Results 3,141-3,160 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. Payment of the initial 40 per cent to farmers will be made as expeditiously as possible.

Written Answers — Poultry Sector: Poultry Sector (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Common Agricultural Policy constrains the financial assistance that can be afforded to poultry producers. Usually, such assistance is linked to avian health or welfare considerations. For example, a scheme was put in place to compensate farmers, who suffered losses arising from the fall-off in consumer confidence, when there was widespread negative publicity surrounding avian influenza...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. Payment of the initial 40 per cent to farmers will be made as expeditiously as possible. The arrangements in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. Payment of the initial 40 per cent to farmers will be made as expeditiously as possible.

Written Answers — Restriction of Farm Holdings: Restriction of Farm Holdings (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following receipt of PCB and/or dioxin positive test results, movement restrictions were placed on 26 cattle farms and a decision taken to slaughter the cattle on those farms that had been or may have been exposed to contaminated feed. Arising from this, 25 herds have been fully depopulated and one herd had a partial depopulation. Slaughtering of the affected animals has been completed and I...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. Payment of the initial 40 per cent to farmers will be made as expeditiously as possible.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: In the case of ineligible applications, EU Regulations allow no possibility of adjusted plans being accepted after the closing date of 15 May 2008 if they are to qualify for 2008 payments. The farmers concerned will have to submit new applications and plans by 15 May 2009 to receive payment in 2009, and they will not be eligible for any payment for previous years.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. Payment of the initial 40 per cent to farmers will be made as expeditiously as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Errors were identified on the application submitted by this applicant. The Suckler Herd Section of my Department wrote to the person named on 14th November 2008, and to date no reply has been received. Officials will be in contact with him shortly with a view to resolving the matter.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Dairy product prices reached record high levels in 2007 and early 2008 and producer prices also peaked in that time. Most CAP market instruments were suspended as they were not necessary at that time. Since then international dairy product prices have fallen back considerably, although the average Irish producer price for 2008 was similar to the 2007 price. Indications are that markets...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payments under the Farm Improvement Scheme are being paid on a 100% basis by my Department as claims are approved.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The revised arrangements for payment of grants under the "Nitrates" version of the Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 will be applicable to all outstanding payments to be made by my Department under the Scheme in question.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The new rules restricting fishing vessels' days at sea in the Irish Sea and the waters to the northwest of Ireland and Scotland have been introduced as part of the EU's revised Cod Recovery Plan. The revised plan was adopted at the EU Fisheries Councils in November and December 2008 and is set out in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1342/2008 and Annex IIa of the 2009 TAC and Quota Regulation...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: This is a matter for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), an independent authority, which was established under Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 on January 1st 2007. The Act clearly provides that the Authority is independent in the exercise of its functions and as such I have no remit as to its work programme or its strategic deployment of resources. I have,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. Payment of the initial 40 per cent to farmers will be made as expeditiously as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: A REPS 4 application was received on 30 January 2009 from the person named. To be eligible for a REPS payment in 2009, the person named must also submit his 2009 Single Payment application by 15 May 2009. Farmers who submit valid applications in 2009 will receive a 75% payment when all administrative checks on 2009 applications for REPS and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. The...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: No civil servant employed in my Department is in receipt of a civil service pension.

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (25 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I had discussions with the farm organisations on a number of issues this evening, including payment under the farm waste management scheme. I explained to them that I hoped to conclude negotiations with the banks within the next few days on seeking to ease the difficulties that individual farmers are meeting.