Results 5,581-5,600 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: I have taken a number of actions to assist farmers as they plan to conserve adequate fodder supplies for the coming winter. This is the priority task that I assigned to the fodder group I convened earlier this spring to address all issues around fodder availability for the coming winter. The results of the fodder census I recently launched, together with the follow up census scheduled...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department continues to operate the dedicated animal welfare helpline at 0761-064408 and 01-6072379. In addition my Department has used social media platform to remind all owners of their duty of care to animals on an on-going basis. In relation to the specific areas of greyhound racing and horse racing the various responsible bodies have action plans in place. Horse Racing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (12 Jul 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: Drainage Schemes (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: I wish to acknowledge weather conditions over the winter were challenging and this has created difficulties for farmers. However, the budget for the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation scheme (TAMS) is fully committed under our Rural Development Programme. Support for land drainage is not included as an eligible item in the current Rural Development Programme for 2014 -2020. It must also be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy is aware I introduced the Fodder Import Support Measure on the 5th April 2018 to provide an additional source of fodder to livestock farmers at an important time when supplies of fodder nationally were very tight. The Measure will make a financial contribution towards the transport costs associated with the importation of fodder from other Member States, excluding Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Subsidies (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: By way of introduction I would point out that in discussing the funding of the Common Agricultural Policy, we should bear in mind that this funding forms part of a broader EU budget which is negotiated by Finance Ministers and then agreed by the European Council and European Parliament. The most recent EU Agriculture Council of Ministers where CAP Post 2020 was discussed was held on 18th...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (12 Jul 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: Fur Farming (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: Further to Parliamentary Question No. 221 of 27 June 2018 the following inspections were carried out from 2015 to date: 2015 2016 2017 2018 12 12 11 1 Inspections are carried out throughout the course of the year and are scheduled to be conducted as part of the overall inspection and control system for fur farms. As this is only July, further inspections will be undertaken before the end...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: Undoubtedly the recent series of weather-related events have highlighted the importance of ensuring that farmers conserve adequate supplies of fodder to deal with the vagaries of our winters. Specifically in terms of supports, I introduced two measures to support the availability of fodder to affected farmers in response to fodder shortages earlier this spring and last winter caused by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department has statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of farmed animals under the European Communities (Welfare of Farmed Animals) Regulations, 2010(Statutory Instrument No 311/2010) and the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Irish fur farmers are subject to the same animal welfare legislation as any other livestock farmer. There are currently a total of three operators...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon liaises with Local Authorities, with welfare organisations, and with my Department on welfare matters relating to greyhounds. All matters reported are investigated by officers of Bord na gCon under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. These arrangements are working well. I should add that two officers of Bord na gCon have recently been authorised under the Animal Health and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (12 Jul 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Identification Schemes (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: I announced in the Press Release on 2 May 2018 on the extension of EID to all sheep that I would introduce a financial support of up to €50 per farmer for the first order of electronic tags as a one off measure in the first year of the extension of EID to all sheep. Since then, both myself and my officials have met with the stakeholders in the sheep industry and engaged in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms an integral part of my Department's current Rural Development Programme (2014-2020). The BDGP is the current main support for the suckler sector and will provide farmers with some €300 million of funding over six years. It was introduced by my Department with the clear and stated objective of using bovine genetics to address the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Identification Schemes (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: The Minister announced the extension of EID to all sheep on 2 May 2018 whereby all sheep sold from 1stOctober 2018 must be identified electronically. Lambs moving directly to slaughter from the holding of birth will require a single electronic (EID) tag and all other sheep require a full EID tag / bolus set. In relation to the cost of EID, I have proposed a one-off tag subsidy scheme with a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: Brexit has the potential to have a very significant impact on the agri-food sector throughout Ireland, including livestock trade along the border region. As the Deputy will be aware, the agri-food sector, including the livestock sector, is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and its regional spread means it underpins the socio-economic development of rural Ireland. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: Officials from my Department met with a number of senior members of the organisation in May 2018. The incidents involving a small number of hunts reported in the media earlier this year were discussed. The need to strengthen the existing Code Of Practice in order to avoid such incidents where hounds entered housing estates or ran onto major roads was the key issue discussed. The organisation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: There are no county by county or regional targets for forestry planting in Ireland. The grants and premiums offered by my Department’s afforestation scheme are available to all landowners regardless of which county they are located. My Department has funded afforestation in every county in Ireland. It is important that farmers in particular have the opportunity to improve their...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme Expenditure (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: The Organic Farming Scheme(OFS) is currently closed for new applications. The annual allocation for this Scheme is €10.5 million.  Based on current participation, which incorporates all enterprise types, the estimated cost of a 5% increase in OFS payments would equate to €525,000 per annum. As OFS participants engage in mixed farming which include the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Teagasc Funding (12 Jul 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department provides Grant in Aid funding to Teagasc annually to enable the organisation provide research, education and advisory services to the agriculture and horticulture sectors. The allocation for 2018 was increased by €4.2m to €132.5m. In addition, Teagasc earn approximately €50m per annum in own generated income from advisory and education fees, research...