Results 17,261-17,280 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Article 3 of the Birds Directive, implemented in Ireland under the Wildlife Acts, allows for the creation of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the protection of birds. Such areas have been designated in Ireland where they contain significant populations or species of birds that are of national or international importance. Article 4(4) of the directive indicates that Member States shall take...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The strategic environmental assessment of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 was commissioned to report on the draft Programme in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2001/42/EC and relevant national legislation. This legislation requires an assessment to be carried out in respect of programmes which are likely to have significant environmental effects. The assessment was...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Strategic Environmental Assessments have been undertaken by my Department since the introduction of Directive in respect of the following: 1. Rural Development Plan 2007-2012; 2. Seafood Operational Programme 2007-2012.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government published the Freshwater Pearl Mussel requirements in March 2008. These requirements were implemented from 31 March 2008. Consequently the moratorium on all clearfelling harvesting in Freshwater Pearl Mussel catchments has now been lifted. The number of hectares licensed to date for clearfelling...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013 was a formal, systematic evaluation of the anticipated significant environmental effects of the Plan. The Environmental Report, undertaken as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment, is a major assessment measure and sets out the conditions that are applied at implementation level. This report...

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

Brendan Smith: The Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 governs the licensing of aquaculture within the State. Under the terms of the Act a person may, in accordance with the application regulations, apply to the Minister for an aquaculture licence or trial licence. There are no provisions in the Act for the designation of areas for aquaculture purposes. Since 1 July 2003 the Department has issued 111...

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

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy is a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, which is an independent agency under the aegis of my Department. My Department has requested the Authority to compile the information sought as soon as possible and I will forward it to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together. The issue of high levels of discards in commercial sea fisheries is a global problem and is on the agenda of all major international organisations who deal with the development of sustainable sea fisheries and protection of marine ecosystems. Discarding is usually a feature of mixed fisheries where one species may be the target of fishing...

Written Answers — Hazardous Substances: Hazardous Substances (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: 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 they take the safety of forest workers very seriously and that they implement effective safety controls in all its operations. I understand from the company that they treat some...

Written Answers — Agricultural Policy: Agricultural Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 485 together. For some time, farmers have chosen to maximise their incomes through a combination of farming and off-farm employment. This Government is committed to maintaining a core of competitive, full-time farmers, while at the same time providing an economic environment which enables smaller scale producers to avail of both on and off-farm...

Written Answers — Agricultural Policy: Agricultural Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 533 to 535, inclusive, together. The introduction of the Single Payment Scheme in 2005 has dramatically reduced the paperwork for farmers in applying for the direct payment schemes. In addition, my Department introduced an on-line application system for the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas' Compensatory Allowance Scheme for 2007 to...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department, working in conjunction with the promotion and development agencies, and with industry through the structures established under the Agri-Vision 2015 Plan of Action, and most recently the Food Industry Research Sub-Group, has promoted marketing and research strategies to develop new products and new food markets. At market level, there are emerging opportunities in Continental EU...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions No. 482, 483 and 507 together. Building on the ongoing work of the Meat Market Access group involving my Department, Bord Bia and meat industry representatives which was established last July, an inter-Departmental Group has been established. It is chaired by my Department and comprised of representatives from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Enterprise,...

Written Answers — Agricultural Policy: Agricultural Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: It should be emphasised that there are in place a number of strategic plans operated by my Department that have the overall objective of developing and enhancing the capacity, sustainability and competitiveness of the agriculture, food, and forestry sectors. These include the Agri Vision 2015 Action Plan, the relevant commitments in Towards 2016, the National Development Plan and the Rural...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme, introduced in July 2007 following receipt of EU approval for the 2007-2013 RDP, provided grant-aid for the areas mentioned. The Scheme was, however, closed for new applications on 31 October 2007 as applications had reached the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Rural Development Programme: Rural Development Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Rural Development Programme for Ireland 2007-2013 was approved by the EU Commission in July 2007. 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 main measures and allocation of funds under Axes 1 and 2 are...

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The State's role is to facilitate a climate that assists competitive drive and innovation, for example, through the implementation of the Agri Vision 2015 Action Plan. At EU level a range of market support measures are operated, while the exchequer and the EU together also provide almost €2 billion per year in direct payments to support farm income. A number of schemes and reliefs have...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: A new REPS 4 scheme was launched in late 2007 as part of the Rural Development Programme 2007-13. For the first time REPS is open to more intensive farmers and this, together with more attractive payment rates agreed in Partnership, has potential to bring numbers to the targeted level. By the deadline of 15 May, some 11,500 farmers had applied to join REPS 4. There are some 54,000...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 490 and 531 together. My Department recently launched its Organic Farming Action Plan 2008-2012, which is central to assisting in reaching the Programme for Government target. The Plan has four main objectives: to increase production in line with market trends, increase the knowledge base, develop the organic market at home and abroad, and encourage the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491, 498, 499, 501 and 502 together. Work is progressing on drafting the new Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which gives effect to a number of commitments, in the area of animal health and welfare, contained in the Programme for Government. The Bill will amend and consolidate previous legislation to reflect the changed disease status of our nation's animals...