Results 17,761-17,780 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (15 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Regulation (EC) 853 of 2004 lays down specific rules on the hygiene of food of animal origin for food business operators. Annex I to Regulation (EC) 853/2004 defines meat as the edible parts of a specified list of animals. This list does not include canine or feline animals, and the slaughter of such animals for consumption by humans and the sale of such meat is therefore unlawful in the EU....

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (15 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The dunes at Burrow Beach, Burrow Road, Sutton, Co. Dublin are owned by Fingal County Council and responsibility for their maintenance and development is a matter for the Local Authority in the first instance. However, I am pleased to announce that under my Department's 2008 Coastal Protection Programme, grant aid of €50,000 has been allocated towards the protection of the Dunes at Burrow...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The issues that had delayed processing of schemes in these offices have been resolved and payments will commence shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named has submitted an application for consideration of an allocation under Category C of the 2007 National Reserve which caters for sheep farmers for whom at least 40% of their Single Payment was derived from direct payments associated with sheep production (Ewe Premium/Rural Word Premium) during the reference period and where their existing Single Payment is less than €10,000....

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (15 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: In the past 18 months, the services of the following firms or barristers have been retained by my Department. Solicitors Engagement Purpose Fees/Estimate Arthur Cox Advice and drafting in relation to environmental, ecological and EU Law €42,029.46 for the period 29.01.08 to 31.03.08 ongoing Philip Lee, Solicitors Advice on Public Procurement €7,708.31 Baristers Engagement Purpose...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (14 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Operational Programme (O.P) for Fisheries for Ireland has not been rejected by the Commission. As part of the normal consultative process for approval, the Commission adopts a negotiating position where it sets out how the OP should be improved and completed to meet the Commission's quality requirement for the programme. The Commission Negotiating position was received on the 22nd of...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (14 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: In 2006, the European Commission classified willow as an agriculture crop. The Commission subsequently introduced Council Regulation 2012/2006 authorising Member States to grant national aid of up to 50% of the costs associated with establishing permanent crops (willow and miscanthus). This Regulation provides the legal basis of the Bioenergy Scheme, which my Department introduced in February...

Written Answers — Fisheries Industry Development: Fisheries Industry Development (14 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Grant aid schemes for aquaculture and processing measures under the European Fisheries Fund Regulation 2007–2013 will be launched as soon as the relevant approvals are in place. For measures being partly supported with EU aid, the Commission must approve the national Operational Programme for Fisheries. The Operational Programme (O.P) for Fisheries for Ireland has been submitted to the...

Written Answers — Licence Applications: Licence Applications (14 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I refer the Deputy to the response to Question No. 47 of 6 November 2007 which indicated, inter alia, that 254 applications were being processed as new applications, licence renewals or licences undergoing review. Since then, the Department has received 17 new applications, 10 applications to renew a licence and 3 applications to review a licence. The licensing procedure is lengthy and...

Written Answers — Fisheries Industry Development: Fisheries Industry Development (14 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Operational Programme (O.P) for Fisheries for Ireland has not been rejected by the Commission. As part of the normal consultative process for approval, the Commission adopts a negotiating position where it sets out how the OP should be improved and completed to meet the Commission's quality requirement for the programme. The Commission Negotiating position was received on the 22nd of...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (14 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am aware of this report which contributes to the ongoing consideration of the future of the sheep sector in Europe. In that context my predecessor raised the issue at the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers last March. Commissioner Fisher Boel has indicated that the needs of the sector would be borne in mind in the CAP "Health Check". The mixed grazing supplementary measure under REPS 4...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (14 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The position is that a Commission report on the application of cross-compliance was presented to the April 2007 Agriculture Council and Council conclusions were adopted in June 2007. One of issues covered in the conclusions was advance notice of inspections. Council and Commission Regulations are now in place implementing the new arrangements with effect from 1 January 2008. Under the new...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (14 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: This is one of the recommendations in the report by Liam Aylward, MEP, to the European Parliament on the future of the sheep and goat sectors, which is being examined. I support the principle of maximum price transparency at all levels. In Ireland producer prices at export meat plants are published weekly by An Bord Bia. This includes a comparison with EU lamb markets. One of the...

Written Answers — Registration of Entitlements: Registration of Entitlements (14 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The rules governing the registration and transfer of payment entitlements are set out in Council Regulation 1782/2003, Commission Regulation 796/2004 and Commission Regulation 795/2004. The 40 standard entitlements in question were established by the first person named and his late brother as joint herd owners during the reference period. While the herd number previously held in the joint...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: REPS is an agri-environmental measure, and for that reason payments to farmers must be costed and justified on the basis of quantifiable environmental benefits that go beyond keeping land in good agricultural and environmental condition and observing the statutory management requirements of the Single Payment Scheme. No element of the REPS payment can be justified on the basis of a...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (14 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: There is no doubt that the current round of WTO negotiations represents a significant challenge for EU and Irish agriculture. I am very concerned about some of the proposals being made in the WTO negotiations and with the lack of balance in the process. I want to assure the Deputy that I will take every opportunity to express my concerns in the strongest terms in the various EU and WTO...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (13 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Funding has been provided by my Department under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for the above two locations. In 2007, my Department approved agreed to provide funding of €500,000 to Kerry County Council towards the development of the pier at Cromane, Co. Kerry. The project involves the construction of a pier, breakwater, access road and dredging of the...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (13 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Significant progress has been made in delivering on this commitment in the Programme for Government. BIM have assisted in the strategy whereby four of the main Fishing Co-operatives (Foyle, Clogherhead, Galway & Aran and Union Hall) joined forces, under a single brand name called "Passion on a Plate". These co-operatives are also working on taking a consumer brand, called Cashelmara, to the...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (13 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Substantial progress has been made in the area of fleet restructuring with a new Decommissioning scheme launched in February of this year. This scheme will to deliver on the commitments for fleet restructuring contained in the Programme for Government with €42 million committed to fund this scheme in 2008 and 2009. The scheme is a voluntary scheme which will permanently remove fishing...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (13 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: BIM continues to be involved in many local and international collaborative projects that cover issues related to the marine and coastal environment, responsible fishing and aquaculture, and the sustainability of seafood supplies. Of prime importance is BIM's Position Statement on Responsible Fishing and Aquaculture, which is a blueprint of BIM's themes of responsibility, and sets out a...