Results 13,401-13,420 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: In his Budget speech my colleague, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, formally announced progress in relation to the development of the “Future Growth Loan Scheme” for SMEs, including the primary agriculture and seafood sectors. This is a key Government Brexit response for which I had provided €25 million in funding in 2018. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Plan (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department is examining all appropriate measures to support the different agrifood sectors, including the suckler sector in preparation for the next iteration of the CAP. The measures adopted will be informed by stakeholder consultation on the needs of the sector to develop in an economically and environmentally sustainable way, as well as the relevant research and the available budget...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department funded the Indecon Review of the Irish Harness Racing Sector, which was published on 1st November 2017. This report provides the sport with a road map for its potential development and I will be supporting the recommendations within my Department's remit from the outset. In March 2018 my Department agreed the sum of €63,714 to fund the preparation and development of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (11 Oct 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 proposals, as drafted, involve significant changes, including in relation to governance, the distribution of direct payments among farmers and the increasing environmental conditionality attaching to such payments. There will be some additional...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: I am grateful to have the opportunity to inform the House of the actions I have undertaken already to seek to ensure sufficient supplies of Fodder for the coming Winter and Spring 2019. A survey of Fodder supplies in September, conducted at my request, indicated that the potential national fodder deficit has reduced from 18% earlier this Summer to 11% at that time. Further reductions are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The agreement I secured from Commissioner Hogan to make higher advance payments this autumn will result in a very substantial €260 million in additional cash flow for farmers shortly. I have had ongoing engagement with the banks on the cash flow pressures arising from the effects of the weather on grazing and fodder stocks. I am pleased to see that this engagement and the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with competition law, neither I nor my Department have any role in determining market prices for any commodity, nor can I intervene in this process. I am conscious that this has been a difficult year for the sector in terms of weather and the range of challenges associated with it. We have to acknowledge that input costs at farm level will be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sugar Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, in 2006 the EU introduced a restructuring mechanism intended to reduce overall production of sugar, acknowledging the then global over supply and resultant low prices being achieved. Greencore, as the holder of the entire Irish sugar quota at the time, availed itself of this voluntary initiative, ceasing production and dismantling its processing facilitates....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Review (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: Under EU regulation, Less Favoured / Disadvantaged Areas were to be replaced by newly designated Areas of Natural Constraints from 2018, with eligible areas being designated using a set list of bio-physical criteria such as soil drainage, texture and slope. However, as part of legislative amendments at EU level, a proposal was made to extend the 2018 deadline to 2019 on an optional basis....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Laboratory Facilities (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: 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 finalising its work, after which a report and recommendations will be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: Brexit has the potential to have a significant impact on the whole of the agriculture industry throughout Ireland. However, the Government, in the first instance, is seeking to minimise the impact of Brexit through a negotiated outcome which avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland and which permits a trading arrangement post-Brexit that is as close as possible to that prevailing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The feedback from databases dealing with dog identification indicates high levels of compliance for dogs generally. Greyhounds being sold to the UK must be accompanied by a passport. The relevant EU legislation (Regulation 576/2013) states that a passport can only be issued by a vet after the vet has verified that the dog has been marked with a chip. The passport must contain the chip number...

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

Michael Creed: My Department has a close working relationship with animal welfare charities on all aspects of animal welfare. Officials of my Department have met with the welfare members of the International Greyhound Forum, which includes the Dogs Trust, the ISPCA and Bord na gCon, where issues surrounding the export of greyhounds are considered. Bord na gCon, which is responsible for the governance,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy is aware, the Irish dairy market, in line with broader EU and international trends, is currently in a much improved position compared to the period 2014 - 2016. Of course, we remain vigilant in monitoring the market and emerging trends, particularly after the challenges of this season faced by Irish farmers. The issue of intervention stocks overhanging the dairy market...

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

Michael Creed: As the deputy will be aware detailed debate was held around the issue of hunting during the passage of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and the Dail voted overwhelmingly to allow the continuation on fox hunting in accordance with an appropriate Code of Conduct. The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 requires persons to ensure that animals being hunted are not subject to unnecessary...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The Greyhound Racing Bill is primarily an industry Bill and is being introduced to ensure that the principles of good governance and regulation are clearly and unambiguously laid down in primary legislation. In broad terms the Bill seeks to address deficiencies in the existing legislation and the governance of Bord na gCon as identified by Indecon in its 2014 report on the sector. It will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: I am very aware of the significance to all farmers, and the wider rural economy, of the payments that issue to farmers from my Department under schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), GLAS, TAMS, the Sheep Welfare Scheme, and the Knowledge Transfer programme. Given the importance of payments under such schemes, my Department recently wrote to all farmers to advise them of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dog Breeding Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The trade of dogs - commercial movements within the EU, and movement from a non-EU country into the EU - is governed by EU law (the "Balai Directive"). Dogs moved to another EU Member State from Ireland must be accompanied by an EU pet passport and a health certificate issued by a Department veterinarian, be microchipped and have a valid rabies vaccination. Before travel, dogs must undergo...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The key priorities for Ireland and the EU27 in the context of fisheries and Brexit will be the maintenance of current access to fishing grounds in the UK zone in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and north of Donegal and the protection of Ireland’s existing quota shares. My continued objective is to ensure that the implications for fisheries are fully taken account of throughout the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: While approximately 1% of Ireland’s agricultural land is utilised to grow vegetables, the value of output from this area is significantly higher than that percentage area would indicate. Ireland’s horticulture industry has the fourth highest farm gate output value in the agricultural sector, exceeded only by beef, dairy and pig meat. The horticulture sector contributed...