Results 16,521-16,540 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: ——some of major importance to new entrants and which are worth €65 million per annum, were extended in the budget and the Finance Bill. I have made it clear repeatedly, in response to representations from farm organisations and at meetings therewith and with public representatives, that I intend to revisit the decision to suspend entry to these schemes as soon as budgetary...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am losing time. Deputy Creed should note there will be questions tomorrow.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am not avoiding any question. The outcome of the health check initiative was particularly satisfactory from an Irish point of view and included a number of notable achievements for Ireland. As with all negotiations of this nature, we did not get everything we would have liked but we did achieve an outcome that will be worth some €170 million to Irish farmers over the next five years. We...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: ——which is particularly important given the abolition of milk quotas in 2015. The outcome in regard to milk quotas will result in a quota increase equivalent to 500 million litres by 2014, by comparison with the figure for 2007. Based on existing milk prices, the value of these production rights amount to some €100 million.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Despite the current price for milk, I am confident that the long-term outlook is positive and that the Irish dairy sector is well equipped to take advantage of the opportunities that will result from growing prosperity in developing countries as well as increasing population trends. The world's population is expected to grow by almost 800 million over the next decade.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I do not have to listen to gibberish from Deputy Bannon.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Deenihan made his point on the particular pressures on the dairy sector sensibly. He addressed the issue, unlike some of the commentators I have heard. Unfortunately, price volatility now seems——

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am losing time and cannot get to the facts because the Deputy is wasting my time. That is the reality. I am listening to rubbish from him.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: It is a disgrace, as usual.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The Government is also investing significantly in the dairy processing industry, through the dairy investment fund, to ensure it will have the capacity to process the increased yield I believe dairy farmers will be more than capable of producing. I had identified the maintenance of market supports as a particular priority given Ireland's seasonal pattern of...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Despite claims to the contrary, I have not backed away from any commitments to sheep farmers. The sector remains a priority and is one that needs assistance. I have no doubt that proposals to support the sheep sector will form a central part of the discussions to which I have invited the farm organisations later this month. I look forward to that dialogue and to constructive discussion and...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Securing an official brucellosis-free status for Ireland will enable me to reduce some of the control elements of the eradication programme. This will bring consequential benefits for farmers, particularly with regard to trade. In addition, it will be possible to bring about a gradual reduction in the level of testing that will, over time, lead to reduced testing and lower costs for farmers....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The only early retirement arrangements which staff in my Department can avail of is Cost Neutral Early Retirement. This is a facility which allows established staff to retire between 50 and 60 and un-established staff to retire between 55 and 65 with immediate payment of pension and lump sum. These benefits are subject to actuarial reduction to take account of early payment of the lump sum...

Written Answers — Poultry Imports: Poultry Imports (27 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The trade statistics available to my Department do not differentiate imports on the basis of how products are packaged.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (27 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The variation in price experienced in the latest Milk Quota Trading Scheme reflects a similar pattern in the previous four trading schemes run in the past two years. These variations arise for a variety of reasons, the more prominent being the balance between supply and demand within Co-op areas. Those areas with the largest market clearing prices display the characteristics of a strong...

Written Answers — Horticulture Industry: Horticulture Industry (27 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The horticulture and nursery sector contributed approximately €282 million to farm output in 2007. There are no definitive statistics of the number of persons employed but the industry is heavily labour intensive and it is estimated that as many as 18,500 are employed across the food and non-food areas.

Written Answers — Horticulture Industry: Horticulture Industry (27 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The horticulture and nursery sector contributed approximately €282 million to farm output in 2007 and has considerable potential for further development but producers concentrate for the most part on supplying the home market and on import substitution. The only notable exception is the mushroom sector in that up to 80% of this crop is grown for export to the UK. Aid is available under the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application was received on the 8 May 2008 requesting the transfer of 32.69 standard entitlements by way of lease from the first person named to the second person named. As the first person named had insufficient entitlements to cover the requested transfer, it was necessary to obtain clarification and approval regarding the number of entitlements to be transferred. This issue has now...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted an application under the Single Payment Scheme/ Disadvantaged Area Scheme and he included a commonage parcel on this application. The Department is currently examining the usage of this commonage parcel on which the person named is a claimant. This examination has been necessitated as the claims submitted on this commonage exceed the area of the commonage that is...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (27 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The number of applications under the Early Retirement Scheme currently being processed by my Department is 156. There are 941 applications under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme; of these 326 have been paid. All fully completed applications for these Schemes received by my Department up to and including 14 October 2008 will be processed and, if in order, payment will be made.