Results 16,701-16,720 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Significant progress has been made on drafting the new Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which is intended to give effect to a number of commitments, in the area of animal health and welfare, contained in the Programme for Government. The large number of submissions and comments received following the public consultation process on the draft Bill continue to be examined. My officials will...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The current Early Retirement Scheme is 50% co-funded by the EU. A provision of €47 million has been made available for the scheme in the 2009 Estimates and it is not possible to quantify the savings which will arise due to suspension of applications. In the case of installation aid, grant payments under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme are co-funded by the EU, whilst grants under the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The application received under the Early Retirement Scheme on 14 October 2008 for the person named will be processed, and if it is in order payment will be made.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: While my Department received an application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme, in the names of the new owners of the above-mentioned herdnumber. No application to transfer the payment entitlements was received. Consequently, payment cannot issue. In order to allow for the further processing of the application documentation which has been forwarded directly to the parties acting for the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The powers and duties delegated to Minister Killeen are set out in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Delegation of Ministerial Functions (No. 4) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 292 of 2008). They relate to the areas of: Animal Health and Welfare, T.B. Eradication Programme, Brucellosis Eradication Programme, Bovine Tagging and Registration, National Beef Assurance Scheme, Forestry and fisheries The...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The rules governing milk quotas and super levy are laid down in EU regulations. Article 79 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, states that the surplus levy shall be entirely allocated among the producers who have contributed to each of the overruns of the national quotas and that producers shall be liable for payment of their contribution to the surplus levy due. The herd-owner in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 1 May 2008. The application was selected for a 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 — Fishing Licences: Fishing Licences (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the licensing regime introduced by the Loughs Agency in Lough Foyle this year to develop and regulate the wild oyster fishery in Lough Foyle. Responsibility for the Loughs Agency is a matter for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. In relation to lobster fishing, a discussion document on Managing Access to the Irish Lobster...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 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 — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The implementation of the Habitats Directive is a matter, in the first instance, for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Agreement was reached between the NPWS and the farm bodies on additional measures to reduce the grazing pressure on the Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex and Maumturk Mountains Special Areas of...

Written Answers — Pesticide Controls: Pesticide Controls (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together. Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988, and day-to-day operational matters are the responsibility of the company. I have, however, been advised by Coillte that, to protect young seedlings against the Large Pine Weevil, the company dips seedlings in a flexcoat and cypermethrin mix...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The use of septic tank residual sludge on grassland and untreated sludge in agriculture is controlled by the Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 1998 to 2001. At present, residual sludge from septic tanks may be used on grassland provided that the grassland is not grazed within six months following such use. Untreated sludge may only be used in agriculture if...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The agricultural sector is already contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. The Kyoto Protocol allowed for an increase in Ireland's emissions of 13% over 1990 levels by 2012. The Environmental Protection Agency's analysis of September 2008 projects that emissions from the agriculture sector in the period up to 2012 will fall to 18.95 million tonnes or 4.3% below 1990 levels. The...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The seafood marketing and promotion element of Bord Iascaigh Mhara is to be merged with An Bord Bia. The Government's initiative in transferring the seafood marketing and promotion functions to Bord Bia will ensure the strengthening of seafood marketing as part of a more cohesive overall food marketing effort, while allowing BIM to focus all its energies in developing the seafood industry in...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: FAPRI-Ireland, in association with its research partner Teagasc, launched two reports on 29 September, 2008, one of which is an analysis of the impact of a possible WTO deal, and, a second report, which provides an outlook for Irish and EU agriculture markets using 2008 as the baseline and assuming a status quo policy view over the next ten years. FAPRI's report presents an analysis of the...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The FSAI Report concluded that the current practice of landspreading of organic agricultural materials on agricultural land for food production is beneficial and should continue, with one exception. The exception relates to the spreading of untreated organic agricultural materials on land to be used for ready-to-eat food crops. The quantity of organic agricultural materials used in the...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Substantial funding has been provided by the Government to support forestry grant and premium schemes for 2009. Almost €128 million has been allocated to forestry and bioenergy under Budget 2009. This significant investment in forestry will allow for the operation of a range of forestry schemes next year and demonstrates the commitment of the Government to the future of forestry in Ireland.

Written Answers — Emergency Slaughter of Animals: Emergency Slaughter of Animals (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Under the European Food Hygiene Regulation (EC) 853/2004, specific requirements are provided for in relation to Emergency Slaughter of animals outside the slaughterhouse. Meat from such animals may not be placed on the market unless it bears a special health mark which cannot be confused with the oval health and identification marks that normally apply to meat that may be exported. My...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: State Aid approval for the afforestation schemes, including an agroforestry scheme, was received from the European Commission in September 2007. However, there are no immediate plans to introduce a specific agroforestry scheme. Within the Afforestation and Native Woodland Schemes that have already been introduced, it is open to landowners to combine farming and forestry in that...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: A good deal of work has already been undertaken and significant progress has been made on drafting the proposed Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which is intended to give effect to a number of commitments, in the area of animal health and welfare, contained in the Programme for Government. Following the public consultation process initiated earlier in the year on the draft Bill, almost 400...