Results 2,541-2,560 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: Food labelling legislation and nutritional claims on food come within the remit of my colleague, the Minister of Health and Children and are primarily covered by EU Regulations. Under Article 13 of EU Regulation 1924/06, Member States are responsible for providing the European Commission with national lists of health claims, based on scientific evidence of effectiveness, by 31 January 2008....
- Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: The Department of Health and Children has primary responsibility for the National Strategy for Tackling Obesity. My Department has a role in promoting healthy food production and consumption. Following favourable reaction to the Irish pilot Food Dude programme (including an award by the WHO), a Healthy Eating Initiative was launched in February 2007 to make the Food Dude programme available...
- Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1206 and 1217 together. Good progress is being made in progressing a herd health initiative to deal with non-regulated diseases in a comprehensive manner. Following consultations in recent months with relevant stakeholders including farming, industry, service providers and relevant state agency representatives, there is broad agreement on the establishment of...
- Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: The inclusion of animal welfare and other non-trade concerns in WTO negotiations are pursued on an ongoing basis with the Commission and other Member States.
- Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1210 and 1221 together. The Capital Investment Aid Scheme for the beef and sheepmeat primary processing sectors was launched in April 2007, with the aims of achieving efficiencies in processing and improving market sustainability, competitiveness and added value. The process of examination and evaluation of project proposals has been completed. Enterprise...
- Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: The 5-year Animal Welfare, Recording and Breeding Scheme for Suckler Herds came into operation in January 2008. It aims to encourage and underpin the adoption of high standards of animal welfare in suckler herds and to improve the quality of breeding cattle in the beef sector. Almost 54,000 suckler farmers have joined and 85% of all the suckler cows in the country are now covered by the...
- Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: The first priority of government is to ensure the safety of all food produced, distributed and sold in Ireland and abroad. This is done through the independent Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) (under the aegis of the Minister for Health & Children) The FSAI has full powers for the enforcement of food safety legislation. My Department, like other Departments and Agencies whose...
- Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: In line with the specific commitment in the Programme for Government, since Bord Bia launched its new European Beef Promotion Campaign in 2005, the volume of Irish beef exported to the European retail market has grown significantly from 145,000 tonnes in 2005 to 245,000 tonnes in 2007. The major EU retail chains now list Irish beef and over 95% of total exports go into the high value EU...
- Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: My Department provided funding of â¬114 million towards investment in dairy processing and a total of 19 capital investment projects were approved and awarded Government grant assistance under the Fund, which will generate an estimated capital spend of â¬286 million at full production. The purpose of the Fund is to increase the efficiency of the main dairy outputs by supporting the...
- Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: My Department provides funding for pre-commercial research in the food sector through the Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM). Within the dairy sector, FIRM funded research is ongoing on milk, cheese, new food ingredients, manufacturing and processing which will support the development of the sector including new products. Support for research projects will continue within future...
- Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme (FIS) introduced in 2007 extended grant-aid to feeding systems and increased the specific investment ceilings for milking machines and bulk milk tanks from â¬16,000 to â¬40,000 and â¬25,000 respectively. Overall expenditure under the Farm Improvement Scheme in 2007 and 2008 was in excess of â¬12.9million.
- Written Answers — Sheep Industry: Sheep Industry (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: Good progress is being made in implementing the recommendations of the Sheep Industry Strategy Development Group. While most of the group's recommendations are to be implemented by the industry itself, a number of them fall within the remit of my Department and the state agencies under my aegis. The position regarding these recommendations is set out below. A new company called 'Sheep...
- Written Answers — Sheep Industry: Sheep Industry (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: A new company called 'Sheep Ireland' which will take over the Department's current breed improvement programme has been established to develop a new programme. An Interim Sheep Board, comprising representatives of farming organisations and breeders has been established to oversee this process, with ICBF providing the technical and professional service required. Teagasc has also launched an...
- Written Answers — Sheep Industry: Sheep Industry (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: The Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme operated by Bord Bia was established in 2007 and has 7000 participants. Bord Bia is also actively engaged in the marketing and promotion of sheepmeat at home and abroad. Some â¬1 million annually is spent on these activities which are targeted at the needs of particular markets. Currently, Bord Bia along with its French and British counterparts, is...
- Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: Significant progress has been made in enhancing the specific quality assurance schemes for the cereals, pigmeat and poultry sectors. The Irish Grain Assurance Scheme (IGAS) assures customers that grain is produced, handled, stored and transported according to a defined Code of Practice. Almost 6,000 cereals producers are now participating in the scheme, which accounts for approximately 90%...
- Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme provided grant-aid for the installation of bins and silos (but excluding dedicated stores) for grain storage at a standard grant-rate of 40% up to a maximum eligible investment ceiling of â¬120,000.
- Written Answers — Horticulture Industry: Horticulture Industry (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: The EU prohibits national supports which are targeted at import substitution. The fruit and vegetable sector contributed approx â¬213.7m to farm output in 2007, an increase of 14% over 2000. Figures are not yet available for 2008 but a significant change is not expected. The sector has considerable potential for further development but it is experiencing strong competitive pressures,...
- Written Answers — Forestry Industry: Forestry Industry (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: Under the main afforestation scheme, higher premiums are paid for planting of broadleaves. Broadleaves (and largely native types) now comprise 30% of all new planting. The Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS), which has a strong emphasis on diversity and nature value, has a specific requirement to plant a minimum of 15% broadleaves/native trees. Also, the Native Woodland Scheme...
- Written Answers — Forestry Industry: Forestry Industry (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1227 and 1231 together. The annual forestry premium increased by 15% from 2007, with a maximum payment of up to â¬574 per hectare per annum paid over 20 years. Under the new FEPS an additional premium of up to â¬200 per hectare for five years is available to farmers in REPS who join FEPS. The target of 30% broadleaf planting has been achieved in 2005 and...
- Written Answers — Forestry Industry: Forestry Industry (27 Jan 2009)
Brendan Smith: My Department, in conjunction with Teagasc and COFORD have been actively encouraging the development of new markets for forest thinnings in the heat energy sector through a range of support measures aimed at creating an effective supply chain from producer to end user. Since 2006 COFORD (National Council for Forest Research and Development), which is wholly funded by my Department, has been...