Results 1,841-1,860 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, the inaugural Beef Taskforce meeting scheduled for 14th October was prevented from proceeding. However, since then the independent chair and my Department continue to engage proactively with Taskforce members with a view to both progressing the implementation of the provisions of the agreement. My Department and its agencies continue to progress the commitments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artisan Food Sector (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Artisan and speciality food businesses can have a significant impact on local rural economies and their importance is acknowledged in the Food Wise 2025 strategy. Growth prospects for the sector are positive overall, driven by increased consumer interest in the provenance of food, environmental concerns, health and a desire to support the local economy. A range of supports for this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alternative Farm Enterprises (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Through the All-of-Government Climate Action Plan, my Department is working closely with other government Departments to ensure Ireland's transition to a low carbon economy and society. While agriculture contributes to the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, the sector also has the means to be part of the alleviation process and has a key role to play in transitioning to a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Promotion (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department supports vegetable producers by means of grant aid provided through the Scheme of Investment Aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector. This scheme provides grant aid towards capital investments in specialised plant and equipment as well as emerging technologies specific to commercial horticulture production. Under this scheme, aid at a rate of 40% (or a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department’s TB eradication Programme aims to drive bovine TB (bTB) disease levels down towards the target of eradication by 2030. It is focussed on measures which will further reduce transmission of bTB. In the coming weeks, I will be launching a renewed strategy underpinned by the principle of supporting and empowering farmers to reduce the bTB risk to their cattle by making...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Funding (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Bord na gCon contributed €106,000 to the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust’s total...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Bodies (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Since 1995, my Department has provided ex-gratia funding to animal charities to assist in their work in animal care and welfare. This funding is in recognition of the valuable work being done by these organisations. In December 2018, I announced record funding awards of €2.75m to 108 animal welfare organisations throughout the country, including to the organisation named. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department has received over 122,000 applications this year from farmers with entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), which is funded by the EU and is worth approximately €1.2 billion annually. Under EU Regulations, all applications must be subjected to robust administrative checks prior to payment. The main element of the administrative check is an area assessment....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme Eligibility (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Organic Farming Scheme is one of the most successful schemes under our current Rural Development Programme. The Scheme has more than achieved its targets in terms of new land converted and the maintenance of organic land. As a further vote of confidence in the organics sector by this Government, my colleague Minister Doyle established an Organic Sector Strategy Group last year,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) was re-opened in November 2018 on a targeted basis on foot of the recommendation of the Organic Sector Strategy Group. Following assessment by the Group and based on market demand and supply deficits in organic horticulture, cereals and dairy, the Group recommended the re-opening of the OFS targeting expenditure towards sectors in deficit. Selection criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department has received over 130,000 applications this year from farmers under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC), Scheme which are funded or partially funded by the EU and are worth in excess of €1.4 billion annually. There are no delays in the issuing of payments to applicants with clear and validated applications under either scheme. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I would like first of all to congratulate the participants in the youth assembly forum and to commend their interest in expanding Ireland's overall forest cover. There has been a significant expansion in the forest estate from 1% at the turn of the 20th century to 770,000 hectares or 11% today, but this is indeed well short of the EU average. It is our clear intention, as outlined in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: The boundary line between the herring stock in 5b,6b and 6aN (6aN) and the herring stock in 6aSouth, 7b and 7c (6aS 7bc) is along the 7degree west line which cuts through the Foyle. Although they are considered to be separate stocks, herring in the southern part of 6a and 7bc is combined with that from the northern part of 6a by ICES for the purposes of assessment. This is because the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I recognise that farmer engagement is vital to the success of the national afforestation programme and that their active participation over the years has increased Ireland's forest cover significantly. The supports currently offered under the forestry programme cover 100% of the cost of establishing new forests and also provides annual premium payments which are paid each year for 15 years....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Genetically Modified Organisms (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (supported by the Environmental Protection Agency) is responsible for the authorisation of GM crops for cultivation, while my Department regulates its use, once authorised. Additionally, my Department has responsibility for the regulation of EU authorised GMO's used in animal feed. In respect...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: At the October 2019 Agri-Fish Council, the Finnish Presidency presented a ‘state-of-play’ paper on the CAP post-2020 reform package, where my Ministerial colleagues and I exchanged views on the key issues that are deemed to require further consideration. While funding for the CAP is outside the remit of Agriculture Ministers, I have been working with my European...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Food Wise 2025 is the current ten-year strategy for the agri-food sector and it underlines the sector’s unique and special position within the Irish economy and illustrates the potential which exists for the sector to develop further. Food Wise contains a vision of thriving primary producers and agri-food businesses at the heart of vibrant communities across the country and was built...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: At the Agri-Fish Council on 18 November 2019, the Commission presented two proposals for CAP transitional rules. Such transitional measures are normal practice between consecutive programming periods, to provide legal and financial certainty where a gap arises due to any delays in finalising a new EU Budget and CAP regulations. The recent Council accepted the need for such proposals and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: As the Deputy will be aware, the inaugural Beef Taskforce meeting scheduled for 14th October was prevented from proceeding. However, since then the independent chair and my Department continue to engage proactively with Taskforce members with a view to both progressing the implementation of the provisions of the agreement. My Department and its agencies continue to progress the commitments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: My Department is fully committed to supporting the expansion of the national forest estate and will continue to fund new plantng through generous grant and premiums under the forestry programme, which has a very substantial allocation of €103m for 2020. This reflects our commitment towards working to the planting target of 8,000 hectares contained in the Climate Action Plan. I am...