Results 2,261-2,280 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Preparations (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Brexit, in whatever form it takes, will have a significant impact on Ireland, and requires planning by Government, businesses and citizens, as well as at EU level. My Department and its agencies have been preparing themselves and the wider agri-food sector for the potential implications, and will continue to do so, through extensive contingency planning and stakeholder engagement. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The forest estate is expanding and has reached 770,000 hectares, which is 11% of the total land area. This is as a result of significant State investment. We now have a new challenge, to meet 8,000 hectare of new planting each year, as set out in the Climate Action Plan. I am very aware that this is in the face of declining planting rates. It will, I believe, require a collaborative...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Preparations (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The Government is working closely with the European Commission on how to avoid a hard border in the case of a “no-deal” Brexit, while also protecting the integrity of the Single Market and Customs Union and Ireland’s place in them. Intensive discussions with the Commission are continuing to find solutions. All options are being discussed within the rules of the Customs...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department currently has a range of measures to support young farmers and generational renewal, both under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and nationally. Under the CAP, the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme provides financial support to young farmers and new entrants to farming during the crucial early years immediately following the setting up of a farm enterprise. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: There has 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The European Commission has proposed, as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021 - 2027, an approximate cut of 5% to the CAP budget post-2020. The proposed cut is unacceptable for Ireland, and I have used every opportunity in the course of discussions at EU Agriculture Council meetings to call for the CAP budget to be maintained. It is important to note that funding for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020, for which my Department has overall responsibility, consists of a total programme budget of approx. €4 billion over the seven-year lifespan of the Programme. In line with EU requirements, this budget must cover measures and sub-measures as set out in Regulation (EU) No. 1305 of 2013. The funding was allocated and phased over the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Meat Processing Plants (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of meat processing facilities is a commercial matter. I can confirm that my Department does not currently have any open applications for the approval under the European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2009, S.I. 432 of 2009 for any veal processing units - if my Department were to receive such an application, it would, of course,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Capital Expenditure Programme (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I wish to advise the Deputy that a High Containment Laboratory has been developed at the Backweston Laboratory Campus to provide my Department with the capacity that it requires to deal with a potential outbreak of exotic viral diseases, and to fulfil my Department’s regulatory requirements for diagnostic testing of high-consequence viruses. Exotic viral diseases such as foot-and-mouth...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Coillte was established under the Forestry Act 1988, Section 12 of which states the objectives of the company. These objectives are to carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis and in accordance with efficient silvicultural practices, to establish and carry on woodland industries, and to participate with others in forestry and related activities...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: 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 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Bord na gCon has informed me that it is aware of a greyhound fatality at Shelbourne Park...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Bord na gCon has informed me that it has no knowledge of greyhounds buried on the grounds of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: I have established a Beef Market Taskforce to provide the leadership to develop a sustainable pathway for the future of the beef sector in terms of economic, environmental and social sustainability. The Taskforce will provide a robust implementation structure for commitments entered into in the Irish Beef Sector Agreement of 15th September, with timelines and stakeholder engagement....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The meeting, referred to by the Deputy, on the 21st June this year was convened to discuss...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Data (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: EU regulations governing the administration of the Basic Payment Scheme, the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme and other area-based schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including Ground or Remote Sensing (Satellite) inspections where applicable, are fully completed to ensure eligibility with the various schemes requirements before any payments issue. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Data (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Under the 2019 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme, some 103,822 applicants hold eligible designated lands. The ANC Scheme is subject to a range of eligibility and compliance criteria, for example, stocking density requirements, and payment cannot issue to herd owners until they have met the relevant criteria. Not all these applicants will be due to receive payments. For example,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: EU regulations governing the administration of the Basic Payment Scheme, the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme and other area-based schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including Ground or Remote Sensing (Satellite) inspections where applicable, are fully completed to ensure eligibility with the various schemes requirements before any payments issue. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (15 Oct 2019)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The passing of the Greyhound Racing Ireland Act 2019 will improve the governance of Bord na...