Results 2,521-2,540 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 includes a supplementary measure, operated by the Heritage Council on behalf of my Department, which provides grant aid for the restoration of traditional farm buildings. There are no plans to increase the payment rate for this supplementary measure.

Written Answers — Special Protection Areas: Special Protection Areas (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Last year my Department was notified by the EU Commission of a complaint regarding alleged damage to the Natura 2000 site in Lough Swilly. My Department investigated the complaint and concluded that the activity in question was a legitimate use of a licensed aquaculture site by the licence holder. My Department's response was communicated to the EU Commission and the complainant.

Written Answers — Special Protection Areas: Special Protection Areas (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) is included in Annex IV of Council Regulation (EC) 708/2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture. Article 2(5) of the Regulation specifically exempts those species listed in Annex IV from the provisions of the Regulation, with the exceptions of articles 3 and 4. Article 4 requires Member States to ensure that all...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1171 to 1173, inclusive, 1177, 1179, 1180 and 1182 together The piers at Kilcummin, Rinroe, Tallaghan, Murrisk, Frenchport, Belmullett, and Dooagh are owned by Mayo County Council and responsibility for their maintenance and development is a matter for the Local Authority in the first instance. My Department did however recently receive applications for...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1174 to 1176, inclusive, 1178, 1181, 1183 and 1184 together The piers at Bunnacurry, Old Head, Kildavnet, Inishgort, Bellacreagher, Corraun/Sweeneys Pier, and Inishlyre are all owned by Mayo County Council and responsibility for their upgrade and maintenance rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. In late 2008, all coastal Local Authorities were...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following confirmation by the Valuation Office that it would not be in a position to supply a valuation service in respect of activities on State foreshore, my Department sought approval from the Department of Finance for the use of valuers from the private sector. A number of applications for foreshore consents currently on hand cannot be progressed without valuation. The urgency of the...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1186 and 1191 together. The State's role is to facilitate a climate that will help to maintain a core of competitive, full-time farmers, while at the same time providing an economic environment which enables smaller scale producers to avail of both on and off-farm opportunities to secure their future. The various measures under the AgriVision 2015 Action Plan,...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1187 and 1239 to 1241, inclusive, together. In line with the Programme for Government, my Department is actively engaged both nationally and with the Commission and like-minded Member States to pursue the simplification agenda on an ongoing basis and, in particular, to bring about a rationalisation of the cross-compliance arrangements and to streamline the...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Over the past few years, funding of between €25.3million and €27.7 million has been provided annually to Bord Bia to allow them maintain and increase access to new markets and implement a wide range of successful market development and promotional strategies for the food sector. Particular emphasis has also been given to promoting research and development and €641 million was committed...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The interdepartmental group has been established and comprises representatives from the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Foreign Affairs and Enterprise, Trade and Employment and from Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Iascaigh Mhara. This high level market access group has met on two occasions and is currently pursuing a two pronged approach of identifying and exploiting...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: This commitment is progressed primarily through the AgriVision 2015 Action Plan which detailed 167 actions to be undertaken to assist the competitiveness and sustainability of the agri-food industry. By end December 2008, 98% of these actions had been implemented. To continue to achieve these objectives, extensive funding is provided through the Vote, the National Development Plan (NDP) and...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme, introduced in July 2007, provided grant-aid for investment in housing, handling and related facilities. The Scheme was, however, closed for new applications on 31 October 2007 as applications had reached the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016. Overall expenditure under the Farm Improvement Scheme in 2007 and 2008,...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following the approval by EU Commission in September 2007 of the detailed Rural Development Programme (RDP), the implementation of the new schemes and increased payment provisions commenced. In recent months, the budgetary situation has resulted in the curtailment of some of these measures. The total agriculture related RDP expenditure in 2007 was €634 million while to end December 2008 a...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: A range of measures, which are designed to assist farmers to maximise their income, are included in AV2015, Towards 2016, the NDP and the RDP. As already indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question 47653/08 my Department ensures that almost €2 billion in direct payments issue annually to assist farmers maximise their income from farming. A number of taxation measures are in place...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: A new REPS 4 scheme was launched in late 2007 as part of the new Rural Development Programme. For the first time, REPS is open to more intensive farmers and this has the potential to bring numbers to the targeted level. The level of participation at the end of 2006, when REPS 3 closed to new applications, was approx 59,000. By 15 May 2008, the closing date for 2008 REPS 4 applications, some...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The land area under organic production at the end of 2008 was 44,751 hectares compared to 41,122 hectares at the end of 2007, an increase of almost 9%. This represents slightly over 1% of the total utilisable agricultural area. To assist in achieving the Programme for Government target, my Department launched its Organic Farming Action Plan 2008-2012 in April 2008. The Plan was drawn up by...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1197, 1198, 1204, 1205, 1207 and 1208 together. A good deal of work has been undertaken on drafting the new Animal Health and Welfare Bill which will give effect to a number of commitments in the area of animal health and welfare contained in the Programme for Government. In particular the new Bill will amend and consolidate previous legislation to reflect the...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: It has been clarified that this commitment relates to the growing of GM crops and not to the import or consumption of GM food or feed. Consideration on how best to advance this commitment is ongoing.

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Irish food safety is guaranteed by the rigorous standards, processes and audits required under the European Food and Feed Hygiene legislation and the Department's animal traceability system, which supports quality assurances schemes developed and operated through Bord Bia and the industry and related promotional measures. Three traceability projects which can be used to assist marketing are...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1201 and 1224 together. In December 2007, my Department submitted to the European Commission draft national legislation that would require the country of origin to be indicated on pigmeat, poultrymeat and sheepmeat and on food products containing over 70% of these meats. During the past year my Department has been in extensive communication with the Commission...