Results 3,721-3,740 of 18,457 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payment issued to the person named on 9 April 2009.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: As far as the application for grant-aid by the person concerned under the Farm Waste Management Scheme is concerned, the arrangements for payment of grants under this 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. I have also...

Written Answers — Fishing Licences: Fishing Licences (6 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003, the functions of sea-fishing boat licensing were transferred from the Minister to the Licensing Authority for Sea-Fishing Boats, which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in that Act and Ministerial Policy Directives. All applications for sea-fishing boat licences are considered by the Licensing Authority. The head of the...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licensing: Aquaculture Licensing (6 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: In January 2005 my Department granted a trial licence under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 for a period of 3 years to Comhlucht Bradan Chonamara Teo for the cultivation of cod. That Company was already the holder of aquaculture licences for the cultivation of salmon on a number of sites in Bertraghboy Bay. The trial licence was granted on the basis that salmon farming should be...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licensing: Aquaculture Licensing (6 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Aquaculture licensing is governed by the terms and conditions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997, as amended and Regulations made thereunder, including, in particular, the Aquaculture (Licence Application) Regulations 1998, S.I. No. 236 of 1998. Other Regulations made under the European Communities Act 1972, as amended, also govern other aspects of aquaculture. The 1997 Act obliges the...

Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: It is not out of the traps yet.

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspections: Veterinary Inspections (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Officials of my Department are, as part of an ongoing review of resources, currently carrying out a review of work undertaken by the DVO-based veterinary inspectorate within my Department. This review is at an early stage and is focusing on staffing levels, organisational structures, business processes and possible synergies with other areas of veterinary work. Circular ER 06/09, which came...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: For a number of years, EU Directives have laid down the training requirements for departmental staff assisting the official veterinarian in carrying out his duties in meat plants. The Meat Hygiene Package, which was introduced by the EU on 1 January, 2006, reiterated and clarified the need for such training. Teagasc were awarded the contract to provide training for Agricultural Officers in...

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspections: Veterinary Inspections (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Slaughterhouses and meat processing plants are supervised by Department veterinary inspectors, assisted in their duties by temporary veterinary inspectors drawn from private practice on a rota basis and by Department agricultural officers. Veterinary Inspectors are permanently located in all the larger meat and poultry slaughtering and processing plants and are responsible for the provision...

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspections: Veterinary Inspections (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department does not impose a charge on farmers in respect of carcase inspections in meat plants. The charges in relation to such inspections are levied on meat processors and included in their contribution to the costs of the veterinary meat inspection service, provided by my Department at all meat plants. The following table sets out the amounts collected from meat processors for this...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Three Senior Inspector positions have been filled in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 2009. One position was filled on 13 January 2009, whilst the other two were filled on 27 March 2009. The moratorium on recruitment and promotions was notified to this Department on 27 March 2009.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: For the purposes of the control of area-based schemes operated by my Department, details of the area on which payments are based must be maintained on a digital system. The Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) in Ireland reflects the digitised details of land parcels as submitted to my Department under a number of area-based schemes. As well as the Single Payment Scheme, the LPIS supports...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The eREPS system is an on-line facility for the preparation of REPS plans and is accessible to all planners. The contract to carry out the developments of the eREPS system was entered into by Teagasc with software company Bizmaps. The system, which was funded by the Department, is hosted by Bizmaps and is managed on the Department's behalf by Teagasc. Bizmaps continues to be responsible...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for the 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 announced that a special ex gratia payment not exceeding 3.5% of the value of the deferred amount will be made to farmers...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payment issued to the person named on 5 May 2009.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The process of paying the annual forestry premium is under way. Payments will issue to this applicant shortly. The amounts that will be paid to the applicant are €4,844.21 and €2,384.13.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The process of paying the annual forestry premium is under way. Payments will issue to this applicant shortly. The amounts that will be paid to the applicant are €1,139.72 and €1,313.67.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The process of paying the annual forestry premium is under way. Payments will issue to this applicant shortly. The amounts that will be paid to the applicant are €11,201.03 and €1,117.16.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The application from the person in question cannot be processed further until information requested in a letter dated 3 November 2008 has been received. The applicant's REPS planner was in touch with my officials in the last week and has undertaken to forward the information requested.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person in question has 100 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment has already issued in respect of three animals. In August 2008, his holding suffered severe flooding. Following an on-farm inspection, my Department agreed this was a case of force majeure. In the interests of animal welfare, permission was given by my Department to sell weanlings early...