Results 14,201-14,220 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: There have been a number of discussions at EU Council level on the future of European food production in the context of the CAP after 2013. This issue has also been to the forefront of bilateral contacts with other Member States. My own view on the future of EU food production, which I have expressed at meetings of the Council and bilaterally to my Ministerial colleagues, is that we must...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Production: Sugar Beet Production (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The 2006-2009 scheme for the restructuring of the European sugar industry, which was implemented as part of the reform of the EU sugar regime, resulted in the EU sugar quota being reduced by 5.2 million tonnes to 13.3 million tonnes. EU sugar production is now concentrated in 18 Member States (as opposed to 23 before the reform) which enjoy favourable agronomic conditions. They are Austria,...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Agricultural production in Ireland and the EU and farm income must be viewed in the context of a reformed and evolving Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which has placed much more emphasis on market orientation and competitiveness. Following the decoupling of direct payments from production, farmers can now take advantage of the freedom to farm for the market, allowing them to focus on...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 and 264 together. Analysis of Irish dairy farming shows a wide variation in performance efficiencies between high and low cost producers. There is a difference of approximately 56% in the cost base between those with the lowest production cost and those with the highest, amounting to 9c/litre. Production costs vary across the EU, but Ireland has an...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 265 together. The Common Agricultural Policy contains support measures to help us manage the market. During the Health Check negotiations last year I fought hard to keep the important measures in place. Since the start of the current crisis I have pressed the Commission to use all appropriate market instruments. Most of these supports have now been...

Written Answers — Compensation Schemes: Compensation Schemes (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: In all, there were 68 applicants under the Lost at Sea Scheme by the closing date of 31 December 2001. Six of the 68 applicants qualified under the terms of the Lost at Sea Scheme. The scheme did not provide monetary compensation or financial support for the acquisition of a fishing vessel itself and the capacity (i.e. gross tonnage and engine power) given under the strict terms of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications, including plan checks, to be completed before the first 2009 payments issue. Processing of applications, including the application from the person named, has commenced to facilitate the release of payments at the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The application under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme by the person named was selected for inspection by way of satellite imagery. Such inspections are carried out on a number of applications each year in order to meet the EU requirements for payment under the Single Payment Scheme. Applicants are not notified of this type of inspection. This inspection is in the process of being finalised and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2009. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with payments issuing in respect of those cases cleared for payment at that stage. Payments continue to issue, as outstanding issues are resolved. The Single Payment Scheme will commence...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2009. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with payments issuing in respect of those cases cleared for payment at that stage. Payments continue to issue as outstanding issues are resolved. The application of the person named has now...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications, including plan checks, to be completed before the first 2009 payments issue. Processing of applications, including the application from the person named, has commenced to facilitate the release of payments at the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named has five animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Under the rules of the scheme, meal must be introduced to calves a minimum of four weeks before weaning. According to the dates provided by the person named the rule has not been complied with. A letter issued to the person named on 15 September 2009, informing him that the five animals had been...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications, including plan checks, to be completed before the first 2009 payments issue. Processing of applications, including the application from the person named, has commenced to facilitate the release of payments at the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications, including plan checks, to be completed before the first 2009 payments issue. Processing of applications, including the application from the person named, has commenced to facilitate the release of payments at the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The prohibited period for the spreading of slurry commences on 15th October in all parts of the country as required by the Nitrates Regulations (SI No. 101 of 2009). These Regulations are a matter in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The planned review of Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme in 2010 will provide an opportunity...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the young farmers installation scheme. Payment will issue when it has been confirmed that all qualifying conditions have been met.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: I have reopened the Early Retirement Scheme until 30 October 2009 with a view to accepting as many as possible of those applications that were completed or close to completion at the time entry to the scheme was suspended on 14 October 2008. In processing these applications, my Department will give priority to those applications which have leases or deeds of transfer stamped by the Revenue...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The number of slatted houses grant aided, to date, in each county under the Farm Waste Management Scheme since the introduction of the Scheme in 2001 is set out in the following table: County Slatted Houses Carlow 241 Cavan 1,445 Clare 1,488 Cork 2,254 Donegal 1,593 Dublin 12 Galway 2,035 Kerry 1,419 Kildare 142 Kilkenny 930 Laois 422 Leitrim 841 Limerick 856 Longford 490...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: On 15 July last, the Government approved my plan for a reorganisation of my Department's Local Office Network. The plan involves reducing from 57 to 16 the number of offices from which the Department will operate District Veterinary, Forestry and Agricultural Environment and Structures support services in the future. This will result in a reduction of some 400 in the number of staff working...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (13 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Farmers in REPS with land designated by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government as Special Protection Areas or Special Areas of Conservation are eligible for enhanced payments under the scheme. Ireland's Rural Development Programme approved in 2007 provides a co-funded amount of €401 million for payments in respect of designated land over the period 2007 to 2013 of...