Results 3,561-3,580 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: I assure the Deputy that as one of the remaining member states, we will be fully compliant with our obligations when dealing with imports from a third country, which involves the preparations to which I referred earlier in the context of border inspection post facilities at Dublin Port, Dublin Airport, Rosslare, etc. There will be no question of consumers here being subjected to dodgy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: The €300 million Brexit loan scheme was developed in co-operation with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, to provide working capital support to enable eligible businesses to implement the necessary changes to address the challenges posed by Brexit. The scheme was opened for applications on 28 March 2018 and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: As outlined in my initial reply to the Deputy's question, there have been 523 applications for the loan scheme, of which 472 have been approved. That a number of businesses which have had their applications approved have not proceeded to draw down the loan is a reflection of the uncertainty that exists in the business environment. People require certainty before they make investment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: I did have the privilege of visiting Tipperary yesterday, where I saw first-hand the €30 million investment being carried out by Arrabawn Co-operative and I am aware of the investment at Tipperary Co-op. I appreciate that Tipperary is one of the engines of the agrifood and rural economy. Notwithstanding the uncertainty around Brexit, these investments are a signal of confidence. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: As I said, intervention and aids to private storage, APS, would not be, I believe, of much benefit in the context of the beef sector. They are instruments that are available under the CMO regulations that could be of benefit in other commodity areas, perhaps the cheddar cheese area or on the pork side, for example. I do not want to rule anything out. In my opinion, intervention is not the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: The Government has taken a number of contingency steps to help mitigate the impacts of Brexit on the agrifood sector. For example, I have introduced a number of budgetary measures aimed at improving competitiveness and developing market and product diversification. These have included low-cost loan schemes to assist in on-farm and agri-business cost effectiveness, additional supports to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Exports to Iran (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: It is not a question of opening the market. It is open. In 2017 we exported €11.5 million worth of goods to it. It is open for our main dairy products - beef and sheepmeat. It is a question of what it delivers in terms of profitability relative to any other market. If it is more profitable to be in another market, it is not in the interests of primary producers or the agriculture...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ports Facilities (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: The dossier requesting the approval of facilities located around Rosslare Europort as a border inspection post, BIP, was sent to the European Commission by my Department on 14 February. The Commission has subsequently communicated to my Department that it has approved the facilities to be designated as a BIP for the importation of products of animal origin for human consumption and products...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ports Facilities (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: The procurement of the site is not a function of my Department. The Office of Public Works, OPW, would have been involved. I understand builders have been on the site since early February and we are satisfied that, although it may not be the Taj Mahal, it will be ready to function in the event that there is a hard Brexit. We were planning for a deadline of 29 March, but it will function...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ports Facilities (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: My officials and I have been working very hard for quite some time to sensitise other member states and the European Commission to the potentially very severe impacts of a no-deal Brexit on the Irish agrifood and fisheries sectors. It has included a detailed analysis of the possible impact of the proposed UK tariff schedule in the event that there is a no-deal Brexit, as announced by the UK...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Waste Management (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: The issue is under active consideration in my Department and that of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, in the context of the overall Government plan on climate change proposals. From our point of view, the concern is the very significant capital investment. In fact, I was looking at some data and note it can cost anything from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Waste Management (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: Any money the State spends on any initiative in the climate change area will be to deliver on the climate agenda and to achieve value for money. To put it another way, could the money available be spent on some other initiative in climate to deliver a greater dividend for us? That is the framework within which we are looking at it. We are considering capital costs, running costs, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Exports to Iran (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: In February 2019, officials from my Department met the Iranian ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Dr. Masoud Eslami, accompanied by his economic counsellor. A range of subjects, including agrifood exports to Iran, were addressed at the meeting. I also met the ambassador personally on 21 September 2017. Total Irish agrifood exports to Iran in 2017 were approximately €11.5 million, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Food Exports to Iran (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: We are very anxious to have trade there. From recollection, it is a market of 80 million people and quite an affluent, middle-class one. It is also a gateway to a market of perhaps 250 million people through neighbouring countries. As such, it is significant. I have spoken to people in industry here directly and I have met the ambassador, who was very anxious that we would have trade. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: I advise the Deputy that they have not been held up by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The approval of permits for the export of beef to China is a matter for the Chinese authorities. We prosecute all applications on their behalf with the Chinese authorities. I will visit China again later this year as part of a trade delegation when I hope to progress these matters....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy has asked a number of questions. The issue of the price differential between here and the United Kingdom is often raised, but it must be borne in mind that Ireland has to export 90% of what it produces, be it to the UK market or anywhere else; there is, therefore, a cost element. There is also the fact that the UK consumer receives preference in the case of Red Tractor assured...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Waste Management (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department recognises the potential environmental and economic benefits of using anaerobic digestion, including climate mitigation, water quality and air quality, as well as supporting diversification of income for farmers. Research suggests the biogas produced from anaerobic digestion could potentially play a significant role in the heat and transport sectors, in particular. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 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. The Department facilitates this trade, recognising its critical importance to the agrifood sector, while also ensuring that live animal exports meet the highest welfare standards. In 2018, live exports...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy conveniently ignores the facts and relies on emotion but the figures speak for themselves. Year on year, up until the end of February, exports are up by 35%. We exported 160,000 calves last year and a total of 245,000 cattle, which was an increase of 30% on the figures from the previous year. Indeed, the 2017 figures saw an increase of 30% on the 2016 figures. The commitment of...