Results 2,121-2,140 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: I am losing time. Deputy Creed should note there will be questions tomorrow.
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: I am not avoiding any question. The outcome of the health check initiative was particularly satisfactory from an Irish point of view and included a number of notable achievements for Ireland. As with all negotiations of this nature, we did not get everything we would have liked but we did achieve an outcome that will be worth some â¬170 million to Irish farmers over the next five years. We...
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: ââwhich is particularly important given the abolition of milk quotas in 2015. The outcome in regard to milk quotas will result in a quota increase equivalent to 500 million litres by 2014, by comparison with the figure for 2007. Based on existing milk prices, the value of these production rights amount to some â¬100 million.
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: Despite the current price for milk, I am confident that the long-term outlook is positive and that the Irish dairy sector is well equipped to take advantage of the opportunities that will result from growing prosperity in developing countries as well as increasing population trends. The world's population is expected to grow by almost 800 million over the next decade.
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: I do not have to listen to gibberish from Deputy Bannon.
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: Deputy Deenihan made his point on the particular pressures on the dairy sector sensibly. He addressed the issue, unlike some of the commentators I have heard. Unfortunately, price volatility now seemsââ
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: I am losing time and cannot get to the facts because the Deputy is wasting my time. That is the reality. I am listening to rubbish from him.
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: It is a disgrace, as usual.
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The Government is also investing significantly in the dairy processing industry, through the dairy investment fund, to ensure it will have the capacity to process the increased yield I believe dairy farmers will be more than capable of producing. I had identified the maintenance of market supports as a particular priority given Ireland's seasonal pattern of...
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: Despite claims to the contrary, I have not backed away from any commitments to sheep farmers. The sector remains a priority and is one that needs assistance. I have no doubt that proposals to support the sheep sector will form a central part of the discussions to which I have invited the farm organisations later this month. I look forward to that dialogue and to constructive discussion and...
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: Securing an official brucellosis-free status for Ireland will enable me to reduce some of the control elements of the eradication programme. This will bring consequential benefits for farmers, particularly with regard to trade. In addition, it will be possible to bring about a gradual reduction in the level of testing that will, over time, lead to reduced testing and lower costs for farmers....
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: It is Her Majesty's Exchequer.
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: Human rights is a good subject.
- Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: Democracy is a great thing, no matter how one comes to it.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007â13 and is subject to different EU Regulations from the preceding versions of REPS. Under REPS 4, all payments are to be made in just two instalments. The first payment, of 75%, can be made only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. This is why it...
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (2 Dec 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 since reaffirmed that this deadline must be respected strictly. Accordingly there are no further plans to approach the European Commission for approval to...
- Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: Mr Farrell's application for a Ministerial Declaration to allow him to temporary lease his milk quota for the 2008/2009 milk quota year was received in my Department on 13 October 2008. His application was refused on the grounds that it did not come under the category of force majeure. Mr Farrell has been informed of his options regarding his quota, including the possibility of selling it...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: An application was received on 15 May 2008 requesting the transfer of 30.86 Single Farm Payment entitlements from the joint names of the person named and his late father into the sole name of the person named. As the requested transfer was by way of inheritance, it was necessary to request the normal testamentary documentation in support of this transfer. The required documentation has now...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: Payment under the Farm Waste Management Scheme issued to the person concerned on 28 November 2008.
- Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (2 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: An application under the Early Retirement (ERS3) Scheme for the person named was received in my Department on 16 October 2008. It could not be accepted for processing as the Scheme was suspended for new applications with effect from 15 October 2008. I have no plans, at present, to reopen the Early Retirement Scheme to new applications, but the limiting of the suspension of the Scheme will...