Results 2,041-2,060 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Under the general labelling Directive (2000/13/EC), the place of origin of the foodstuff must be given only if its absence might mislead the consumer to a material degree. The European Commission is currently undertaking a major review of all food labelling legislation. EU beef...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Public Service Benchmarking Body was established as an independent body in July 2000 under the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to examine public service pay and jobs by comparison with the private sector. The Body reported in June 2002 and recommended varying levels of pay increases for the grades examined. The Benchmarking Body, in their first report, recommended that,...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Consideration by my Department of the applications is at a very advanced stage and a determination on the applications is imminent.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named applied for an allocation under Category A of the 2007 National Reserve which caters for farmers who inherited, leased or otherwise received free of charge, or for a nominal amount from a farmer who retired or died before 16 May 2005 a holding that was leased out to a third party during the 2000-2002 reference period. As the person named did not submit sufficient...

Written Answers — Tuberculosis Incidence: Tuberculosis Incidence (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in all of the detail requested and, insofar as it is available, 2006 is the most recent year for which detailed information can be provided in the time available. The total cost of the TB programme in 2006 was approximately €70 million, of which some €33.8 million related to staff costs. A specific figure for the cost of farm...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Where lands eligible for basic payment at the outset of a REPS contract are designated as a Special Protection Area in the course of the contract, the Natura 2000 payment rates may be claimed from the next anniversary date provided an amended plan is submitted to reflect the new situation.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The current number of REPS 4 applications, on a county-by-county basis, recorded on my Department's computer system is set out in the following table. Not all of these are due payment in 2008, however. Apart from those whose contracts in REPS 2 ended after that date, other applications received since 15 May, 2008 are due no payment before January 2009. County No. of REPS 4 applications...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Where a valid REPS 4 application has been submitted, advance payments of 75% under the EU regulations governing REPS 4 can issue only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. The balancing 25% payment will follow when all 2008 REPS on-farm inspections have taken place. Work on the administrative checks is at an advanced...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 510 together. Agricultural Officers in DAFF, members of the IMPACT union, commenced an industrial action on 6th October. IMPACT allege that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has acted in breach of 'Towards 2016' by not informing the Union in advance of changes in work practices. The Department rejects this allegation. IMPACT has...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following table sets out the average number of working days lost per employee in my Department for the past three years: Year 2005 2006 2007 Average no. of days lost 5.89 5.70 4.64 Average no. of days lost (excl. long term sick leave)* 3.13 2.92 2.69 *Assumes that long term sick leave is defined as an absence of more than fifty days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 15th May 2008. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing these Schemes, this application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. The file is currently being examined and the findings will be...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Given the volume of detail requested by the Deputy in his question, it is not possible to supply him with the information at this time. I will arrange to forward it to him directly in the coming days.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested is set out in the table. Year Number of staff Amount of pension Amount of lump sum â'¬ â'¬ 2006 78 1,837,507.34 5,473,638.00 2007 84 2,310,653.77 6,410,572.89 2008 to date 77 1,861,798.87 5,730,730.48

Seanad: Agriculture Sector: Statements (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the opportunity to take part in this debate on agriculture which takes place on the eve of the European Union Agriculture Council at which we will finalise the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, health check. Last week, Senators had the opportunity to discuss the recent budget. I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, who took the debate in my absence in the...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department is processing two foreshore applications in respect of the proposed Belmullet Sewerage Scheme. The first application was received from Mayo County Council on 23 June 2008 for a foreshore licence to facilitate the discharge of treated effluent from a proposed wastewater treatment scheme at Belmullet. The application was circulated to my Department's consultees in the normal...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: A draft decision notifying Ireland not to proceed with its draft legislation for country of origin labelling of pigmeat, poultrymeat and sheepmeat was one of the items on the agenda of the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 13 October 2008. The Commission summarised the grounds advanced by Ireland for the draft legislation but pointed out that it had...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: To date in 2008, my Department has made 532 payments totalling €15.55 million to applicants in County Roscommon under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. This compares to 265 payments totalling €6.27 million during the calendar year 2007. My Department keeps its staffing arrangements in local offices under constant review in order to ensure that payments continue to flow in a timely manner...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The number of REPS 3 applications for annual payment approved in Roscommon and the number awaiting approval is set out in the following table.

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The main source of protein feed for the pig and poultry industry is soya imported from South America. Over 90% of the imported soya comes from GM varieties. Soya from non GM varieties is currently used in some sectors of the poultry industry and this is being purchased at a price premium over the GM soya.

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The report for the European Parliament by Mr. Liam Aylward MEP on the sheep sector in Europe has called for the introduction of an environmental maintenance scheme for ewes to arrest the decline in sheep production. This recommendation and others in the Aylward Report were considered in detail at a special conference on the sheep sector that was held in Limoges by the French Presidency at the...