Results 16,621-16,640 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have listed below the details of people appointed by myself and the two Ministers of State as requested: Minster Brendan Smith Name and Grade Responsibility Location Salary Scale Elected or Member of State Boards Dermot Ryan Special Adviser Adviser Department €86,168 – €100,191 + 10% allowance No Philip Hannon Press Adviser Media Adviser Department €86,168 – €100,191 No...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I outlined my Department's policy on AHCS1 forms in my replies to recent questions from the Deputy. With regard to the further queries from the Deputy, I do not accept that the statement in the first paragraph of the letter submitted by the Deputy that the number of AHCS1 forms is much higher than expected contradicts the assertion that "occasionally they are not identified until some time...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Commission's preliminary audit findings relate to the completeness of administrative checks on applications, the keeping of records at farm level and the scope and recording of on-the-spot checks. The Commission has requested additional information which is currently being collated within my Department and will shortly be forwarded to the Commission. The outcome of the audit will not be...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has this year allocated funding of €470,000 towards works at Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2008. These include Repairs to the East Pier (Phase II), Safety & Maintenance, Upgrading of the slipway and access to the West Wharf. Due to the scale of the investment required for the future...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Agri-Vision 2015 Report sets out a vision identifying the delivery of safe, high-quality, nutritious food, produced in a sustainable manner, to well-informed consumers in high value markets as the optimum road for the future of the Irish food industry. The 160 actions in the Agri-Vision Action Plan set out a coherent strategy together with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have no plans at present to reopen the Early Retirement Scheme (ERS3) 2007 to new applications. The limiting of the suspension of the Scheme will be considered at the earliest opportunity but with regard to the current budgetary constraints.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Since the programme began there has been an increase of 297 posts in Portlaoise; 220 of which were decentralised from Dublin. 84 posts have moved to Clonakilty; 33 of which were decentralised from Dublin. This is broken down by grade as follows. Grade To Portlaoise from Dublin To Clonakilty from Dublin Principal Officers 2 2 Assistant Principals 20 4 HEO/AO 48 9 Executive Officers 64...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The position is that an application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 12th May 2008. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing these Schemes, this application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. The file is currently being processed and payment...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Early Retirement Scheme has been suspended for new applications, but it has not been closed, and the decision to suspend entry to the scheme will be reviewed as soon as the current budgetary constraints allow.

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The development in question is divided into a number of phases. One of the phases relates to the proposed construction of a training wall. The Marine Licence Vetting Committee, which advises my Department on scientific/environmental matters, has recommended an alternative approach to the construction of the training wall and this matter is being examined by my Department. However as the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Where a valid application has been submitted, advance payments of 75% under the EU regulations governing the Organic Farming Scheme can issue only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS, the Organic Farming Scheme and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. This work is still ongoing with a view to beginning payment this month. The balancing 25% payment will...

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: In the aftermath of the EU ban in November 2000 on the feeding of MBM to cattle, the Exchequer supported the livestock and meat sector by subsidizing the rendering and destruction of the product (costing €146m between 2001 and 2003), as did most other EU countries. The costs of dealing with MBM have since largely been passed back to industry. The storage of MBM cost the State €25.3m in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Advance payments of 75% under the EU regulations governing REPS 4 can only issue when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the 2008 Single Payment Scheme are completed. This work is still ongoing with a view to beginning payment this month. The balancing 25% payment will follow when all 2008 REPS on-farm inspections have taken place.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The position is that an application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 12th May 2008. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing these Schemes, this application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. The file is currently being processed and payment...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (11 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Short rotation coppice (SRC) willow is currently produced for use as a combustible fuel. I understand that some studies have been carried out on the possible use of SRC willow in anaerobic digestion plants, but it is generally not considered a suitable feedstock for this process.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Department is currently examining the usage of the commonage parcel mentioned on which the person named is a claimant. This examination has been necessitated as the claims submitted on this commonage under the Single Payment Scheme exceed the area of the commonage that is eligible for payment. The Department has communicated with all the claimants concerned and is awaiting documentary...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The position is that an application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 1st May 2008. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing these Schemes, this application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. The file is currently being processed and it is...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (11 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have made provision of €47 million in 2009 to meet current commitments under the Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming, but for the present it has been necessary to suspend new applications for the scheme. The limiting of the suspension of the Scheme will be considered at the earliest opportunity having regard to the general budgetary situation.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The cost of legal services which my Department made were as follows — 2007 — €206,640 2008 to date — €521,386 I am satisfied that effective measures are in place to minimise the cost of legal services in my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (11 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The implications of the decision to merge COFORD into my Department, and the necessary actions to implement that decision are currently being examined within my Department. Until this process has been completed, I am not in a position to advise of implementation date or potential savings arising from the merger. No legislation is required to give effect to the decision.