Results 16,761-16,780 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

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: Climate Action Plan (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department recognises wetlands and peat soils as an important carbon pool in the Irish landscape. Reducing emissions by water table manipulation has the potential to significantly reduce GHG emissions from these soils and is a means to positively contribute to our climate change mitigation ambitions. This is an important part of Agriculture's contribution to the emission reductions and is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Renewable Energy Projects (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: Forestry Data (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 to 180, inclusive, together. Under the current Forestry Programme 2014 -2020, the planting of native woodlands is supported through a grant of €6,200 per hectare and 15 year premiums of €680 per hectare. Interest in planting has increased year-on-year since the commencement of the programme in 2015. In order to further encourage the planting...

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

Michael Creed: My Department makes available on its website a substantial number of forestry-related statistics, which are updated monthly or annually as required.  The number of hectares of conifers planted in the years requested is provided in the table at the link.  Generally, a count of trees planted is not made, but an average of 2,500 stems per hectare is standard for conifers. ...

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

Michael Creed: The Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) Measure one of the suite of seven measures available under TAMS II and provides grants for Low Emission Slurry Spreading equipment.   To date, 1,450 farmers have received €19.04m in grant assistance to purchase LESS equipment under the TAMS II scheme and a further 1,658 farmers have an outstanding approval to...

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

Michael Creed: The Government’s policy position for the agriculture sector is an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production. There are three strands to my Department’s approach to carbon neutrality: 1. reducing agricultural emissions; 2. increasing carbon sequestration; and 3. displacing and substituting fossil fuel and energy...

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

Michael Creed: The document referred to by the Deputy is the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code, specifically in relation to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)  and the recommendations to manage health risks associated with the presence of the BSE agent in cattle. Last year, Irish beef was exported to nearly 70 countries worldwide according...

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

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together. Details of all positive BSE cases since 1989 are retained in my Department.  The cases contain important epidemiological information and assist in assessing future BSE and TSE risk. The European database on BSE cases is managed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), who was delegated that responsibility by the European...

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

Michael Creed: As part of the regulatory controls for food safety, there is a State veterinary presence in every meat plant and this Vet conducts an ante-mortem inspection on every animal presented for slaughter. In addition, and on a precautionary basis, all specified risk material must be removed from all animals slaughtered and this is also verified by the State veterinarian present in the plant. No...

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

Michael Creed: As part of the regulatory controls for food safety, there is a State veterinary presence in every meat plant and this veterinarian conducts an ante-mortem inspection on every animal presented for slaughter. In addition, and on a precautionary basis, all specified risk material must be removed from all animals slaughtered and this is also verified by the State veterinarian present in the...

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

Michael Creed: My Department employs staff across a broad range of skill sets including Administrative, Veterinary Inspectors, Forest and Agricultural Inspectors, Technical Agricultural Officers, Engineers and Laboratory Staff to meet its business needs. Recruitment campaigns take place periodically in partnership with the Public Appointments Service (PAS) and by internal competitions for staff...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (27 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  19th August to 20th September 2019. An application was received from the...

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

Michael Creed: The person named submitted an application for grant-aid under the Dairy Equipment Scheme.This application has now passed all the administrative checks, and the ranking & selection process. The application is subject to a further final technical examination and, if successful, approval will issue to the person named in due course.

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

Michael Creed: The Organic Farming Scheme is one of the most successful schemes under our current Rural Development Programme.  A budget of €56m was allocated to fund the Scheme opened during the period 2014 to 2020 which was the largest allocation ever to an Organics support scheme. The Scheme has more than achieved its targets in terms of new land converted and the maintenance...

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

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 195 together. 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...

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

Michael Creed: According to Central Statistic Office (CSO) figures, I can confirm that from January to December 2018, Ireland imported 1,251 tonnes of fresh/chilled and frozen beef to the value of €4.6 million from Poland.  From January to September 2019, we imported 777 tonnes of fresh/chilled and frozen beef to the value of €3 million from Poland.

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

Michael Creed: Meat and Dairy Facts is a joint industry campaign to direct consumers towards science-based information about the nutritional benefits of meat and dairy, and the efforts that Irish farmers are taking to protect the environment and care for their animals. Its members include Bord Bia, Dairy Industry Ireland, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, the Irish Farmers Association, Meat...

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

Michael Creed: The management of the forest estate is a matter for, and the responsibility of, Coillte as a commercial State Body and the information requested is an operational matter for Coillte. I have referred the Deputy’s question to Coillte and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.

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

Michael Creed: Food products placed on the marketplace are covered by a range of legislation designed to ensure that products supplied to consumers are of the highest safety standards.  My Department plays a part in the enforcement of this legislation along with other Government departments and State Agencies such as the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Health Service Executive. The FSAI...