Results 1,801-1,820 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department recognises wetlands and peat soils as an important carbon pool in the Irish landscape. Reducing emissions by water table manipulation has the potential to significantly reduce GHG emissions from these soils and is a means to positively contribute to our climate change mitigation ambitions. This is an important part of Agriculture's contribution to the emission reductions and is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Action Programme (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Agricultural Catchments Programme, which has been in place since 2008, is an intensive monitoring programme used to evaluate the impact of Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme (NAP) and the Nitrates derogation which are implemented under the Nitrates Directive. The Programme is funded by my Department and has been delivered by Teagasc since its inception. I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Live exports are a critical part of Ireland’s livestock industry.  They play a significant role in stimulating price competition and providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. My Department facilitates this trade, recognising its importance to the agri-food sector, while placing a strong emphasis at all times on the welfareof all animals being transported. In 2018,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (28 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The new legislative proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy 2021-2027 outline a greater environmental ambition post-2020 and recognise the role the agriculture sector has to play in helping Member States achieve their environmental and climate change targets. I firmly endorse the principle that there must be a high level of environmental ambition in the CAP post-2020. The Finnish...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Agreements (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The point the Deputy advanced is a dangerous and false narrative in defence of his position on the carbon footprint of the transport element. We export our product to more than 180 countries, some of which are as far removed from here as the Mercosur countries are from Europe. I have seen figures that suggest that the life cycle footprint of the product is critical, and the life cycle on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, the inaugural beef task force meeting, scheduled for 14 October, was prevented from proceeding. Since then, however, the independent chairman and my Department continue to engage proactively with task force members with a view to progressing the implementation of the provisions of the agreement. My Department and its agencies continue to progress the commitments...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy will agree we convened the task force for 14 October-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: It was convened for 14 October but on that date, for reasons both Deputies know, the task force meeting could not go ahead. I do not intend to elaborate on why it did not happen on that date because that is well known. There are other complicating issues, which were mentioned earlier, and the injunctions are a significant impediment to convening a meeting. I have been involved in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Beef Industry (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, the inaugural beef task force meeting, scheduled for 14 October, was prevented from proceeding. Since then, however, the independent chairman and my Department continue to engage proactively with task force members with a view to progressing the implementation of the provisions of the agreement. My Department and its agencies continue to progress the commitments...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Agreements (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: On 28 June, the European Commissioners for trade and agriculture announced that agreement had been reached in principle between the European Union and Mercosur countries on a free trade agreement. As I said at the time, I am disappointed by the outcome of these negotiations, which includes a 99,000 tonnes tariff rate quota, TRQ, for beef from the Mercosur countries. The agreement is now in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Agreements (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Deputy speaks of the Mercosur trade agreement as if it were a reality today and we are suffering its consequences; that is not the case and there is quite a period to go before it will become the reality. There is talk about the deal being agreed but there is quite some time to go before a decision will be required by this institution or other member state parliaments or regional...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Household Incomes (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The best investment in the future of the agrifood sector is in ensuring our sustainability credentials are recognised at home and abroad. Regrettably, there is a view in certain quarters that the production of greenhouse gases is in some way a consequence of sloppy agriculture. It is not possible to be involved in food production without producing greenhouse gases. It is important we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Live Exports (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Live exports are a critical part of Ireland's livestock industry. They play a significant role in stimulating price competition and in providing an alternative market outlet for farmers. My Department facilitates this trade, recognising its importance to the agrifood sector, while placing a strong emphasis at all times on the welfare of all animals being transported. In 2018, total live...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Live Exports (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I am clearly committed to maximising the opportunities in the marketplace, particularly for live exports. The graph and the investments clearly show that and we have had some successes there. I am disappointed with the Deputy's contribution on the welfare standards. That is the only way we will safeguard that market access and I make no apology for increasing those measures beyond the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Live Exports (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: We are in agreement on these issues. We need to work together and unequivocally state we are committed to the highest standards. We must not just state it but we must reflect it in our actions and regulations. I am happy to report that from the engagement I have had with customers they are happy with the quality of the product they buy here, not just the calves but all the stock we export....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Household Incomes (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The agrifood sector is an essential part of the economic and social fabric of Ireland, especially in rural and coastal areas. Primary agrifood output in 2018 was approximately €8.5 billion and the vast majority of this was produced by farm families. Teagasc in its Outlook 2020 published yesterday stated that the average family farm income in Ireland increased by an estimated 7%...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Farm Household Incomes (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I will make three points in reply. The Common Agricultural Policy moved a long time ago away from product support, where the Minister would return from every December Council with prices across the board, to income supports. That is why initiatives such as the exceptional aid measure or the environmental efficiency programme are important, as are all the other schemes. Second, one strategy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Basic Payment Scheme (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 38 and 39 together. EU regulations governing the administration of the basic payment scheme, the areas of natural constraint scheme and other area-based schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including ground or remote sensing inspections where applicable, are fully completed to ensure eligibility with the various...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Basic Payment Scheme (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: In explaining these matters to the farmers who are waiting, I accept that I am losing but I will give the Deputy some information on the number of applicants paid on the preliminary payment date and on how the situation has improved. That is attributable to the Department staff who are working to accelerate the process. In 2015, 100,000 applicants were paid on the first day the payments...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Basic Payment Scheme (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: To be fair, these cases are being cleared as quickly as possible. There is a whole team effort involved in it. I accept that farmers waiting for that payment will not consider this acceptable but I assure the Deputy that we are doing everything possible. The situation has improved significantly year-on-year.