Results 16,061-16,080 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I share the serious concerns about the ongoing difficulties facing the beef sector and understand the frustration which has driven some farmers to engage in prolonged picketing of beef factories. Last weekend, I facilitated lengthy negotiations involving beef stakeholders to try to find a resolution to the current dispute. All parties agreed that it was crucial...

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: That is not true.

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I thank the Deputies for their questions. On the latter point, it is unfair to characterise the structure of the talks as any indication of an unwillingness of either party to engage with each other. They were conducted in a suite of offices. They were a series of bilateral meetings. There was no stated reluctance whatsoever on behalf of MII to engage but it was felt the best way, in the...

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I thank Deputy Stanley. On the Deputy's point that participants have been unable to sell the deal and that talks should be reconvened, I do not believe that to be the case. My Department and I have been facilitators of the dialogue on both occasions, in Backweston and, more recently, in Agriculture House last weekend. The fact that seven different farm organisations - the IFA, the Irish...

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: Various ownership models have been at play. The co-operative model has previously applied in the meat industry, although now it is entirely privatised. Perhaps it is an issue for consideration and one that farmers and farm organisations could examine to add further competitive pressures to the market in Ireland. I do not see a role for State ownership but there was previous experience of...

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I have made it abundantly clear, as have all of those who were party to the negotiations, that it is not legally possible to discuss fixing a base price; that is contrary to competition law. One of the leading organisations at the heart of this problem has officially communicated to us that it recognises that base price cannot be part of the negotiations. It has been to the forefront in...

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: The commitment from the parties that own it is to ask the State agency, Teagasc, to carry out the review with a view to seeing how it might be changed into the future. I think I have addressed all of the questions that have been raised. I believe this deal represents the best way forward and I hope that given the fact that it has been endorsed by everybody in the room who negotiated it,...

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: On the latter point, the pace of scientific advance is quite staggering in that area. One of the great strengths of our offering on the international stage is the natural product that we produce in a sustainable way in a grass-based production system. While we must be cognisant of all consumer trends and scientific advances, I do not think we should in any way dilute the merit of the...

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: It is a prescriptive approach that tells people the type of activities they should do because of the type of land they have. I do not believe the buy-in that we require in terms of the challenging obligations we have set for ourselves in the context of climate would be advanced by that kind of prescriptive approach. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, to respond to the question...

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: Yes.

Beef Sector: Statements (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I thank all Members for their constructive engagement on what is the most difficult, protracted, long-running and challenging issue that has arisen in the agricultural agenda for a long time. I thank not alone those who spoke but all Oireachtas Members of my party, all parties and none with whom I engaged intensively in the past several weeks in an effort to make progress on the issue. I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: The timeline by year for the delivery of each action (and sub-actions) including the lead Department and key consultative stakeholders are set out in tabular form in Appendix V (page 43-46) of the First Progress Report by the Bioeconomy Implementation Group that was made publically available earlier this month.  A quarterly delivery timeline has not been specified by the Group....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: Support for agroforestry is covered under the Forestry Programme 2014-2020.  This programme was subject to a mid-term review which introduced significant increases in both grants and premiums for agro-forestry.  The recent agreement with the EPA to allow agroforestry on acid sensitive sites provides a new opportunity for forestry on this type of land where otherwise planting...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: In 2018, total live exports of cattle increased by over 30% compared to 2017, to 246,000 head. This growth trend has continued into 2019, with live exports already totalling 244,000 up until the week ending the 8th of September. This is up from 204,000 for the same period in 2018 – a 20% increase. Live exports are a critical part of Ireland’s livestock industry.  They...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Data (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: The object of the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) is to provide temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. BEAM is funded by a combination of EU exceptional aid and Exchequer support, provided in light of the difficult circumstances that Irish beef farmers have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I have had ongoing discussions with Commissioner Hogan regarding the potential impact of a disorderly Brexit. I have stressed the need for the Commission to be ready to deploy a range of measures to mitigate the potential impacts on the agri-food and fisheries sector. Avoiding a no-deal Brexit continues to be the Government’s overriding policy priority. I am also keenly aware that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Expenditure (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 to 480, inclusive, together. Discussions on the 2020 Budget are currently underway between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and all budget lines in the Vote are being examined as part of that process. My intention is to ensure that all resources made available to my Department, now and in the future, will be managed to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: The person named made applications on 13 and 20 June 2019 under Tranche 14 of the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme.   Both applications have passed the initial administrative checks and have been selected for approval under the ranking and selection process. The cases will now be subject to a final technical appraisal before approval can issue.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: The person named made applications on the 13th and 20th June 2019 under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme under Tranche 14 of the scheme.  Both applications have passed the initial administrative checks and have been selected for approval under the ranking and selection process. The cases will now be subject to a final technical appraisal before...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Penalties (17 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: The person named submitted a 2019 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint scheme application on 16 April 2019. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The person named was selected for a Ground Eligibility inspection and a...