Results 7,901-7,920 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (16 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: It is clear that weather conditions over much of this Autumn have been challenging for farmers and created difficulties for farmers particularly in the Western regions and on heavier land types. Grass growth rates through the autumn however have been ahead of last year. However the poor weather resulted in cattle being housed earlier than normal in places,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (16 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: It must be noted that no agreement on a Mercosur deal has been finalised at this point, although the Commission did make an offer to Mercosur during a recent round of negotiations which included the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for beef referred to in the question. I was deeply disappointed that the Commission decided to submit a beef tariff rate quota...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (16 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: I would like to give the Deputy an update on initiatives that I have progressed on behalf of the tillage sector since the last meeting of the Tillage Forum.   Stakeholders at that forum identified opportunities to increase the demand for Irish grain in the brewing and distilling sectors, both of which are expanding rapidly.  Other opportunities identified included the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (16 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: My Department is aware that the regular Rosslare Cherbourg ferry will not be operating its usual journeys  for a period of 4 weeks in February/March 2018 as it will be in dry dock for refurbishment during this time.  This would, unless taken up by other providers, reduce ferry capacity for the transport of a range of product, including animals, from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (16 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: My Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme is the vehicle for financial supports to the seafood sector up to 2021.  The Programme delivers a wide range of supports for aquaculture, fisheries and seafood processing through a suite of 15 schemes.  The EMFF Regulation provides for a special compensation scheme for fishermen...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: The Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector provides grant aid at a rate of 40% of the approved cost of capital investments in specialised horticultural buildings, structures or equipment.  The rate of aid is increased in the case of growers who are under 35 years of age at the time of application.  To qualify for consideration under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: I and my Department, in cooperation with Government and other Departments and Agencies, are attempting to mitigate the more immediate impacts of the Brexit vote on the agri-food sector through a range of budgetary measures. In Budget 2017 I introduced a number of measures to help minimise farm business costs, including a €150 million “Agriculture Cashflow Support...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: There has been no agreement on a Mercosur deal at this point. However, the commission has made an offer to Mercosur which includes a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) for beef. The TRQ offer is split evenly between fresh and frozen beef. A proportion of the fresh beef would be required to meet the definition of "High Quality Beef", and would therefore have to come from grass fed animals, and a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Sizes (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: Under EU regulations, Ireland has taken up the option to implement a minimum payment threshold of €100 under which payment via a direct payment scheme will not issue. However, notwithstanding the above, certain schemes may also include an area threshold, depending on the objectives of various schemes and the terms and conditions of those schemes. For example, under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: The key change introduced into the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 was to bring all aspects of animal welfare under the policy remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This has led to improved enforcement of the law in the area of animal welfare. My officials have been assisted in this work by authorised officers of other State bodies and from a number of animal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Payments (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: The TAMS II Scheme already provides attractive grant rates for a comprehensive range of items. There are no plans to grant aid CCTV under the TAMS II measures.  Overall I am delighted that the scheme has proved to be so popular with Irish farmers with over 15,000 applications submitted to date. Of these over 11,500 or over 75% have been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Eligibility (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together. The TAMS II Scheme provides attractive grant rates for a wide range of investment items.  Overall I am delighted that the scheme has proved to be so popular with Irish farmers with over 15,000 applications submitted to date. Of these over 11,500 or over 75% have been approved to commence work. Approvals issue on an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Issues (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: The total expenditure envisaged for the Agri-environment Climate Measure over the lifetime of the Rural Development Programme when published was €1.4bn. This figure includes transitional funding for remaining commitments arising from the Agri-Environment Measures in the 2007-2013 RDP, GLAS, GLAS Training and Locally Led Agri-Environment Schemes. There are now over...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Issues (15 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: The person named redeemed their Land Purchase annuity account in September 2017 and there is no outstanding amount to be paid. 

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements under the ’Scottish Derogation’ measure of the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme. Under EU Regulations governing the Scottish Derogation measure of the Basic Payment scheme, processing of applications involves administrative checks to verify that the applicant had been actively farming in the Beef, Dairying,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (14 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 359 together. My Department does not provide any financial support to the organisation in question. Nor does my Department have any partnership arrangement with the organisation.  The organisation is one of many interest groups who may make submissions on matters they are concerned with and who are free to seek meetings...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: The person named has submitted an application under the Basic Payment Scheme and the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme to my Department.  An issue has arisen in relation to a review of land eligibility in this case and my Department will be in direct contact with the person named regarding this issue.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: The Department is working methodically through all 2017 Scheme payments including nine new schemes for which first time payments are due. The Department is continuing to deliver schemes at a rate that is well in excess of the EU average and continues to be to the forefront in scheme delivery. In accordance with best practice and industry norms, the Department continues to update and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (14 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: There are currently no stocking requirements for eligibility under the Basic Payments Scheme. However, under the Area of Natural Constraints Scheme, all eligible applicants are required to meet a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per eligible forage hectare for a retention period of seven consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards (14 Nov 2017)

Michael Creed: The European Commission extended the approval of glyphosate for a limited interim period in June 2016 to allow for the completion of an assessment by the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The extension followed a comprehensive review by the European Food Safety Authority. This review, which included detailed consideration of a report produced by...