Results 16,561-16,580 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Compensation Payments: Compensation Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: This question relates to an arrangement arising out of the EU Habitats Directive, and is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government who has responsibility for the implementation of that Directive. I understand that REPS farmers in the Maamturk/Twelve Bens complex who are required to observe additional farming restrictions for a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: All eligible forestry premiums were paid in April 2008. In the case of the person referred to, payment of the 2008 forestry premium was delayed pending clarification as to the exact area which was removed from forestry to facilitate the ESB. I have directed that the 2008 premium be paid and that the exclusion issue be pursued as a separate matter.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Where a valid REPS 4 application has been submitted, advance payments of 75% under the EU regulations governing REPS 4 can issue only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. The balancing 25% payment will follow when all 2008 REPS on-farm inspections have taken place. Following the resolution of industrial action in...

Written Answers — National Reserve Schemes: National Reserve Schemes (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named applied to the 2006 and 2007 National Reserve Schemes under Category B which caters for farmers who commenced farming after 31 December, 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002 but who received no direct payments in respect of that scheme year. The person named was successful under the 2006 National Reserve and an allocation was made. His application under the 2007 National...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy in his question is not readily available but I will arrange to forward it to him directly in the coming days.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: In 2007, my Department paid out a total of €10,634,496 kilometre expenses in respect to official travel undertaken by staff. This figure includes €323,082 paid at a reduced kilometre rate to 1872 claimants in respect of attendances at training courses, conferences, seminars, and to staff on temporary transfer from their headquarters. No costs were incurred in respect of bicycle rate. A...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: In 2007, my Department paid out a total of €10,693,231 kilometre expenses in respect to official travel undertaken by staff. This figure includes €323,082 paid at a reduced kilometre rate to 1,872 claimants in respect of attendances at training courses, conferences, seminars, and to staff on temporary transfer from their headquarters. No costs were incurred in respect of bicycle rate. The...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS)/Disadvantaged Area Scheme (DAS)/ Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS), farmers receiving direct aid are required to observe and respect the various Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) set down in EU legislation on the environment, food safety, animal health, and welfare, and plant health and to maintain the farm in good agricultural and...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The lease application in question relates to the proposed construction of a breakwater. The Council informed my Department that the breakwater is being constructed solely for the use of the use of the RNLI. In this regard, my Department, acting on legal advice, requested the Council to furnish the details of the arrangements which the Council proposed to make with the RNLI concerning the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Given the nature of the industrial action and the timescale involved, it is not possible to quantify the number of farmers affected by delays in payment as a result of the industrial action. Following a series of meetings at the Labour Relations Commission, this dispute has now been resolved, and work is ongoing to ensure the prompt delivery of all payments.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The application under the Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 8th April 2008. The application was selected for a remote sensing satellite inspection. When the result of this inspection has been returned and any matters arising have been dealt with, the application will immediately be further processed with a view to payment issuing shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department sought EU state aid approval in 2000 for a capital investment scheme for to assist the marketing and processing of agricultural products. The scheme ran initially to 2006 and was subsequently extended to the end of 2008 under the EU state aid rules then in operation. Under the scheme to date, over €160m in grant aid has been allocated by my Department for projects to improve...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following is the information requested by the Deputy. Private Office Constituency Office â'¬ â'¬ Civil Servants 92 53 Political Appointees 2 2 Salary Costs1 209.497.72 95,479.04 Overtime 7,449.52 10,209.34 Allowances 11,864.53 2,775.09 1 Salary Costs, Overtime and Allowances are for the period 3 May to 24 September 2008 2 This number includes 1 work-sharer 3 This number...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The cost involved for my Department in off site rental storage at Mid Freight Shipping in Tullamore is .078 cents per week per storage box.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2008. Initial processing of the application revealed an issue concerning forestry planting. This has now been satisfactorily resolved, allowing processing of the application to be finalised. Payment will shortly issue to the person named.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The matter in question, the receipt by my Department of an application form under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme, is being investigated and an official of my Department has already been in direct contact with the person named. It should be noted, however, that the letter referred to, dated 28 July, which the person named has indicated was received in an envelope with a postmark of 23 October,...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 8 May 2008. One of the primary provisions of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is that applicants must maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for at least three consecutive months. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified as...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Under the general labelling Directive (2000/13/EC), the place of origin of the foodstuff must be given only if its absence might mislead the consumer to a material degree. The European Commission is currently undertaking a major review of all food labelling legislation. Regarding the...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The number of REPS 4 applications currently recorded on my Department's computer system is approximately 12,700 and my officials are currently carrying out the administrative checks which are required before these can be approved for payment. There are still over 48,300 farmers in REPS 3, and some 2,000 in the last months of their REPS 2 contracts. I expect that the majority of those now in...

Written Answers — Fish Quotas: Fish Quotas (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The overall Total Allowable Catch for mackerel will increase by 33% in 2009. However, Ireland's mackerel quota will not be fully determined until such time as the current EU/Norway Fisheries negotiations are completed over the coming weeks. My colleague, Minister Tony Killeen has already received a range of diverse views from industry representatives and operators regarding how any...