Results 12,421-12,440 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Kerry County Council proposes to construct a new pier at Cromane. The proposed pier will be the property of that Local Authority who will be responsible for its development, maintenance and repair. No arrangements have been put in place for a visit to Cromane in the near future.

Written Answers — Access to Credit: Access to Credit (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I recently met with representatives of the Irish Banking Federation and impressed upon them the credit requirements of the agri-food sector, including the pig sector. While it is reported that there has been some easing of the restrictions on the flow of credit, there are still individual cases of difficulty. Therefore I will continue my dialogue with the banks on the issue. Following the...

Written Answers — Trade Negotiations: Trade Negotiations (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 100 together. I conveyed our Government's serious reservations about the decision to re-engage in negotiations with Mercosur directly to Commissioner Ciolos when I spoke to him on Monday, 17 May. In my discussion with him, I expressed our deep concerns over the decision to re launch the negotiations and the threat which these negotiations could pose...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: My starting point is that I see no compelling reason to change from the current historical model for determining single payments. I believe that the historical model has a distinct advantage in linking the payment with level of farming activity, albeit activity in 2000-2002. I have made my views on the benefits of the historic model clear at meetings of the Council of Ministers and in...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: This concerns a Letter of Formal Notice received from the Commission on 5th May 2010 indicating that Ireland has not adequately implemented measures necessary to comply with the judgement of the European Court of Justice in case C-66/06, Commission v Ireland. Specifically, the Commission wants Ireland to apply the criteria in Annex 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The farmhouse cheese sector makes a valuable contribution to the local food economy, to exports and enhances the local food culture. The sector receives support from my Department and from Agencies under the aegis of my Department. Additional milk quota is provided to support the development of high value and specialist milk products including farmhouse cheese. Specialist advice and...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 105 together. The EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) provides a range of measures that can be used to manage the dairy market, and these were modified in the CAP reforms of 1999 and 2003. In the Health Check negotiations in 2008 there was pressure to remove or weaken the support measures significantly. At that time I fought hard to keep the key market...

Written Answers — National Laboratory: National Laboratory (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The vast majority of the buildings of DAFF Laboratories, at Backweston are completely operational and functioning as intended. Amelioration works on some areas of the laboratories are required prior to they coming on stream. These are expected to be completed during 2011. The move to and the concentration of laboratory facilities at Backweston has provided state of the art facilities to DAFF...

Written Answers — Oireachtas Committees' Reports: Oireachtas Committees' Reports (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department is considering the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on farming and fishing in the West. It will take account of the report as part of the formulation of agriculture policies for the future.

Written Answers — Marine Institute: Marine Institute (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Marine Institute (MI) is the national agency with responsibility for Marine Research, Technology Development and Innovation (RTDI). The Institute was established under the 1991 Marine Institute Act. The role of the MI is to promote the sustainable development of the marine industry through strategic funding programmes and essential scientific services that safeguard the marine environment...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 98 and 99 together. The 2010 Bioenergy Scheme was announced in February 2010 to build on progress made during the pilot phase which ran from 2007-2009. The new Scheme will support miscanthus and willow cultivation to the end of 2010. Under the terms of the new 2010 Bioenergy Scheme, farmers can avail of establishment grants worth €1,300 per hectare to...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I am deeply concerned with the level of safety on our farms. This year 11 people have already died as a result of accidents on Irish farms. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the national body in Ireland that is responsible for the promotion and enforcement of workplace health and safety. I fully support the efforts made by the HSA to promote the importance of health and safety...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 87 together. The arrangements for payment of the remaining grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis were confirmed in early 2009 with 40 per cent being paid in that year as claims were approved. A further instalment of 40 per cent was paid early in 2010 and the final instalment of 20 per cent will be paid in early 2011. I also...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: All of the projects supported conform to the broad objectives of the COFORD forest research programme namely, to support sustainable and competitive forestry practices and policies and to contribute to building and maintaining a knowledge economy and scientific research in a vibrant forestry sector. The projects will produce benefits not only for producers but also for the wider rural...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Authorised officers of my Department carry out regular unannounced inspections of meat plants. During these inspections, the officer checks the accuracy of the scales on the kill- line using check weights and the officer also examines the records of factory's own checks to ensure that the scales are checked by factory personnel prior to each days kill. The officer also re-weighs a number of...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: New rules restricting fishing vessels' days at sea in the Irish Sea and the waters to the northwest of Ireland and Scotland have been introduced as part of the EU's revised Cod Recovery Plan set out in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1342/2008 and the TAC and Quota Council Regulation for 2010, 53/2010. The plan has introduced a new system of effort management that sets effort ceilings...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 82 together. The Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has made a proposal to my Department concerning a limited Sea Bass fishery in the Celtic Sea. In the proposal, the FIF have stated that they will take a "precautionary approach to avoid any fishing whatsoever of the Irish inshore stock". The FIF has specifically proposed that vessels would be...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: In response to a commitment made by the Government in the Social Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016, my Department extended its monitoring and cross checking of the milk testing regime from 1st April 2008. This followed extensive consultations with the farming organisations and representatives of the milk processing industry. To ensure there is transparency in the milk testing procedures,...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Irish organic retail market was estimated to be worth €124 million in 2009 compared to €66 million in 2006 and €38 million in 2003. There are indications that while the value of the market has fallen within the past twelve months to some €100 million, the actual volume of organic sales has fallen to a much smaller extent and is estimated to have reduced by less than 4%. The...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: There are 487 aquaculture licence applications awaiting determination – this consists of 259 applications for first time licences and 228 renewal applications. The backlog in the processing of new and renewal licence applications largely arises because the majority of areas for which the licences are sought are designated Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and/or...