Results 17,561-17,580 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (25 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: The maximum level of pension payable under the current Early Retirement Scheme, which is €15,000 per annum, was agreed with the farming organizations in the context of the negotiations on the partnership agreement Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (25 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: The domestic conservation measures for sea bass are kept under review on a regular basis, in light of scientific assessments by the Central Fisheries Board and the Marine Institute on the state of sea bass stocks. There are three measures in place to protect sea bass: The (Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 203 of 2006)) prohibits Irish sea-fishing boats from fishing...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: All EC Directives issued since 1973 and relevant to this Department have been transposed and thus implemented into national legislation with the exception of Council Directive 2006/88/EC and those that were recently issued and not yet due for transposition. The outstanding Directive will be transposed shortly and it is intended that all recently issued Directives will be transposed and...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (24 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named began his REPS 4 contract on 1 December 2007.

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

Brendan Smith: Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for the majority of commercial fish stocks in European waters are proposed by the Commission each year for the following year, taking account, inter alia, of the scientific evidence on the state of each stock and the respective management measures in place. These proposals are the subject of extensive negotiations at the Agriculture and Fisheries...

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

Brendan Smith: BIM have to date implemented and promoted the "Environmentally Friendly Fishing Gear and Fuel Monitoring Equipment Grant Aid Scheme". This scheme provided grants of up to 40% to improve efficiency and conservation methods on board fishing vessels. These measures will, on adoption of the new Operational Programme for Fisheries 2007-2013, continue to be supported by the new European Fisheries...

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

Brendan Smith: Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of the 29th April 2004 sets out the official controls to be performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules. The general obligations with regard to the organisation of official controls shall ensure that official controls are carried out regularly, on a...

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

Brendan Smith: Two Transfer of Entitlement applications were received on 13 May 2008 from the person named requesting the transfer of 14.7 standard entitlements and 16.74 standard entitlements by way of sale without land to third parties. The requested transfers were fully processed on 16 June 2008 and the person named was notified in writing of the successful outcome of the applications.

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

Brendan Smith: The REPS contract in this case commenced on 1 November 2004 and four annual payments have been made. The person named will be able to apply for his fifth and final payment under this contract after his next anniversary date, which is 1 November 2008.

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

Brendan Smith: Payment dated 17 June 2008 has issued to the person named.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (24 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 to 274, inclusive, together. My Department has been in contact with the person named in the questions. However, the exact nature of the issue involved is not as yet clear to my staff. It appears to relate to a Vesting Order completed in 1988 where plots were surrendered and exchanged. If the person named sets out the exact nature of his query in writing...

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

Brendan Smith: To date no application for payment has been received in my Department from the person named. He has until 30 June 2008 to lodge his application without penalty.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: A preliminary TAC (Total Allowable Catch) was set for Celtic Sea cod at the December 2007 Agriculture and Fisheries Council. At that Council it was agreed that a final TAC would be established after a review of the scientific evidence relating to the state of the stock, in the first half of 2008. In March this year, a scientific paper was submitted to the European Commission by the Research...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: IUU (Illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing is one of the most serious threats worldwide to the sustainability of fish stocks. IUU fishing means that catches are either misreported or not reported at all and this is a significant contributor to the depletion of stocks through overfishing, as well as undermining the sustainable management of fisheries. The estimated value of IUU fishing...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006 was enacted on the 4th April 2006 and provides for dissuasive and effective penalties for infringements of fisheries law as required under the Common Fisheries Policy. The possibility of introducing administrative sanctions was comprehensively considered, including an examination of practices in other Member States, at the time of the...

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

Brendan Smith: Having carefully listened to specific issues raised by the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) at our meeting on the 13th June, I established the Irish Seafood Market Initiative under the Chair of Jason Whooley CEO of BIM, to discuss and identify and maximize the opportunities for domestic seafood supply to the Irish Seafood market. I also established the Irish Fisheries Science...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Jun 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. The issue you refer to is an operational matter for Coillte. I understand that the Courts have ruled on this issue and I therefore consider that it is not appropriate for me to intervene in the matter.

Fishing Industry: Statements (19 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank all Members who contributed to this debate on the very important issues facing the fishing sector and who made positive contributions, including yourself, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. One of the very strong messages from the debate is that discards are a huge problem. The Minister of State, Deputy Killeen set down, in detail, the complex issues surrounding this issue, which is global....

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (18 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 188 together. 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...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (18 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 189 together. 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...