Results 13,121-13,140 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 (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: On the latter question, we will use up the €250 million allocated; therefore, we will reopen the GLAS scheme. Onn the REPS payments to which I alluded in respect of the beef data and genomics scheme, it is a carryover from the previous rural development programme. If the beef data and genomics scheme overruns, we have secured funding under the current programme. If we were to reopen...
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: I appreciate the point Deputy Kenny raises. In the programme for Government there is a commitment to review the impact of the forestry sector in rural communities. I think the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government as well as the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have a role to play in that context. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine does...
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: Deputy McConalogue raised the issue of re-opening the GLAS scheme and I have dealt with his specific query. Deputy Kenny raised the issue of fencing. In certain circumstances, there may be a requirement to get either planning or a certificate of exemption from the local authority. In particular, that proviso may apply where replacement of existing fencing is required but that is a matter...
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: All those issues form part of the long awaited threat response plan. I am disappointed it has taken this long to get the plan finalised. I take the point made. It is interesting, in respect of the most recent survey on hen harriers, that the number of breeding pairs is still in decline notwithstanding all of the efforts made to date. I know the hen harrier is a wonderful bird. I have...
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: The focus of programme D is to deliver schemes and services effectively and efficiently, provide a quality service to all of our clients and adhere to the highest standards of good corporate governance. The key policies driving this programme include providing farm income support through the implementation of the areas of natural constraint scheme and maintaining high standards of financial...
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: I acknowledge that farmers are experiencing cashflow difficulties. We are pursuing, with the Commission, the possibility of facilitating the earliest possible payment of the basic payments scheme. The earliest possible date allowed is 16 October. We have raised the matter with the Commission but have not received an answer. There is no prospect of the €25 million being paid in 2017....
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: A preliminary outcome is expected at the end of this year, but the measure must be in place by 2018. The survey is under way as we speak, but the €25 million will not be paid out in 2017. We have a forestry for fibre programme, which differs from the run-of-the-mill forestry programme, and we are considering introducing a new initiative for growing willow for biomass, although no...
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: We are considering the specifics of biomass, paying particular regard to willow, but there is already a forestry for fibre-----
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: We have not decided on the details yet, but a programme is under active consideration.
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: We are considering this matter. We had a willow project, but it did not attract much interest. We had a sum total of four applicants. It was different to the conventional forestry programme in the sense that we did not pay a premium, but an establishment grant, because the harvesting period was much shorter. I appreciate the Deputy's points about the benefit to municipal heating systems...
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: I have a lot of responsibilities, but I do not have any responsibility for those stations.
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: I appreciate that they are-----
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: For someone who a while ago did not want to grow too many trees, the Deputy is now talking about growing many of them.
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: I appreciate that. This is one of the issues on which we need joined-up thinking.
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: If burning peat is an activity that is being phased out, the use of an alternative fuel source that is compatible with our climate change objectives and so on could work. It is under active consideration in the Department.
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: At the April Council of Agriculture Ministers it was decided under state aid rules to offer states the option of exploring a financial mechanism to provide up to €15,000 for farmers. We are in consultation with farming organisations and are exploring what we can do on this matter. The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF,...
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: Programme E shows the anticipated appropriations-in-aid or receipts, estimated at €306 million in 2016. They come from a variety of sources, the most important of which is the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, EAFRD, under which the rural development programme, RDP, is co-funded. This year it is expected receipts amounting to €239 million will come from that...
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: The point I want to get across is that we acknowledge that one size will not fit all. I envisage that the scheme will provide a range of options, some of which will be appropriate to the management of hill flocks, while others will be appropriate to lowland sheep farmers.
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: A range of options will be provided, some of which will be tailored and more appropriate to the management of hill flocks, as opposed to lowland flocks. In constructing the scheme, we must acknowledge that there is less interaction with hill flocks than lowland flocks. It is envisaged that sheep farmers will be able to avail of a suite of options.
- Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Revised) (22 Jun 2016) Michael Creed: Yes, a menu of options will be available.