Results 15,861-15,880 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy is consistent in that he consistently opposes every trade deal. I have taken the view, as have many Members, that as a small island nation that exports more than 90% of our agrifood production to in excess of 180 countries around the world, we do so by virtue of our membership of a trading bloc of more than 500 million people, which allows us to negotiate trade agreements. As a...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: It does not.

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: That is why in the context of Brexit, the preferred solution is approval of the withdrawal agreement and in the interim, the negotiation of a free trade agreement with the UK which will protect access to our market. I am not sure whether the Deputy is arguing for a trade agreement that would not have an environmental element or protection of human rights or international labour law...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I alluded earlier to how it will happen but may not have adequately finished the point, when speaking about the market access we have to other countries. A delegation from China will visit here with a view to approving our systems. In reciprocal trade agreements, the Food and Veterinary Office, FVO, approves establishment for export and, subsequently at border inspection posts, the product...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: As I said earlier, I do not believe we have a deal. We have the outline of an arrangement that must be given legal effect. When we ultimately have a deal, it will be a decision for the Oireachtas at that stage. My responsibility is to ensure that in that intervening period, we work with like-minded people and use the institutions of the European Union and the State to ensure we get to a...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy has clearly articulated the range of concerns and the objective from this side is to achieve a fair trade arrangement. As I said, in all trade negotiations we have offensive and defensive interests and we are not yet in a position where a trade deal is being approved or rejected. We are at the beginning of a process whereby the outline agreement is given legal effect. The issues...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The reference to the Commissioner is somewhat unfair. Would the Deputy prefer to be going to a Commissioner from another member state?

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy should bear in mind that, during the incumbent Commissioner's tenure, we have secured a ring-fenced fund for the Irish beef industry of €50 million from Europe and €50 million from the Exchequer.

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I am pleased to say that, during all of my engagements with the Commissioner, whether on this issue or any previous issues that arose about any particular sectoral aspect of the Irish agricultural and food industries, he has been most responsive to the concerns we have raised and I think most farm organisations would acknowledge that. He has worked within a framework where he has to...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: -----when looking for a deal from Irish farmers. I can only say that is not my experience. I acknowledge the point Deputy Michael Healy-Rae makes about the challenge that this poses for the beef sector in particular and, as I said, we are far from a situation where we are approving or rejecting a deal. We are not at that stage. Deputy Healy-Rae knows, from his wide experience in life,...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I appreciate the Deputy's concern. She has raised the issue in the House previously and her rural constituency obviously has her well informed, as is the case for all other Members. To be fair to the track record of the Government, I point to the aforementioned €50 million that the Exchequer is putting in to support the beef industry, the beef environmental efficiency scheme and...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy referred to the figure of €1 billion. That is the chapter to which I have paid least attention because I am not in the business of being bought off when we talk about the content of the deal.

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: My efforts are entirely focused on ensuring that the ultimate deal protects our interests. To concentrate on the €1 billion is, in a way, to throw in the towel and I am not at that stage at all. I am at pains to point out that we can work to influence the terms and conditions of this scheme. It will undergo the appropriate economic and environmental assessment. We can influence...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy might be interested in the buy-off but I am interested in enuring we secure an appropriate trade agreement.

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I thank Deputies for their engagement on this issue. It is a contentious topic for any Deputy, but especially those from rural Ireland. The breadth of the contributions reflects the scale of the issue, not only for individual beef farmers but for the rural economy generally. It is probably not widely understood outside the rural economy that the multiplier effect for the indigenous sector...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I note the contents of the correspondence from a group of young people from 'The Children's Tree Campaign'. I very much welcome their active engagement on the important issue of forestry and the environment and it is always encouraging when our young people show deep interest in these issues. In the first instance, it should be noted that the national forest estate now covers some 11% of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Horses (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 553 together. The Control of Horses Act 1996 provides powers to Local Authorities to deal with stray and abandoned horses and for the designation, by each Local Authority, of control areas in which horses cannot be kept without a licence. Members of An Garda Síochána have also been assigned powers commensurate with those of Authorised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Funding (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The Curragh Racecourse is the premier flat racing venue in Ireland and is recognised globally as one of the great international courses. There was a need to complete a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Knackery Industry (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: Category 2 Intermediate Plants (Knackeries) and Collection Centres are approved and supervised by my Department in accordance with the EU Animal By-Products Regulations (EC) No 1069 of 2009 and its implementing Regulation (EU) No 142 of 2011 which lay down the health rules as regards animal by products and derived products not intended for human consumption. Since electronic records...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Electric Vehicles (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: New technologies are changing the shape of the agricultural industry across the globe, with Ireland at the forefront of this change. The lack of skilled labour within the agricultural sector is driving the need to find new and innovative ways to make our work practices easier and less time consuming. Under the current Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), we have recognised...