Results 16,721-16,740 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Agreements (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: On 28 June, the European Commissioners for trade and agriculture announced that agreement had been reached in principle between the European Union and Mercosur countries on a free trade agreement. As I said at the time, I am disappointed by the outcome of these negotiations, which includes a 99,000 tonnes tariff rate quota, TRQ, for beef from the Mercosur countries. The agreement is now in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Agreements (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy speaks of the Mercosur trade agreement as if it were a reality today and we are suffering its consequences; that is not the case and there is quite a period to go before it will become the reality. There is talk about the deal being agreed but there is quite some time to go before a decision will be required by this institution or other member state parliaments or regional...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Agreements (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The point the Deputy advanced is a dangerous and false narrative in defence of his position on the carbon footprint of the transport element. We export our product to more than 180 countries, some of which are as far removed from here as the Mercosur countries are from Europe. I have seen figures that suggest that the life cycle footprint of the product is critical, and the life cycle on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, the inaugural beef task force meeting, scheduled for 14 October, was prevented from proceeding. Since then, however, the independent chairman and my Department continue to engage proactively with task force members with a view to progressing the implementation of the provisions of the agreement. My Department and its agencies continue to progress the commitments...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy will agree we convened the task force for 14 October-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: It was convened for 14 October but on that date, for reasons both Deputies know, the task force meeting could not go ahead. I do not intend to elaborate on why it did not happen on that date because that is well known. There are other complicating issues, which were mentioned earlier, and the injunctions are a significant impediment to convening a meeting. I have been involved in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, the inaugural beef task force meeting, scheduled for 14 October, was prevented from proceeding. Since then, however, the independent chairman and my Department continue to engage proactively with task force members with a view to progressing the implementation of the provisions of the agreement. My Department and its agencies continue to progress the commitments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme Data (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The current budget of €56m allocated to fund all Organic Farming Schemes during the period of the current Rural Development Programme is the largest allocation ever to an Organic Farming support scheme. The area of land under organic production has expanded dramatically as a direct result of my Department's investment. Latest figures indicate that there are now some 72,000...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (27 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. Bord na gCon continues to advise owners to only export to destinations that provide the expected...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Landings (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Commission asked Ireland to conduct a formal administrative inquiry to evaluate its capacity to apply the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This came as a result of “the severe and significant weaknesses detected in the Irish control system” during an audit carried out by the Commission in Killybegs, in 2018. Principally, the Commission identified shortcomings...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) is the regulatory body for all horseracing in Ireland. The Board is a company limited by guarantee set up by the Turf Club and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (27 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 both progressing the implementation of the provisions of the agreement. My Department and its agencies continue to progress the commitments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artisan Food Sector (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Artisan and speciality food businesses can have a significant impact on local rural economies and their importance is acknowledged in the Food Wise 2025 strategy. Growth prospects for the sector are positive overall, driven by increased consumer interest in the provenance of food, environmental concerns, health and a desire to support the local economy. A range of supports for this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alternative Farm Enterprises (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Through the All-of-Government Climate Action Plan, my Department is working closely with other government Departments to ensure Ireland's transition to a low carbon economy and society. While agriculture contributes to the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, the sector also has the means to be part of the alleviation process and has a key role to play in transitioning to a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Promotion (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department supports vegetable producers by means of grant aid provided through the Scheme of Investment Aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector. This scheme provides grant aid towards capital investments in specialised plant and equipment as well as emerging technologies specific to commercial horticulture production. Under this scheme, aid at a rate of 40% (or a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department’s TB eradication Programme aims to drive bovine TB (bTB) disease levels down towards the target of eradication by 2030. It is focussed on measures which will further reduce transmission of bTB. In the coming weeks, I will be launching a renewed strategy underpinned by the principle of supporting and empowering farmers to reduce the bTB risk to their cattle by making...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Funding (27 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. Bord na gCon contributed €106,000 to the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust’s total...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Bodies (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Since 1995, my Department has provided ex-gratia funding to animal charities to assist in their work in animal care and welfare. This funding is in recognition of the valuable work being done by these organisations. In December 2018, I announced record funding awards of €2.75m to 108 animal welfare organisations throughout the country, including to the organisation named. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department has received over 122,000 applications this year from farmers with entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), which is funded by the EU and is worth approximately €1.2 billion annually. Under EU Regulations, all applications must be subjected to robust administrative checks prior to payment. The main element of the administrative check is an area assessment....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme Eligibility (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Organic Farming Scheme is one of the most successful schemes under our current Rural Development Programme. The Scheme has more than achieved its targets in terms of new land converted and the maintenance of organic land. As a further vote of confidence in the organics sector by this Government, my colleague Minister Doyle established an Organic Sector Strategy Group last year,...