Results 2,701-2,720 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: It does not.

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: That is why in the context of Brexit, the preferred solution is approval of the withdrawal agreement and in the interim, the negotiation of a free trade agreement with the UK which will protect access to our market. I am not sure whether the Deputy is arguing for a trade agreement that would not have an environmental element or protection of human rights or international labour law...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Commission, particularly in the agriculture area, has conducted assessments of our engagement on this issue. The cumulative impact assessment was based on a set of conditions, which are not the conditions that are proposed now. I will not be hidebound by any analysis done by the Commission. The Government has clearly stated that the Government will conduct an impact assessment of the...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy is consistent in that he consistently opposes every trade deal. I have taken the view, as have many Members, that as a small island nation that exports more than 90% of our agrifood production to in excess of 180 countries around the world, we do so by virtue of our membership of a trading bloc of more than 500 million people, which allows us to negotiate trade agreements. As a...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I share the Deputy’s concerns about the lack of an apparent level playing pitch. Most Irish farmers with whom I engage say they will take on competition from anywhere, as long as the playing pitch is level and we are comparing like with like. In that context, we need only recall the 2017 Brazilian meat scandal, the carne fraca scandal, with which I am sure the Deputy is familiar....

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I would like to be associated with the good wishes that have been extended to Deputy Troy. It is important that we do not fall into the trap of talking about this as if it is a done deal. As I have said previously, the heads of an agreement have been negotiated by the outgoing Trade Commissioner and agreed by the outgoing Commission, but have not been approved by the Council of Ministers,...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I will. The Deputy is presenting this as a done deal, whereas I see it as a job of work to be addressed. As the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has said, we have been deeply engaged on all of these matters with our counterparts in the Council of Ministers. I have engaged directly with Commissioner Hogan on several occasions. The Deputy has asked a specific question about quota segmentation....

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: In my view, carcass weight equivalent is a carcass. It is not all steak cuts. As I see it, the only segmentation that is envisaged in the context of carcass weight equivalent is the 55:45 split between fresh beef and frozen beef. I believe a carcass is all of the carcass. We must ensure the detailed legal expression of carcass weight equivalent-----

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: -----is structured in a way that enables us to ensure it is not all accounted for by steak cuts but is the equivalent steak cut of any individual carcass. Otherwise, the detail will be to our significant disadvantage. That challenge is there for all of us. The Deputy has access to his colleagues at European level. Commissioner Malmström is a member of ALDE, to which Fianna Fáil...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy's first question related specifically to segmentation and steak cuts. I believe that in the context of carcass weight equivalent, we will have an opportunity to influence the legal text. This is not a done deal. There is a job of work to be done. In that context, I imagine we will work with the Food and Veterinary Office, the European Food Safety Authority and like-minded...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Hilton quota, as envisaged, sees-----

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The agreement is subject to ratification. No agreement comes in until the ratification process has been completed.

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The ratification process is a complex system. As I understand it, in the first instance it involves approval by the Council of Ministers in qualified majority. Depending on what the Commission presents thereafter, and on whether there is a provisional application of this agreement, it may require approval by the European Parliament and there may be subsequent involvement on the part of...

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The text of what has been put in front of the member states talks about carcass weight equivalent. The opportunity presents itself in the context of giving legal effect to that headline agreement to influence in respect of terms of carcass weight equivalent. I consider carcass weight equivalent to be the carcass, not just all prime cuts. The only segmentation alluded to is the 45%:55% split...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I note the contents of the correspondence from a group of young people from 'The Children's Tree Campaign'. I very much welcome their active engagement on the important issue of forestry and the environment and it is always encouraging when our young people show deep interest in these issues. In the first instance, it should be noted that the national forest estate now covers some 11% of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Horses (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 553 together. The Control of Horses Act 1996 provides powers to Local Authorities to deal with stray and abandoned horses and for the designation, by each Local Authority, of control areas in which horses cannot be kept without a licence. Members of An Garda Síochána have also been assigned powers commensurate with those of Authorised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Funding (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The Curragh Racecourse is the premier flat racing venue in Ireland and is recognised globally as one of the great international courses. There was a need to complete a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Knackery Industry (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: Category 2 Intermediate Plants (Knackeries) and Collection Centres are approved and supervised by my Department in accordance with the EU Animal By-Products Regulations (EC) No 1069 of 2009 and its implementing Regulation (EU) No 142 of 2011 which lay down the health rules as regards animal by products and derived products not intended for human consumption. Since electronic records...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Electric Vehicles (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: New technologies are changing the shape of the agricultural industry across the globe, with Ireland at the forefront of this change. The lack of skilled labour within the agricultural sector is driving the need to find new and innovative ways to make our work practices easier and less time consuming. Under the current Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), we have recognised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: Forestry in Ireland operates within a legal and regulatory framework. This is necessary in order to protect forests and also to ensure that forestry operations and activities are carried out in compliance with the principles of sustainable forest management. Reforestation after felling is essential to prevent deforestation, which would otherwise counteract the benefits of the initial...