Results 2,221-2,240 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

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

Michael Creed: I am not sure that the welfare of the horse is impacted upon by the identity of the licensing authority. On Saturday, 12 October last, an inspection was conducted by a veterinary inspector of my Department on eight horses attached to carriages close to the Guinness Storehouse at St. James' Gate. These horse-drawn carriages are part of the landscape of Dublin and they enhance the tourist...

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

Michael Creed: I acknowledge that there is some legal confusion as to who is responsible for licensing but I am pretty certain it is not my Department. However, I accept that we have the primary responsibility for animal welfare. As I said already, I do not think that the horses are too preoccupied about who is the licensing authority as long as any welfare issues are dealt with properly. That is the job...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: All these issues are areas of legitimate concern. Given the findings of all of the independent studies, the task force will be in a better position to make a judgment. Several developments are under way. One example is transposing the unfair trading practices directives into law. A public consultation process about a regulator for the sector is also an important development that could...

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

Michael Creed: There have been a series of formal negotiations with beef sector stakeholders facilitated by my Department since early August. This culminated in an agreement being reached between stakeholders on Sunday, 15 September. This agreement covers the types of issues raised in the Dáil motion of 26 September. The full text of the agreement between beef sector stakeholders is on my...

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

Michael Creed: I will address the latter point first. We are informed by what resonates with consumers. All of the advice is that the concept of suckler beef does not have a high degree of resonance but there is, across a range of agrifood products, a resonance with consumers about grass-based production systems as opposed to more intensive indoor rearing of cattle, etc. Seeking geographical indication...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I should clarify that the €110 million is the first tranche of a €650 million fund available in the event of a no-deal Brexit. I hope we never have to spend that as I hope we can avoid a no-deal Brexit. It is a first tranche and it is appropriate for the funding to be released in tranches as it will enable us to react to what emerges from Brexit. We have prepared as well as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: As I stated in reply to previous speakers, I acknowledge that the beef sector is in a difficult space, whether the farmer is a finisher, a producer of weanlings from a suckler herd or rearing calves to beef and selling store cattle. It is not easy for anybody involved. However, the difficulties in the market now and what could happen with a no-deal Brexit - which I hope can be avoided - are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: As an outcome of the recent beef talks, a number of initiatives aimed at increasing transparency along the beef supply chain were agreed in the Irish beef sector agreement of 15 September, which is published on my Department's website. These included the commissioning by my Department of reports, including an independent review of market and customer requirements, specifically on the four...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: It is important that the task force considers all these matters. To inform that process, independent reports into these specific matters concerning transparency, residency and the four movement rules can be done. It will inform stakeholders' capacity to progress further such issues. The Deputy raised issues around tax compliance etc. and any allegations of non-compliance with tax issues...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I thank the Deputy for his supplementary question. We have been attempting through various schemes to divert the maximum number of supports to farmers in the beef sector whose incomes have been challenged for some time. The Deputy will appreciate that the beef exceptional aid measure, the beef environmental efficiency pilot and the restoration of areas of natural constraint, ANC, payments...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: -----to support the beef sector, which has been identified as one of the most exposed sectors should there be a no-deal Brexit.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: It is unreasonable to expect any body to make payments before 20 October from a scheme that closed on 20 September. The beef exceptional aid measure closed for applications on 20 September. The money will be paid before the end of this year, and that is not unreasonable. We announced last year a beef environmental efficiency pilot, in respect of which payments will also be made this year...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I am telling the Deputy that approximately €100 million, which is additional money, will be paid out cumulatively to the beef sector before the end of this year. Looking across Europe, the beef sector is in considerable difficulty. We are the only member state that has received anything in support of our beef sector. While I appreciate that the market continues to be difficult, and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I have introduced a number of supports to assist farmers and the agrifood sector in preparing to address the challenges posed by Brexit. These include, most recently, the €300 million Brexit loan scheme for Brexit-impacted SMEs and mid-cap businesses whose funding arrangements ensure that at least 40% of the fund is available to food businesses. Up to 4 October 2019, 754 loans had...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The talks process involved a large number of farm organisations and representatives of the meat industry, which was represented by Meat Industry Ireland, MII, in the negotiations which were brokered by myself and Department officials. C&D Foods was not a party to those negotiations, and that is the simple fact of the matter. We been assured by MII that all of the injunctions to which...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I would like to see the task force up and running. It is the forum where all the issues can be raised and it is entirely regrettable that that was not enabled by the actions of a minority of people who stepped clearly outside the normal parameters of engagement yesterday. That is something I think all right-minded people would condemn and I hope that is a position Deputy Stanley shares in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I have not contacted C&D Foods directly. The Deputy asked me did I contact ABP and the answer is "Yes".

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 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 European 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...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: With the indulgence of the Ceann Comhairle, if I may, I will take Question No. 55 first and signal to my office that I require a reply to Question No. 54.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: There have been a series of formal negotiations with beef sector stakeholders, facilitated by my Department, since early August, culminating in an agreement being reached between stakeholders on Sunday, 15 September. The full text of the agreement is available on my Department's website. The agreement involves a number of interventions which will provide immediate benefit for beef producers,...