Results 12,181-12,200 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The deduction involved in this case amounts to €308.43. The deduction was made because the Department's records indicate that in 2007 the amount of nitrogen from livestock manure applied to land on the holding (including that deposited by animals) exceeded the limit of 170kgs per hectare set down in the Nitrates Regulations. It is open to the person named to appeal this deduction, within...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Slipway at Fountainstown, Co. Cork is owned by Cork County Council and responsibility for its repair and maintenance rests with that Local Authority in the first instance. Under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme my Department has, in previous years, provided funding for the development and repair of Local Authority owned harbours, piers and slipways....

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The aquaculture operator referred to by the Deputy does not have a valid Aquaculture Licence within the provisions of the relevant legislation. Therefore the question of review does not arise. This information has been conveyed to the operator by my Department on numerous occasions.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: An amended application from the person named is currently being examined in my Department. The applicant will be informed of the outcome once this examination is complete.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: There were issues to be resolved in this case before it could be approved for payment. Payment will now issue to the person named within ten working days.

Written Answers — Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund which was established under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001 (the Act). In accordance with the Act, 80% and 20% of the moneys paid into the Fund each year are distributed between Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Bord na gCon respectively. I am pleased to...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The live export trade complements the processed beef trade and is an important component of our meat and livestock industry. Overall live exports in 2009 increased by 94% on 2008 levels. In the same period, exports to the UK increased by 159%, with those to Great Britain increasing by 440%, and those to other destinations by 74%. Up to the end of week 25 of 2010, live exports were 49% ahead...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department has no record of having received an application under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme from the person concerned. As the Deputy will be aware, the Scheme was suspended for new applications on 14 October 2008.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 582 together. The Animal Health and Welfare Bill which gives effect to commitments in the Programme for Government and the Renewed Programme for Government on issues relating to animal health and welfare is being prepared in my Department. The new bill will consolidate a wide range of existing legislation as well as repealing other legislation...

Written Answers — Farm Schemes: Farm Schemes (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Agri-Environment Options Scheme was structured so that farmers were not required to employ the services of a planner in order to apply for entry to the Scheme, except where a Sustainable Management Plan had to be put in place for Commonage or Natura land. It was therefore open to farmers without Natura or Commonage land to make an application without incurring the cost of employing a...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The 2009 Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies applies to all the State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department has received EU approval for the introduction of a number of new on-farm investment schemes, including the provision of grant-aid for sheep fencing and mobile handling facilities. However, due to the relatively short time-frames for completion of work, my priority has been the introduction of the Poultry and Sow Welfare Schemes which were launched on 16 June last. I now intend...

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The disposal of fallen animals is subject to Regulation (EC) No 1774 of 2002. Under this Regulation, animals which die on-farm must generally be disposed of through approved intermediate plants (knackeries) and rendering plants. While my Department's contribution to the Fallen Animals Scheme in general ceased with effect from 14th April 2009, I have continued to provide financial support for...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 24 April 2009. This application was selected for a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. During the course of the ground eligibility inspection a discrepancy was discovered with parcel number D23102066. The claimed area for Single payment of 29.7ha was reduced to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application was received from the person named on the 3 May 2007 requesting the transfer by way of inheritance of 15.37 Single Payment entitlements from his late uncle under the 2007 scheme year. Subsequent applications relating to the same set of entitlements were received for the 2008 and 2009 scheme years. As the required testamentary information and documentation has not been...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: On examination of the application received from the person named under the Early Retirement Scheme, a number of queries arose and my Department has requested clarification from her regarding outstanding documentation. Until these queries have been answered satisfactorily, processing of the application cannot be finalized.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: On examination of the application received from the person named under the Early Retirement Scheme, a number of queries arose and my Department has requested clarification from him regarding outstanding documentation. Until these queries have been answered satisfactorily, processing of the application cannot be finalized.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The named person sold his milk quota into the first stage of the 2009/2010 Milk Quota Trading Scheme. In accordance with the detailed rules of the scheme, a person who sells his or her entire quota under this Scheme will not be entitled to be allocated quota in subsequent trading or other quota schemes for a period of 3 years.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: There are no plans to introduce an independent appeals mechanism by my Department at the meat plants. My Department proposes, in conjunction with the industry, to introduce a range of measures to enhance the existing system of monitoring the performance of mechanical grading.

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: Following on from discussions with the farming organisations in the context of the charter of rights for farmers in 2005, Ireland adopted a weighting system within the cross-compliance inspection regime whereby due account was taken of infringements of the cross-compliance requirements which were, on their own, inadvertent and minor in nature, and were capable of occurring in practical...