Results 3,301-3,320 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — Fish Quotas: Fish Quotas (12 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: The EU Fisheries Council acting on a proposal from the EU Commission decides which fish stocks are subject to a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and quota regime. The allocation of quotas (per-cent shares) between Member States is based to a large extent on recent track record of fishing by Member States fishing fleets. The stocks in western waters specified by the Deputy are not at this time...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: The person named holds 25.38 standard entitlements valued at â¬12,117. In 2007 he leased a further 33.75 entitlements from his father and received a total payment of â¬24,016 under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme. A request was subsequently received by my Department from the lessor and lessee requesting that the lease be terminated at the end of 2007 and this request was granted. In 2008...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: My Department has carried out a comprehensive review of this application for the Single Payment related to the 2005 decoupled Dairy Premium. Following the completion of this review, it has been decided that payment can be made to the applicant and the amount due will issue shortly.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: My Department received an application under the early retirement scheme from the person named on 17th October 2008. It could not be accepted for processing as it was received after the Scheme had been suspended for new applications.
- Written Answers — Departmental Licences: Departmental Licences (12 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: Regulation (EC) No. 1774 of 2002 and Statutory Instrument No. 252 of 2008 lay down strict controls for the safe use and disposal of animal by-products, with a view to safeguarding human and animal health. This regulation allows for an authorised premises meeting specified standards, known as a Collection Centre, to collect and treat certain animal by-products for the feeding of animals such...
- Written Answers — Departmental Licences: Departmental Licences (12 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: 2057The level of information requested by the Deputy in her question is not readily available but I will arrange to forward it to her directly in the coming days.
- Dairy Sector. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: We have an unprecedented situation in the dairy sector at present and the outlook for dairy markets in the short term is poor. Market prices have been adjusting following historically high prices in 2007 and early 2008 and there is the further complication of the credit crunch. These two factors have put an enormous burden on the sector and we have seen a slump in demand as a consequence....
- Dairy Sector. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: We all share the same views outlined by Deputy Creed. I understand he outlined a similar viewpoint at a previous question time. There are particular difficulties and we know the price being quoted now by the different co-ops and processors, and the difficulties that poses for farmers. I know the co-operatives and processors also face difficulties. Regarding the quantity mentioned, to be...
- Dairy Sector. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: It is not just now that we recognise the difficulties which will face this sector this year. We know historically about the welcome increase in prices in 2007 and the early part of 2008 and the subsequent major surge in supply onto the world market. The dollar, New Zealand currency and other factors all play a role in making it difficult for Europe to sell product. The prices, as all of us...
- Dairy Sector. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: I met Commissioner Fischer Boel in Brussels on 11 March to discuss the dairy situation and explore the options open to us to restore market confidence. In particular, I had two main issues to press her on. The first was the requirement to continue to buy butter into intervention at prices close to the fixed price level. The second was to stress the need to export larger quantities of...
- Dairy Sector. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: Some member states raised the possibility of revisiting the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy. I vehemently oppose such proposals. Last week I travelled to Germany to meet the German Minister. Germany has strongly advocated additional support for the dairy sector. However, it also favours revisiting the Health Check. As I said, we strongly oppose that proposal. During the...
- Dairy Sector. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: There is a provision in the Health Check for a review of its measures in 2010. Some member states have proposed that this review be brought forward to 2009. As I said, I do not support this proposal. We must be careful not to send out a message that Europe is chopping and changing policy. That would lead to instability. We must look to the situation of the processor or individual farmer...
- Farm Waste Management. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: The arrangements for payment of grants under the farm waste management scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed, with 40% being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40% will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20% in January 2011. I have also announced that a special ex gratia payment not exceeding 3.5% of the value of the deferred amount will be made to farmers...
- Farm Waste Management. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: Provision will be made in the Revised Estimates to meet the commitments we have given to those farmers who are due grant payments under the farm waste management scheme. So far this year, of the 40% to be paid, almost â¬66 million has issued to almost 5,000 farmers. Departmental officials at local level are carrying out inspections as expeditiously as possible in order to ensure that...
- Farm Waste Management. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: This represents the largest infrastructural investment ever madeââ
- Farm Waste Management. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: The Deputy should be interestedââ
- Farm Waste Management. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: This is the largest infrastructural investment ever made in on-farm facilities. It is funded entirely by the Exchequer. Grant aid of 70% in some areas and 60% in others was provided.
- Farm Waste Management. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: Moreover, the maximum eligible investment ceiling was increased and the scheme was extended to include other sectors previously denied access to on-farm investment schemes. I assure Deputy Creed that the 40% payment to all eligible applicants will be made in the course of this year.
- Farm Waste Management. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: The question asked when people would be paid and if funding would be made available. I want to assure the Deputy as I have done previously that provision is being made to ensure that the 40% element of all eligible grant applications will be made during the early part of this year. Inspections are being expedited as rapidly as possible.
- Farm Waste Management. (24 Mar 2009)
Brendan Smith: I already mentioned to the Deputy that almost â¬66 million was paid out during the first two and a half months of this year.