Results 12,761-12,780 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Priority Questions: Departmental Legal Cases (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The Department has many responsibilities in this area. One is to secure the level of payments we get annually from the Commission. The amount is €1.5 billion across the various schemes. Prior to the Deputy's arrival in the House, but in the not too distant past, the State incurred fines of almost €70 million for not adequately policing EU schemes. This hit affected the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: It is a pity it did not happen - zero - when the Deputy was Minister.

Priority Questions: Agrifood Sector (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union creates considerable challenges for the agrifood sector. The United Kingdom is by far our largest trading partner. Last year we exported almost €5.1 billion worth of agricultural products. This included more than €1.1 billion in beef products and almost €970 million in dairy products. Ireland is also the...

Priority Questions: Agrifood Sector (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Given that the United Kingdom is a net contributor to the European Union, its departure, whenever it is finalised, will have consequences from that date forward for the CAP. The financial arrangements underpinning the current CAP are secure until a new CAP is negotiated in 2020. We are very conscious of the implications. I will be meeting the French Agriculture Minister in late August in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pigmeat Sector (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: My department carefully monitors developments in the pig sector, both domestically and internationally, and meets with stakeholders regularly to hear their views on developments. I am conscious of the fact that prices have come under pressure over the last year and the difficulties that this is causing for producers. Having said that, it must be noted that Irish prices have remained broadly...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: UK Referendum on EU Membership (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The decision of the UK to leave the EU is one that creates considerable challenges for the agrifood sector. The UK is by far our largest trading partner.  Last year we exported almost €5.1 billion worth of agricultural products. This included more than €1.1 billion in beef products and almost €970 million in dairy products. Ireland is also the UK’s largest...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Our seafood industry has been on a sustained growth path in recent years, with sales growing 53% since 2010 to €890 million in 2015. Current FAO estimates are that growth in world consumption of fish will require an extra 40 million tonnes of seafood by 2030. Ireland can capture a significant share of this global seafood opportunity with the right strategy and supporting investment....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 is a major piece of legislation replacing a wide range of Acts relating to animal health and welfare dating back over a century. The Act provides for major legislative changes relating to animal welfare, putting it on a more pro-active footing and, in particular, placing specific requirement on animal keepers to care for animals rather than merely avoid...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hare Coursing Regulation (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Under the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing. The ICC has confirmed that it has systems in place...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Identification Schemes (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: The new Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of €25 million to be provided in Budget 2017. Discussions have commenced with the European Commission and a formal submission will be made shortly. Any such scheme must comply with the Rural Development Regulation. This scheme will be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Applications Data (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Last year a suite of six new measures were announced under TAMS II. These measures were launched under the new Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020 and are co-funded under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Under the scheme support is provided for the following measures: - Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme - Dairy Equipment Scheme - Organic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: I believe that free trade agreements are very important to Ireland, given our status as a small, open economy. The negotiation of access to new markets historically has been a big driver of economic development, particularly in the agrifood sector. I believe that this will continue to be the case in the future, and will be crucial to the achievement of the objectives outlined in the Food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Farm safety is a critical issue facing farming today. Statistics show that accidents on farms cause more workplace deaths than all other occupations combined. In the period 2004 to 2013, there were 176 fatal farm accidents which is a shocking statistic. To date this year there has been 8 fatal farm accidents on Irish farms. These 8 fatal farm accidents account for over forty percent of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Both seals and salmon are protected species under the EU Habitats Directive. I must clarify for the Deputy that management of wild salmon is the responsibility of the Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources and is administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland while seals come under the responsibility of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry Funding (13 Jul 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 industry. The current Foal Levy scheme, which was introduced in 2000 on a statutory basis, applies to all thoroughbred foals registered in Ireland. The proceeds of the levy are used...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Promotion (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Our seafood industry has been on a sustained growth path in recent years, with sales growing 53% since 2010 to €890 million in 2015. Current FAO estimates are that growth in world consumption of fish will require an extra 40 million tonnes of seafood by 2030. Ireland can capture a significant share of this global seafood opportunity with the right strategy and supporting investment....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Article 32 of EU Regulation 1305/2013 requires all member states to implement a new system for designating eligible areas under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme from 2018 at the latest. At present, eligible land under the scheme is designated by reference to criteria such as stocking density, family farm income, population density and the percentage of the working population...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: A Request for Tenders (RFT) seeking a single supplier for the provision of a service to supply a suite of bovine tags including conventional tags, tissue tags (that provide for tissue sampling for BVD detection and DNA analysis), electronic tags and electronic bolus was published in May. The minimum specification for tags is set out in the RFT. All tags must comply with the requirements...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Exports (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Ireland received a major reputational boost in 2015 as the first EU Member State to gain access to the US market for beef. Six plants are currently approved to export. By the end of December 2015, Bord Bia estimated that approximately 1,800 tonnes of beef, with an estimated value of €14 million had been exported from Ireland to the US. This represents an exception ally strong start...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (13 Jul 2016)

Michael Creed: Ireland has adopted a whole of Government approach to developing climate policy. We have been engaged in intensive discussions with the European Commission - both DG Clima and DG Agriculture - and with our European colleagues to ensure the October 2014 Council Conclusions are fully recognised in the effort sharing proposals. We have been engaged for some time now with like minded...