Results 17,221-17,240 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — Farm Debt: Farm Debt (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Central Bank's Quarterly Bulletins (Statistical Annex Table C8 and C9) contain data on the aggregate level of deposits and credit in the agriculture sector (including forestry). Taken together these datasets give an indicative level of aggregate indebtedness in the sector. In December 2007 deposits for the sector stood at â¬2,904m with credit advances standing at â¬4,761m. This equates...
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1600 and 1601 together. Under the terms and conditions of the Non-Food Set-aside Scheme, farmers are entitled to grow energy crops on lands otherwise required to be set-aside. However, given that the requirement for set-aside land was reduced to 0% under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme, those farmers concerned are now participating under the 2008 Energy Crops...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned is being processed by my Department, and assuming the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme the payment will be made as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: I have asked my officials to review the case referred to by the Deputy. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome when the review has been completed.
- Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The main challenge facing the indigenous Irish poultry industry is competition from imports of fresh poultry from other EU countries. Under single market rules unrestricted volumes can be traded between Member States and, for various reasons, they are very competitively priced. The primary outlet for Irish-produced poultry is the fresh retail trade where Irish product is still dominant. The...
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: I expect that the funding available to my Department in 2008 will be adequate to meet REPS 4 payment obligations that are likely to arise this year.
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1606 and 1625 together. A total of 46,132 complete applications were received by my Department under the Farm Waste Management Scheme by the end-June 2007 deadline. To date, over 42,000 approvals have been issued by Department. â¬113.8 million was paid out in grant-aid in 2007 and â¬181.8 million has been paid out in 2008 to-date. It is not possible to...
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: Grant-aid will be paid to all farmers who complete work in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Farm Waste Management Scheme. To date, in excess of â¬180 million has been paid this year.
- Written Answers — Transfer of Entitlements: Transfer of Entitlements (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The herdnumber quoted is registered in the sole name of the first person named. An application was received on the 3rd of April 2006 requesting the Transfer of 7.86 standard entitlements by way of sale with land from the Representatives of the deceased to the first person named. The total number of entitlements available for transfer was 6.17 valued at â¬195.28 each. An official from my...
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The number of applications received for REPS 4 is set out in the table below: No. Sep-08 21 Aug-08 44 Jul-08 698 Jun-08 99 May-08 5,934 Apr-08 1,589 Mar-08 905 Feb-08 727 Jan-08 588 Dec-07 543 Nov-07 429 Oct-07 73 Sep-07 19 Aug-07 1 Applications for REPS 4 are currently being processed and payment for valid applications will issue in accordance with the new EU Regulations.
- Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: Following the launch of the report "Decommissioning Requirements for Ireland's Demersal and Shellfish Fleets" a total of 36 vessels were decommissioned and permanently left the fleet. The total cost of the 2005/2006 scheme was â¬15,966,786. From the date of the 2008 Scheme "Steering a new course â Strategy for a restructured, sustainable and profitable Irish seafood industry 2007-2013" 39...
- Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The terms and conditions of the 2008 decommissioning scheme launched on the 20th February this year are as outlined in the brochure published by BIM to accompany the launch. The closing date for the scheme has passed. This brochure entitled "Building a Sustainable Future for Ireland's Fishing Fleet" â a scheme to permanently withdraw capacity from the whitefish sector of the Irish Fishing...
- Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: Steering a New Course, the Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-13 (The Cawley Report) recommended a restructured fishing fleet, consistent with the sustainable exploitation of available resources and economic requirements of vessel owners and the shore-based industries dependent on it. The Cawley report prioritised in the first instance a...
- Written Answers — Coastal Zone Management: Coastal Zone Management (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Government decided on 2 October 2007 that responsibility for foreshore licensing functions under the Foreshore Act 1933 in respect of port companies and harbour authorities governed by the Harbours Acts 1946, 1996 and 2000 and any other harbour or harbour related developments intended for commercial trade, and for all energy developments (including oil, gas, wave, wind and tidal energy)...
- Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-13 (the Cawley Report (recommendation 7.7)) recognised that the extension of the Seafarers Tax Free Allowance already granted to Irish merchant seamen would be an incentive for crew retention. Under current legislation fishing vessels are not considered seagoing ships for the purposes of the scheme. The...
- Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Protection: Fishing Fleet Protection (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The need for a level playing field across the EU on fisheries control has been recognised as a national priority both by industry and by Government. We have consistently pushed at EU level for a level playing field on controls. Following the Review of the CFP in 2002, a new EU Control Agency to promote co-ordination and co-operation on control at EU level was established which is working to...
- Written Answers — Tax Reliefs: Tax Reliefs (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-13 (the Cawley Strategy â recommendation 7.8) recommends that consideration be given to the introduction of a tax life for fishing vessels in the context of any future decommissioning scheme. The 2008 Finance Act contains a number of measures specifically designed to reduce the tax burden on fishermen...
- Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: While no formal structure has been established, my Department is working closely with the relevant agencies (Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Udaras Na Gaeltachta and Enterprise Ireland) to develop a co-ordinated approach for the support of the seafood processing sector.
- Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The final data for 2007 is still being collected and collated in preparation for the publication of the "Status of Irish Aquaculture" report which is due out in November. The figures for 2006 are as follows: Year Volume (tonnes) Value Shellfish 2006 43,224 â¬63.2M Finfish 2006 12,726 â¬61.4M Totals 2006 55,950 â¬124.6M
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person named is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.