Results 16,321-16,340 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon (BnG) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. BnG has assured me that it continues to make significant progress in the areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021 - 2027 were launched in June 2018 by Commissioner Hogan. The proposals, as drafted, involve significant changes, including in relation to governance, the distribution of direct payments among farmers and the increasing environmental conditionality attaching to such payments. There will be some additional discretion for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I want to take this opportunity to emphasise my commitment to agri-environment schemes in general which recognise the vital role farmers play in delivering public goods which will enhance Ireland’s sustainability credentials into the future. This was demonstrated by the extra €5million allocated to agri-environment schemes in the recent budget, bringing the total allocation for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) is a measure funded by the Rural Development Programme (2014-2020). GLAS promotes practices to assist the preservation of habitats and species as well as addressing the issues of climate change mitigation and water quality, in support of sustainable Irish agriculture. Since the launch of GLAS tranche 1 in 2015, the Scheme has been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: There have been a series of formal negotiations with beef sector stakeholders, facilitated by my Department, since early August, culminating in an agreement being reached between stakeholders on Sunday 15 September. The full text of the Agreement is available on my Department's website: The Agreement involves a number of interventions which will provide immediate benefit for beef producers,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Preparations (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I have introduced a number of supports to assist farmers and the agri-food sector in preparing to address the challenges posed by Brexit. These include most recently: - the €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme for Brexit-impacted SMEs and mid-cap businesses whose funding arrangements ensure that at least 40% of the fund is available to food businesses. Up to 4 October 2019, 754 loans...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: There have been a series of formal negotiations with beef sector stakeholders, facilitated by my Department, since early August, culminating in an agreement being reached between stakeholders on Sunday 15 September. The full text of the Agreement is available on my Department's website: The Agreement involves a number of interventions which will provide immediate benefit for beef producers,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I have had ongoing discussions with Commissioner Hogan and Commission officials in regard to the significant beef market disturbance which has already occurred, and particularly in relation to the threat posed to the beef sector in Ireland, as well as in other Member States, by a No-Deal Brexit. I raised these issues again during a bilateral yesterday en marge of the Agriculture Council in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry Data (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon (BnG) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Instances of fatalities in greyhounds at stadia are extremely rare and are regrettable...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I have had ongoing discussions with Commissioner Hogan and Commission officials in regard to the significant beef market disturbance which has already occurred, and particularly in relation to the threat posed to the beef sector in Ireland, as well as in other Member States, by a No-Deal Brexit. I raised these issues again during a bilateral yesterday en marge of the Agriculture Council in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: There have been a series of formal negotiations with beef sector stakeholders, facilitated by my Department, since early August, culminating in an agreement being reached between stakeholders on Sunday 15 September. The full text of the Agreement is available on my Department's website: I have established a Beef Market Taskforce to provide the leadership to develop a sustainable pathway...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Latest figures indicate that there are now some 72,000 hectares under organic production in Ireland, an increase of nearly 50% on the position at the start of the current Rural Development Programme in 2014. Following the recommendation of the Organic Strategy Group, my colleague Minister Doyle announced the re-opening of the Organic Farming Scheme on a targeted basis on the 19 November...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Data (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Applications under the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure(BEAM) were accepted from 19 August until 20 September of this year. In total 34,517 applications were received with a potential total payment of €78,192,380. Arrangements for the processing of these applications are in place in order to ensure the timely issuing of payments under the measure in December of this year. Some...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The overall indicative budget for TAMS II for the full duration of the Rural Development Programme (2014-2020) is €395m. The annual budget allocations are, of course, subject of the usual national budgetary processes. I was very pleased, therefore, to announce that the 2020 budget for TAMS II payments will amount to €81.5m. This represents an increase of over 17% on the 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Preparations (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Brexit, in whatever form it takes, will have a significant impact on Ireland, and requires planning by Government, businesses and citizens, as well as at EU level. My Department and its agencies have been preparing themselves and the wider agri-food sector for the potential implications, and will continue to do so, through extensive contingency planning and stakeholder engagement. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The forest estate is expanding and has reached 770,000 hectares, which is 11% of the total land area. This is as a result of significant State investment. We now have a new challenge, to meet 8,000 hectare of new planting each year, as set out in the Climate Action Plan. I am very aware that this is in the face of declining planting rates. It will, I believe, require a collaborative...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Preparations (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The Government is working closely with the European Commission on how to avoid a hard border in the case of a “no-deal” Brexit, while also protecting the integrity of the Single Market and Customs Union and Ireland’s place in them. Intensive discussions with the Commission are continuing to find solutions. All options are being discussed within the rules of the Customs...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department currently has a range of measures to support young farmers and generational renewal, both under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and nationally. Under the CAP, the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme provides financial support to young farmers and new entrants to farming during the crucial early years immediately following the setting up of a farm enterprise. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: There has been a series of formal negotiations with beef sector stakeholders, facilitated by my Department, since early August, culminating in an agreement being reached between stakeholders on Sunday 15 September. The full text of the Agreement is available on my Department's website: The Agreement involves a number of interventions which will provide immediate benefit for beef producers,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The European Commission has proposed, as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021 - 2027, an approximate cut of 5% to the CAP budget post-2020. The proposed cut is unacceptable for Ireland, and I have used every opportunity in the course of discussions at EU Agriculture Council meetings to call for the CAP budget to be maintained. It is important to note that funding for...