Results 6,001-6,020 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aquaculture Regulation (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: My Department is motivated by ensuring we maximise the potential of the sector without compromising the potential in other sectors. That is contingent on compliance with licences that are issued. In the context of the specific question raised by the Deputy, we do not have any evidence to suggest fish were taken to the Marine Institute to confirm they escaped from salmon aquaculture...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aquaculture Regulation (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: I am only telling the Deputy in the context of the question he asked. The industry is valuable, has a future and it can expand. However, we should only facilitate such growth through compliance with regulation, which is really important. It is the only way everything can co-exist.

Other Questions: Farm Data (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: In March this year the Central Statistics Office, CSO, released its preliminary estimate of output, input and income in agriculture and this indicates that aggregate farm income, or operating surplus, increased by 35% to €3.498 billion in 2017. This followed an increase in aggregate farm income of 3.6% in 2016 and 2.3% in 2015. Last week Teagasc released preliminary results of its...

Other Questions: Farm Data (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: In the context of the Teagasc farm income survey or the CSO figures we have seen a picture of two Irelands in agriculture. We have just concluded a CAP road show that was in Carlow, Charleville-----

Other Questions: Farm Data (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: -----Navan and in the west of Ireland in Carrick-on-Shannon, and that picture was abundantly clear. It would be incorrect to dwell too much on the dairy figures as it is not that long ago since dairy prices were below the cost of production. The sector had quite a good year last year and volatility is something that must be managed. I accept the point that sheep and cattle rearing in...

Other Questions: Farm Data (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The Deputy has said we need something now. We secured €25 million extra for areas of natural constraint in the 2018 budget. We face choices in how that will be allocated. I await approval from the European Union on the decision as to where ANC fits in the rural development programme. We took a decision not to spread that thinly across everybody but to focus on those with the highest...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aquaculture Regulation (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Aquaculture in the marine environment is regulated by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 and related national and EU legislation. Regulatory agencies such as the Marine Institute also play an important role in the regulation of the industry from a scientific perspective. Decisions in regard to aquaculture licence...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aquaculture Regulation (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Aquaculture and the associated angling and tourism interests can coexist. My Department is fully committed to a properly regulated aquaculture sector. We will have no truck with abuses of licences attached to aquaculture operations. We are significantly underachieving in the context of realising the potential of the Irish aquaculture sector to expand further. My figures are from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aquaculture Regulation (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: It is unfortunate that the Deputy uses the term "destructive industry". All around our coastline, people with aquaculture operations, either for fin fish or shellfish, are operating according to the letter of the law and giving valuable employment in regions where there are very often no alternative operations.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: What we continue to do within the European fold is to influence and secure the best possible outcome. After that, it will be a decision for all the appropriate bodies, including national parliaments.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The important point is there is no deal yet. The direction of travel in beef is worrying and we have made our views quite clear on that. I am advised that whether this Parliament ultimately has a say is contingent on the nature of the deal that will be concluded. We see opportunities in certain respects in agriculture but we see significant threats in beef. We will continue to apply all...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: I am aware of this issue in my constituency and that it is a national issue. The question of the definition of "genuine farmers" and "active farmers" always crops up. I wish to reassure farmers who lack the capacity to generate a sufficient income from their holdings. We have recently seen the publication of figures for farm incomes which point to two Irelands. I refer, in particular, to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: We share the same objectives. What we have to guard against are the unintended consequences. Yes, at a high level people will talk about "armchair farmers", those who gather income under the Common Agricultural Policy and who may not be considered active by other farmers. I am anxious to ensure the category about whom the Deputy spoke, those with small and marginal holdings from which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Ireland's position on the EU-Mercosur trade negotiations is well known and has not changed. We have consistently opposed any agreement that will have negative consequences for the Irish and EU agriculture sectors and the beef sector, in particular. This position has been reiterated many times, for example, by me and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Andrew Doyle, at meetings of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: Our objective is to secure the best deal, of which beef would not be any part. That is what we have been campaigning on. The reality is that an offer of 70,000 tonnes has been made. We are not happy with it, but Ireland is only one member state of the European Union and the negotiations are not being conducted by the Agriculture Commissioner; rather, they are being conducted by Trade...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: I assure the Deputy and all Members of the House that we share a common objective. What we are engaged in is a series of strategic alliance building efforts to try to bring about a situation where member states will agree to increase their contributions. It is important to be realistic about it. When the Commission published its proposals on CAP, there were a number of member states that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: We are building alliances, making bilateral arrangements and having meetings with Ministers. I am going to Madrid tomorrow to meet a series of member states that share our analysis but there are many member states that do not.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: I share the Deputy's analysis that Pillar II is very important because we have used it to be quite innovative in terms of the challenges we face. The Deputy mentioned GLAS and there is also beef data and genomics programme, BDGP, which is helping us meet the objectives of the environmental area and climate change, perhaps ahead of other member states. We have used Pillar II very...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The CAP regulations are expected to be published by Commissioner Hogan shortly. Until the formal proposals are received, it is difficult to make any assessment regarding their effects. While I am aware of leaked drafts, I will not be commenting until my Department has had an opportunity to examine the published draft guidelines. It is also important to note that, following publication, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Michael Creed: The Multi-Annual Financial Framework, MFF, proposals for the period 2021 to 2027 were published by the budget Commissioner Gunther Oettinger on 2 May. The negotiation of the framework is a matter for Finance Ministers and the proposals will ultimately require the approval of the European Council and the European Parliament. In so far as funding for the Common Agricultural Policy...