Results 3,841-3,860 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Animal Carcase Disposal. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 51 together. My Department's contribution to the fallen animals scheme ceased with effect from Tuesday, 14 April 2009. This was as a result of budgetary constraints and also reflects the greatly reduced incidence of BSE in this country. However, I provided continued financial support for the collection of certain dead animals, notably bovines aged...

Animal Carcase Disposal. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: With regard to sending material to Northern Ireland, ten knackeries have been approved by the Department and, to date, six licences have issued to companies in the North. Some product has been transported to Northern Ireland for rendering. I also understand that another knackery intends to start sending material to Northern Ireland shortly. Applications that were submitted by enterprises...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: At the time of the Supplementary Budget, in April, I indicated that, given the pressures on the public finances and having considered other alternatives, I had decided to reverse the seventeen per cent increase in REPS 4 payments. The effect of this decision is to bring REPS 4 payment levels back to the current REPS 3 levels. This reduced level of payment will be applied to REPS 4 payments...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under the Health Check agreement €120 million in additional 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 adaptation and mitigation, renewable energies, water management, biodiversity, innovation measures relating to...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Inspections to meet the requirements of the Nitrates Regulations are undertaken by my Department. The Department's inspectors currently undertake all on-farm cross-compliance inspections, including checks for compliance with the Nitrates Regulations and have considerable expertise in this area. On-farm inspections are also required under the EU Water Framework Directive which is the...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: While the relationship between the food industry and the retail trade is essentially a matter between the parties themselves, there are specific provisions in competition law that extend to business relationships, including relationships between suppliers and retailers. These provisions prohibit various anti-competitive practices, including price-fixing, abusing a dominant position,...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive is the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister has established seven River Basin District Projects whose responsibilities include the development of management plans for each River Basin District, designed to achieve the water quality objectives required by the Water Framework...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: There are currently a total of 372 inspectors involved in farm inspections in relation to schemes operated by my Department. My Department's Management Services Division is engaged in a number of reviews related to staff currently involved in the inspection of farms. The number of inspectors involved in such work will continue to be examined in the light of these reviews.

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Common Agriculture Policy of the EU provides a range of measures that can be utilised to assist the European dairy market. Those measures have been modified over recent years, in the Mid Term Review of the CAP in 2003 and in the Health Check last year. In those negotiations I argued strongly in favour of keeping the critical market instruments in place and of using them effectively....

Written Answers — Sheep Identification Scheme: Sheep Identification Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The introduction of electronic identification (EID) for sheep was agreed at EU level in late 2003. At that time, it was agreed to defer the implementation date until January 2008. The Council revisited this issue in December 2007 when it was agreed that the deadline for the compulsory introduction of EID should be definitively set for 31 December 2009. I am of the view that the introduction...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62. 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. I have also announced that a special ex-gratia payment not...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: As part of the final agreement on the Health Check of the CAP which was adopted earlier this year, Member States may utilise unspent Single Farm Payment (CAP) funds targeted at specific sectors to address economic disadvantages affecting farmers. I was instrumental in securing this agreement and in addition I successfully negotiated for the use of the National Reserve element of these funds...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: In the administration of REPS applications my Department, as an accredited paying agency, must respect the requirements of the governing EU Regulations. My Department must therefore ensure that the scheme eligibility conditions are complied with in all cases. Applications are subjected to checks to confirm this and my Department has no option but to reject those which do not meet essential...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (20 May 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 G20 meeting in April provided no new momentum for the negotiations and nor did it set a date for a conclusion of the talks this year....

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The EU Commission published in April 2009 the document "Building a Sustainable Future for Aquaculture" in a Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and Council. The strategy was published following consultations with stakeholders including the representative organisation for aquaculture in Ireland, IFA Aquaculture. EU Commissioner Borg presented the new EU Strategy...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: In the administration of REPS applications my Department, as an accredited paying agency, must respect the requirements of the governing EU Regulations. My Department must therefore ensure that the scheme eligibility conditions are complied with in all cases. Applications are subjected to checks to confirm this and my Department has no option but to reject those which do not meet essential...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Maintaining an active afforestation programme was an important consideration in deciding how to make the most effective use of limited resources following the supplementary budget on April 7. New planting is a key element of the Government's overall strategy for forestry and I ensured that the funding for 5,500 hectares of new afforestation in 2009 has been maintained. I am confident that...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Maintaining an active afforestation programme is an important step in sustaining the forestry sector and all its related employment. Following the budget of April 7, funding for 5,500 hectares of new forestry planting in 2009 has been retained. I am confident that this level of planting will be achieved in 2009 given the continued availability of grants to cover establishment costs....

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The main agriculture priorities of the Czech Presidency are to continue discussions on simplification of the CAP and on the future of the CAP with a particular focus on the system of direct payments and differences between Member States. As regards the CAP simplification dossier, I and my officials have participated actively in a series of discussions among a group of Member States to produce...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The withdrawal of the 17% increase in REPS 4 rates of payments was a necessary response to the pressures on the public finances and the number of applications for REPS 4 expected by the closing date of 15 May. The undertakings in the REPS 4 Scheme have been agreed with the European Commission and any changes to such undertakings can be introduced only with the approval of the Commission. I...