Results 4,561-4,580 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pesticide Use (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: The EU regulatory process used in Ireland for authorising plant protection products is widely acknowledged to be one of the most robust chemical regulatory systems in the world. Pesticide active substances to be used in plant protection products (PPPs) can only be approved in the EU if a rigorous scientific assessment clearly shows that their use would not be expected to have any harmful...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department’s Brexit planning, guided by recent Government decisions, is well advanced and from an agrifood perspective, I welcome the endorsement by the European Council of the Withdrawal Agreement, and approval of the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship. My officials are working closely with their counterparts in other Departments, with a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: Live exports play a vital role in stimulating price competition and provide an alternative market outlet for farmers. The on-going search for new markets is a priority for my Department, particularly in the context of Brexit. In 2018, up to 10 November over 227,000 head of cattle were exported. This is a 30% increase on the period last year. Exports to other EU countries significantly...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. Siltation at Howth FHC is recognised as an issue that will require attention and preparation work for a possible dredging project has been underway for some time. A report from site investigation works, which was commissioned in 2015, was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: Overall, Ireland’s and the EU27’s basic position has always been and remains to be to protect our fishing communities. While all parties would like higher quota shares, the way to achieve that is to grow the fish stocks through sustainable management for the benefit of all. Managing fisheries sustainably and fairly must be an integral and inseparable part of the overall future...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Regulation of Hunting (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: During the summer officials of my Department met with the Hunting Association of Ireland to discuss the incident in Macroom. The need to strengthen the existing Code of Practice in order to avoid such incidents where hounds entered housing estates was discussed. This matter is being further pursued with them. In the meantime, the Association has committed to avoiding any re-occurrence of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: I am very aware of the significance to farmers, agri-business, and the wider rural economy, of the payments that issue to farmers from my Department under schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), GLAS, TAMS, the Sheep Welfare Scheme, and the Knowledge Transfer (KT) programme. Payments under the 2018 ANC scheme commenced, on schedule, during the week commencing 17th September 2018...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Welfare Scheme Data (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: I am very conscious of the important role that the sheep sector plays in relation to the continued growth and development of our agri-food sector. For example, in 2017 some 63,000 tonnes of Irish sheep meat worth €311 million was exported, with diversification evident from our traditional primary markets of France and the UK. I have therefore ensured that my Department has put in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: The Deputy has raised an issue in relation to a commercial decision by an individual company. I as Minister cannot have a role in dictating the commercial decisions made by any business. However, I would like to see that the best interests of the Irish dairy sector as a whole are at the core of any decisions made by Irish dairy companies. I would hope that both parties in this instance will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: The pursuit and development of new markets for Irish agri-food exports is an ongoing and central component of the strategic development of the agri-food sector, as evidenced by its placement right at the centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry’s strategy for development over the coming years. Indeed, this is all the more relevant after the UK’s decision to leave the EU, which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Skills Shortages (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: I am acutely aware of the shortage of labour that exists in some parts of the agri-food sector. It should be noted that the sector accounts for 7.9% of total employment, or approximately 174,000 jobs. As most of these jobs are based outside of our cities, they are crucial to the rural economy. Food Wise 2025 highlighted the need for the attraction, retention and development of skills and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: The new Organic Farming Scheme under the current Rural Development Programme has proved extremely successful, attracting more new applicants than any scheme previously, and encouraging a significant number of Irish farmers to convert to organic farming systems. Latest figures indicate that there are now some 72,000 hectares under organic production, an increase of nearly 50% on the position...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: Overall, Ireland’s and the EU27’s basic position has always been and remains to be to protect our fishing communities. While all parties would like higher quota shares, the way to achieve that is to grow the fish stocks through sustainable management for the benefit of all. Managing fisheries sustainably and fairly must be an integral and inseparable part of the overall future...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Eligibility (6 Dec 2018)

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. To date my Department had been identifying eligible areas using a range of socio economic indicators such as family farm income, population density, percentage of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Irregularities (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: Carcase classification and carcase presentation (Trim) controls in slaughter plants are carried out by a dedicated team of specialist staff in the Beef Carcase Classification Section within my Department. Their remit under EU legislation is to carry out un-announced inspections to ensure that meat plants comply with these legislative requirements for classification, weights and trim. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Young Farmers Scheme (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: A gross off-farm income limit of €40,000 was applied to all applicants to the 2018 National Reserve. Applicants could choose to use either the full 2016 or 2017 tax year, whichever was more advantageous to the applicant. Certain Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection payments including, Jobseekers Allowance and Jobseekers Benefit are reckonable as off-farm income....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forest Roads Scheme (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: An application for the Forest Road scheme was received on 26 September. There were a number of queries on the initial application but these have been resolved by the Registered Forester. The application will now be advertised on my Department’s website and referred to a forestry inspector. The inspector will assess the application taking into account the submissions received and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: I wish to inform the Deputy that since March 2011 one post enactment report has been published by my Department. That Report is in respect of the Forestry Act, 2014 and was laid in the Parliamentary Library on 25 September 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Legislative Measures (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department has overseen the drafting and enactment of 6 Bills in the relevant time period. Information on these enactments can be found in the following table. Title of Enactment Date of Enactment 1 Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 (No. 29 of 2011) 16th November, 2011 2 Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Act 2012 (No. 25 of 2012) 18th July, 2012 3 Animal Health & Welfare Act...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (6 Dec 2018)

Michael Creed: My department prioritises its spending in line with government policy to promote the development of a competitive and efficient primary agriculture, forestry and seafood sector to support rural and coastal communities to underpin economic development and to ensure that our natural resources are managed in a sustainable way The main grant schemes operated by my department and their financial...