VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8...

12
VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM budget for 2019 Agri-Food trade Mission to Indonesia and Mayalysia Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP Reforms and Fisheries in Luxembourg Food Wise 2025 High Level Implementation Committee Significant progress on Fodder Deficit €15m advance payments, Year 2 of Sheep Welfare Scheme 2018 Farmer Payments under the Hen Harrier and the Burren Programmes €70m pledged to United Nations World Food Pro- gramme SeaFest 2019 Funding for Agri-Food tourism projects Minister’s Online Newsletter December 2018 Page 1 IMPORTANT DATES It has been a busy final quarter of 2018 with the clock ticking down to the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. As March 29th 2019 draws closer, preparing for Brexit has been to the forefront of my activities over the past number of weeks. Budget 2019 featured a Brexit Resilience Package of €78 million for the Agri Food sector. Market diversification efforts intensified with a Trade Mission to South East Asia. Work on the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy continued with a series of meetings across the EU. It has been a challenging year for the Irish Agri-Food sector particularly for farmers who faced a year of varied severe weather events. I hope that Christmas will bring a welcome period of rest for all as we prepare ourselves for an uncertain beginning to 2019. On the 9 th October, I announced details of my Department’s 2019 Budget. Against the background of the overarching requirement for a balanced budget in 2019, my priority has been to deliver measures designed to help farmers, fishermen and food SME’s to navigate the challenges of Brexit. I also wanted to support those in the most disadvantaged areas, while maintaining the ambition for the development of the food industry. The Estimates provide for a gross Vote of €1.596 billion for the Department. In addition, I will be seeking sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to carry over an additional €20 million in capital funding, to bring the total provision for 2019 to €1,616m, including €275m for capital and €1,341m for current expenditure. This is in addition to approximately €1.2 billion in direct EU payments administered by my Department. I have made provision for a Brexit Resilience Package of €78 million for the Agri Food sector for 2019. This includes a range of measures to support farmers and industry, against the background of the challenges that lie ahead. The measures announced by my Department include €44m of direct aid for farmers and €27 million in Brexit related supports for the food industry. I have also provided €7m for staff and IT costs arising from additional import control and export certification requirements arising as a result of Brexit. In addition to the Brexit Resilience package, I acknowledge the announcement in the Budget by my colleague Minister Donohoe of a key Government Brexit response, the Future Growth Loan Scheme”, which will be rolled out in 2019 and for which he had Announcing €1.6 Billion DAFM Budget for 2019

Transcript of VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8...

Page 1: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

Minister’s Online Newsletter

D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8

Page 1

IMPORTANT DATES

It has been a busy final quarter of 2018 with the clock ticking down to the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. As March 29th 2019 draws closer, preparing for Brexit has been to the forefront of my activities over the past number of weeks. Budget 2019 featured a Brexit Resilience Package of €78 million for the Agri Food sector. Market diversification efforts intensified with a Trade Mission to South East Asia. Work on the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy continued with a series of meetings across the EU. It has been a challenging year for the Irish Agri-Food sector particularly for farmers who faced a year of varied severe weather events. I hope that Christmas will bring a welcome period of rest for all as we prepare ourselves for an uncertain beginning to 2019.

On the 9th October, I announced details of my Department’s 2019 Budget. Against the background of the overarching requirement for a balanced budget in 2019, my priority has been to deliver measures designed to help farmers, fishermen and food SME’s to navigate the challenges of Brexit. I also wanted to support those in the most disadvantaged areas, while maintaining the ambition for the development of the food industry. The Estimates provide for a gross Vote of €1.596 billion for the Department. In addition, I will be seeking sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to carry over an additional €20 million in capital funding, to bring the total provision for 2019 to €1,616m, including €275m for capital and €1,341m for current expenditure. This is in addition to approximately €1.2 billion in direct EU payments administered by my Department. I have made provision for a Brexit Resilience Package of €78 million for the Agri Food sector for 2019. This includes a range of measures to support farmers and industry, against the background of the challenges that lie ahead. The measures announced by my Department include €44m of direct aid for farmers and €27 million in Brexit related supports for the food industry. I have also provided €7m for staff and IT costs arising from additional import control and export certification requirements arising as a result of Brexit. In addition to the Brexit Resilience package, I acknowledge the announcement in the Budget by my colleague Minister Donohoe of a key Government Brexit response, the “Future Growth Loan Scheme”, which will be rolled out in 2019 and for which he had

Announcing €1.6 Billion DAFM Budget for 2019

Page 2: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 3

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.12m paid to date

under Basic Payment

Scheme

€150 Million, 2.95%

interest Agri Cash

Flow Support Loan

Trade Mission to

Morocco and Algeria

223,500 Tonnes of

Fish quota’s secured,

Worth €280 Million

for Irish Fishermen

for 2017

Grant Awards for

over €28M FOR Agri-

Food, Marine and

Forest Research

IMPORTANT DATES

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

IMPORTANT DATES

made provision of €25m in 2018. The scheme will provide long term, unsecured investment finance for farmers and small scale companies in the food and seafood sectors. The provision for my Department’s Seafood Programme has been increased by €6 million, to a total of €133.8 million, and this will help fund vital investment in Castletownbere and Killybegs fishery harbours. The budget provision will also allow the Marine Institute to commence the planned replacement of the 21 year old Celtic Voyager with a new 50m modern research vessel that will provide critical national infrastructure to enable Ireland to address the considerable challenges of Brexit and the Common Fisheries Policy as well as climate induced impacts on our oceans. In relation to our continued investment in the rural economy and on farm schemes the commitment under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for 2019 is €638m. This includes a commitment under the Agri Environmental measures of €203m and €70m for the Targeted Agricultural Measures (TAMS). An increased allocation of €4m for 2019 has also been provided to assist with the strategic development of the Horse and Greyhound sector I welcome the publication by the Minister for Finance of the “Progress Implementation Update of the Agri-taxation Review 2014”: This shows the excellent progress made between our two Departments over recent Budgets with the implementation of almost all of the 25 recommendations, which has resulted in positive changes for Irish agriculture, especially in the areas of land mobility and succession”. I believe that the package of measures announced will support the agri-food sector and assist us focussing on competitiveness, innovation, new market development and environmental sustainability – all key themes of the Food Wise strategy, and the best response we can make to the uncertainty and challenge posed by Brexit. At the end of October, I lead Ireland’s first agri-food trade mission to Indonesia and Malaysia. I was very pleased to lead the first agri-food trade mission to Indonesia and Malaysia, two large and growing Asian economies, which have been identified as priority markets for the further growth of Irish agri-food exports. Indonesia has the fourth largest population in the world, at over 260 million people. Our agri-food exports to Indonesia last year amounted to €22 million, mainly dairy products, so there is clearly potential for further growth. Malaysia, with a population of 32 million, has close ties to Ireland, particularly in the field of education. Our food exports last year amounted to €38 million, almost all dairy, again with significant growth potential. Dairy will obviously be a major focus for the mission, but there will also be opportunities to discuss meat market access and promote our seafood exports.

Back to page 1 →

Leading the First Government of Ireland Agri-Food Trade Mission to

Indonesia and Malaysia

Page 2

Page 3: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

IMPORTANT DATES

Market development is a key theme of our shared Food Wise 2025 strategy for the sustainable growth of the sector, and increasing our share of international markets is an important response to the threat posed by Brexit. The Trade Mission covered 18 key engagements. I was accompanied by senior officials from my own Department and from State agencies including Bord Bia and Sustainable Food Systems Ireland; with participation from many of our leading food companies. In order to succeed in Asia, it is vital to develop relationships at Government and business levels and to be guided by the best consumer and market insight available. I will use my bilateral engagements to highlight to our host countries that Ireland can provide safe, secure and sustainably produced food and to assist Irish companies looking to gain new business there. Our main goal on this Trade Mission was to raise awareness of Ireland as a source of sustainable dairy, to enhance our understanding of the meat market and to create commercial opportunities for Irish exporters through qualified introductions to the major import players in both markets. On the 29th October, I attended the international Our Ocean Conference in Nusa Dua, Bali. This is the fifth of these conferences, started by former US Secretary of State, John Kerry which brings together global community representatives and urges them to commit to tangible actions to ensure the future sustainability of the world’s oceans, has taken place, and since 2014, the conference has produced commitments totalling in the region of US$18 billion. In speaking during the panel discussion on Climate Change, I outlined Ireland’s continued commitment to addressing the challenges raised by climate change stating that the requirement to address knowledge gaps in relation to climate impacts within the marine/coastal environment have been identified as a prospective priority research area to enhance Ireland’s climate resilience.

Back to page 1 →

Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, representing

Ireland at the international Our Ocean Conference in Nusa Dua, Bali.

Page 3

Page 4: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

IMPORTANT DATES

I highlighted the provision of €10m to the local authority sector in Ireland to aid in the establishment of four Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs), the continued commitment to the Environmental Educational module of Ireland’s Green Schools programme, continued support of the Clean Coast Programme and the provision of €1mil over a five year period (2019-2024) towards a new programme of Ocean & Climate research in an Irish Higher Education Institution. Other commitments announced by Ireland included the completion of a €250 million naval vessel replacement programme involving the purchase of four larger more capable offshore patrol vessels tasked primarily with maritime surveillance and fishery protection, and Ireland’s commitment of €32 million for the delivery of three Pilatus 12 aircraft to the Irish Defence Forces in 2019/20. Alongside the conference, I attended a lunch, hosted by President of Indonesia Joko Widodo; met with the EU Commissioner Vella; met Irish attendees at the Our Ocean Youth Summit and met with the USA delegation to the conference to discuss the work of the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance (AORA). The Bord Bia dairy conference in Jakarta was an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of the Irish dairy sector in Indonesia, and to bring targeted retail buyers, suppliers and consumers from both our countries together. Events like this can be a foundation stone for the development of positive commercial relationships and improved trading opportunities for Irish dairy processors. I was pleased to confirm that, after a very productive meeting with my counterpart, the Malaysian Minister for Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Minister Salahuddin, a veterinary heath certificate for the export of pigmeat from Ireland to Malaysia has been agreed. This is very positive news, as the Malaysian market has been on the radar of our pigmeat industry for some time.

Back to page 1 →

Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

and Tara McCarthy, CEO, Bord Bia, signing into the Irish residence

in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Page 4

Page 5: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

IMPORTANT DATES

There are a number of steps remaining before market access is finalised, including an inspection visit from the Malaysian authorities. But agreement on a veterinary health cert is an important milestone in this process. It follows on from technical discussions between officials from my Department and their Malaysian counterparts, as well as my bilateral meeting with Minister. This really underlines the value of trade missions in progressing our market access efforts. Poultry is another meat that has been of significant interest to Ireland in terms of market access and the meetings served as a useful chance to discuss our ongoing poultry application. I concluded the meeting with Minister Salahuddin by inviting the Minister and colleagues to visit Ireland in 2019 for further discussions on areas of mutual cooperation. I opened a Bord Bia dairy conference which hosted over 70 Malaysian dairy buyers, importers and foodservice operators to learn about Irish dairy production. The seminar focused on raising awareness of Ireland as a source of sustainable dairy, enhancing the Irish Industry’s understanding of the Malaysian market. It was followed by business meetings between Irish dairy companies and potential Malaysian partners. The week's trade mission raised awareness of Ireland as a source of sustainable food produce and enhanced Indonesia and Malaysia’s understanding of Irish dairy and meat markets and facilitated opportunities for Irish exporters.

Speaking at the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on the 15th October, I supported the environmental ambition of the Commission proposals for a post 2020 CAP, but pointed to the need for a strong CAP budget if those ambitions are to be realised. Our ambitions for the environment and for the agriculture sector are two sides of the same coin, but we cannot continue to ask farmers to do more and more while at the same time proposing to cut the CAP budget. I also held key bilateral meetings on the margins of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg with his Danish and Spanish counterparts to discuss Brexit, CAP Reform and Fisheries priorities. I met the Danish Minister for Fisheries Eva Kjer Hansen on Brexit. We agreed to continue to work together over the upcoming critical period to deliver on the EU guidelines for a future relationship in respect of fisheries. I also held a bilateral with the Spanish Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas Puchades. We discussed the development of CAP strategic plans, the importance of maintaining a strong CAP budget and the significant value of delivering on the environmental ambition underpinning the future of the CAP. We also

Back to page 1 →

Key bilaterals on Brexit, CAP Reform and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Page 5

Page 6: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

IMPORTANT DATES

discussed key concerns with regard to Brexit. I welcome the understanding that both Ministers demonstrated in our discussions with regard to Brexit and its impact on both the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors. There is a strong appreciation of the Irish concerns in the context of Brexit negotiations and I very much welcome the ongoing support provided by my Danish and Spanish colleagues in this regard. Myself and Planas also reviewed challenging issues facing both Member States in advance of the full introduction of the discards ban on 1 January 2019 and setting quotas at the December fisheries Council that supports the practical delivery of this challenging policy. I addressed the setting of the Mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) and quotas for 2019 in a situation where the scientific advice advocates a 61% cut from 2018. We need to take full account of the concerns from the scientists themselves about this year’s advice and take account of the socio-economic importance of the Mackerel fishery when deciding on a TAC for 2019. We must work closely at an EU level with Norway and the Faroe Islands, our partners in the management agreement, to reach a balanced outcome that avoids undue inter-annual fluctuation in the management of the stock. At the start of November, I chaired the latest meeting of the Food Wise 2025 High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC), where Brexit (a standing agenda item) and the Food Wise Meat Implementation Report were discussed. Referring to Brexit, I stated the co-ordination mechanisms around the Food Wise 2025 process provide a vehicle for ensuring that all of the relevant state agencies are aligned in terms of preparedness for Brexit. The High Level Implementation Committee received a report on the work being carried out in this area across Government. My Department is playing its part in these whole of Government Brexit preparations, and will continue to engage with stakeholders and citizens through the “Getting Ireland Ready for Brexit” initiative and through its own consultative committees”. The Committee also received a report from The Food Wise Meat Implementation Group. This group was convened under the chairmanship of Michael Dowling, to monitor and drive the implementation of the meat Food Wise actions and the future development of the meat sectors. The report followed a series of meetings between the Department and stakeholders across the beef, sheep, pig and poultry sectors. It was really heartening to see a group like this, comprising stakeholders across the meat sectors and in different tiers of the supply chain, collaborating to produce a very useful report that can provide valuable input in the effort to deliver on the ambition in Food Wise 2025. I would like to thank the Chairman Michael Dowling and the industry stakeholder groups for this essential piece of work.

Back to page 1 →

Food Wise 2025 High Level Implementation Committee

Page 6

Page 7: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

IMPORTANT DATES

In November, I welcomed progress on closing the fodder gap for the winter ahead. The most recent Teagasc fodder survey results identify a significant closing of the gap on fodder nationally with just a 1% national shortfall in fodder now in existence. It was clear from the latest national fodder survey that the various support interventions have contributed to reducing a fodder deficit that was considered by Teagasc to be potentially as high as 28% in July, to a 1% deficit in November. There is still the need to remain vigilant and avoid complacency. Even now, up to 1 in 5 farms remain in excess of 10% deficit. The principles of Fodder Budgeting should continue to apply on farms over the winter and I have asked the Inter Agency Fodder Group to continue to monitor the situation. I also said that the collaborative effort of the stakeholders in this Group, working together, had helped to guide farmers through a difficult period, and avert a significant fodder problem on many farms for this winter and spring. Over 19,600 hectares of additional crops were sown by 1,700 arable farmers under the fodder production incentive measure for arable farmers, in addition to the 23,000 hectares sown annually under the current measure within the GLAS scheme. The extension to the spreading period for chemical and organic fertiliser allowed farmers to maximise the amount of conserved fodder in what has been an excellent Autumn period for production and utilisation of grass. Those farmers still in deficit can avail of additional fodder through the Fodder Import Support measure which provides a contribution towards the importation of up to 85,000 tonnes of fodder, this measure will remain open until the end of the year. I wish to convey my appreciation to all of those who had participated in the Group, Our thanks must go to all the members of the Inter-Agency Fodder Group for their work, particularly to advisors from Teagasc and industry, who worked tirelessly on the ground. It is essential that all involved learn from this experience and the sector plans for the future, to ensure that Irish farmers are in a good position to deal with extraordinary weather events should they arise in the future.

Back to page 1 →

Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine chaired the

18 meeting of the Food Wise 2025 High Level Implementation Committee in

November.

Welcoming significant progress on Fodder Deficit

Page 7

Page 8: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

IMPORTANT DATES

At the end of November, I announced that advance payments under Year 2 of Sheep Welfare Scheme had commenced on time to all eligible farmers. I confirmed the rate for the advance payment was again set at 85%. The Scheme is co-funded by the European Union as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020. I indicated that a total of €15.1 million was issuing to some 18,600 farmers, providing a significant financial boost to the individual farmers and the sheep sector in general. The scheme, which was a key commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government, reflects the commitment of the Government to the sheep sector in Ireland, and will make an important contribution to the sustainability of the sheep sector”. I urged any farmers with outstanding queries to respond to my Department immediately in order to facilitate payment. Year 3 of the Scheme will be opening in the coming weeks and my Department will be in contact with farmers to advise them of this. At that stage, there will also be an opportunity for new entrants to the sector to join the scheme.

In November, I welcomed the commencement of payments to farmers under the Hen Harrier Programme. These are the first payments under the €25m programme and are the first of several batches of payments that will be made before the end of 2018 to participating farmers. The Hen Harrier Programme is a scheme under my Department’s Rural Development Programme and is one of the new types of locally-led schemes under the RDP. I was delighted to see the commencement of payments to farmers in this innovative Programme. The purpose of the programme is to pilot new approaches to farming for conservation. It rewards farmers for improving the natural habitat and for the delivery of defined environmental objectives. My Department has allocated €25 million to this Programme over the next five years, and already there are signs that the objectives of the Programme are being achieved while the team continue to

Back to page 1 →

€15m advance payments under Year 2 of Sheep Welfare Scheme

Announced

Michael Creed TD, Minister for

Agriculture, Food and the Marine

announced the commencement of

advance payments under year 2 Sheep

Welfare Scheme.

Commencement of 2018 Farmer Payments under the Hen Harrier

Programme and the Burren Programme

Page 8

Page 9: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

IMPORTANT DATES

come up with innovative solutions to challenges that they face. The Programme is a conservation measure for the Hen Harrier species and focuses on land in Special Areas of Conservation which contain the most important breeding areas for Hen Harriers in Ireland. The payments now being made are results-based payments for the habitat quality delivered by the farmers during the 2018 breeding season. The first payment run sees payments totalling just over €500,000 to the first 190 participants under the Hen Harrier Programme. Payments are also being made for the 2018 scheme year for participants in the Burren Programme. It is expected that around €730,000, representing 85% of the total due, will be paid to participating farmers in the form of habitat- based payments before the end of the year. There are now 331 farmer participants in the Burren Programme. At the start of December, I signed a three year Strategic Partnership Agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), pledging €70m in funding to the World Food Programme (WFP) for the period 2019 – 2021. This agreement was co-signed by David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, and Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciarán Cannon TD. I was very pleased to see Ireland's contribution to World Food Programme increase to at least €70m over the next three years, an increase of 16% over the last partnership agreement. This confirms Ireland's commitment to fighting world hunger, in conjunction with WFP. Ireland, represented by my Department, has a seat on the Executive Board of WFP until the end of 2019. I was very pleased to welcome the WFP Executive Director David Beasley to Ireland for the signing of this important agreement. Ireland greatly appreciates the work of the World Food Programme in contributing to the

Back to page 1 →

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Micheal Creed TD with Dr Fergal

Monaghaan, project manager Hen Harrier project ; Dr Barry O'Donoghue, Department

of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and Jack Lynch, Farm owner , Cardowmey,

Macroom.

€70m pledged to United Nations World Food Programme under three-

year strategic Partnership

Page 9

Page 10: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

IMPORTANT DATES

Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger. SeaFest, Ireland’s largest and most spectacular maritime festival, will set sail for Cork next year. The festival will dock in Cork for the next three years, from 2019 – 2021. Ireland’s national maritime festival has been held in Galway for the past three years, and has quickly become one of the most popular events in the country. SeaFest has grown in attendance each year, with the festival attracting more than 100,000 visitors in 2017 and again in 2018. SeaFest is all about raising awareness about the value and economic opportunities provided by our marine sector, it has been particularly successful in increasing awareness of maritime issues which impact on all of us, through a host of engaging and educational activities for people of every age. As a national festival, it is important that the event reaches across Ireland, enabling more people to increase their knowledge about the value of our oceans. I was delighted to announce that Cork will host the festival for the next three years, and look forward to the fantastic line-up of free events and activities on offer at SeaFest 2019, which I expect to be the largest SeaFest yet. SeaFest is a key initiative of ‘Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth’ Ireland’s Integrated Marine Planwhich aims not just to develop the marine economy but also toincreasing participation and engagement by the Citizens of Ireland with the sea. The national festival celebrates Ireland’s proud maritime heritage and the many ways our seas and oceans impact on and enrich our lives. SeaFest will take place in Cork City the weekend of the 7 - 9 June 2019. In addition, as part of the national festival, the Our Ocean Wealth Summit Conference will be held in Cork on Thursday, 6 and Friday 7 June.

Back to page 1 →

David Beasley, Executive Director of WFP, Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture,

Food and the Marine and Ciarán Cannon T.D. Minister of State for the Diaspora and

International Development

SeaFest Sets Sail for Cork in 2019

Page 10

Page 11: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

IMPORTANT DATES

Following a call for proposals for Agri-Food Tourism Initiatives under the 2018 Rural Innovation and Development Fund in October, I announced the ten projects that will receive funding from my Department. The total funding available is €200,000 with a maximum amount payable to any project of €25,000. I am pleased to support these initiatives in the vibrant agri-food tourism sector. Food Wise 2025 highlights the natural synergy between agri-food and local tourism. I believe that agri-tourism is of great importance for rural areas in order to showcase their people, landscape, history and culture through agricultural produce, food and drink and local cuisine. In addition it provides opportunities for rural businesses, including farmers, producers and artisans, to develop their products and services, connect with the community and visitors and improve skills and best practice.

Back to page 1 →

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, and Tánaiste and

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney TD; with students, Myles Ó

Raghallaigh, and Cáit Ní Drisceoil, Coláise Dáibhéid, at the announcement that Cork

will host the national maritime festival, Seafest from 2019 – 2021.

Funding for Agri-Food Tourism Projects

Michael Creed TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced the ten projects

that will receive funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Page 11

Page 12: VOLUME 1 Minister’s Issue 8 Online Register for Newsletter … · 2018-12-19 · VOLUME 1 Issue 8 Register for Newsletter LATEST PRESS RELEASES In this Issue: €1.6 Billion DAFM

VOLUME 1

Issue 8

Register for Newsletter

LATEST PRESS

RELEASES

In this Issue:

€1.6 Billion DAFM budget

for 2019

Agri-Food trade Mission to

Indonesia and Mayalysia

Bilaterals on Brexit, CAP

Reforms and Fisheries in

Luxembourg

Food Wise 2025 High

Level Implementation

Committee

Significant progress on

Fodder Deficit

€15m advance payments,

Year 2 of Sheep Welfare

Scheme

2018 Farmer Payments

under the Hen Harrier

and the Burren Programmes

€70m pledged to United

Nations World Food Pro-

gramme

SeaFest 2019

Funding for Agri-Food

tourism projects

IMPORTANT DATES

Back to page 1 →

8 January Launch of Bord Bia Performace and Prospects 2019

28 January AgriFish Council, Brussels

29 January IFA AGM

31 January ICSA AGM

If you wish to receive notification of when the next Ministers Newsletter is issued

please send an email to: [email protected] with the following

information:

Name

Email address

Register for Newsletter

Important Dates

Page 12