Results 5,141-5,160 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Missions Data (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: I am firmly committed to increasing market access and opportunities for all Irish agrifood exports around the world. Total agrifood exports amounted to €13.6 billion in 2017, according to the Central Statistics Office trade statistics, an increase of 74% since 2009. My officials continue to work towards opening and enhancing access to as many markets as possible. This is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Missions Data (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The UK was the market for almost 40% of our exports in 2017, which is the most recent statistic available, amounting to more than €5 billion worth of products. It should always be our most important market. Much of our efforts since the UK Brexit vote has concerned intensifying our engagement with the UK market and sending a clear signal that we want the closest possible trading...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sheepmeat Sector (11 Oct 2018)

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

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: When the State is putting in money, the challenge is whether it is getting value for that money. The report published with the budget on the €150 million low-interest loan working capital scheme clearly showed that it was value for money but that it had also delivered in terms of generating other competition in the finance sector for working capital. This raises the question of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: I must disagree with the Deputy. The tax measures in the budget will benefit farmers with income difficulties caused by volatility because the income averaging arrangement has been further tweaked to allow those farmers with an off-farm income or whose spouses have an off-farm income to be able to avail of the opt out. This will benefit a substantial cohort of farmers who are currently...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Control of Horses (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: Officials from my Department recently met with members of the local authority control of horses working group to discuss this matter. There is a general consensus that the current approach continues to reduce problems regarding wandering horses despite the persistence of a small number of irresponsible horse owners. Overall, the Control of Horses Act 1996, which provides powers to local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Control of Horses (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: I appreciate the Deputy's consistent interest in this area and the collaborative efforts made by my Department, local authorities and charitable bodies. The graph is going in the right direction. That being said, we are all shamed by such incidents, which get a lot of traction, particularly on social media. Sometimes they distort the endeavour that is under way and the very good work being...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The concern is that the budget as presented by Commissioner Phil Hogan is inadequate. We should bear in mind that the Commission can only spend the money member states give them, and we must acknowledge that Europe has other big challenges, including migration, security etc. We have always argued that member states should contribute more, and that must be done by unanimous agreement. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: When we seek more funds from the Common Agricultural Policy, it should not be misinterpreted as us with the bowl out looking for more from Europe. We pay in more to the European Union than we get out in net terms. We are a net contributor to the European Union budget. The Common Agricultural Policy is of such importance not just to farmers or the rural community but to the citizens of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Agriculture Schemes (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: In his budget speech, my colleague, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, formally announced progress in the development of a key Government Brexit response, the future growth loan scheme for small and medium enterprise, including the primary agriculture and seafood sectors. This is a long-awaited source of finance for young and new entrant...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: In line with the Government decisions of 18 July and 18 September, my Department has been working closely with other Departments on Brexit preparedness. The primary focus has been on the staffing, infrastructural and IT requirements that will arise in the context of the implementation of import controls at ports and airports on an east-west basis. Depending on the shape of the final deal,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: I thank the Deputy. The agrifood sector has exposure to the UK market, which accounts for almost 40% of our exports, and if smaller and artisan producers want to put their toe in the water to export, the UK is the logical and obvious place to go. They are particularly challenged, and very often they do not have in-house expertise or resources to navigate all of the challenges. This is why...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The range of assistance is significant and some of it takes the form of loans. Loans are not always what are needed so in this year's budget the Department has a €13 million loan fund for small and medium-sized enterprises to assist with innovating new products. It will also assist companies with a product that was specifically targeted to the UK market to diversify and tweak the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: Proposals for new regulations for the CAP for 2021 to 2027 were published on Friday, 1 June 2018 by the Commissioner, Mr. Hogan. The proposals as drafted involve significant changes, including on governance, the distribution of direct payments among farmers and the increasing environmental conditionality attaching to such payments. There will be some additional discretion for member states...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The Deputy is seeking a cheap headline. It is rather unfortunate to try to make a cheap political point on the backs of farmers, who have had an extremely difficult year.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: It is a hit-and-run effort by Deputy Mattie McGrath. He will not even stay for the rest of Question Time.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware and as I have mentioned to Deputy Martin Kenny, in accordance with competition law neither I nor my Department have any role in determining market prices for any commodity, nor can I intervene in this process. I am conscious that this has been a difficult year for the sector due to weather and the range of challenges associated with it. We have to acknowledge...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: I find it slightly confusing that the Deputy says the beef forum is only a talking shop on one hand, and on the other makes great play of calling for that talking shop to convene. I repeat what I said to Deputy Martin Kenny. By law, neither I nor the forum has any role in respect of price. I have taken initiatives to give the primary producer, the beef and suckler farmers whom we discussed...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The engagement at the forum was quite useful in addressing all the factors that influence the market, such as the impact of the weather, as I discussed with Deputy Mattie McGrath. The weather phenomenon had an impact right across Europe. On any analysis of the number of cattle slaughtered, the weather resulted in a downward pressure on price because of the increase in slaughter. For...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: I share the Deputy's concern that farmers should get the best possible return for their endeavours because without their commitment to producing a quality product, the edifice that is the Irish beef industry would collapse, domestically and internationally. I have said ad nauseamthat processors also need to be aware of the symbiotic relationship that exists and I asked that they engage in...