Results 2,121-2,140 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme (23 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The Scheme of Grant Aid for the Development of the Organic Processing Industry is a 100% exchequer funded scheme and has a budget of €1.2m in both 2019 and 2020.  The Organic Farming Scheme is a co-funded scheme under Ireland's RDP and has a budget of €11m in 2019 and €12m for 2020 and is funded at a co-financed rate of 53%.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Preparations (23 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: A no-deal Brexit would pose enormous challenges for the agrifood and fisheries sectors in particular by virtue of their exposure to the UK market.  The UK recently published their temporary tariff regime. The exact impact that these tariffs will have on agrifood trade is impossible to determine, and this includes how trade flows might change in response. However, it is clear that the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Funding (23 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I can reassure the Deputy that Irish farmers are not being excluded from any scheme being offered by  EU or the European Investment Bank (EIB).  I welcomed the announcement in April of a €1 billion loan programme by Commissioner Phil Hogan and EIB Vice-President Andrew McDowell, aimed at increasing access to funding for EU farmers, especially young farmers. This...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme (23 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The ex-ante assessment for the use of financial instruments within Ireland’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programmes has been completed and is available on the Department’s website at the following link: The report was presented to the Rural Development Programme Monitoring Committee in September 2017,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hardship Grant Scheme (23 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The Hardship Grant is designed to alleviate the additional feed costs incurred by some herdowners whose holdings are restricted on foot of a herd retest during the period 1 November to 30 April and where animals are retained and fed during periods of restriction. The herdowner in question did not make an application under the hardship scheme in 2018. Applications under the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Labour Court Recommendations (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department is currently considering the outcome of a Labour Court ruling that the person concerned should qualify for payment of an allowance on a full-time basis. As this is an ongoing industrial relations matter, it would be inappropriate for me to comment prior to its conclusion.  As soon as my Department has completed its consideration of the matter, a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Knackery Industry (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 440, 443 and 448 together. I am fully aware of the value of the Knackery industry to the farming community and fully appreciate the integral part that knackeries play in the protection of Ireland's food industry. For this reason, my Department is committed to putting together a scheme that will provide for significant financial support...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The amount of €178,171,768 is set out in the Appropriation Account as published in the Comptroller and Auditor General report is "the surplus to be surrendered" by my Department in respect of 2018. This is not an underspend.  It is the net vote position taking account of the funds available less the expenditure incurred and the appropriations in aid received...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Herd Data (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The following table shows the number of new herdnumbers registered per year from 2011 to date in 2019 and the total number of herds still active at the end of each year. Please note this covers all species of animals and cereals. Year New herd numbers registered Herd numbers active at end of year 2011 5,253 140,683 ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: A suite of seven measures are available under TAMS II.  These measures were launched under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and are co-funded under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The measures provide grants for capital investment in physical assets to assist the Irish agriculture sector to respond to a range of policy challenges.    ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: As part of the Beef Sector Agreement of 15th September, Meat Industry Ireland (MII), representing meat processors, committed that its members would withdraw existing legal proceedings against farmers once the pickets were stood down. I have received confirmation from MII that all of the relevant injunctions instigated by their members have been, or are in the process of being, withdrawn.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheepmeat Sector (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister, I have no role in determining the prices for sheep meat or any other commodity, nor can I directly intervene in the determination of prices. Equally, it is not my role to comment on commercial decisions take by private entities in an open market. The national average price €/100Kgs for the week ending 13th of October was €405.75kg,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences Applications (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department as the competent authority for the granting of tree felling licences must take into account a number of considerations when assessing an application to thin or harvest trees.  General Guidelines and Assessments All forestry licence applications undergo a comprehensive vetting process to ensure that inter alia the landscape, environment and the archaeological heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I established the Beef Taskforce to monitor the implementation of the beef sector agreement of 15 September. The Taskforce is comprised of the Independent chair, Michael Dowling, representatives from my Department and relevant State agencies, established farmer representative organisations and representatives from the processing sector. I am satisfied that the current composition of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Consultancy Contracts Data (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time.  The information is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Value for Money Reviews (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department carries out Spending Reviews on existing policies in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.  During the specified period, the Agriculture Cashflow Loan Support Scheme Spending Review was completed by my Department. This Spending Review was completed from internal staff resources and did not incur any expenditure. It is published on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Civil Service Code of Conduct (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 452 and 453 together. The Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour sets out the standards of behaviour required of civil servants as they carry out their duties. The Code, which embraces core public service values of honesty, integrity and impartiality forms part of the terms of employment of all civil servants, who are expected to apply it at all times....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulations 2017 give legal effect in Ireland to the Nitrates Directive and to our Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG) is the lead Department in this regard. The Directive requires all member states to define set periods when the land application of fertiliser is not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: As you will be aware, the inaugural meeting of the Beef Taskforce which was scheduled for Monday 14th October, had to be suspended due to the actions of a small minority of protestors who physically and aggressively prevented representatives from the meat industry from entering the building for the meeting. The independent chair of the Taskforce, Michael Dowling, is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme (22 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Latest figures indicate that there are now some 72,000 hectares under organic production in Ireland, an increase of nearly 50% on the position at the start of the current Rural Development Programme in 2014.   Following the recommendation of the Organic Strategy Group, my colleague Minister Doyle announced the re-opening of the Organic Farming Scheme on a targeted basis on the 19...