Results 2,281-2,300 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — Agriculture Policy: Agriculture Policy (3 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: I have received a number of representations, directly and indirectly, from various interest groups requesting that I reconsider the 2009 Budget decisions. The situation is that the 2009 Budget was framed against the background of a serious deterioration in the public finances which required difficult decisions to be made on the allocation of the limited resources available. I made these...
- Written Answers — Agricultural Exports: Agricultural Exports (3 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: Agricultural production in Ireland and the EU must be viewed in the context of a reformed and evolving Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which is placing much more emphasis on market orientation and competitiveness. Following the decoupling of direct payments from production, farmers can now take advantage of the freedom to farm exclusively for the market, allowing them to focus on meeting...
- Written Answers — Agriculture Policy: Agriculture Policy (3 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: There are a significant number of measures in place to encourage the early transfer of farms and the entry of young farmers into the sector. These include: 100% stamp duty relief on transfers of agricultural land and buildings to young trained farmers; 100% stamp duty relief on land purchased by young trained farmers; 100% stock relief for four years for young trained farmers; 90%...
- Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (3 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: A strategic blueprint to develop the fisheries sector into the 21ST century is contained in the report of the Seafood Strategy Review Group "Steering a New Course" (The Cawley Report). One of the key recommendations of the Cawley Report was for the introduction of a sea fishing boat decommissioning scheme. To date a total of 45 vessels have accepted offers with one further vessel having...
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (3 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: The person named is an applicant under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. Payment will be made by my Department to the person concerned shortly.
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (3 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: The person named is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Payment will be made by my Department to the person concerned shortly.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: The person named applied under Category C of the 2007 National Reserve which caters for 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, their existing Single Payment is less than â¬10,000 and individual payment entitlements are less than the District Electoral...
- Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (3 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: I have made provision of â¬47 million in 2009 to meet current commitments under the Early Retirement Scheme from Farming but, for the present, it has been necessary to suspend new applications for this scheme. The limiting of the suspension of the Scheme will be considered at the earliest opportunity having regard to the general budgetary situation.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: The person named finished his contract in REPS 2 on 30 September 2007 and received all payments due under that contract, and has since applied for REPS 4. 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,...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: Those farmers who held a sugar beet quota during one or more of the years 2001, 2002, 2004 were entitled to have the Single Payment Entitlements topped up. However, as neither of the persons named held such a quota, they were not automatically entitled to have their Single Payment adjusted. The father of the persons named did hold such a quota and he chose to request that his payments be...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: The number of REPS 4 payments made on a county-by-county basis is as follows: County Number paid Cavan 11 Clare 10 Cork 13 Donegal 28 Galway 10 Kerry 19 Kilkenny 7 Leitrim 9 Limerick 6 Longford 5 Mayo 5 Monaghan 2 Offaly 3 Roscommon 8 Sligo 8 Tipperary 10 Waterford 8 Wexford 1 Total 163 These payments all relate to applications received in 2007. The total paid to these...
- Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (4 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: The sheep sector is a significant beneficiary of the main schemes operated by my Department. Sheep farmers receive an annual estimated â¬126m. under the Single Farm Payment and an annual estimated â¬60m. under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. In the case of REPS, some â¬84m. is paid annually to them. The sector is also benefiting from measures that have been put in place following the...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 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...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: I understand that an application for payment from the person in question was received on 24 October. This is being processed at present and, provided the work is up to the required standard, payment will be made in the normal way.
- Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (4 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Year No. of Herds in Country Cattle population under test Number of animal tests Number of Reactors 1997 145,209 7,725,634 9,910,074 28,647 1998 142,302 7,946.989 10,677,291 44,498 1999 138,263 7,569,735 10,749,580 44,903 2000 133,542 7,032,407 10,304,162 39,847 2001 130,525 7,097,430 9,402,196 33,702 2002...
- Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (4 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: My Department's Bovine TB eradication programme is based primarily on the diagnosis of disease using the Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin test (SICTT), which is generally referred to as the TB skin test and which is an EU approved test. I should explain that no test is 100% accurate and the 'sensitivity' and 'specificity' of the skin test is a function not just of the test itself...
- Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (4 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: A key objective of the TB eradication scheme is the prompt removal of reactor animals direct to a designated factory for slaughter. My Department currently arranges and pays for a national reactor collection service to remove reactor animals from holdings. In general, reactors are removed within one week of acceptance by the herd owner of the valuation attributed to the animals through the...
- Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Services: Veterinary Inspection Services (4 Dec 2008)
Brendan Smith: Since 1996, it has been the responsibility of herdowners to make the necessary arrangements with their private veterinary practitioners to have the annual TB and Brucellosis herd tests carried out and, in general, unless reactors are disclosed the herdowner pays the testing veterinary practitioner for carrying out these tests. This system has worked well since its inception and I am not...