Results 17,241-17,260 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: Under the 2002 EU Slaughter Premium Scheme, animals were required to be eight months or over on the date of slaughter and recorded on the Department's Cattle Movement Monitoring System, i.e. fully registered, showing, inter alia, date of birth of each animal. While the eleven animals in question were slaughtered on 15 August 2002, they were found at that time not to be recorded on the CMMS...

Written Answers — Fish Quotas: Fish Quotas (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The position in regard to Ireland's quota allocations is that Ireland's share of the main fish stocks were set in the early 1980's when fish stocks were being shared out between Member States. The share allocations were based on catch records and reflected the fishing levels by the Irish fleet at that time. Ireland did not have any record of fishing activity in ICES divisions IV, VIII and...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (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.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. I have raised this issue with the European Commission, as recently as July and the Commission has since reaffirmed that it expects Ireland to respect this deadline strictly.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following table sets out the information requested by the Deputy: Minister Brendan Smith MoS Trevor Sargent MoS Tony Killeen No. of Civil Servants 5 Clerical Officers (2 of whom are involved in job-sharing arrangements) 2 Staff Officers 2 Clerical Officers Salary Scale €23,174 – €35,660 €34,941 – €44,025 €24,397 – €37,536 (full PRSI)

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. In relation to poultry meat, there are EU Regulations which provide for the labelling of unprocessed poultry meat at retail level. The Regulations require such poultry meat to be labelled with the information regarding class, price, condition, registered number of slaughterhouse or...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for the pay and other entitlements of CEOs of State boards rests with the board of the relevant bodies. My Department does, however, play a role in monitoring performance-related awards for CEOs of the commercial and non-commercial bodies under the aegis of my Department. The table below sets out the total bonus/performance awards paid to CEOs of the...

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The primary outlet for Irish-produced poultry is the fresh retail trade where Irish product is still dominant. A very important instrument in that market is the Bord Bia Poultry Quality Assurance Scheme (PQAS). The Quality Assurance mark is recognised by consumers as a guarantee of traceability and reliability and is sought after by Irish retailers. Bord Bia has been very active in growing...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The existing requirement that all cattle over 30 months of age slaughtered for human consumption must be tested for BSE is provided for under Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (The TSE Regulation). Accordingly I do not have the...

Written Answers — Cattle Identification Scheme: Cattle Identification Scheme (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: During the course of 2008, my Department replaced the Cattle Movement Monitoring System (CMMS) with the online Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system in all export approved meat plants. My Department now provides the registration details and movement history electronically for the animals presented at the meat plant. This information replicates the data already available to the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Single Payment Scheme, which was introduced in 2005, replaced the various coupled schemes, each of which had different application periods and eligibility requirements. The main benefit for farmers of the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme was, therefore, that it allowed farmers greater freedom-to-farm, with individual farmers free to choose which farming enterprise best suited...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: It was not possible to compile details as requested by the Deputy within the time permitted. I will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department continues to process payment claims under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. As I stated recently, grant-aid will be paid to all farmers who complete work in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-13 (The Cawley Report) is the blueprint for the development of the seafood sector going forward. The recommendations and indicated funding contained in the report are underpinned by the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013, which provides for their roll out over the timeframe of the plan. Annual...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following is the up to date position in respect of the foreshore licence applications referred to by the Deputy. Outfall from Stormwater/Surfacewater Collection system at Cappoquin (Application received 29 April 2005). Outfall from Wastewater Treatment Plant at Cappoquin (Application received 29 April 2005). These applications have completed the public notice stage of the process and...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following are the number of hectares of trees planted in each of the past five years by species: Year Broadleaf Conifer Total 2003 2,075.37 7,022.35 9,097.72 2004 2,799.71 6,938.90 9,738.61 2005 3,001.89 7,094.12 10,096.01 2006 2,527.16 5,509.48 8,036.64 2007 2,181.80 4,764.79 6,946.59

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Details of the expenditure by my Department on consultancies, as defined under the Department of Finance Guidelines, for the years 2003 to date in 2008 is as follows: Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007* 2008* Expenditure â'¬616,985 â'¬684,741 â'¬243,083 â'¬922,228 â'¬2,825, 875 â'¬843,197 Number of Contracts 22 26 17 21 34 13 *Figures include expenditure relating to Fisheries...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Indicative funding of €3m was allocated to implement the recommendation of the Sheep Strategy Implementation Group that sheep breeding functions be transferred from my Department to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). This indicative funding was allocated at €1m per annum for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009. Due to delays in implementing the recommendation of the Sheep Strategy...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme and my Department has recently written to all approved farmers under the Scheme reminding them of the importance of compliance with this deadline in order to avail of the generous...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The current Rural Development Programme for Ireland covers the period 2007-2013. It has a budget of €5.778 billion over the lifetime of the Programme of which €2.339 billion will be funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EARDF) and €3.438 billion by the national exchequer. The contribution from the exchequer includes the necessary funding to match the EU...