Results 1,141-1,160 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: Which food production?

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: It produces as well as sequesters greenhouses gases. It is a question of maximising the efficiency.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: I would be interested in seeing the Deputy's paper on the fact that there is no greenhouse gas production from horticulture, for example. That is not the case.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: The direction of travel for Irish agriculture has been abundant for many years now. There has been a lot of commentary in recent times about a REPS-style support in the environmental scheme. That, in itself, tells a story. Long before the current debate around targets began, farmers were acutely aware of their role in landscape management and sustainable agricultural product and in many...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: Deputy Durkan made an interesting point in the context of us being a food island that exports to over 180 countries and with a domestic market of approximately 5 million people. We have a capacity to feed almost 50 million people. That is important to emphasise because who should feed the world is part of a global debate. It is those who have a capacity to do it in the most sustainable...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for his contribution and for his questions, particularly those relating to the area of forestry. I sometimes despair about the general narrative around forestry because it seems to suggest that forestry policy is monolithic and insists on a particular species and a particular way of planting. The issues that, understandably, excite people in the context of...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: I thank the Acting Chairman. I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Deputy McConalogue's remarks were interesting in the context of placing the Irish agri-food and marine sectors in an international context and of recognising that we are, by any international comparison, efficient from a climate perspective. That is not to say we are deaf to what is happening in the international...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: I am very pleased to be before the House to present the annual transition statement for the agriculture sector. The long-term challenge for the sector, as outlined in the climate action plan, is to meet the national policy objective of an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise our capacity for sustainable food production. That plan goes on to set out sectoral greenhouse gas...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Fund (9 Jun 2020)

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.Similarly, Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme (9 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: The Organic Farming Scheme has been one of the most successful schemes under the current Rural Development Plan (2014 - 2020). It will fully consume the budget of €56m that was allocated to it for the period 2014 to 2020. The Scheme has more than achieved its targets in terms of new land converted and the maintenance of organic land. Latest figures indicate that there are now...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Meat Processing Plants (9 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 451 to 455, inclusive, together. The information with regard to the numbers of workers tested or positive in meat plants is a matter for the personnel involved, the Food Businesses and the Health Service Executive A national Outbreak Control team has been established by the HSE to deal with all issues relating to Covid 19 in meat plants. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (9 Jun 2020)

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. Similarly, Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pesticide Use (9 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: Diquat is has been widely used as a crop desiccant, including for the desiccation of haulm in potato crops. Following an EU review process, which concluded in 2018, the active substance approval was withdrawn. This decision was implemented through Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/1532. Withdrawal of approval was due to risks identified by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Meat Processing Plants (9 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: All meat processing and slaughter plants whose meat is destined for human consumption must meet the requirements set out in detailed EU regulations relating to food safety, animal health and welfare. Large scale slaughter plants operate under the supervision of my Department, while smaller scale abattoirs are supervised by the Local Authority Veterinary Service. In accordance with EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hen Harriers (9 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: My Department makes payment to landowners through the Hen Harrier Programme and through the Conservation of Farm Birds (Hen Harrier) option in GLAS. The Hen Harrier Project is operationally independent of my Department and is run by a Hen Harrier Project Team. The information below is sourced from the Project Team. The Hen Harrier Programme has 1,524 participating farmers. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Quality Assurance Scheme (9 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: I assume that the Deputy is referring to bonus payments paid by beef processors on cattle which meet certain criteria. These bonuses are entirely commercial arrangements between suppliers of cattle and their processors and are not a matter for my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (9 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, prices for beef and other commodities is a commercial matter which I, as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine nor my Department, have any role in determining. I am acutely aware of the issues presented to the agri-food sector in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and I am aware that the beef sector is particularly exposed given its reliance...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: The maintenance of soil pH is critical for agronomic performance and environmental sustainability due to its direct effect on nutrient availability. Nutrient management planning is therefore an integral part of the nutrient use efficiency on farm. The application of lime is a key component of nutrient management planning. The usage of lime has declined in recent decades although sales...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (9 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: The aim of the Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group (KTG) Schemes is to provide participating private forest owners with the knowledge they require to actively manage their own forest, mobilise their timber resource, and secure a valuable income from the crop in the market. All private forest owners are eligible to participate, irrespective of their forest currently being grant funded under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (9 Jun 2020)

Michael Creed: The new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021 - 2027 were launched in June 2018 by Commissioner Hogan. The proposals outline a greater environmental ambition post-2020 and recognise the role the agriculture sector has to play in helping Member States achieve their environmental and climate change targets. Negotiations on the CAP proposals are ongoing and,...