Results 2,061-2,080 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I presume the Deputy is referring to an extension of the Scheme concerned to June 2009. It is not possible at this stage to provide an estimate of the additional cost which such an extension might involve.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (19 Nov 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. The EU Commission has repeatedly stated that the exceptional extension to end December 2008 has to be strictly adhered to.

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: As aspects relating to the AHCS1 form are of a technical matter, I believe that a meeting at official level would be more appropriate in the first instance. If the person concerned contacts my office, the necessary arrangements can be made for a meeting with my officials.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2008. Initial processing of the application revealed an issue concerning forestry planting. This has now been satisfactorily resolved, allowing processing of the application to be finalised. Payment will shortly issue to the person named.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The matter in question, the receipt by my Department of an application form under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme, is being investigated and an official of my Department has already been in direct contact with the person named. It should be noted, however, that the letter referred to, dated 28 July, which the person named has indicated was received in an envelope with a postmark of 23 October,...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 8 May 2008. One of the primary provisions of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is that applicants must maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for at least three consecutive months. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified as...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (20 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. Regarding the...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The number of REPS 4 applications currently recorded on my Department's computer system is approximately 12,700 and my officials are currently carrying out the administrative checks which are required before these can be approved for payment. There are still over 48,300 farmers in REPS 3, and some 2,000 in the last months of their REPS 2 contracts. I expect that the majority of those now in...

Written Answers — Fish Quotas: Fish Quotas (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The overall Total Allowable Catch for mackerel will increase by 33% in 2009. However, Ireland's mackerel quota will not be fully determined until such time as the current EU/Norway Fisheries negotiations are completed over the coming weeks. My colleague, Minister Tony Killeen has already received a range of diverse views from industry representatives and operators regarding how any...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has this year allocated funding of €470,000 towards works at Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2008. These include Repairs to the East Pier (Phase II), Safety & Maintenance, Upgrading of the slipway and access to the West Wharf. The cost benefit analysis of the proposed development at Dunmore East...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 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 — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The budget for 2009 was framed against the background of a serious deterioration in the national finances. Difficult choices had to be made in allocating the resources available to me in 2009. I made these decisions in the best interests of the sector as a whole, following detailed analysis of my Department's programme of expenditure and careful consideration of the options available....

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: In February 2007 Oriel Windfarm Limited applied for a foreshore lease for the purpose of constructing an offshore wind farm in Dundalk Bay of up to 330 MW potential consisting of 55 turbines with tower height of up to 100m and rotor diameter of up to 120m. Negotiations between Oriel Windfarm Ltd and my Department regarding the terms of a proposed lease are at an advanced stage. Once these...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 30 April 2008. Following processing of this application, an advance payment of €10,076.15 issued on 20 October 2008 to the bank account of the person named, via Electronic Funds Transfer. Balancing payments under the Scheme are scheduled to commence issuing on 1 December 2008.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Included in the Budget statement by the Minister for Finance on the 14th October was the decision to transfer the marketing functions of Bord Iascaigh Mhara to An Bord Bia and to merge the National Council for Forestry Research and Development (COFORD) into my Department. The Government's initiative in transferring the seafood marketing and promotion functions to Bord Bia will ensure the...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application to purchase an area of reclaimed foreshore was made by Carroll's Ballyhack Boatyard Ltd on 18 October 2006. The application was made in respect of an area comprising 0.75 acres approximately, in respect of which the company holds a foreshore lease. This lease was issued for a period of 35 years from 1 April 1999. In accordance with current policy, my Department does not...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Under the EU Regulations governing REPS, a participant must make an application for each annual payment. Failure to do so means that the contract must be terminated and all payments recovered, unless exceptional circumstances apply. In this case, my Department wrote to the person named on 13 September 2001, advising him that he had to lodge his third year payment application form by 31...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 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. Following the resolution of industrial action in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2008. During processing of this application, issues arose regarding the eligibility of one of the land parcels declared, which have now been resolved. Payment will issue shortly to the person named.

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

Brendan Smith: My colleague, Minister Tony Killeen has already received a range of diverse views from industry representatives and operators regarding how any additional mackerel quota for Ireland should be allocated. In that context, he is consulting with the industry representatives and has arranged a meeting of all interested parties for tomorrow 26th of November with a view to establishing whether an...