Results 3,961-3,980 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (19 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Ireland remains firmly of the view that the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal and protect the Good Friday Agreement is to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement as agreed between the EU and the British Government. However we will continue our preparations for all outcomes, including for a no deal scenario. While we do not want this to happen, we are doing all we can to be prepared...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts Data (19 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Procurement in my Department is governed by EU rules and regulations as well as guidance from the Departments of Finance and of Public Expenditure & Reform. The type of competitive process to be followed can vary depending on the size and characteristics of the contract to be awarded but the objective is always to achieve the best outcome for the taxpayer. All evaluations of tenders...

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak to Senators again as a follow-up to my annual transition statement in December of last year. It is important to restate the long-term policy vision for the agricultural sector which is "an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise the capacity for sustainable food production", as referred to in the national mitigation plan. This...

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Yes. My apologies.

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: With regard to adaptation to climate change, my Department is preparing its first statutory adaptation plan for the three areas identified in the national adaptation framework, for which my Department has responsibility, including seafood, agriculture and forestry. We published an adaptation planning document for the agriculture and forest sector last year and advanced work on the seafood...

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. I am loath to pick out individual Senators and make points of refutation or acknowledgment because I have taken copious notes and we in the Department are actively considering the issue. If it were not for the enormity of Brexit, this issue would be front and centre of all our deliberations. As Senators will know, there is now a clear focus...

Seanad: Progress in Relation to Climate Change: Statements (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I appreciate that and I was not targeting the Senator's point. There is constant mixed messaging about sequestration, of which afforestation is a critical part, and we need farmers to plant more trees. I have made the point ad nauseamthat we cannot expect any one area of the country to carry all the obligation. I fully acknowledge Senator Paul Daly's point about soil management. Soil...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Equine influenza is endemic in both Europe and North America, with outbreaks occurring on an almost annual basis. The virus rarely causes fatalities. Similar to human influenza, vaccines are available. However, if sufficient numbers of horses are infected, equestrian events may have to be cancelled in order to control the spread of the disease. The recent equine influenza outbreak in the UK...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Bodies (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Animal rescues that rehome companion animals outside of Ireland are currently registered by my Department, as required by Council Directive 92/65/EEC (the Balai Directive). Further, all premises on which farmed animals are kept are subject to registration. Under the new EU Animal Health Law (EU Regulation ), animal rescue organisations will be among the establishments keeping terrestrial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Bodies (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: The provision of pounds is a matter for each local authority; neither I nor my Department have any function in this regard. My Department works closely with local authorities to ensure that optimum animal welfare standards are maintained. Should the Deputy have any concerns regarding a particular establishment, it is recommended that contact be made with my Department’s Animal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Bodies (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: There have been no such allegations made to my Department. However, if the Deputy is aware of any specific issues that require follow up action, details should be passed immediately to my own Department, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Charities Regulator and An Garda Síochána in order that matters raised can be fully investigated.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has not engaged the consultancy or audit services of the company in question from 2015 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 201 together. A Quality Payment System (QPS) for the payment of bonuses in respect of certain categories of cattle at slaughter plants was introduced in 2009 by agreement between Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA). My understanding is that the conditions attached to qualification for this bonus payment include a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hazardous Waste Removal (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department assumed responsibility for remediation works at Haulbowline Island on behalf of the Irish Government in 2012 with a particular focus on bringing about compliance with the terms of a CJEU judgment (Case C-494/01) under the Waste Framework Directive concerning the East Tip site. Funding for the remediation project is currently provided to my Department, in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Laboratory Facilities (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department commissioned a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of options that were proposed by a Working Group in 2016 for the future development of the Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs). The team conducting the CBA included internationally-recognised, independent experts in economic analysis and animal disease surveillance. My Department has been presented with the CBA report and senior...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. Price volatility has been a significant issue for the pig sector in the last 18 months, highlighting the cyclical nature of prices in the sector. Current prices stand at €137.19/100kg, which is 0.8% below prices at the same time in 2018. The continuing uncertainty regarding Brexit lends an even greater urgency to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Inshore Fisheries (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: The ‘Strategy for the Inshore Fisheries Sector 2019-2023’ has been finalised following an extensive development process involving the National and Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums. I was very pleased to receive a presentation on the Strategy from the Chair of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum at our meeting on 30 January. The Strategy is the first industry-led blueprint...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Costs (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: I am very conscious that fertiliser is a major input cost for Irish farmers. Currently, there is no manufacturing of fertilisers in Ireland, resulting in indigenous fertiliser companies being price takers, dependent on global supply and demand, and subject to Euro exchange rates against the US dollar and other currencies. Fertilisers are mainly traded in US Dollars and are thereby subject...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (14 Feb 2019)

Michael Creed: Farmers are obliged to ensure annual compliance with the limits of the Nitrates Regulations. Derogations are granted under the Nitrates regulations allowing a higher intensity of livestock farming with applicants subject to additional environmental conditions. Applicants are required to submit an annual application, on-line, and which can be completed by the herd owner or his/her adviser....