Results 9,501-9,520 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: The obligation as now envisaged is that the process would be completed in time for the 2018 basic payment scheme. It is 15 May this year and I think it will be around the same date next year. I am sure if the deadline remained we would have met it. As I said, in respect of the uncertainty around this, if it was possible at a European level to have an extension of the current regime for any...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Payments (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: GLAS and AEOS provide valuable support to farmers to deliver environmental benefits and public goods which will enhance Ireland's sustainability credentials into the future. They provide support 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. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Payments (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: I am not happy that this is the case. It is an embarrassment to me and the Department that this issue continues. We have no vested interest in holding onto moneys that are due. It is an extraordinarily complex scheme with more than 30 individual actions into which a farmer can opt under GLAS. When one cross references that with basic payment applications and individual plots, it becomes a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: The areas of natural constraints or disadvantaged areas payment is enormously significant for almost 100,000 farmers and I or any incumbent in my office would be obliged to take every step possible to protect the payment against anything that threatens it. When there is a review there is a question over what the outcome of the review will be. It would be preferable if we could seek and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: On the latter point, the €25 million commitment in the programme for Government is an endeavour to restore payments which were previously withdrawn. Obviously that payment commitment remains, but that is a matter for the budget later this year. It is certainly my intention to deliver on that commitment. It is unclear what the Commission's requirement would be if it amends the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: I apologise for the repetition. 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...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: As I said in response to Deputy McConalogue, I appreciate the importance of this income source for farmers. I appreciate it, given the regions to which the Deputy referred. It would be wrong of me to give a guarantee on what areas will and will not be included because I cannot. I would be surprised if, in respect of the aforementioned areas, there was any significant change. It is because...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: Under the rural development regulation, each member state must designate areas eligible for payments under the areas of natural constraint, ANC, scheme. The ANC scheme replaces the previous disadvantaged areas scheme and less favoured areas scheme. The designation of eligible areas under these schemes to date has been based on a range of socio-economic factors. Under the new rural...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Eligibility (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: At the outset I would like to clarify for the Deputy that the general TAMS requirement is that the applicant must be farming at least 5 hectares, that is, they must have at least 5 hectares on their BPS application. This can be grass land or tillage, not a minimum of 5 hectares of tillage as suggested by the Deputy. When the TAMS tillage measure was introduced, it required a minimum of 15...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: Funding of almost €1 million has been allocated to agro-forestry under the six year Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020. So far approval has issued for some 26 hectares and 0.6 hectares has been planted. The scheme itself promotes mainly silvopastoral agro-forestry. Acceptable broadleaf species include oak, sycamore and cherry. Other species, including conifers, are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (4 May 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: Dairy Sector (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, dairy markets experienced significant difficulties for a period spanning almost two years, due to a combination of 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 in China. The Commission, both prompted and supported by Ireland, among other...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: The impact of Brexit on the agri-food sector is potentially very severe in the long-term, but also very significant in the short-term as the sector deals with the real and very immediate difficulties created by the significant fall in the value of Sterling against the Euro. I have attempted to address these short-term challenges primarily through the measures announced in Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: Both GLAS and AEOS provide valuable support to farmers to deliver environmental benefits and public goods which will enhance Ireland's sustainability credentials into the future. They provide support 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: In regard to Marine Infrastructure, my legislative remit extends to the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl.  In addition I have responsibility for North Harbour at Cape Clear Island and for maintaining a small number of piers, lights and beacons around the coast in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: There is no doubt that many geopolitical events are having an impact on the outlook for Irish, European and world agriculture, with, of course, knock-on implications for family farm viability. Examples include Brexit, the Russian ban on food imports from the European Union, and the future of international trade agreements, particularly in light of recent political developments in the United...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: I have been made aware of reports of exports of greyhounds to Pakistan. Information received to date from my Department's local offices indicates that no greyhounds were exported direct from Ireland to Pakistan during 2016 or to date in 2017. Commercial movements of dogs within the EU are recorded on the European Commission’s TRACES system.  Therefore my Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Eligibility (4 May 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.  Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: As the House knows, the Taoiseach has initiated, and led, a very effective and efficient 'whole of Government' response to Brexit. Through his chairing of Brexit Cabinet Committee meetings, he is acutely aware of the potentially very negative impact that Brexit would have on the agri-food sector in Ireland and the highly integrated nature of the sector both north and south of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: State Bodies (4 May 2017)

Michael Creed: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for HRI. I understand HRI Racecourses Ltd. is a subsidiary company of Horse Racing Ireland. HRI has informed me that the role involved was subject to the usual open advertisement and...