Results 13,661-13,680 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Disposal: Fallen Animal Disposal (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The disposal of fallen animals is subject to EU Regulations, notably Regulation (EC) No 1774 of 2002. These regulations require that animals which die on-farm must generally be disposed of through approved knackeries and rendering plants. My Department's contribution to the Fallen Animals Scheme ceased with effect from 14th April 2009. This was as a result of budgetary constraints and also...

Written Answers — Livestock Identification Scheme: Livestock Identification Scheme (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The introduction of electronic identification (EID) for sheep was agreed at EU level in late 2003. At that time, it was agreed to defer the implementation date until January 2008. The Council revisited this issue in December 2007 when it was agreed that the deadline for the compulsory introduction of EID should be set for 31 December 2009, 6 years after the original decision was taken. I...

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: EU legislation governing trade into the EU stipulates that all animals and animal products entering the EU from a country outside the EU (a Third Country) must undergo veterinary and documentary checks at the point of entry before release into transit, to final destination or into free circulation within the Community. These rules are aimed at the overall protection of animal and public...

Written Answers — State Laboratory: State Laboratory (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Irish State Laboratory in the Department of Finance and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Laboratories are both located at the Backweston Laboratory Complex. There are seven divisions within DAFF laboratories – Bacteriology, Central Meat Control, Dairy Science, Pathology, Pesticides, Seed testing and Plant Pathology and Virology. While these laboratories are significant...

Written Answers — State Laboratory: State Laboratory (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The dairy market has been discussed at Council of Ministers meetings every month since March this year. At these meetings I have, together with my Ministerial colleagues, continually pressed the Commission to take all appropriate measures to deal with the situation, and those supports have helped to stabilise the market. The measures taken this year include the restoration of export refunds...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The current position in regard to the WTO negotiations is that a Ministerial Conference of the WTO will take place in Geneva from 30 November to 2 December. The agenda will focus discussions on the current functioning of the WTO and its future. The themes of the working sessions are a review of WTO activities including the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and the contribution of the WTO to...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: According to official CSO figures the total area of potatoes grown in the country is as follows:- Year Area (hectares) 2007 11,700 2008 12,000 2009 12,900 The area of potatoes grown has shown a gradual increase over the past three years.

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Data supplied by the Central Statistics Office indicates that the total quantity of pet food imported into this country from January to December 2008 was 65,370 tonnes and that in the period January to July 2009 imports of 37,000 tonnes are estimated. Under EU harmonised rules pet foods must be produced from animal by-products obtained from animals that are fit for human consumption in...

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: EU and national legislation governing the animal health conditions for intra Community trade and imports from third countries of live poultry and hatching eggs stipulate that the poultry in question must satisfy certain animal health requirements, so as to avoid the spread of infectious diseases. Poultry imports sourced from another Member State are subject to common EU laws and are...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (26 Nov 2009)

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 with other relevant agencies, including the Health Service Executive, the Local Authority Veterinary Service and my Department. My...

Written Answers — Cereal Sector: Cereal Sector (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The maintenance of an efficient and viable cereals sector in Ireland is clearly of the utmost importance. In addition to generating an income for our tillage farmers, it is a key source of feedingstuffs for the livestock sector. Annual cereals production in Ireland has fluctuated around 2 million tonnes in recent years. It is desirable to try to sustain this level of production in order to...

Written Answers — Farming Statistics: Farming Statistics (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The table shows the number of farmers who were sole occupation farmers in 1999 and in 2007 (the latter is the latest year for which information is available). The data shows that during this period, there was an 11% decline in the number of family farms. The number of farmers who identified farming as their sole occupation declined by 24% and the number who identified farming as either the...

Written Answers — Meat Exports: Meat Exports (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Based on the records of the Central Statistics Office and my own Department, Irish beef, lamb, and pigmeat has been exported to the following countries in the period from 2004 to 2008. Beef EU/EEA Countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: A total of 179 cases were approved for payment in the period 1 November 2008 to 31 October 2009 under the 2007–2013 Early Retirement Scheme. A further 10 applications are currently being processed by my Department and are awaiting additional material requested from the applicants. The Early Retirement Scheme 2007 was suspended for new applications with effect from 15 October 2008. ...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The total area applied for under the Energy Aid and Non Food Set-aside Schemes, which relates to bio-fuel are as outlined hereunder 4,456.70 hectares 9,057.03 hectares 4,749.58 hectares.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department is responsible for the operation of EU controls on imports of products of animal origin under a service contract with the FSAI and in compliance with Community rules for the hygiene of food and feed. These rules stipulate that food products of animal origin imported from an EU source must be from approved food business establishments and be accompanied to destination by a...

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: A substantial amount of public funds are spent each year in support of the farming community. In 2009, it is estimated that over €2 billion will be paid in direct payments to farmers. This includes €1.3 billion under the Single Payment Scheme, €220 million under the area based compensatory allowance scheme and €369 million under REPS, with the remainder paid out under smaller schemes....

Dairy Sector. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Last month I announced my intention to establish a consultative group to advise me on medium and long-term measures for the dairy sector. I did this following the special Council of Ministers meeting on 5 October, where we had a thorough discussion on the need for measures to manage the dairy market in the period up to and beyond quota abolition in 2015. At that meeting it was agreed to set...

Dairy Sector. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Cregan for his particular interest in this matter. He has raised the difficulties affecting the dairy sector during the course of this year. It is an issue that has been discussed in this House on many occasions. On his question on the composition of the group, it comprises mainly different farm organisations, the IFA, the ICMSA, the ICSA, Macra na Feirme, the Irish...

Dairy Sector. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Yes. Deputy Cregan also asked about the high level group. The purpose of establishing the high level group was to deal with the issue of ensuring that we have in place in Europe a means to stabilise dairy farmers' incomes and to improve market transparency. It comes back to the issue of the growing power of the multiples and the deficiencies in the food chain.