Results 2,161-2,180 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 8th April 2008. This application was selected for a satellite eligibility inspection. This inspection raised a number of issues relating to the parcels claimed by the person named. As a result this file has been forwarded for a ground eligibility inspection to clarify the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application was received on 1 April 2008 requesting the transfer of 80.63 Single Payment entitlements to the person named from another farmer by way of lease. The entitlements in question are categorized as 'National Reserve' entitlements. EU Regulation provide that National Reserve entitlements may not, except in the case of gift or inheritance, be transferred for a period of five years...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Applications under this Scheme are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: In line with a recent Government decision, responsibility for Coastal Protection and Coastal Flooding will become the responsibility of the Office of Public Works with effect from 1st January 2009. Arrangements are currently in train to effect the transfer. The Office of Public Works will therefore be responsible for the allocation of funding for Coast Protection works in 2009. Any queries...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has no record of an application under the Early Retirement Scheme by the person named.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 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...

Farm Retirement Scheme. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The 2009 budget was prepared against the background of a serious deterioration in the national finances. The limited resources available meant that difficult choices had to be made between competing demands. My priority in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to focus available resources on the measures that allow us to maintain and grow the productive capacity of the agrifood...

Farm Retirement Scheme. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I indicated to Deputy Creed previously when we met to discuss those issues and in reply to a previous parliamentary question that people whose applications were significantly progressed at the time entry to the schemes were suspended are a priority for me and will be a priority when we start processing and revisiting that decision. That is a view shared by all of us who represent rural areas...

Farm Retirement Scheme. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The scheme was suspended due to budgetary constraints and that remains the position. Adequate provision has been made in the 2009 Estimates to meet all applications that were duly authorised and authenticated that reached the Department by budget day, should they be approved. I hope they all meet the criteria. I accept some people who had started to prepare their applications had gone...

Sheep Sector. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The possibility of support to the sheep sector will be considered in the light of the outcome of the recent CAP health check. That outcome provides that an additional amount of some €24 million annually will be available to Irish farmers from 2010 onwards. That amount may be used to target specific sectors in need of assistance and represents money that would otherwise not be available to...

Sheep Sector. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: On the Deputy's question on the EU conference in France in early September, people who listen to us participated actively and constructively at the meeting. At the conference, I outlined that the sheep sector needed assistance at EU level. For once, the British Government and the Irish one were on the same wavelength on an agriculture issue. The British Minister participated, as did the...

Sheep Sector. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: As Deputy Sherlock knows——

Sheep Sector. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I assure Deputy Sherlock that I have been entirely consistent on this issue.

Sheep Sector. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have not shifted my position. Not one comma in any of my statements on the sheep sector has been shifted.

Sheep Sector. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I just want to state the facts. I have been entirely consistent. I said at the IFA meeting at Tullamore, where I was criticised for not making a commitment, that I made a commitment to seeking to gain access to the unused funds. I stated I wanted to ensure the changes in the CAP health check would open the possibility for some useful action in the sheep sector. I stated at the meeting...

Sheep Sector. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have total respect for the people I have invited to the meeting.

EU Funding. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The agreed rates of additional modulation will generate approximately €120 million in total over the four years from 2009 to 2012 in transfers from the single farm payment to rural development. As I have previously made clear, these additional funds will stay in Ireland and be passed back to Irish farmers under the rural development programme. In line with the new regulations they must be...

EU Funding. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Our national contribution in respect of the rural development programme far exceeds our national requirement. These new measures will probably serve as an addendum to the existing programme. Our co-financing obligation——

EU Funding. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Absolutely. There may be a perception that the funds will be allocated for some rural development measures beyond the farm gate but this is not true. The modulated funds will be allocated for on-farm activities. The scheme or schemes we will propose to the Commission for approval will have to be linked to the new challenges of climate change, achieving biodiversity and water management. A...

EU Funding. (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: With the level of modulation coming in at present, we would have to put our proposal to Brussels. The decision on whether our co-financing is adequate will be made there. The current national Exchequer contribution to our rural development programme substantially exceeds the EU requirement. We will put forward our particular programme to Brussels when we have completed consultation in...