Results 3,321-3,340 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Farm Waste Management. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy is well aware this is an Exchequer-funded scheme and the Minister for Finance provides the funding to the relevant Department to meet obligations under different schemes. We will not be getting the money from Europe but from our own Exchequer.

Common Agricultural Policy. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I announced yesterday that unused funds available in 2009 from the single farm payment national reserve would be paid to hill sheep farmers in the form of an uplands sheep payment. The amount in question is approximately €7 million in 2009. These funds have become available as a result of a request by me, supported by a number of my counterparts from other European Union member states, in...

Common Agricultural Policy. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The only funding available within unused funds that we can access during 2009 comes from the national reserve fund, which amounts to €7 million.

Common Agricultural Policy. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: When we succeeded last year in getting the European Commission to give approval in principle to member states having access to unused funds — we sought to have access to all the unused funds for 2009 — that was not agreed at European Union level. The only funding to which we have access is the €7 million. I was conscious that it is a relatively small amount of money. We wanted to...

Common Agricultural Policy. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: We were anxious to allocate this money on the basis of ensuring that there was the smallest possible administrative cost. There is practically no cost — it is only a matter of changing the application form that goes out to each single-payment applicant. I do not know whether the industry is interested in going along the French route. The French took a linear cut from the single payment...

Common Agricultural Policy. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy may not have had a chance to read my press release of yesterday. In the final paragraph I indicated that all sectors would be eligible for consideration for the unused funds. In particular I mentioned that mountain and lowland sheep production would be eligible for consideration under the unused and modulation funds. As I said earlier we do not have the details of the scheme or...

Common Agricultural Policy. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: No. The French have done it under Article 68 with a linear cut and it is not from the unused funds. It is slightly different. I know it is confusing. I just want to emphasise that we have not yet got the specifics of what programmes will be eligible for consideration under the unused funds.

Common Agricultural Policy. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: Earlier I referred to the statement I issued in announcing this. If the Deputy has an opportunity to read the final paragraph he will see there was a clear message.

Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I am not in a position to confirm that payments will continue to be made under the suckler cow welfare scheme. The Government has decided, having regard to the urgent need to address the public finances, to introduce a supplementary budget in the Dáil on 7 April next. Over 53,000 farmers applied for the suckler cow welfare scheme in 2008. The estimated cost of the scheme for that year, at...

Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I share Deputy Sherlock's view that this is a good scheme. It has proven beneficial during the year in which it has been in existence. As I said in response to a question asked on a previous occasion by Deputy Sherlock or Deputy Creed, it is intended to honour the commitment — to provide €250 million over five years — that was made when the suckler cow welfare scheme was introduced....

Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I can accept the valuable point that has been made by Deputy Creed about the need to modulate limited resources in a targeted manner.

Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme. (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: Members of this House have also proposed a reduction in the number of years of participation in the scheme. Although the suckler cow welfare scheme is entirely funded from the Exchequer, the Government had to get state aid approval from the EU before it could be introduced. Further approval would be needed from the Union if a major variation in the conditions of the scheme were to be made....

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 54 and 55 together. The sheep sector is a valuable part of the overall agri-food sector and its future depends on its ability to meet the needs of the market. Following on from the recent CAP Health Check, I received a number of submissions regarding possible future support for this sector. One of my primary objectives in the Health Check Negotiations...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I announced yesterday that unused funds available in 2009 from the Single Farm Payment National Reserve would be paid to hill sheep farmers in the form of an Uplands Sheep Payment. The amount in question is approximately €7million in 2009. These funds have become available as a result of a request by myself, supported by a number of my counterparts from other Member States, in the context...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department has received thirty eight submissions relating to the proposed usage of €120 million in additional modulation funds. Under the Health Check agreement these modulation funds will be allocated to Ireland's Rural Development Programme over a four year period beginning in 2010. This funding may only be spent on measures addressing the new and ongoing challenges of climate change...

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

Brendan Smith: The total number of applications for REPS 4 received in 2007 and 2008 was 12,292. As of today, REPS 4 payments have been made to 6,194 applicants or just over 50% of the total. These payments amount to some €20.5 million. 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...

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

Brendan Smith: The total number of applications for REPS 4 received in 2007 and 2008 was 12,292. As of today, REPS 4 payments have been made to 6,194 applicants or just over 50% of the total. These payments amount to some €20.5 million. 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...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: While the Irish agri-food sector operates in a global market that is currently experiencing unprecedented change, I am optimistic about its long–term future stability. Despite the well documented challenges in the global market, I believe that our indigenous industry has the potential to boost export returns and approach €10 billion in annual export revenues by 2011, as has been targeted...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: It is part of my role as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to support the sustainable development of the mussel fishing industry which is important to many coastal communities. At all times in my actions as Minister I am bound by national and EU law and in particular by the judgements made by the European Court of Justice. In December 2007, the European Court of Justice found...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The retail sector played a very important role in the actions taken through the supply chain to restore consumer confidence following the dioxin incident. The main priority was to get product back on the shelves with as little discontinuity as possible and the prompt action of the retail trade in this regard contributed greatly to achieving this. The primary purpose of the contingency fund...