Results 16,781-16,800 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

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

Michael Creed: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework for the long term conservation and sustainability of fish stocks around our shores and is designed to ensure the long term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters. The CFP specifically calls for the progressive restoration and maintenance of populations of fish stocks above biomass levels capable of producing...

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

Michael Creed: The All-of Government Climate Action Plan to tackle climate breakdown sets out a target for emissions from the sector in 2030 of between 17.5 and 19 Mt CO2eq. by achieving between 16.5 and 18.5 Mt CO2eq. cumulative abatement over the period 2021 to 2030 for the agriculture sector. In addition, the sector will also deliver an additional 26.8 Mt CO2eq. through better land use management...

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

Michael Creed: The tillage sector is an integral component of our Agri-food industry, making a significant contribution to overall National agricultural output.  The Irish cereals sector plays a significant role in the supply of high quality grain to the feed industry, providing raw material for the food and drinks industry and is a key source of seed...

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

Michael Creed: The value of Irish poultry exports in 2018 increased by 1% to over €280 million according to CSO trade data, with the United Kingdom accounting for some 78% of this figure in value terms.  Other EU markets now account for just under 10% of Irish exports, with France leading the way, followed closely by Finland and the Netherlands. Exports to third country markets amount...

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

Michael Creed: Ireland’s bovineTB Programme has had many successes since its inception in 1954 when approximately 80% of cattle herds and 22% of cows in the country were infected with bTB. In the year 2000, nearly 11,000 herds endured a bTB restriction while 40,000 reactors were identified. Now, Ireland has approximately 3,800 herds experiencing bTB outbreaks each year, with around 17,000 cattle...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Wise 2025 Strategy (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Food Wise 2025 is the current ten-year strategy for the agri-food sector and underlines the sector’s unique and special position within the Irish economy. It identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to develop and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 400 specific recommendations, spread across the five...

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

Michael Creed: I am fully committed to promoting good practices that respect the welfare of all animals and my Department devotes considerable resources to protecting animal welfare and in dealing with breaches of animal welfare legislation. Officials from my Department are directly involved in monitoring animal welfare on farms as part of their inspection duties in the areas of animal health,...

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

Michael Creed: The government recognises that Brexit will have negative impacts on the Irish economy and, as a result, I have introduced a number of supports for farmers and the agri-food sector to assist in addressing the challenges posed by Brexit.  These include: - the €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme for Brexit-impacted SMEs and...

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: Organic Farming Scheme Data (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 186, inclusive, together. 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 includes the successful applicants under the November 2018 opening. My colleague Minister Doyle...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Eligibility (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) has provided 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. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Genetically Modified Organisms (28 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.  In 2018, the Government approved the transposition of Directive 2015/412 which will enable, though not compel,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The National Ploughing Championships is a very significant event in the farming calendar and provide my Department with the opportunity to interact on a face-to-face basis with the farming community. For the duration of the event, my Department operates a fully resourced office on site. Farmers are able to have direct access to specialist staff, with access to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: State aid is the term that refers to forms of public assistance, using taxpayer-funded resources, given to undertakings (public and private) on a discretionary basis, with the potential to distort competition and affect trade between member states of the European Union. The principles governing State aid are enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, mainly in Articles...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Forests can make an important contribution to climate action through the sequestration and storage of carbon dioxide and by supplying sustainable and renewable materials that support the decarbonisation of our economy. The Government's Climate Action Plan 2019 recognises this key role which afforestation has to play in climate change mitigation particularly through carbon...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Landings (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The data requested by the Deputy is held by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and I have referred the query to them for direct reply to the Deputy. 

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (28 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: Nitrates Action Programme (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Agricultural Catchments Programme, which has been in place since 2008, is an intensive monitoring programme used to evaluate the impact of Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and the Nitrates derogation which are implemented under the Nitrates Directive. The Programme is funded by my Department and has been delivered by Teagasc since its inception. I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Live exports are a critical part of Ireland’s livestock industry.  They play a significant role in stimulating price competition and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. My Department facilitates this trade, recognising its importance to the agri-food sector, while placing a strong emphasis at all times on the welfareof all animals being transported. In 2018,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021-2027 outline a greater environmental ambition post-2020 and recognise the role the agriculture sector has to play in helping Member States achieve their environmental and climate change targets. I firmly endorse the principle that there must be a high level of environmental ambition in the CAP post-2020. The Finnish...