Results 11,521-11,540 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Supplementary) (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: I appreciate that the Deputy consistently raises the issue but I am constrained by state aid rules and have exploited the de minimusprovisions to the maximum extent possible to facilitate the tillage sector. I appreciate that the sector has faced a difficult harvest, not only this year but for a number of years. Not only have we done this, but we will launch the TAMS programme for tillage...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: The current Forestry Programme, covering the period 2015-2020, ensures continued state support for the two key objectives of increasing forest cover and wood mobilisation. Almost €500 million of investment over the six year programme period will facilitate an increase in forest cover by almost 44,000 hectares over the period of the Programme. The level of afforestation grant and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: As part of the Whole of Government approach to climate policy, officials from my Department are working closely with other Departments and in particular, with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment as the lead in this area. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 provides a statutory basis for Government policy on climate change. One of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Transfer of Entitlements Application (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: My Department received five 2014 Transfer of Entitlement application forms in respect of a Transferor seeking the transfer of entitlements by sale to five separate Transferees. These transfer applications were not successful as there were outstanding issues pertaining to the Transferor. The Transferor and Transferees under all five transfer applications were notified in writing in November...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Inland Fisheries Stocks (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: I am advised that the practice of pair trawling in inshore waters around Ireland is confined to fishing for sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and consequently I am presuming that this is the stock that the Deputy is referring to when he speaks of “vulnerable stocks”.  Sprat in Irish waters is not a species for which fishing quotas or Total Allowable Catches have been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Identification Schemes (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: While Commission Implementing Regulation 262/2016 was published by the EU Commission on 17 February 2015, it only came into effect on 1 January 2016 and was transposed into national legislation via S.I. No 62 of 2016 (as amended) in February 2016. My Department consulted with a range of stakeholders, including approved horse breeding organisations, during the negotiating process on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: The slaughter of horses for food for human consumption is subject to strict EU regulatory requirements, including requirements in relation to horse identification and use of medicinal products. Exposure in 2013 of the problem of adulteration of beef products with horse meat, which was due in large measure to the vigilance of testing and control systems applied in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Activities (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of the estate and property transactions (including any offers), are the responsibility of the company. Coillte has, however, advised that the company has no investment plans for Killykeen Forest Park but are currently working with Cavan...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 397 together. A Felling Licence granted by the Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine provides authority under the Forestry Act 1946 to fell or otherwise remove a tree or trees. This Act prescribes the functions of the Minister and details the requirements, rights and obligations in relation to Felling Licences. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: At this time, it is not possible to provide a full breakdown of the 2017 Irish fishing quotas. This is because the levels of Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and the quotas for Ireland will, as usual, be determined at the Council meeting, due to be held on 12 and 13 December. This will involve intensive negotiations with Member States and the EU Commission. The final quotas for all EU member...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: Under Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 (the CFP basic regulation), changes to fisheries policy involving access or restriction to fishing opportunities or fishing areas come within the sole competency of the EU. Only the EU Commission may propose changes and any such proposal must be adopted under the co-decision process by the EU Parliament and EU Council. Member States, in consultation with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hen Harriers Threat Response Plan (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: In the first instance, I would like to clarify that neither I nor my Department have any role in the designation of areas preserved for the hen harrier. That function is exercised through the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional and Rural Affairs. However, my Department has been active in developing agri-environment measures under the Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: The person named submitted a 2016 Basic Payment Scheme application on 16 May 2016. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases remote sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a remote sensing. This...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: In 2015 the National Reserve fund was based on a 3% cut to the Basic Payment Scheme financial ceiling and provided some €24 million in funding which was the maximum financing rate available under the relevant EU Regulations. There was no National Reserve in 2016 as all available funding had been utilised under the 2015 scheme. In order to provide for a National Reserve in 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: The EU Commission has decided to tender for the release of a limited quantity of SMP currently held in intervention. The proposal, the object of which is to have a managed release of 22,150 tonnes (6% of total EU intervention SMP stock) of intervention skimmed milk powder to the market, was carefully considered by my Department in consultation with Industry stakeholders. The purpose...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Penalties (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: The extensive range of data requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials in my Department will compile the data requested and forward it directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: The extensive range of data requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials in my Department will compile the data requested and forward it directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: The extensive range of data requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials in my Department will compile the data requested and forward it directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: I understand that the reindeer was only present in the shopping centre for a very short period of time and there is no evidence that the welfare of the reindeer was compromised in any way. Nevertheless, while my Department appreciates the desire on the part of some people to enhance the experience of Christmas for children, I would urge anyone intending to use live animals for this purpose...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Aid (6 Dec 2016)

Michael Creed: I fully acknowledge and accept that difficulties have been experienced by the farming community, not least by our tillage farmers. This sector is a very important area in the agricultural economy but it has been a challenging year both in terms of market returns and variable weather conditions experienced during the harvest. I know the Deputy will be aware that I recently chaired a...