Results 16,501-16,520 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department is actively upgrading all of its (Windows) computer devices to Windows 10. This upgrade will be completed by Q2 2020. Any devices not upgraded by the time Microsoft withdraws standard support for Windows 7, will use multiple layers of technology for protection including: - - The purchase of on-going Windows 7 support for the small number of devices using this operating system...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon 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. There is no legislative provision or requirement for Bord na gCon to make an annual dividend return.

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

Michael Creed: My Department is required to carefully assess all forestry licence applications to ensure that, among other things, environmental and landscape considerations are taken into account and that appropriate prescribed bodies are fully consulted. On the site in question, archaeological artefacts were identified and the application was therefore referred to my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Data (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The number of full and part-time staff employed by my Department are shown in the table below: Category No. of Staff Full-Time 3,045 Part-Time 512 Grand Total 3,557 There are currently no staff in this Department being paid at the National Minimum Wage rate of pay.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Carcase Disposal (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Officials from my Department, recognising and acknowledging the concerns raised in relation to the challenges facing the knackery industry, have met with the Animal Collectors Association (ACA) on a number of occasions since August 2019. My Department is committed to putting together a scheme that will provide for significant financial support to the knackery industry to stabilise the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Appeals (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The person named was selected for an on-farm inspection and subsequently submitted a detailed review request in relation to a penalty under the coppicing of hedgerow action of the GLAS contract. The review requested will now be carried out. Once this process has concluded, a decision will issue to the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Appeals (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The person named submitted an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office in relation to the Department’s decision to refuse an application for Force Majeure following the termination of the GLAS contract in this case. That office will notify the person named, in writing, of the outcome of the appeal in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Data (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: It is not possible to ascertain figures for paper applications submitted by agents during the years in question. The facility to apply online for SPS/BPS was first introduced for the 2007 application year and the information requested by the Deputy is provided below for the years since then. Year No. of Agents that submitted online applications on behalf of Farmers ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 809 and 810 together. No cases of BSE were identified in Ireland in 2014, 2016, 2018 and so far in 2019, with just one case identified in both 2015 and 2017 respectively. In 2015, a case of Classical BSE was confirmed following an official sampling of a fallen animal aged 48 months and older. This sampling is one element of a comprehensive multi-layered...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Appeals (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department. I am advised that the Appeals Office received an appeal on behalf of the person named on 31 July 2019 in relation to the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). The Appeals Office requested the file and a statement on the grounds of appeal from my Department. All the relevant documents have recently been received by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (5 Nov 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 hectares 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 and that this year has been disappointing in terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts Data (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: In line with the requirements of Department of Finance Circular 40/2002, each year my Department carries out an assessment of contracts with a value above €25,000 that were awarded in the preceding year without a competitive process, and submits a report to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) by 31 March. Accordingly, the information sought in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The objective 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. Applications for BEAM were accepted from the 19th August to the 20th September 2019. Payments under the scheme are scheduled to commence in December 2019.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The table below shows the total payment for all GLAS schemes in respect of scheme years 2016 - 2018. GLAS payments continue to be processed on a weekly basis, as all requirements are fulfilled. The 2019 Advance payments for GLAS are due to commence shortly. County 2016 2017 2018 Carlow €1,731,861.26 €2,247,954.33...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Administration (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: As required under EU legislation governing the implementation of schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme and, prior to 2015, the Single Payment Scheme, applications are subject to comprehensive validation checks to ensure that only valid applications are processed for payment. At the validation stage of processing, a variety of issues are identified which require examination and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Administration (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: EU regulations governing the administration of the Basic Payment Scheme, the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme and other area-based schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including Ground or Remote Sensing (Satellite) inspections where applicable, are fully completed to ensure eligibility with the various schemes requirements before any payments issue. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department’s “Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2019” provides up to date information and statistical analysis on a wide variety of topics impacting the agri-food sector. It includes an overview of “Land Prices and Land Mobility”, including the “Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland/Teagasc Land Market Review &...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon 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. The provisions of the Greyhound Racing Act 2019 improve governance, regulation and control....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The position in relation to AEOS, ANC and GLAS payments for the person named is as follows: AEOS: The person named completed their AEOS contact on 31 December 2015. The position in relation to AEOS payments for the 2015 scheme year is currently under review. The applicant will be contacted directly if any balance is due. ANC: Payments in respect of the person named are under review and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Protected Disclosures (5 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The protected disclosure referred to deals with operational fisheries control matters, responsibility for which rests with the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. I am aware of the issues raised in this disclosure and I can assure the Deputy that it is being treated with the utmost seriousness. The matter is being considered by the SFPA, which is the body legally assigned responsibility...