Results 8,981-9,000 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: My Department and its agencies have conducted various analyses of the likely impact of Brexit on the agri-food sector. These analyses range from initial and ongoing internal departmental assessments to published work by Teagasc and Bord Bia. This is an ongoing process, and will continue through extensive consultation with stakeholders, for example through the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: My Department is aware of recent media coverage and at the outset, it is important to note that the lead on this issue is the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment as it relates to the National Clean Air Strategy consultation which was open during March and April this year. Within this context, the consultation document identified the main issues in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sugar Industry (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: By way of explanation I would like to give the Deputy a short background to this issue.  A temporary restructuring scheme was introduced with the aim of reducing EU sugar production. Greencore, the holder of the entire Irish sugar quota, availed of this voluntary scheme, dismantled its facilities and ceased production in 2006. Ireland secured €353 million as part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: One of my priorities has been to address the impact of the change in the sterling exchange rate and lower commodity prices in some agriculture sectors. Last month I welcomed the release of preliminary information from the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) regarding the uptake of the Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme. The Scheme, which was developed by my Department in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Administration (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: In 2015 my Department published the "A Guide to Land Eligibility" booklet, which issued to all farmers, detailing all of the requirements that applicants must comply with to ensure that their land is and remains eligible for payment.  The land declared by an applicant under the various EU funded area-based schemes must be eligible agricultural land and must also have an agricultural...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: The matters which arose in relation to non-EEA workers in the fishing industry required a cross-Departmental and cross-agency response. The Government set up an inter-Departmental Task Force to examine the issues involved. The main recommendation of the report of the Task Force was the establishment of a sector-specific Atypical Worker Permission system which is an extension of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Development (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: I received the Report of the independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group on 31stMay 2017. This Group was tasked with making recommendations to improve the existing licensing system and to undertake steps to review the legislative framework having regard to Government policy for the sustainable development of aquaculture, as outlined in Food Wise 2025 and the National Strategic Plan for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: While dairy markets are currently broadly stable, the Deputy will be aware that between mid 2014 and the end of 2016 dairy markets experienced significant difficulties. This was due to a combination of factors including increased global supply, the effects of the Russian ban on the import of EU agri-food products and reduced global demand, notably for dairy products...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Under the Rural Development Regulation each Member State must designate areas eligible for payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme.  The ANC scheme replaces the previous Disadvantaged Areas Scheme/Less Favoured Areas Scheme.  The designation of eligible areas under these schemes to date has been based on a range of socio-economic factors. From 2018 eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Funding (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: The Chairman of Bord na gCon wrote to my Department on 10 May seeking my approval  and that of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the sale of  Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium to the Department of Education and Skills . The sale of Harold's Cross Greyhound Racing Stadium is a transaction between the Department of Education and Skills and Bord...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: I fully recognise the potential difficulties that may arise in the agri-food and fisheries sectors from the Brexit vote.  These sectors are of critical importance to our economy given their regional spread and the fact that they underpin the socio-economic development of rural areas in particular.  I am determined to safeguard the interests of these vital sectors. My...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Data (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: GLAS provides valuable support to farmers to deliver environmental benefits and public goods which will enhance Ireland's sustainability credentials into the future. Support is provided to Irish farmers aimed at enhancing biodiversity, water quality and the mitigation of the future impacts of climate change while allowing Irish farmers to improve their agricultural practices. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: I hosted a Tillage Stakeholders Forum on the 16 February, following on from the first one in October 2016, which on both occasions consisted of representatives from all sides of this Sector. Addressing the most recent Forum, I took the opportunity to highlight that one of my priorities has been to address the impact of the change in the sterling exchange rate and lower commodity prices in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Information and Communications Technology (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: In the context of the Rural Development Programme 2015 - 2020 the Department has delivered over twenty new schemes that were supported by IT capability in the last two years.  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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is approved under article 28 of Regulation 1305/2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. As with all area based rural development schemes the Regulations require that the scheme is of between five and seven years duration. The BDGP I runs for six years from 2015 to 2020. Almost 30,000...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Management (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Planting targets for the next four years are set out under the Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020. The programme which represents almost €0.5 billion in State funding, aims to establish almost 44,000 hectares of new forests during this period. In 2015 and 2016 the total area planted was 12,793 hectares which is slightly higher than the target set. Future planting targets along with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Whilst dairy markets are currently broadly stable, the Deputy will be aware that between mid 2014 and the end of 2016 dairy markets experienced significant difficulties. This was due to a combination of factors including increased global supply, the effects of the Russian ban on the import of EU agri-food products and reduced global demand, notably for dairy products...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: I do not accept that the Irish fishing industry is in a state of crisis. That said, the potential of Brexit to impact negatively on our industry is a matter of very serious concern. At this stage it is impossible to say with certainty what effect Brexit will have on the Irish fishing industry. We don't yet know what changes the UK Government may seek to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Under the current Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020 a single premium rate for farmers and non-farmers was introduced as part of my Department’s redesigned afforestation scheme. This means that all applicants, apart from public bodies, are eligible for the same annual premium payment. Up to this point European Council Regulation 1698/2005 on support for rural development had set a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (22 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: I and my officials began engaging with our UK counterparts, including in Northern Ireland, shortly after the Referendum result was announced in June 2016. The Secretary General of my Department met with his UK counterpart in London last September and then met with the Permanent Secretary of Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in...