Results 11,721-11,740 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Questions on Proposed Legislation (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: On the issue of beef and tillage, the Deputy will be aware that one of the things we have done has been to bring forward the early payment of the single farm payment. Most farmers have received that at this stage. The balancing payments will issue shortly. On the grain side, we have a number of initiatives, including access to low-interest finance which was one of the asks from the grain...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Poultry Industry (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: I thank Senator Mullen for raising this matter. While I have overall responsibility for the regulation and development of the Irish poultry sector, the specific matter raised by the Senator is solely under the remit of the Minister for Finance. The matters raised are being dealt with through an amendment to the Finance Bill which the Minister for Finance is currently bringing through the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Poultry Industry (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: I appreciate the Senator's comments but it is also appropriate to reflect on my opening paragraph where I say it is not really the responsibility of the Minister to get involved in the detailed commercial arrangements that exist between a dairy farmer and his processor, a beef farmer and his beef processing plant or indeed in this instance between a grower and a processor in the poultry...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Live Exports (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: I thank Senator Lombard for raising the matter. The decision by Cork Co-operative Marts to remove itself from its direct involvement in the live trade in calves is a matter for the company. It would be inappropriate for the Department to comment on that decision which is based on commercial considerations. On the general issue of live cattle exports, I want to stress that we have built...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Live Exports (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: I assure the Senator that endeavour will continue and intensify. Bord Bia's engagement in this matter is in partnership with the live exports. I was in north Africa recently on a trade mission which had participants from the live export trade as well as from Bord Bia on the trade delegation. There is that joined-up thinking in respect of the endeavour. I appreciate we are facing a perfect...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Employment Service (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: I thank Senator Conway-Walsh for raising this matter and apologise on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who could not be here as he had a previous engagement. Ireland’s public employment service is managed by the Department of Social Protection and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Employment Service (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: I will ask the Department of Social Protection to communicate directly with the Senator but my understanding is that for commercial sensitivity reasons, it is not appropriate to publish the public procurement cost figure. As late as yesterday, the published figures on long-term unemployment show that we were making significant progress. As the Senator said, if it quacks like a duck and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Employment Service (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: It is a random selection process, and their payment is based on a results model. It incentivises both the company and the individual through the programme they deliver. It incentivises both to achieve sustainable employment. These are not job placements in schemes. This is sustainable employment. This is the most challenging cohort on the live register to deal with, and it comes at a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Local Employment Service (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: I appreciate the Senator raising this issue. I will ask the Department of Social Protection to communicate on some of the issues she raised. Progress is being made but much more needs to be done in respect of addressing that cohort on the live register.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: An application under Tranche 1 of GLAS was received by the Department on the 26 May 2015 and the person named was approved into GLAS 1 with effect from 1 October 2015. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: The conditions under which all species of animals in circuses are kept and managed come under the scope of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which contains rules relating to the welfare of all animals, including wild animals in circuses. Section 25 of the Act provides for the adoption of codes of practice in relation to, inter alia, matters concerning the welfare of animals, and this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: An application under the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme /Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 10 May 2016. Processing of the application is currently ongoing with a view to completion and payment issuing to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Meetings (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: Officials from my Department will be in contact with the persons named with a view to arranging a meeting with them to discuss their case.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Appeals (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: The query raised relates to the 2014 Single Payment Scheme application received from the person named. Issues were identified in relation to dual claims on some of the parcels declared resulting in penalties having to be applied. My Department has recently reviewed the case and upheld the original decision. A letter issued to the person named on 18 October 2016 informing him of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: Live cattle exports are a means of satisfying market demand for animals and providing alternative market outlets for Irish cattle farmers.  My Department, and Bord Bia, have been proactive in encouraging and facilitating such exports. Earlier this year, my Department worked with Turkish  Authorities to reopen the market for live bovines.  In recent weeks, over...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (23 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: Last Thursday I chaired my second Beef Forum since taking office. It was a successful meeting with positive engagement from stakeholders. It  included presentations from Meat Industry Ireland and the IFA.  At the previous meeting in July it had been agreed that stakeholders should be given the opportunity to present their views to the forum and these presentations were the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Data (22 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: As clarified by the Deputy the information requested was to provide in tabular form on a county basis, the total number of farmers that were given land eligibility penalties under the basic payment scheme and single farm payments in 2014, 2015 and to date in 2016; the total monetary amount of such penalties.  In that regard please see the following table outlining the information...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Applications (22 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: The person named was approved into GLAS 1 and subsequently withdrew part of his commitment which resulted in his exclusion of the scheme. The Agriculture Appeals Office have indicated that an appeal has been submitted in relation to this case and a decision will issue in due course. Tranche 3 of GLAS is currently open until 15 December and, without prejudice to the outcome of the appeal,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Applications (22 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: An application under the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 11 November 2016, thus incurring a 100% late penalty. The case has been reviewed on Force Majeure grounds, following which, the late penalty has been waived. The application has now been fully processed and any payments due will issue as soon as possible to the nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (22 Nov 2016)

Michael Creed: In 1991 the Irish Government declared all Irish Waters a whale and dolphin sanctuary. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) section of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is the responsible authority for the State’s nature conservation responsibilities. In terms of fishing, the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the fisheries...