Results 1,861-1,880 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

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

Michael Creed: Further to a 2018 audit carried out by the Commission in Killybegs in 2018 which identified “severe and significant weaknesses in the Irish control system”, Ireland received a formal decision of the Commissions intention to conduct an administrative inquiry to evaluate Ireland’s capacity to apply the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Principally, the Commission...

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

Michael Creed: EU regulations governing the administration of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) and other area-based schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including Ground or Remote Sensing (Satellite) inspections where applicable, are fully completed to ensure eligibility with the various schemes requirements before any payments...

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

Michael Creed: I wish to reassure the House that I recognise the value and importance of maintaining vibrant coastal and island communities. My Department and I have been creating and supporting policies to support inshore fishers all around the coast including islands. The majority of the fishing vessels based on islands are smaller vessels. Inshore fishing boats currently make up more than 80% of the...

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: 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: Beef Exports (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: Ireland gained access to the Chinese beef market in April 2018 when three beef plants were approved to export to China. Eighteen months later, 21 beef plants are now approved. The latest CSO trade data for the first nine months of 2019 shows that Ireland exported over 5,000 tonnes of beef to China, some four times the entire volume exported in 2018. This represents a very encouraging start to...

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: Fodder Crisis (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: In 2018, a late spring and prolonged period of dry weather during the summer resulted in a difficult grass growing season in that year with subsequent reduction in fodder conservation. For 2019, Teagasc data, using its grass growth monitoring service, 'PastureBase Ireland', has shown that grass growth throughout 2019 generally returned to normal levels. These favourable growing conditions...

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

Michael Creed: I congratulate the participants who were involved in the recent Youth Assembly in the Dail and welcome their efforts in highlighting issues relating to Climate Change. One of their ten recommendations was the development of industrial hemp processing facilities in an effort to provide viable, sustainable and alternative land use for farmers as well as employment in rural Ireland. As the...

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: Climate Action Plan (27 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: Renewable Energy Projects (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: Forestry Data (27 Nov 2019)

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 to 180, inclusive, together. Under the current Forestry Programme 2014 -2020, the planting of native woodlands is supported through a grant of €6,200 per hectare and 15 year premiums of €680 per hectare. Interest in planting has increased year-on-year since the commencement of the programme in 2015. In order to further encourage the planting...

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

Michael Creed: My Department makes available on its website a substantial number of forestry-related statistics, which are updated monthly or annually as required.  The number of hectares of conifers planted in the years requested is provided in the table at the link.  Generally, a count of trees planted is not made, but an average of 2,500 stems per hectare is standard for conifers. ...

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

Michael Creed: The Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) Measure one of the suite of seven measures available under TAMS II and provides grants for Low Emission Slurry Spreading equipment.   To date, 1,450 farmers have received €19.04m in grant assistance to purchase LESS equipment under the TAMS II scheme and a further 1,658 farmers have an outstanding approval to...

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

Michael Creed: The Government’s policy position for the agriculture sector is an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production. There are three strands to my Department’s approach to carbon neutrality: 1. reducing agricultural emissions; 2. increasing carbon sequestration; and 3. displacing and substituting fossil fuel and energy...

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

Michael Creed: The document referred to by the Deputy is the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code, specifically in relation to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)  and the recommendations to manage health risks associated with the presence of the BSE agent in cattle. Last year, Irish beef was exported to nearly 70 countries worldwide according...

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

Michael Creed: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together. Details of all positive BSE cases since 1989 are retained in my Department.  The cases contain important epidemiological information and assist in assessing future BSE and TSE risk. The European database on BSE cases is managed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), who was delegated that responsibility by the European...

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

Michael Creed: As part of the regulatory controls for food safety, there is a State veterinary presence in every meat plant and this Vet conducts an ante-mortem inspection on every animal presented for slaughter. In addition, and on a precautionary basis, all specified risk material must be removed from all animals slaughtered and this is also verified by the State veterinarian present in the plant. No...

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

Michael Creed: As part of the regulatory controls for food safety, there is a State veterinary presence in every meat plant and this veterinarian conducts an ante-mortem inspection on every animal presented for slaughter. In addition, and on a precautionary basis, all specified risk material must be removed from all animals slaughtered and this is also verified by the State veterinarian present in the...