Results 2,201-2,220 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The total estimated allocation for the Forestry Programme for 2020 is €103.43m.  The funding for the Forestry Programme of my Department, reflects the target of 8,000ha of new afforestation, outlined in the Government’s Climate Action Plan, 2019. The capital allocation is estimated at €100.1m and the current is just over €3.25m.  The capital...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Data (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: A total of 119,375 applications were submitted under the 2019 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, of which a total of 103,904 currently hold eligible land.  Not all these applicants will be due to receive payments.  For example, many will make on-farm decisions in relation to their stocking rates over the course of the year which will impact on their eligibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Data (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: A total of 119,375 applications were submitted under the 2019 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, of which a total of 103,904 currently hold eligible land.  Not all applicants who have eligible land will necessarily satisfy all the scheme requirements in order to qualify for a payment. For example, many will make on-farm decisions in relation to their stocking rates over the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The person named submitted an application under the 2018 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) on 8 May 2018.  The forestry parcels declared on this application have been further reviewed taking account of the circumstances outlined and they have been updated accordingly.  Advance payments under the 2019 BPS are due to commence on the 16th October.  Following this, periodic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Negotiations (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Brexit negotiations are led by Michel Barnier and the EU team.   Ireland participates in talks with the EU27 and my officials and I have had intensive discussions with the European Commission, other relevant Member States and stakeholders regarding the potential negative impact of a disorderly or no-deal Brexit on the Irish fishing industry and the wider seafood...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (16 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: There are a huge variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under TAMS II. The financial allocation in respect of TAMS for the full Rural Development Programme period will be in the region of €395m. To date, total expenditure, including transitional expenditure, has reached €170m and payments continue to issue at the average rate of €1.4m per...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fish Quotas (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I thank the Deputy for his support. We will keep him informed of developments as they occur in the Council.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: As part of the Irish beef sector agreement of 15 September 2019, Bord Bia committed to develop a beef market price index model based on three components - cattle price index, beef market price index, including retail and wholesale, and an offal price indicator. Work on the development of this index is under way and progress on this will be reported via the beef task force, which was set up...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: At a general level, I acknowledge the task force as an important forum in which many of these issues can be addressed. There are a number of initiatives within that task force in terms of transparency in the market that along with the agreement and work schedule set by the task force, will inform the task force's approach to a number of matters. I understand that what is set out in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fish Quotas (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Mackerel is Ireland’s most important fishery economically and a healthy mackerel stock is essential for the Irish pelagic fleet and pelagic processing industry. The ICES catch advice for mackerel stock for 2020 was published on 1 October 2019. ICES has advised that the catches for 2020 by all parties, including those which operate outside the 2014 mackerel agreement, should not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fish Quotas (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: It would be unfortunate if the impression was to go out that ICES science is wayward or not reliable. Broadly speaking that is not the case, but there was an acceptance that it would review the methodology applied to mackerel last year. That has resulted in advice that would facilitate an increase, even if it did not issue until mid-year. I have spoken to my officials, who will be in these...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: As part of multi-annual financial framework, MFF, for the period 2021 to 2027 the European Commission has proposed a reduction of approximately 5% in the CAP budget post 2020. As this proposed reduction is unacceptable for Ireland, during discussions on the post-2020 CAP at EU Agriculture Council meetings I have taken every opportunity to call for the CAP budget to be maintained. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The existing CAP is going to roll over for a period of 12 months. I raised the necessary delegated acts to facilitate that with the Commission yesterday during a bilateral meeting. I hope that will happen quite shortly. We need to ensure that the systems within the Departments are prepared as quickly as possible in order that payments can continue to be made. The position of the Taoiseach...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I agree entirely with the Deputy's analysis. The point is well made. It is not just about supporting farmers - it is also about supporting rural communities. I think CAP has worked really well for us across Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 in terms of the supports it gives. The challenge is that not everybody shares the Deputy's view. As he knows, unanimity is required for an EU budget. We have to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: There was €2.8 billion in the Irish beef processing sector.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, neither I nor my Department may legally have any role in determining a price for beef or any other commodity. He will be aware, however, that a series of formal negotiations took place between beef sector stakeholders, beginning in early August and culminating in the agreement reached on Sunday, 15 September, the text of which is available on my Department's...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I appreciate the point made by the Deputy and acknowledge that the supply chain is complex. The task force is empowered to consider best practice, legal frameworks, etc., among other matters. The Deputy's point on ruling out ownership of certain enterprises by processors is an interesting one. Although I have not taken formal legal advice on it, I suspect it may not be legally possible to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The interventions by the State should not be and have not been about interfering in terms of establishing a base price. Rather, they have been about supporting incomes, as has been the case under the Common Agricultural Policy for many years. These measures include the basic payment that every farmer receives as well as other supports such as the areas of natural constraint payment - 70% of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: In terms of promotion, we have provided substantial additional resources to Bord Bia in recent years. This year, despite the difficult budgetary situation, we again increased the resources available to Bord Bia for promotion and, in particular, we ring-fenced promotion of beef and sheep meat. I do not accept the Deputy's criticism in that regard. We have never spent more on looking for new...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Animal Welfare (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Licensing of horse-drawn carriages comes under the remit of the local authority concerned. The welfare issues relating to horses involved in drawing carriages continue to be carefully monitored by my Department and the relevant local authorities. My Department devotes considerable resources to protecting animal welfare and dealing with breaches of animal welfare legislation. The Animal...