Results 9,181-9,200 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Severe Weather Events Response (1 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 202 together. I refer again to your further questions in relation to the issue of compensation for tillage farmers and I wish to re-state to the Deputy that 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....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Young Farmers Scheme Eligibility (1 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Under the Terms and Conditions applying to the 2017 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme, eligible applicants must have successfully completed an agricultural educational qualification at FETAC Level 6 or equivalent by 15 May 2017. Whilst it is not possible at this stage to give any assurance so far in advance, it is expected that similar conditions will apply to these schemes in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Knowledge Transfer Programme (1 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: The Knowledge Transfer Programme is part of Ireland's Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020.  It is a three year programme. Year 1 ends on 31 July, 2017.  Payments for the successful completion of year 1 will commence in autumn 2017.  Accordingly, there is no expenditure to date.  Within the RDP a total of €100m is allocated in the financial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Plant Protection Products (1 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: In June 2016, the European Commission extended the glyphosate approval for a further limited period to allow the Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) complete its assessment which provides the legal basis for the appropriate chemical hazard classification of glyphosate in Europe. This extension followed a review by EFSA which was extended to allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Imports (1 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Following the announcement of the fraud involving MAPA inspection officials, on 20 March, Member States commenced an enhanced checking and sampling regime on imports of meat products from Brazil.  This regime was harmonised by agreement between Member States and the Commission at the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF)meeting on 6 April.  Under the new...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (1 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme Payments (1 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: Under the Integrated Control System, any penalty identified in a particular scheme must be cross reported.  The penalty concerned must then be applied to all other Direct Payment Schemes and Rural Development Programme Measures for which the participant is in receipt of payment. In this instance, the applicant received a penalty following a full cross compliance...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (1 Jun 2017)

Michael Creed: The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with no payable actions for the 2015 scheme year. During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue presented on the computerised crosscheck of Department databases.  The Department is actively working to resolve this issue with a view to processing the application for the 2016 payment as soon as possible.

Topical Issue Debate: Fisheries Protection (31 May 2017)

Michael Creed: I thank Deputy Ferris for raising the matter. Seals are a protected species under the EU Habitats Directive and seals are also protected under the Wildlife Acts. I am advised two species of seals, grey seals and harbour seals, are common in Irish waters. In so far as the management of the seal population is concerned, I clarify for the Deputy that this is the responsibility of the Minister...

Topical Issue Debate: Fisheries Protection (31 May 2017)

Michael Creed: I am the line Minister.

Topical Issue Debate: Fisheries Protection (31 May 2017)

Michael Creed: I am on fisheries matters. I appreciate the insight that Deputy Ferris brings to the matter. I also appreciate that for inshore fisheries, this is a particular issue. The Deputy's photograph showed three from ten boxes being affected, which concurs with the statistics that we have. There was a BIM survey in 2015 that showed damage to catches caused by seals ranging from 59% of monkfish to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Issues (31 May 2017)

Michael Creed: Close consultations in relation to the potential impact of the UK decision to leave the EU have been ongoing with all of the relevant stakeholders - including the IFA and other farming organisations as well as industry stakeholders - since early 2016, considerably in advance of the UK referendum which gave rise to the decision to leave the EU. I and my officials have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bioenergy Willow Scheme (31 May 2017)

Michael Creed: The number of applications received for the Bio-Energy Willow Scheme 2015 was low with four applications received in total.  The approved sites have been inspected by the Department and the applications for the establishment grant are being processed.  The Terms and Conditions of the Scheme required that applicants indicate the end user which in the case of all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (31 May 2017)

Michael Creed: The future of the  EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is of huge importance to Ireland's agriculture sector and is a key strategic priority for my Department.  I have met with Commissioner Hogan to discuss a number of key issues including the Basic Payment Scheme post 2020.  In addition, officials from my Department continue to actively engage in various EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (31 May 2017)

Michael Creed: The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year. The 2016 prepayment checking established that the interim commonage form issued to the person named had not been signed and returned as required to support payment.  This form has now re-issued to the assigned...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (30 May 2017)

Michael Creed: Trade for Ireland is very important given that we are a small open economy. The pursuit and development of new and existing markets such as Israel for Irish agrifood exports is therefore a central component of the strategic development of the agrifood sector, as evidenced by its placement at the centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry’s strategy for development over the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Brexit Negotiations (30 May 2017)

Michael Creed: At this stage it is impossible to say with certainty what effect Brexit will have on the Irish fishing industry. We do not know yet what changes the UK may seek to the current arrangements. We are, however, clear that our objective is to maintain current access to fishing grounds in the UK zone in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and north of Donegal and protect...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment (30 May 2017)

Michael Creed: Brexit is a priority for Bord Bia, the state agency responsible for the marketing and promotion of agri-food and drink.  Bord Bia's programmes and activities in this area are all directly relevant to expanding market penetration and diversifying outlets for Irish food and drink against the background of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.  Bord Bia...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Meetings (30 May 2017)

Michael Creed: I have met the CEO of Bord Bia and members of her management team on a number of occasions since the Brexit vote, most recently last Friday when we met with senior ASDA executives in Leeds as part of our ongoing engagement with retailers in the UK. During that meeting we outlined the challenges that the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union will present, the most immediate...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (30 May 2017)

Michael Creed: The person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016. During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue was identified with the Low Input Permanent Pasture action.  Department officials are examining the issue with a view to issuing payment as soon as possible.