Results 12,441-12,460 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Irish National Stud: Irish National Stud (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Irish National Stud Company Ltd is a commercial company formed under the Companies Act and is limited by shares. The appointment of the auditor is a function of the Board of the Irish National Stud. The Comptroller and Auditor General did audit the Irish National Stud prior to 2003. But following a review by the C & AG it was considered more appropriate having regard to the...

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

Brendan Smith: I welcome the announcement earlier this week by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in relation to guaranteed support prices (REFIT) for bio-energy. The technologies supported include Biomass Combined Heat and Power and Biomass Combustion, including provision for 30% co-firing of biomass in the three peat powered stations, as well as support for Anaerobic Digestion...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: There has been significant interest in the Scheme since it opened for applications on 30 March 2010. The closing date for receipt of applications was Monday, 17 May 2010 and at close of business on that day some 4,400 applications had been submitted to my Department's office at Johnstown Castle Estate in Wexford. However, given the short time frame for submitting applications, and in order...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The live export trade is an important component of our meat and livestock industry and provides a complement to the beef trade. 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 17 of 2010 live exports were over 60%...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 92 together. My Department recently received EU Commission approval for the various targeted on-farm investment schemes announced by my Department in 2009. Due to the relatively short time-frames for completion of the investment works concerned, my priority is to introduce the Sow Welfare and Poultry Welfare Schemes first. Arrangements will then be...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Bio-energy crops contribute to emissions reduction through the provision of low or carbon neutral fuels. My Department has been providing support to farmers through a Bioenergy Scheme since 2007. A pilot Bioenergy Scheme was launched in 2007 to support the planting of miscanthus and willow by giving farmers a grant up to a maximum of €1,450 per hectare to cover 50% of establishment costs....

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The issue of micro generation of electricity is a matter in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The Deputy may be aware that in February 2009 the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources announced measures to encourage the on-site generation of electricity in homes and farms across Ireland. The Micro Generation...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department received 175 applications following the temporary reopening of the Early Retirement Scheme from 23 September to 30 October 2009. To date, 26 of the applications have been approved for payment and another 129 applications are currently being processed. Twelve of the applications could not be accepted as they did not satisfy the Scheme conditions. A further two applications have...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: A breakdown on a county-by-county basis of the REPS 4 applications that were rejected is given in the table below. The Department has been in contact with the applicants to inform them of their right to appeal the decision. Alternatively, unless the application had been found to be fundamentally ineligible, applicants were given the opportunity to submit a new REPS 4 plan and application form...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The CSO tracks input costs in Ireland on an ongoing basis and these are reported through CSO via various publications and on their website (www.cso.ie) as well as Departmental Publications such as the Annual Review and Outlook (see "Publications" section of website: www.agriculture.gov.ie ). Farm output, input costs and margins also receive detailed examination each year at the Teagasc...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 104 together. Farmers in receipt of direct payments (Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas' Scheme and Rural Environmental Protection Scheme) must comply with a total of 18 Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) in the areas of Environment, Public, Animal and Plant Health, and Animal Welfare. This is known as cross-compliance. Any change to the...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Negotiations on the CAP after 2013 are taking place against the background of an EU budget review and a new EU Financial Perspective for 2014 to 2020. The budget will determine the amount of funds available for the CAP and could also have an important impact on the distribution between Member States. There will be competing pressures for funds, including strong pressure from some sources...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 116 and 124 together. Following a review of the current TB testing arrangements and consultation both with the European Commission and the farming organisations, I recently introduced changes to the TB testing rules for cattle going direct to slaughter. These changes came into effect on 4 May. Previously, where animals that had not been tested within the...

Written Answers — Domestic Abattoirs: Domestic Abattoirs (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Officials of my Department carry out unannounced inspections of meat plants to ensure that beef price reporting to my Department is carried out in accordance with EU Regulations. These inspections aim to ensure that the prices reported to my Department are the same as that paid to the farmer. I wish to assure the Deputy that these inspections are on-going for many years now and the...

Written Answers — Animal Breeding Regulations: Animal Breeding Regulations (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department has received an application to maintain a studbook for the Irish Draught horse breed from the Irish Draught Horse Society Ltd. This application is currently being assessed by my Department in accordance with the relevant EU and National legislation.

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Ireland's revised Rural Development Programme was approved by the European Commission in March, and the roll-out of the various investment schemes will be phased over the lifetime of the Programme. The timing of the introduction of the dairy investment scheme is dependent on the availability of sufficient exchequer funding, and the position in this regard is being kept under ongoing review.

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

Brendan Smith: Accounting as it does for over half of manufacturing exports from Irish owned firms, the agri-food sector has a key role to play in this country's economic recovery. In this regard, the 2020 Committee, which I have established, will shortly finalise its strategy outlining the key actions which they consider are needed to ensure that the sector contributes to our export-led economic...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: A total of 29,376 applications were received for participation in REPS 4 for payment in 2009. The acceptance of REPS 4 applications is governed by EU Regulations which require exhaustive administrative checks and on-the-spot inspections. In a significant number of the applications received, the administrative checks raised issues and queries which required further detailed examination. My...

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

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for the enforcement of this legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (F.S.A.I.). This is done through service contracts between the F.S.A.I and my Department, The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Health Service Executive and the Local Authority...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Government has approved the heads of the Forestry Bill, and discussions are continuing between my Department and the Office of the Attorney General with a view to finalizing the text. It would be my intention to introduce the Bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible. The main features of the Bill will be to ensure that forestry developments are undertaken to the highest...