Results 3,341-3,360 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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 — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: In the light of the deterioration in the public finances, and in the context of the Supplementary Budget scheduled for 7th April 2009, the Government is currently reviewing of all public expenditure and taxation measures, including my Department's budget for the coming year. The outcome of that review will be reflected in the 2009 Revised Estimates Volume to be published following the Budget.

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 76, 82, 110 and 112 together. We have an unprecedented situation in the dairy sector at present and the outlook for dairy markets in the short term is poor. Following historically high prices in 2007 and early 2008 a market correction is now taking place and there is the added complication of the credit crunch. These two factors have put an enormous...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The fisheries fuel aid package referred to is the EU Regulation 744/2008 instituting a temporary specific action aiming to promote the restructuring of the European Community fishing fleets affected by the high fuel prices. This was introduced to mitigate against the impacts that the escalating fuel prices had on the European fishing fleet in 2008. Recent developments in the global fuel...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: Movement restrictions were placed on 22 cattle farms to which contaminated feed was supplied. In addition, restrictions were placed on a further 14 farms for further testing. Positive results were found for 4 of these farms. Arising from this, all cattle who had, or were suspected of having, come into contact with the contaminated feed have been slaughtered. In the case of pigs, movement...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The current position in regard to the WTO negotiations is that talks are stalled following the failure to reach agreement at the Ministerial meeting last July and the decision to defer indefinitely a second Ministerial meeting planned for last December. The World Economic Forum at Davos in January provided no new momentum for the negotiations and the next key event will be the G20 meeting in...

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

Brendan Smith: Since 1959 Ireland has applied its criminal law in relation to fisheries matters and, since our membership of the European Community, Ireland has applied the criminal law in the enforcement of fisheries policy. Successive Governments have applied the criminal law. We do this to protect fish stocks and to seek to avoid financial penalties being imposed on the State and the Irish tax payer. ...

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

Brendan Smith: There has been speculation recently about the possibility of Iceland applying for membership of the European Union (EU). As with any other European country, Iceland would not be "asked" to join the EU. It is entirely up to countries who wish to become members to make an application for membership, provided they meet the Copenhagen Criteria which set out the basic standards for membership....

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

Brendan Smith: The number of payment claims which remained to be processed to full payment stage under the Farm Waste Management Scheme at the beginning of 2009 was 17,397. Payment of the first instalment of 40 per cent of the grants due to these farmers has already commenced and will be continued by my Department as claims are approved. It is hoped that all approved claims will have been paid their first...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following table set out details of the schemes operated by Department under which financial penalties are imposed together with the details of penalties imposed for failure to comply with the criteria of that scheme. Name of Scheme/Programme Cost of penalty € Installation Aid Scheme 124,085 Farm Waste Management Scheme 100,230 Farm Improvement Scheme 14,930 Scheme of Early...

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The issue of emerging bio-security threats is being dealt with centrally by an interdepartmental working group on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) issues which reports to the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning. My Department is a member of the Committee.

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department's contingency arrangements to mitigate the risk of the introduction of the bluetongue virus into the country are based on existing EU legislation and an ongoing assessment of the risk to Ireland. In terms of my Department's overall contingency arrangements, we have produced a comprehensive Bluetongue Contingency Plan for Ireland. Information and advice leaflets on Bluetongue...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Government fully supports the EU commitments to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions to at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, and to scale up this reduction to as much as 30%, as part of a new global climate change agreement when other developed countries make comparable efforts. The Government also supports the commitment to increase the share of renewables in energy use to 20% by...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 81, 93, 94 and 99 together. 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...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 107 together. The agreement concluded with pig processors in December involves making available a facility of €180 million from the public finances to assist processors in funding the recall and destruction of certain pork products from the market and product in storage. To date the Department has advanced a total of €42m to processors, of which...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following are the details of farm inspections undertaken by my Department in 2008 unless otherwise stated. Name of Scheme/Programme No. of Inspections Cost of Inspections (Non Salary) € Feed Inspection Programme 852 55,000 Farm Forestry Programme 5,003 227,423 On-Farm Investment Scheme Approx. 20,000 1 Installation Aid Scheme Approx. 50 1 Suckler Welfare Scheme 625 1 Single...

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

Brendan Smith: At the outset I should state that a full screening Regulatory Impact Analysis has been carried out by my Department on the CAP Health Check and the report is available on the Department's website. That report outlines in some detail the expected impact of the Health Check proposals. The final deal secured last November differs in some respects from the original proposals. In summary, the...

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

Brendan Smith: A first policy debate on the future of the CAP after 2013 took place at the informal meeting of Agriculture Ministers in Annecy in September last. In the initial debate, there was general agreement on the global context in which policy thinking must be developed. All the ministers present were concerned about global food security, increasing environmental pressures and the impact of climate...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I have made provision of €9.75m in 2009 to meet current commitments under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the preceding equivalent schemes. The Deputy will also be aware of my ongoing support for young farmers and new entrants to farming, most notably in the dairy sector. For example, the allocation of milk quota to new entrants and young farmers has been a feature of the milk...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Early Retirement Scheme and the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme were closed to new applicants on 14 October 2008. I have no immediate plans to reopen entry to these schemes at this time.