Results 8,361-8,380 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Agriculture Scheme Payments (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: My Department administers a wide range of schemes that provide vital support to underpin the continued sustainability and growth of the agrifood sector. I am very aware of the importance of these supports for farmers and, accordingly, the issuing of payments under these schemes is a matter of priority for my Department. The main schemes are delivered under the framework of the EU Common...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The rural development programme is a rolling programme. When farmers present for payment in certain schemes, we are obliged to meet that obligation. In respect of the Deputy's support for this particular proposal on the rural development programme, it is the subject of the negotiations within Government for 2018.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: I accept that weather conditions in recent weeks have been challenging and this has created difficulties for farmers. My Department has been monitoring grass growth rates, weather conditions and feed supplies across the country. Grass growth rates are currently substantially ahead of recent years but there are difficulties in utilising grass in some regions due to above average rainfall...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: I concur with the Deputy that the last thing any of us wants to see is any welfare issue arising on Irish farms, and we will take all steps necessary to avoid it. That has always been the position of the Department, and remains so. We have a dedicated animal welfare line in respect of farmers who may be facing individual problems. Individual holdings may have a problem and I appreciate the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The Deputy made the point that we were in this position this time last year. However, we did not have a fodder scheme subsequently. The responses that were available by my Department in terms of animal welfare issues were adequate to deal with any issues that arose. The Deputy is making this point in the first week of October. While I appreciate that we have had a difficult year and that...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Fodder Crisis (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: At the moment, however, there is no evidence of a fodder crisis or an animal welfare crisis.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: It is important to clarify from the outset that state aid is aid funded by member states and not by the European Commission. Such aid is subject to common EU rules designed to avoid distortion of competition within the European Union. It is already possible to provide aid for farmers subject to a cumulative maximum limit of €15,000 per farmer over three years. Such aid is called de...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: For the Deputy's information, there is a later question tabled on the Mercosur trade negotiations, Question No. 45; therefore, we may have an opportunity to discuss the matter which is of critical importance. The areas of natural constraint, ANC, scheme is a very important source of financial support for farmers across the country, under which over €200 million is paid each year to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: I thank the Deputy for his support. As he will be aware, total payments of approximately €250 million were made to eligible farmers under the ANC scheme in 2008. That sum was cut substantially by the Fianna Fáil Government at the time. We are attempting to make up some of the ground lost in budget 2018. Obviously, until the budget is announced, there will be no certainty in...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: As I am not in the business of counting chickens before they are hatched, I am not going to engage in speculation about how money that has not been secured in budget 2018 may be spent. That is a debate I am sure we will have on another day should we succeed in securing the funding. I appreciate the Deputy's anxiety and support to make up some of the funding cut by Fianna Fáil in 2008.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: As we have said ad nauseamin this Chamber, there will not be one penny left behind under the rural development programme.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The Deputy understands the position on the rural development programme. We have had this before-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed): Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: I thank Senator Ó Domhnaill for raising this matter. The areas of natural constraint, ANC, scheme was introduced under the 2014-2020 rural development programme as a replacement for the previous disadvantaged areas and less favoured areas schemes, which had been in place since 1975. Payments under the ANC scheme are an important support for farmers across the country in addressing cash...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: There are now firm indications that the question of a Tariff Rate Quota for beef  is under discussion with Mercosur.  My information is that a Tariff Rate Quota of 70,000 tonnes is under discussion. A coalition of Member states, led by Ireland and France, signed a paper opposing such a move, and opposed such a proposal at last week's Trade Policy Committee.  It should be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: One of my key priorities is to further increase the market opportunities for Irish food and drink internationally. We are an exporting nation, with 90% of our food produce leaving the island. Only through further increasing our footprint internationally will we help to mitigate the effects of Brexit and develop our agri-food sector to realise its full potential. As outlined in Foodwise...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Funding (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: Under the TAMS II scheme, support is provided under a suite of seven measures: - Young Farmers Capital  Investment Scheme; - Dairy Equipment Scheme; - Organic Capital Investment Scheme; - Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme; - Low Emission Slurry Spreading;  - Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme; - Tillage Capital Investment Scheme. A wide range of investment...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Prices (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: As previously stated to the Deputy (PQ35321 of 2016), as Minister for Agriculture, I have no role in setting the price of any market commodity. Income support is provided at EU level through the Basic Payment Scheme and the EU's Common Market Organisation Regulation provides a legal basis for market supports such as intervention for Butter and  Skimmed Milk Powder, and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Young Farmers Scheme (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: The National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme were introduced under the reform of Direct Payments in 2015. These schemes were designed to provide financial support to young farmers and new entrants to farming during the crucial early years immediately following the setting up of a farming enterprise. Under the EU Regulations governing these schemes,  a young farmer is defined as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: In the context of the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 my Department has delivered over twenty new schemes that were supported by IT capability. In the first two years of the current RDP programme my Department has already implemented substantially more RDP schemes than were implemented over the entire ten year lifetime of the previous RDP programme.  This rate of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Gorse Burning (3 Oct 2017)

Michael Creed: I am not aware of any proposal to establish an inter-agency gorse fire group. My colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has responsibility in relation to fire prevention measures, fire response and emergency planning. As the Deputy will be aware, the Fire and Emergency Services in Ireland are managed at local authority level, with the Department of...