Results 1,441-1,460 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (13 May 2020)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 956 and 957 together. The last meeting of the Beef Taskforce was on 9th Jan 2020. Taskforce members have been advised that a written update on the work of the Taskforce will be provided - this update is currently being finalised and is expected to issue shortly. These documents will also be published on the Department’s website. As previously advised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (13 May 2020)

Michael Creed: I am not aware of any recent incidents as outlined by the Deputy. For packaged meat to be to be labelled with the “Q” mark “Origin Ireland” – all stages of production, processing and packaging have to take place within Ireland with all these participants being members of the Bord Bia Sustainable Quality Assurance Scheme. I would like to advise the Deputy,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (13 May 2020)

Michael Creed: The objective of the Beef Exceptional Aid Measure (BEAM) was to provide temporary exceptional adjustment aid to farmers in the beef sector in Ireland subject to the conditions set out in EU Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1132. This aid was granted to provide temporary market adjustment support in response to a specific market disturbance as outlined in Ireland's notification to...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: When we talk about food security it is important to remember that while we do import substantial volume and value of food, we are a very significant exporter of food to over 180 countries. Our exports in 2019 were valued in excess of €14 billion and sustain employment for over 170,000 people. There is a global complexity to the food market to which the Deputy alludes and I accept...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: I thank the Deputy. I will try to deal with many of the issues he has raised. On the issue of migrant workers, the European Commission in a communiqué in late March made a specific appeal to member states to recognise that this section of the workforce needed to be facilitated. They have been an integral part of, in particular, the horticulture sector here for many years. Many people...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: On the latter point, the Department consistently advises farmers regarding the rules and regulations and timelines concerning when the burning of uplands is permitted. It is also brought to their attention that those in breach of those regulations run the risk of disqualifying themselves from their entitlement to payments from the Department. There is also a Commission interest in these...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: I share the Deputy's view that constructive dialogue is the way to go and I look forward to that. I have engaged directly with SBCI and accept that there is a gap in the financial instruments that we have so far been able to deliver, with regard to working capital. As I alluded to earlier, a legislative fix is required to enable us to deal with that. We are making sure that once that is...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: I thank the Deputy. On the latter point, the industry is particularly aware of domestic and global consumer interest in a carbon-efficient production system. We are at an advanced stage in the implementation of the climate action plan that has been approved by this House and the Government. Ireland is a global leader in these industries. Along with their counterparts in New Zealand, Irish...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: Does the Deputy want an answer?

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: I alluded to the BEAM conditionality earlier and the willingness to keep an open mind on it, but I do not recognise at this stage that there has been any adverse impact on the operations of farmers. My response to the EU response has been quoted out of context. We were in a situation where the EU's initial response was to free up state aid flexibility and after that we were on our own....

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: The structure of this is very difficult because it is not opportune-----

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: We produce-----

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: We will try to give the Deputy simple answers which he might understand. We produce approximately 600,000 tonnes of beef every year, of which we export 90%. Approximately 300,000 tonnes of that goes to the UK. UK farmer representatives are complaining to UK retailers about stocking Irish beef. We see a story running about the Polish approach to renationalisation. Deputy Carthy's...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: I would not like the message to go out - I do not think it is true, although I am not sure if Deputy Stanley meant it this way - that, either by commission or omission, factories allowed Covid-19 to spread.

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: All I can say is that is not the information available to our Department. We have staff in those places and we have contracted temporary veterinary inspectors. I want to say that is certainly not the case on the basis of the information available to me. In all of this, public health is the primary concern. The processing of meat is important but it is a secondary concern to the primacy...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: I will try to race through the issues. I have met with the dairy co-ops and executives by teleconference on two occasions in recent weeks. Our primary concern was to make sure that as we approach peak production, we keep processing capacity functioning and that there would be sufficient contingency planning in our Department and at individual plant level to facilitate that because there is...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: I will do my best. On the beef issue, I accept that this sector has taken the immediate visible hit from Covid-19. There have been consequences due to the closure of food services, not just domestically but more significantly in the volume of food service restaurants and hotels globally and within the European Union. We have been insisting that the European Commission is reminded of the...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: The Covid-19 pandemic is a public health crisis first and foremost. My Department, like all Government agencies, is working closely with the Department of Health as part of a whole-of-Government response. The pandemic has also resulted in a profound economic shock across the globe. Its impact is being felt right across the Irish economy, including in the agrifood sector. The impact on the...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: Perhaps I might make a final point on the areas of natural constraint, ANC, issue. As I alluded to earlier, I am not really in favour of flexibility on the ANC stocking rate. The Deputy alluded to the price of cattle. Removing the obligation on buyers of cattle to meet that stocking density requirement will completely remove the floor from the price of cattle. What looks like a good idea...

Covid-19 (Agriculture, Food and the Marine): Statements (30 Apr 2020)

Michael Creed: On the latter point, bar one exception where Bord Bia acknowledged there was a difficulty, if one sees a Bord Bia quality assurance stamp on it, it is an Irish product and there should be no mystery about that. In terms of the issue of imports to which Deputy McNamara alluded, does it not send a shiver down his spine when he sees the National Farmers Union in the United Kingdom giving out...