Results 2,821-2,840 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department takes any allegations of breaches of animal welfare rules very seriously and will thoroughly investigate and take the necessary enforcement actions to deal with such offences.  In particular, my Department is engaging in a review of the licensing conditions in knackeries, with regard to practices seen on RTÉ. All allegations will be examined to determine the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy states, Ireland does not recognise the United Kingdom’s claim to sovereignty over Rockall.  The waters around Rockall, including within 12 nautical miles, are part of the ICES sea area 6b, within which Irish vessels, like those of other EU Member States, have a right of access under the Common Fisheries Policy. The Irish Government has consistently said this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: Live exports are a critical part of Ireland’s livestock industry.  They play a significant role in stimulating price competition and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. My Department facilitates this trade, recognising its importance to the agri-food sector, while placing a strong emphasis on the welfareof all animals being transported. In 2018, total live...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Future Growth Loan Scheme has been open for loan eligibility applications through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland's (SBCI) website since 17th April. I was pleased to launch the Scheme earlier this year with my colleagues, and I recently attended Bank of Ireland's own launch of the product. Bank of Ireland is open for applications and drawdowns of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: Forests in Ireland have multifunctional benefits and it is for this reason that the State continues to invest heavily in new afforestation. The Government's Climate Action Plan 2019 recognises the key role afforestation has to play in climate change mitigation particularly through carbon sequestration.  The Climate Action Plan now sets a target of an average of 8,000 hectares of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme Pilot (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP) is an Exchequer funded, voluntary initiative of one year's duration. The objective of BEEP is to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd though improvement in the quantity and quality of performance data that is collected. This will be done through the enhancement of the national herd dataset for genetic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: Commonages make up approximately 422,000 hectares of the land area in Ireland, of which over 230,000 hectares is supported under GLAS. The aim of the Commonage action within GLAS is to ensure that commonage lands are appropriately grazed and managed and are compliant with eligibility criteria. The scheme requires that management plans are put into place in order to achieve this. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Data (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) is a measure funded by the Rural Development Programme. GLAS promotes practices to assist the preservation of habitats and species as well as addressing the issues of climate change mitigation and water quality, in support of sustainable Irish agriculture. Since the launch of GLAS tranche 1 in 2015, the Scheme has been extremely successful...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: On the evening of Friday 28 June, European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström and Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, announced that political agreement has been reached on a trade deal between the EU and Mercosur countries. While as a small, open economy, Ireland is supportive of international trade deals, I am very concerned at the potential impact of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Staff (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department continues to participate actively in the Whole-of-Government approach to preparedness and contingency planning for Brexit. The Government sanctioned in the region of €4m for the commencement of a phased process for the recruitment of additional staff to carry out increased volumes of import controls and export certification arising from Brexit. These requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hare Coursing Regulation (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: Coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control of Bord na gCon. The ICC is committed to maintaining high standards in the sport of coursing, and it actively promotes the protection and conservation of the Irish hare. The ICC has assured my Department that it has extensive systems and practices in place...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (3 Jul 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. My Department was aware in 2017 that the interim CEO of Bord na gCon, who was in place at that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: I am keenly aware that the past few months have been very challenging for beef farmers in particular, following a difficult year for farm incomes in 2018 due to weather conditions. There was a prolonged and exceptional period of depressed prices lasting from autumn 2018 to spring 2019, with the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the outcome of Brexit, among other factors, contributing to this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Administration (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The suite of investments eligible for grant aid under TAMS II has recently been extended to include on-farm solar PV and battery storage facilities. The focus of TAMS II is on the provision of grant aid for on-farm investments and the electricity generated is intended for consumption on the farm enterprise. Wider energy policy including issues regarding the export of power to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Identification Schemes (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The facility to record 'feedlot movements' on the AIM system, utilising a NBAS 31 B form, was introduced originally to assist in the establishment of stocking density for premia payments. The option to record this movement type is no longer required. My Department therefore removed the 'feedlot option' for herds operating as 'bed and breakfast' or contract rearing operations on 1 June...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: Ireland has a limited interest in the annual EU/Norway consultations. Our primary concern is with regard to the use of Blue whiting, an important pelagic stock, in exchanges from which we receive little benefit. We do not get involved in TAC setting discussions given that we do not have any quota for the relevant stocks. Officials from my Department form part of the overall EU delegation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: Ireland has a limited interest in the annual EU/Norway consultations. Our primary concern is with regard to the use of Blue whiting, an important pelagic stock, in exchanges from which we receive little benefit. We do not get involved in TAC setting discussions given that we do not have any quota for the relevant stocks. The European Commission has exclusive competence with regard to these...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Eligibility (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: The TAMS II budget is being monitored on a continual basis in view of the 26,000 applications received and the 20,000 approvals issued to date. Over 10,000 of these approvals have yet to be claimed as payments. It is expected that the TAMS II budget will be fully spent based on the number of applications received and factoring in the number of future tranches. The most recent tranche of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Agriculture, I have no role in determining prices for any commodity nor can I intervene in the same. The Beef Sector is an important element of the Irish economy and I am conscious of the importance that this key sector plays in rural Ireland. I am keenly aware that the past few months have been very challenging for beef farmers in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Jul 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department recognises that current and future EU climate targets pose considerable challenges for Irish agriculture due to the fact that agriculture accounts for 33% of national emissions. The EU targets to 2030, negotiated by my colleague, Minister Bruton, are guided by the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement agreed in 2015. The Paris agreement aims to tackle 95% of...