Results 16,741-16,760 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme (27 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. Following assessment by the Group and based on market demand and supply deficits in organic horticulture, cereals and dairy, the Group recommended the re-opening of the OFS targeting expenditure towards sectors in deficit. Selection criteria...

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

Michael Creed: My Department has received over 130,000 applications this year from farmers under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC), Scheme which are funded or partially funded by the EU and are worth in excess of €1.4 billion annually. There are no delays in the issuing of payments to applicants with clear and validated applications under either scheme. Ireland...

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

Michael Creed: I would like first of all to congratulate the participants in the youth assembly forum and to commend their interest in expanding Ireland's overall forest cover. There has been a significant expansion in the forest estate from 1% at the turn of the 20th century to 770,000 hectares or 11% today, but this is indeed well short of the EU average. It is our clear intention, as outlined in the...

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

Michael Creed: The boundary line between the herring stock in 5b,6b and 6aN (6aN) and the herring stock in 6aSouth, 7b and 7c (6aS 7bc) is along the 7degree west line which cuts through the Foyle. Although they are considered to be separate stocks, herring in the southern part of 6a and 7bc is combined with that from the northern part of 6a by ICES for the purposes of assessment. This is because the...

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

Michael Creed: I recognise that farmer engagement is vital to the success of the national afforestation programme and that their active participation over the years has increased Ireland's forest cover significantly. The supports currently offered under the forestry programme cover 100% of the cost of establishing new forests and also provides annual premium payments which are paid each year for 15 years....

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

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (supported by the Environmental Protection Agency) is responsible for the authorisation of GM crops for cultivation, while my Department regulates its use, once authorised. Additionally, my Department has responsibility for the regulation of EU authorised GMO's used in animal feed. In respect...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: At the October 2019 Agri-Fish Council, the Finnish Presidency presented a ‘state-of-play’ paper on the CAP post-2020 reform package, where my Ministerial colleagues and I exchanged views on the key issues that are deemed to require further consideration. While funding for the CAP is outside the remit of Agriculture Ministers, I have been working with my European...

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

Michael Creed: Food Wise 2025 is the current ten-year strategy for the agri-food sector and it underlines the sector’s unique and special position within the Irish economy and illustrates the potential which exists for the sector to develop further. Food Wise contains a vision of thriving primary producers and agri-food businesses at the heart of vibrant communities across the country and was built...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: At the Agri-Fish Council on 18 November 2019, the Commission presented two proposals for CAP transitional rules. Such transitional measures are normal practice between consecutive programming periods, to provide legal and financial certainty where a gap arises due to any delays in finalising a new EU Budget and CAP regulations. The recent Council accepted the need for such proposals 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: Afforestation Programme (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department is fully committed to supporting the expansion of the national forest estate and will continue to fund new plantng through generous grant and premiums under the forestry programme, which has a very substantial allocation of €103m for 2020. This reflects our commitment towards working to the planting target of 8,000 hectares contained in the Climate Action Plan. I am...

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

Michael Creed: Further to a 2018 audit carried out by the Commission in Killybegs in 2018 which identified “severe and significant weaknesses in the Irish control system”, Ireland received a formal decision of the Commissions intention to conduct an administrative inquiry to evaluate Ireland’s capacity to apply the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Principally, the Commission...

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

Michael Creed: EU regulations governing the administration of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) 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...

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

Michael Creed: I wish to reassure the House that I recognise the value and importance of maintaining vibrant coastal and island communities. My Department and I have been creating and supporting policies to support inshore fishers all around the coast including islands. The majority of the fishing vessels based on islands are smaller vessels. Inshore fishing boats currently make up more than 80% of the...

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: 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: Beef Exports (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Ireland gained access to the Chinese beef market in April 2018 when three beef plants were approved to export to China. Eighteen months later, 21 beef plants are now approved. The latest CSO trade data for the first nine months of 2019 shows that Ireland exported over 5,000 tonnes of beef to China, some four times the entire volume exported in 2018. This represents a very encouraging start to...

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: Fodder Crisis (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: In 2018, a late spring and prolonged period of dry weather during the summer resulted in a difficult grass growing season in that year with subsequent reduction in fodder conservation. For 2019, Teagasc data, using its grass growth monitoring service, 'PastureBase Ireland', has shown that grass growth throughout 2019 generally returned to normal levels. These favourable growing conditions...

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

Michael Creed: I congratulate the participants who were involved in the recent Youth Assembly in the Dail and welcome their efforts in highlighting issues relating to Climate Change. One of their ten recommendations was the development of industrial hemp processing facilities in an effort to provide viable, sustainable and alternative land use for farmers as well as employment in rural Ireland. As the...