Results 12,301-12,320 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: I am very conscious of this. The hallmark of the Department has always been to take a practical approach to it. We need to be extremely careful, however, because the derogation Irish agriculture has under the nitrates directive is up for renewal at the end of this year. It is a valuable asset that we have secured. In that context, for example, the Danes had a derogation but it has not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: I am informed that is the plan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: No. Let us be honest about it. The programme for Government is quite explicit on that. I have enough issues in the Department to try to get funding for in 2018. I am conscious that the Minister has been waiting for me since 7 p.m. to progress those. I have told the farm organisations that the commitment is for an additional €25 million in 2018.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: Yes, I am sure they will.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 30 - Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: If the committee wants to take a break, we can do so. Are we talking about five minutes?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

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 sector. Under the provisions of the relevant Acts, the appointment of the chief executive officer is a matter for the board of HRI, subject to the consent of relevant Ministers. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: I agree with Senator Daly. This is a world class industry. Many thousands of people are employed in it, including small trainers and breeders throughout the country, all of whom contribute to an industry in which Ireland is at the forefront globally. That reputation has been hard won and we should bear that in mind. Deputy Penrose spoke about the HRI board meeting today. It issued a press...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: The first letter that came into the Department was dated 16 December 2014. It stated that the board wished to confirm Mr. Kavanagh as CEO. It is a legitimate assumption to make that when the Department receives a letter from the chairman of a State board, the chairman speaks on behalf of the board, and the letter specifically said that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: I have made the point in my opening contribution that I would have preferred if the sequencing of events had been different. The chairman of HRI acknowledges that too. The net point is if the board was so minded that it did not want to appoint any CEO, no Minister could compel it to appoint a CEO. It is a function of the board. The Minister cannot appoint a CEO against the board’s...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: That was in 2014 and there has been other correspondence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: The misleading has really to do with the sequencing as to when the letter arrived whether the board had discussed it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: It is the current board. They are good questions but it would be appropriate to address them to the board, the CEO and the chairman. I have very specific and limited roles, as does the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and they have to do with assenting to, or otherwise, the communication of the board in respect of the appointment of a CEO. I received a communication which I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: The letter referred to a five-year development plan for the industry which is a public document. My recollection is that its ambition is to grow the industry from €1.2 billion to €2 billion. That involves critical infrastructure like the redevelopment of the Curragh racetrack with an investment of €30 million, with considerable funds from the private sector. There is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: My role is extremely limited, as is that of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. It is not to appoint, it is to agree to a recommendation from the board to appoint. The communication to me was always with the inference that the communication reflected the views of the board. That is the sequencing issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: I would have told the chairman to get the imprimaturof the board, if he did not already have it, before coming to look for assent. As I said in my opening remarks, I would have preferred it if the sequencing had been different. This issue is addressed by the board in today's statement in so far as the board states that its interests and views were reflected in the reappointment and in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: As I have said, the issue is the sequencing rather than the appointment. The appointment was made on the basis of the business case.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: My responsibilities are clearly outlined in the law.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: That is the only responsibility I have.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: Yes, but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Reappointment of CEO of Horse Racing Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Michael Creed: With due respect, when I receive correspondence from a chair stating specifically that a board wishes to confirm the reappointment of a CEO, surely it is legitimate to assume that the correspondent is speaking for the board.