Results 14,621-14,640 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I am very conscious that fertiliser is a major input cost for Irish farmers. Currently, there is no manufacturing of fertilisers in Ireland, resulting in indigenous fertiliser companies being price takers, dependent on global supply and demand, and subject to Euro exchange rates against the US dollar and other currencies. Fertilisers are mainly traded in US Dollars and are thereby subject...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Farmers are obliged to ensure annual compliance with the limits of the Nitrates Regulations. Derogations are granted under the Nitrates regulations allowing a higher intensity of livestock farming with applicants subject to additional environmental conditions. Applicants are required to submit an annual application, on-line, and which can be completed by the herd owner or his/her adviser....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Action Programme Review (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. The nitrates derogation enables farmers to exceed the 170 kg livestock manure nitrogen limit (2 Dairy cows per Ha) up to a maximum of 250 kg N/ ha ( less than 3 Dairy cows per Ha) subject to adherence with specific additional environmental requirements and is an important facility for more intensive farmers. With 6,900 applicants in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Appeals (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 to 209, inclusive, together. Further to the completion of the review of eligible lands under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme, which was required by EU regulation, my Department wrote to all impacted farmers advising of the status of their lands under the 2019 ANC scheme. These letters included a form to instigate an appeal. The appeals form...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Capital Expenditure Programme (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: There were no capital projects completed in my Department since 2011 with a value in excess of €10 million. However, my Department has two major capital projects in progress, which are not yet complete. One capital project is currently in progress on the East Tip, Haulbowline Island. My Department assumed responsibility for remediation works at Haulbowline Island in 2012....

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak to Senators again as a follow-up to my annual transition statement in December of last year. It is important to restate the long-term policy vision for the agricultural sector which is "an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise the capacity for sustainable food production", as referred to in the national mitigation plan. This...

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Yes. My apologies.

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: With regard to adaptation to climate change, my Department is preparing its first statutory adaptation plan for the three areas identified in the national adaptation framework, for which my Department has responsibility, including seafood, agriculture and forestry. We published an adaptation planning document for the agriculture and forest sector last year and advanced work on the seafood...

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. I am loath to pick out individual Senators and make points of refutation or acknowledgment because I have taken copious notes and we in the Department are actively considering the issue. If it were not for the enormity of Brexit, this issue would be front and centre of all our deliberations. As Senators will know, there is now a clear focus...

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I appreciate that and I was not targeting the Senator's point. There is constant mixed messaging about sequestration, of which afforestation is a critical part, and we need farmers to plant more trees. I have made the point ad nauseamthat we cannot expect any one area of the country to carry all the obligation. I fully acknowledge Senator Paul Daly's point about soil management. Soil...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hare Coursing (19 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control of Bord na gCon. The ICC is committed to maintaining high standards in the sport of coursing, and it actively promotes the protection and conservation of the Irish hare. Coursing operates in a highly regulated environment coupled with a comprehensive set...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (19 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I thank the Deputy for this information, which has been assigned for investigation. The Deputy may be aware my Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty and neglect for investigation: Call Save 0761 064408 01 6072379 Email address - . All calls received are followed up as appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Issues (19 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: The leasing of land is a civil matter and the persons involved should seek their own independent legal advise. However, with regard to the parcel mentioned by the Deputy, the townland of Cloonacool has not been declared as common land in the past, nor does the folio for said lands indicate that the lands are legally considered as land farmed in common. In certain circumstances, grazing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord Bia (19 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: The 70 day residency rule which is part of Bord Bia's quality assurance scheme states that the animal must have spent the last 70 days (unbroken) in the Quality Assured Chain. It does not preclude movements to marts. Bord Bia place no restrictions on the number of movements a bovine has had, for it to be deemed Quality Assured.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (19 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460 and 463 together. A Quality Payment System (QPS) for the payment in respect of certain categories of cattle at slaughter plants was introduced in 2009 by agreement between Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA). My understanding is that any additional bonus payments and the conditions attached to qualification for such bonus...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord Bia Strategy (19 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Bord Bia and Teagasc are undertaking initial exploration of the development of “Grass fed” standards in the dairy sector, with the potential to extend to other livestock types. Producers who can adhere to the terms of the Bord Bia quality assurance schemes are eligible to participate, regardless of their system type.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (19 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: As requested by the Deputy, the necessary forms have been re-issued to the person named on 13 February 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Applications (19 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: As outlined in the previous answer on 5th February, the commonage land in question is currently being updated and this may impact on a number of farmers who declared this parcel on their Basic Payment Scheme applications. The updates are currently on-going and, once they are completed, any outstanding payments due to the person named will issue. In addition, the person named submitted an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Administration (19 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 471 together. The Future Growth Loan Scheme has been developed by my Department and DBEI in partnership with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and the European Investment Fund (EIF). It will be delivered through participating finance providers and make up to €300 million of investment loans available...