Results 3,101-3,120 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Review (21 May 2019)

Michael Creed: Under the current Rural Development Regulation (and subsequent amendments under the Omnibus Regulation), Member States are required to change the approach to the designation of land under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme.  Previously, my Department had been identifying eligible areas using a range of socio economic indicators such as family farm income, population...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (21 May 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, I have had ongoing discussions with Commissioner Hogan regarding the potential impact of a disorderly Brexit. I have stressed the need for the Commission to be ready to deploy a range of measures to mitigate the potential impacts on the agri-food and fisheries sector. Avoiding a no-deal Brexit continues to be the Government’s overriding policy priority. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Electronic Tagging (21 May 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 489 together. It is critical that Ireland, as a major trading country, has a robust identification and traceability system to ensure are our products have a viable future in the international marketplace. A robust traceability system will support our continued efforts to gain new export markets for Irish sheep meat. As the Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (21 May 2019)

Michael Creed: I am very conscious of the role played by suckler farming in sustaining the rural economy and rural communities across Ireland. A Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), as referred to by the Deputy, is a product, which must be produced, processed or prepared in a particular geographical area, and where a specific quality reputation, or other characteristics are attributable to that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (21 May 2019)

Michael Creed: The person named was allocated 7.61 entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme.  All entitlements allocated under the Basic Payment Scheme and National Reserve are subject to usage. If a farmer holds entitlements that have not been used for a period of two consecutive years, a number of entitlements, equivalent to the total number of entitlements which have not been used, shall revert...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Wild Fires (21 May 2019)

Michael Creed: The Forestry Act 1988 provided among other things that all of the State’s forest estate, other than land designated by the Minister, stand vested in Coillte so such forested areas do not fall within my immediate remit.  I am advised by Coillte that there were 142 fires on its estate during 2018 affecting 367 hectares of forest – with this figure excluding open...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Supports (21 May 2019)

Michael Creed: Mindful of the impacts of Brexit on the agri-food sector, I have advanced a number of Brexit-related supports to mitigate these impacts.  A key initiative in this regard is the €300m Brexit Loan Scheme announced in Budget 2018.  The Schemehas been developed by my Department in cooperation with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (21 May 2019)

Michael Creed: My officials continue to work towards opening and enhancing access to as many markets as possible. This is a key part of our response to the challenges and uncertainty posed by Brexit, and in line with the market development theme of the Food Wise 2025 strategy.   The opening of the Chinese market for Irish beef in 2018 was the culmination of significant work over a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (21 May 2019)

Michael Creed: Medical evidence supporting a request for withdrawal from the Beef Data and Genomics Programme was received from the person named on the 19th of March 2019. A letter clarifying the implications of any potential withdrawal from the programme and seeking confirmation of the intentions of the person named issued from my Department on the 8th of May 2019. A reply from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Applications (21 May 2019)

Michael Creed: The person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016 and received all payments in respect of scheme year 2016. However, the application was subsequently rejected from the scheme as the participant did not comply  with the requirements of the Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) action selected which required him to submit...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta (16 May 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 145 and 146 together. The sale of Coillte’s telecoms business in 2015 was fully approved by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in accordance with paragraph 14.1 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2009). The sale was in line with a...

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

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together. My Department as the Competent Authority under EU regulations has delegated the organic certification function to independent control bodies, in accordance with the relevant EU regulations and in common with the practice in many other EU MS. The organic status of food products including salmon here in Ireland is certified by rigorous...

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

Michael Creed: At the outset, I wish to make very clear that the procedures operated by my Department are designed to ensure that the highest standards apply to all areas of Irish organic production. The award of organic status is secured by a formal certification process delegated by my Department to various Organic Control Bodies in accordance with the relevant EU regulations. The certification process...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (16 May 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programme is the vehicle for financial supports to our seafood sector for the period 2014 to 2020. The Programme delivers a wide range of supports for aquaculture, fisheries and seafood processing through a suite of 18 schemes. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Regulation (16 May 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department is currently conducting a formal examination of possible breaches of licence conditions at a number of aquaculture sites operated by the Company referred to by the Deputy. I do not consider it appropriate to identify these sites during the course of such examination.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Agencies (16 May 2019)

Michael Creed: The marine related policy functions which fall under the aegis of this Department are managed in accordance with relevant applicable legislation. The Marine Agencies Governance Unit, located within the Sea Fisheries Policy & Management Division of my Department, is responsible for corporate governance oversight of the Marine Institute (MI) and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Administration (16 May 2019)

Michael Creed: Aquaculture Licensing is regulated by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act (where applicable) and relevant National and EU legislation. The licence application procedure includes a period of public and statutory consultation. Inland Fisheries Ireland is a full statutory consultee. Decisions in respect of aquaculture...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Regulation (16 May 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together. The case referred to by the Deputy was examined by my Department as expeditiously as possible having regard to the scientific, technical, legal and public interest issues involved. Aquaculture Licensing is regulated by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act (where...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Offences (16 May 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy is aware, on 20th March 2018, I signed into force the European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations 2018, S.I. No. 89 of 2018 which fully met the requirement of the relevant EU regulation insofar as the licence holders were concerned. However, the S.I. was annulled by Dail Eireann on 29 May 2018. Given this annulment of the Statutory Instrument that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Appeals (15 May 2019)

Michael Creed: The Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department. I have been advised that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate that the named person lodged an appeal on 29 March 2019 in relation to a TAMS II grant. The Agriculture Appeals Regulations 2002 provide that an appeal may be made within 3 months of the date of my Department's decision letter that was issued...