Results 16,621-16,640 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, the inaugural Beef Taskforce meeting scheduled for 14th October was prevented from proceeding. However, since then the independent chair and my Department continue to engage proactively with Taskforce members with a view to implementing the provisions of the agreement. My Department and its agencies continue to progress the commitments which they signed up to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The breakdown of staff in my Department by grade and gender is provided in the following table. Grade Female Male Administrative Officer 17 22 Advisory Counsel Grade 2 0 1 Advisory Counsel Grade 3 0 2 Agricultural Inspector 26 59 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Advisers Data (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The 31st Government of Ireland was formed following the appointment of Leo Varadkar TD as Taoiseach on 14 June 2017. Appointments of special advisors on or after that date are as follows: S.I. 417 of 2017 Aine Kilroy and Jonathan Hoare appointed as special advisors to Minister Michael Creed, effective 14 June 2017 to the present date. S.I. 24 of 2018 Ultan Waldron appointed as special advisor...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (20 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. 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 a result of market volatility and uncertainty. Payments under BEAM are made on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Appeals (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Under the current Rural Development Regulation (and subsequent amendments under the Omnibus Regulation), Member States were required to change the approach to the designation of land under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme. Previously, my Department had been identifying eligible areas using a range of socio economic indicators such as family farm income, population density, percentage...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Civil Service is committed to protecting dignity and respect across the organisation and my Department implements the Civil Service wide anti-bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy ‘Dignity at Work’. I am satisfied that the policy is being implemented effectively throughout my Department. All staff in my Department are reminded annually of their responsibilities...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The following table lists the numbers of employees of my Department either dismissed or suspended from 2016 to date: Number of employees dismissed Number of employees suspended 2016 - Nil Dismissals 2016 - One employee suspended 2017 - Nil Dismissals 2017 - Nil suspensions 2018 - Nil Dismissals 2018 -...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not spent any amount on public relations, promotion or advertising for the National Development Plan 2018-2027 nor the Project Ireland 2040 since its publication in February 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: In January this year, the Government approved a number of environmental initiatives by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. It was decided that Government Departments and public bodies should lead the way in reducing generation of single use plastics and waste. This decision recognises that the public sector must demonstrate its commitment to sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Freedom of Information Data (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department is currently in the process of reviewing the FOI Publication Scheme for 2019. The last full review of the FOI Publication Scheme was carried out in August 2018. Reviews were also carried out in May 2016 and November 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme Data (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) was re-opened in November 2018 on a targeted basis on foot of the recommendation of the Organic Sector Strategy Group. The Organic Sector Strategy Group included representatives from a broad range of stakeholders, among them the Farming Representative Organisations, processors and Organic Control Bodies. Following assessment by the Group and based on market...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (20 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: Agriculture Scheme Appeals (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department. The Agriculture Appeals Act provides that an Appeals Officer's decision may be revised by an Appeals Officer if it appears to him or her that the decision was erroneous in the light of new evidence or of new facts brought to his or her notice since the date on which it was given or if it appears to him or her that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Appeals (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The person named was approved into the GLAS 1 scheme with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and received payment for scheme years 2015 and 2016. The GLAS application was terminated on 9 January 2018 for non-compliance with the scheme requirements in relation to the Wild Bird Cover action that gained the applicant priority access to the scheme as a Tier 2 applicant. As this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The vast bulk of my Department's Communications Budget is spent on advertising in respect of press notices in the specialised farming press, provincial and national newspapers. This expenditure set out below includes the publication of Statutory Notices that are required to comply with various national and EU legislative requirements. Decisions on the placement of notices are made on a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I welcome the opportunity to provide an update on the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, known as TAMS II, and I thank the Senator for raising this matter. TAMS II is made up of a suite of seven measures providing valuable grant aid to Irish farmers. These measures were launched under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, RDP, and are co-funded under the European Agricultural...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agriculture Schemes (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I recognise and value the work done by agricultural contractors in rural Ireland, many of whom are of the land, some of whom have land and qualify for TAMS payments, although a significant cohort do not. I do not undervalue or under-appreciate the contribution of either but I accept that, in some respects, some contractors, by virtue of being both contractors and landowners, have an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McHugh, who is unavoidably absent. As the Senator is aware, a project to provide a new school building for Gaelscoil Chionn tSáile is included in the Department of Education and Skills' capital programme. The Gaelscoil is currently operating in temporary accommodation, as the Senator said. The...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (20 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I appreciate this is not a satisfactory situation from the point of view of the patron, principal, staff, parents and not least pupils. Temporary accommodation tends to drag on beyond the wishes of all parties involved. I will, of course, speak to the Minister, Deputy McHugh, on the matter and with the best of endeavour on all sides we should be able to complete the conveyancing and move to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I share the Deputy's anxiety that the task force would meet at the earlier possible date.