compared to 2016. In 2017, 1,739,601 cattle were slaughtered in Department-approved meat plants, an increase of 7.5% on the previous year. For 2018 year to date, the number of cattle...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (11 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: A national consultation to gather views on support for an industry-led national BVD eradication programme was launched by Animal Health Ireland (AHI) in December 2010. The results of the consultation process were collated in the spring of 2011 and indicated strong support for an industry-led national programme using tissue tags as the primary testing method. In 2011, a cross-industry...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Data Sharing Arrangements (11 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: The Data Sharing and Governance Bill was published on 8 June 2018 and is currently at Report Stage in the Seanad. The purpose of the Bill is to promote and encourage data sharing between public bodies by providing a statutory framework for data sharing for legitimate and clearly specified purposes that are compliant with data protection law, and to improve the protection of individual...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: By way of introduction I would point out that in discussing the funding of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, we should bear in mind that this funding forms part of a broader EU budget which is negotiated by Finance Ministers and then agreed by the European Council and European Parliament. The European Commission has proposed, as part of the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, 2021-2027,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: I would like to reassure the Deputy and the House we share the same objective in the context of securing an adequate budget. That is challenging because, simply put, it requires unanimity across all member states. It is not an option for the Commission to spend money it does not have. It cannot, under the legal terms under which the European Union is constituted, operate a deficit. It can...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: I am acutely aware of the magnitude of the task. I am also doing everything that is possible within the confines of the Council of Agriculture Ministers and availing of every opportunity to build alliances with like-minded member states but it is important to acknowledge that there are other member states which take a position that is entirely at variance with that. Given the requirement...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: The new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021-2027 were launched on Friday, 1 June 2018 by Commissioner Hogan. The Commission proposals, as drafted, involve significant changes, including in relation to governance, the distribution of direct payments among farmers and the environmental conditionality attaching to such payments. They provide for additional...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: The Deputy has raised a number of the key issues that need to be teased out. It will be mandatory under the current proposals in the context of Pillar 1 payments that the State will offer an environmental element. It will not be mandatory for farmers but it will be incumbent on the State to offer that option. That clearly implies that for those who avail of the option there will be a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: The regulation currently states that member states shall provide support for voluntary schemes for the climate and environment in Pillar 1. It is not prescriptive beyond that in terms of the detail. The battles on this will be at a macro level in terms of ensuring we have an adequate budget and then we will be in the trenches in terms of working out the detail of the schemes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: That is not clear at this stage.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: There will be an element of choice in respect of Pillar 1 in that while it will be obligatory for the State to offer that option, those who avail of the environmental option conditionality will secure a higher payment. Much of the detail has yet to be worked out. I appreciate that it must be made as user friendly as possible but, as I understand it, there will be a focus on tangible...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: Well before the current dry spell and its attendant problems for farmers and fodder, last winter and spring brought their own weather challenges. To learn from the lessons of last winter and to plan for the coming winter I convened a representative group chaired by Teagasc and including stakeholders such as co-ops, banks and farm bodies, among others, to co-ordinate advisory...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: The ultimate solution to the problem is rainfall. Farmers would be well advised to engage with the Teagasc advisory service. In today's Irish Farmers' Journal there is a full page advertisement by Teagasc on the various sectors and the appropriate measures for them. That headline advice, followed by tailored individual advice through the advisory service - provided by either Teagasc or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: The Deputy will be aware that a substantial consignment of live beef exports is about to go to Libya shortly. The level of live exports is much increased, and that is important. At this stage, we are not ruling out any measures. I take the Deputy's point about the date for the application of chemical fertiliser but that is some way off yet. It is the middle of July. Our information on-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: I am sure the Deputy will find ways and means to do so. The picture in respect of spring barley is not as depressing as that which the Deputy paints. The information we have is that while some of the later planted spring barley crop is challenged, it is not by any means a uniform situation. We also understand that this is a regional issue and that the majority of the crop is not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: This current dry spell is having a significant impact across many sectors, not only in the agricultural sphere but also throughout the wider community. I view the first priority for farmers as the need to protect their livestock and fodder crops, ensure access to fresh water for livestock and, once this dry spell concludes, ensure adequate fodder provision for the winter ahead. To plan...