Results 14,741-14,760 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Sport Ireland (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Equine studbooks are subject to approval by my Department under European Communities (EQUINE ) Regulations, S.I. No.357 of 2011 and Horse Sport Ireland is currently approved to hold the Irish Sports Horse and Irish Draught Horse Studbooks. The report by Indecon International Consultants “ Review of certain matters relating to Horse Sport Ireland” which was published in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I am aware that there has been recent discussion about the use of feedlots in the production of beef.  I am also aware of the current challenges facing beef farmers, however, I cannot intervene directly in any commodity price. Cattle prices are a matter for the processing industry and the farmers who supply it.  Neither can I intervene in commercial decisions around...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Sales (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: There is no rule limiting the number of cattle movements to four. However, I understand that meat processors make bonus payments in respect of cattle which meet market specifications determined by them in conjunction with their retail customers. In order to obtain the bonus payment, animals supplied must meet these specifications. The four movement rule to which the Deputy refers is one...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: The Fallen Animal TSE Subsidy Scheme is an integral part of the infrastructure underpinning Ireland’s successful livestock and meat processing industries, which have an estimated combined export value of €3 billion annually. The Scheme ensures primarily that fallen bovine animals over 48 months, which must be BSE-tested in accordance with EU legislation, are disposed of in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: The person named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017 and has received all payments in respect of scheme year 2017. A validation issue was identified in relation to the applicant's Low-input Permanent Pasture claim which has delayed processing of the 2018 Advance payment. The case is being actively worked on at the moment and once the case clears...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: The agri-food sector is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and its regional spread means it underpins the socio-economic development of rural areas in particular. As such, Brexit has the potential to have a very significant impact on farmers and on the agri-food sector throughout Ireland. I and my officials have been working very hard for quite some time to sensitise...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (27 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Live exports are a critical part of Ireland’s livestock industry. They play a significant role in stimulating price competition and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. I am pleased that in 2018 live exports of cattle increased by over 30% to 246,000 head compared to 2017. This change was driven by a significant increase in calf exports to other EU countries (159,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (28 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: The €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme was developed by my Department in cooperation with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Finance and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to provide working capital support to enable eligible Irish businesses (SMEs and small mid-caps) to implement the necessary changes to address the challenges posed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (28 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: An official from my Department has made direct contact with both the person named and his agricultural consultant. The consultant has been informed as to what is required to successfully resolve this issue.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (28 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Microchipping of dogs regulations were made under the Animal Health & Welfare Act, 2013 and therefore can be enforced by any authorised officer under that Act. This includes officers of my Department, An Gardaí Siochana, dog wardens, members of the local authority veterinary service, Customs agents and officers of the ISPCA and DSPCA. As a result there is no centralised reporting...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dog Breeding Industry (28 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: There are no statutory rules relating to cross breeding of dogs. The normal rules, enshrined in the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, relating to not causing unnecessary suffering to, and not being negligent or reckless regarding the welfare of, an animal apply to this, as to every other activity relating to an animal.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Sales (28 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: A Quality Payment System (QPS) introducing differentiated payments in respect of certain grades 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 payments are determined by processors...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Payments (28 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: An application under the 2018 Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) and Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2018. Under the Terms and Conditions of the 2018 ANC, eligible applicants are required to meet a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a retention period of 7 months and to maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (28 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department acknowledge the value and importance of live exports to Ireland’s agribusiness and I am aware of the challenges within the live export trade, particularly that of capacity in lairages in France. Calves being exported must, for welfare reasons, be off-loaded, fed and rested for 12 hours on arrival in France. The current lairages in the Cherbourg region have capacity for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (28 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. I and my officials have been working very hard for quite some time to sensitise other Member States and the European Commission to the potentially very severe impacts of Brexit on the Irish agri-food and in particular the beef sector, and to the likelihood of specific supports being required in order to deal with these impacts. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Programmes (28 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: The Agricultural Support & Advisory Programme (ASSAP) is an innovative Government/industry initiative running from 2018 to 2021. It is a well structured, collaborative initiative, involving a range of stakeholders, including the wider community, to facilitate improvements in water quality. The ASSAP involves a resource of 30 Agricultural Sustainability Advisors, 20 of whom are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (28 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Low Emissions Slurry equipment is recognised as contributing to reducing ammonia emissions and increasing the efficiency of nutrient recycling in slurry systems. It is identified as a key mitigation option in reducing the climate impact of Agriculture under the Teagasc Marginal Abatement Cost Curve. The Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment Scheme (LESS) under TAMS II provides grant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme Data (28 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. Applications from 18,536 herd owners have been received for the Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot. As calves born up until 30 June 2019 are eligible, a final figure for eligible calves is not yet available. I have not extended the deadline for applications. An application window of three weeks was provided for the initial expression...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Wise 2025 Strategy (5 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: Food Wise 2025 is a ten-year strategy agreed by a range of stakeholders, both public and private, and adopted by the Government as an overarching policy for the Irish agri-food sector. It underlines the agri-food sector’s unique and special position within the Irish economy and illustrates the potential for further development. It is the latest in series of strategies that are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (5 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: I am aware of very recent media attention given to this matter and I’m glad to have to opportunity to clarify this issue.  The Forestry Act 2014 is quite clear on the requirements to obtain a tree felling licence, prior to commencing certain tree felling operations.  This is regardless of whether a tree or trees are on public or private property.  There are a number...