Results 5,161-5,180 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

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

Michael Creed: I am grateful to have the opportunity to inform the House of the actions I have undertaken in seeking to ensure sufficient supplies of fodder for the coming winter and spring of 2019. A survey of fodder supplies in September, conducted on my behalf by Teagasc, indicated that the potential national fodder deficit had reduced from 18% earlier this summer to...

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

Michael Creed: It has now got down to 11%. The Deputy needs to get his facts right.

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

Michael Creed: In all the Deputy's contributions I have not heard a single positive suggestion, which is a continuation of a theme.

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

Michael Creed: We had this discussion prior to the summer recess and the Deputy's contribution was equally unfocused and lacking in specifics. On the other hand, I have had positive engagement with all the stakeholders, which include farm organisations. All the initiatives Deputy Mattie McGrath denigrates, which have achieved substantial progress for farmers, came from the stakeholder forum. In...

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

Michael Creed: The Deputy should reflect seriously on the accusation he has made against Teagasc to the effect that it has manipulated figures. It conducted a national fodder survey, the veracity of which has been accepted by all stakeholders. I accept that within the national deficit of 11%, there are individual holdings where it is higher. The best outcome from the stakeholder forum was the advice from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme Pilot (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The commitment of the Government to the suckler cow sector, which underpins the beef industry, was never in question. We are the only member state that has a specifically focused initiative in our rural development programme for the suckler sector in the context of the beef data and genomics programme, which is delivering €300 million to the suckler cow sector. I have always said...

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

Michael Creed: My Department is examining all appropriate measures to support the different agrifood sectors, including the suckler sector, in preparation for the next iteration of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. The measures adopted will be informed by stakeholder consultation on the needs of the sector to develop in an economically and environmentally sustainable way, as well as the relevant...

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

Michael Creed: If the yardstick by which the Deputy measures the success or failure of the beef forum is in its capacity to deliver price, it is inevitable it will fail because the forum is not a price-fixing mechanism. By law we are specifically excluded from considering price. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has advised the Department that it has no function in that regard. However,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme Pilot (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department is examining all appropriate measures to support the different agrifood sectors, including the suckler sector, in preparation for the next iteration of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. The measures adopted will be informed by stakeholder consultation on the needs of the sector to develop in an economically and environmentally sustainable way, as well as the relevant...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Beef Environmental Efficiency Scheme Pilot (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: I confirm that the scheme will be open to all farmers and not just current participants in BDGP. It is consistent with every utterance I have made in the context of the suckler sector; it is not a coupled payment. A coupled payment would run contrary to everything the industry has been striving to achieve over recent years, which is improving the quality of the herd. That is the direction...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: In his Budget speech my colleague, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, formally announced progress in relation to the development of the “Future Growth Loan Scheme” for SMEs, including the primary agriculture and seafood sectors. This is a key Government Brexit response for which I had provided €25 million in funding in 2018. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Plan (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department is examining all appropriate measures to support the different agrifood sectors, including the suckler sector in preparation for the next iteration of the CAP. The measures adopted will be informed by stakeholder consultation on the needs of the sector to develop in an economically and environmentally sustainable way, as well as the relevant research and the available budget...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harness Racing Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department funded the Indecon Review of the Irish Harness Racing Sector, which was published on 1st November 2017. This report provides the sport with a road map for its potential development and I will be supporting the recommendations within my Department's remit from the outset. In March 2018 my Department agreed the sum of €63,714 to fund the preparation and development of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021 - 2027 were launched on Friday 1 June 2018 by Commissioner Hogan. The proposals, as drafted, involve significant changes, including in relation to governance, the distribution of direct payments among farmers and the increasing environmental conditionality attaching to such payments. There will be some additional...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: I am grateful to have the opportunity to inform the House of the actions I have undertaken already to seek to ensure sufficient supplies of Fodder for the coming Winter and Spring 2019. A survey of Fodder supplies in September, conducted at my request, indicated that the potential national fodder deficit has reduced from 18% earlier this Summer to 11% at that time. Further reductions are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: The agreement I secured from Commissioner Hogan to make higher advance payments this autumn will result in a very substantial €260 million in additional cash flow for farmers shortly. I have had ongoing engagement with the banks on the cash flow pressures arising from the effects of the weather on grazing and fodder stocks. I am pleased to see that this engagement and the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 in terms of weather and the range of challenges associated with it. We have to acknowledge that input costs at farm level will be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sugar Industry (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, in 2006 the EU introduced a restructuring mechanism intended to reduce overall production of sugar, acknowledging the then global over supply and resultant low prices being achieved. Greencore, as the holder of the entire Irish sugar quota at the time, availed itself of this voluntary initiative, ceasing production and dismantling its processing facilitates....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Review (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: Under EU regulation, Less Favoured / Disadvantaged Areas were to be replaced by newly designated Areas of Natural Constraints from 2018, with eligible areas being designated using a set list of bio-physical criteria such as soil drainage, texture and slope. However, as part of legislative amendments at EU level, a proposal was made to extend the 2018 deadline to 2019 on an optional basis....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Laboratory Facilities (11 Oct 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department has commissioned a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of options that have been proposed for the future development of the Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs). The team conducting the CBA includes internationally-recognised, independent experts in economic analysis and animal disease surveillance. It is currently finalising its work, after which a report and recommendations will be...