Results 16,141-16,160 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Weather Events (19 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I am aware of the impact that recent bouts of unfavourable weather has had on farmers in certain regions including the Shannon Callows.   As you will be aware, the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, Mr. Kevin  Moran T.D., recently announced a range of measures to alleviate flooding in the affected...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Payments (19 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: The person named applied for the 2018 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme on 15 May 2018. Under the terms and conditions of the 2018 scheme, participants in the scheme are required to notify the Department of farm-to-farm movements of sheep.  In this case, the required notification was not completed and payment has thus not issued.  Officials from my Department...

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

Michael Creed: There have been a series of formal negotiations with beef stakeholders, facilitated by my Department, since early August, culminating in an agreement being reached between stakeholders on Sunday 15 September. I have also had ongoing contacts with farming organisations, representatives and individual farmers to try to seek a resolution to this dispute. The parties to the Agreement reached on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Data (19 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together. As Civil Servants, staff in my Department have a responsibility to ensure that their work is carried out to the highest possible standards at all times. The Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour, which was introduced in accordance with the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 sets out a framework within which all Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Carcase Disposal (19 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 to 185, inclusive, together. Discussions have taken place between the Animal Collectors Association and my Department officials on the fallen animal collection service. Following those intensive discussions, agreement has been reached that enables the collection of fallen animals to resume from the 17th September. My Department has also issued...

Agrifood and Rural Development: Motion (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy has moved on from the dollar.

Agrifood and Rural Development: Motion (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I have said many times that the only way to secure the future of the beef sector is through collaboration and dialogue. I have outlined in this House recent developments which will provide a pathway in that regard. Having a shared vision and strategy development process has been crucial to the growth of the entire agrifood sector in recent years. The FoodWise 2025 strategy has been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: The current model adopted by Ireland to increase forest cover is to provide funding to landowners to cover 100% of the costs of establishing forests and to provide annual premiums to encourage land owners to make this land use change. In addition, tax free incentives are provided when timber is sold and other grant aid provided to construct forest roads. Other models without the use of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 381 together. My Department has been actively participating in the whole-of-Government approach to Brexit preparedness and contingency planning. This includes the designation and approval of border inspection posts at ports and airports. The focus to date has been on infrastructure developments and upgrades at border inspection posts in Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: The Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment has lead responsibility for energy policy and activities within the renewable energy sector. However, my Department does support energy efficiency measures and deployment of renewable technologies through the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II). I recently announced a €10 million energy grant through...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: BEAM applicants who are not a member of one of my Department's environmental schemes have the option of committing to join Bord Bia's Quality Assurance scheme by 1st December. In cases where this is not possible, applicants should seek an appeal of their application and their case will be examined on an individual basis. The scheme is now operational and the rules cannot be revised.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fur Farming (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department is in the process of preparing a Bill to provide for a phased introduction of a ban on fur farming. Along with animal welfare considerations, social and economic aspects in relation to the industry need to be taken into account. The Bill will make it illegal for any new fur farms to be established and put in place phase out arrangements for the small number of current operators....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Living Wage (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: The table below outlines the number of staff, by grade, employed by my Department who are earning a wage of less than €12.30 per hour. Staff earning less than €12.30 per hour Grade No. of staff Clerical Officer 150 Cleaner 2 Services Officer 7 General Operative 2 ICT Apprentice 1 Technical Agricultural Officer ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department has not placed any mileage limits on the transport of offal from factories or on the transport of offal to rendering plants in Northern Ireland. A mileage limit applies only to fallen animals over 48 months under the Fallen Animal TSE Subsidy Scheme. The Scheme ensures primarily that fallen bovine animals over 48 months, which must be BSE-tested in accordance with EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (24 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 aid and Exchequer support, provided in light of the difficult circumstances that Irish beef farmers have been facing as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Appeals (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Preparations (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: My officials are in on-going communication with Irish exporters with regard to the need for co-operative management between each other to ensure that the lairage capacity at Cherbourg is optimised. I would urge the live export sector to consider developing an additional lairage in Cherbourg or engaging with the owners of existing facilities to explore the potential for additional capacity....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Applications (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: TAMS II is a demand-led scheme and, as provided for in the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, it has been necessary to roll over some applications for consideration in to the next tranche. This is due to the high level of applications received in the most recent tranches. All eligible applications are subject to the ranking and selection process on the basis of the specific marking criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Payments (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: There is no delay in making ANC payments. In accordance with changes to EU Regulations which came into effect in 2019, payments under the ANC scheme will now be delivered in two instalments, with 85% advance payments issuing initially and a 15% balancing payment issuing from early December. Payments under the 2019 Scheme commenced on schedule last week. To date, payments of over...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (24 Sep 2019)

Michael Creed: I refer to my previous reply to the Deputy (PQ ref. 37602­­/19) regarding the potential amount of land that is not under grass that might be available for conversion to tillage or agroforestry without the loss of soil carbon. It is important to note that from a policy perspective, conversion of permanent grassland into tillage land is restricted to a maximum of 5% under current CAP...