Results 10,961-10,980 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (7 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: The person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016. The first payment due to the person named is in respect of the 2016 scheme year. The 85% advance payment for 2016 has been processed and payment has issued to the person named. The balancing 15% payments will be processed in due course.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I am satisfied that this will be a really good scheme. The Central Bank reported that the cost of credit in the first quarter of 2016 was significantly out of kilter with our EU counterparts. That is a significant input cost. This scheme is a response to that and it also addresses some Brexit-related challenges. I am somewhat taken aback by the volte-facefrom the Opposition benches. Two...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I very much welcome the volte-face. I point out to Deputy Cahill that it is available in high-street banks such as AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank. In reality there is no other way to deal with it other than on a first-come, first-served basis and I advise farmers to engage. The terms and conditions of the scheme are as constructed. For farmers paying high interest in overdraft...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: There is sufficient flexibility to deal with that. That is the point Deputy Heydon mentioned.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I say to Deputy Deering that we will have to wait to see the success of it. I think it will be successful and success generates its own problems. That is something we will revisit at a later stage.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Horse Racing Ireland (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I know the Deputy has some form in terms of questioning the outcomes of court proceedings. I do not propose to trespass on the findings of the courts on such matters in recent days other than to acknowledge the outcome. There is separation of powers, which the Deputy may not wish to recognise but I do. There are 13 members of the board of HRI and the board is representative of all...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Horse Racing Ireland (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I told the Deputy, who chose to ignore it, about the not insignificant fact of the outcome of a court finding last week in respect of this matter. In respect of the appointees, a clear skill set requirement was communicated to the Public Appointments Service as to the appropriate people required in respect of the industry. I am absolutely satisfied that the people who were appointed are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fishery Harbour Centres (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated fishery harbour centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under statute. I am happy to advise the Deputy that between the years 2011 and 2016, as part of my Department's fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme, in excess of €6.7 million has been invested in maintenance,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fishery Harbour Centres (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: The FLAGs have independent jurisdiction over how they allocate the funds. I do not wish to prejudge their take on this but I suspect that the expenditure in respect of dredging would be far in excess of the funding they have available - I think it is €2.7 million all across all the FLAGs for 2017. They are making a call for projects. I met with representatives from all the marine...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I was pleased to announce the launch of the agriculture cashflow support loan scheme on Tuesday. One of my priorities has been to address the impact of the change in the sterling exchange rate and lower commodity prices in some sectors, which have caused cash flow difficulties for farmers. The scheme was developed in co-operation with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Data (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: That is my ambition.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Data (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I had a similar debate with Deputy McConalogue earlier. As I said, my ambition is to try to ensure that every farmer who has a payment retains it, whether that is in County Meath, County Donegal, County Cork, County Tipperary, County Kilkenny, County Wicklow or anywhere else. It is a critical part of agricultural income and household budgeting in respect of the farmers concerned and for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I appreciate the image Deputy Daly wishes to portray but I assure her it is far from the reality. The Irish National Stud is a commercial State body. The appointment of a chief executive officer is a matter for the board of the Irish National Stud, subject to the consent of the relevant Ministers. I understand a recruitment competition is currently under way. The Deputy will be aware...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I thank Deputy Heydon for his comments. He addressed far more eloquently than I the track record of the outgoing CEO. It is insightful to look at the state of the National Stud when the CEO was appointed and its current financial state. Actions speak louder than words and his actions have been a tribute to the industry, which he leaves in a far better state than he found it. I acknowledge...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I am prepared to consider that. I have yet to receive a formal request from the National Stud in respect of that matter. If such a request comes before the Department, it will be considered on its merits.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Horse Racing Ireland (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, is a commercial State body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. I can confirm that the recent appointments to the HRI board were made in accordance with the guidelines on appointments to State boards. They were advertised on and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fish Quotas (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: The north-east Atlantic mackerel scientific assessment by ICES includes information from a number of sources, including catch data, tagging data and three survey indices. During preparations by ICES for the upcoming benchmark, an error was discovered in the calculation of the northern trawl survey index for 2016 that resulted in values being overestimated. Thus, the assessment conducted...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fish Quotas (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: Notwithstanding the mistaken advice, the revised advice still provides for an increase in the quota. Separately, I received a submission from a producer organisation, PO, in respect of a review of the sharing of mackerel quota, in particular the proposed increase for 2017. On foot of that proposal and correspondence, of which I received from much, I decided to put the proposal into...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fish Quotas (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: The initiative on this matter rests firmly with the Commission.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fish Quotas (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: We have no clear indication as to what it might do. It might seek to revise the TAC and quota arrangements for 2017 or leave it until the next coastal states negotiations in September-October. I acknowledge the Deputy's points about the pelagic sector. I have an open mind, and so I should, about the consultation process that is under way. I am not predisposed towards any outcome. I...