Results 3,881-3,900 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The live export trade is an important element of Ireland's meat and livestock industry providing, as it does, a complement to the beef trade. Live cattle exports to the UK, in the first four months of 2009, amounted to almost 26,000 head, over 235% up on the same period last year. The main reasons for this increase are reduced cattle availability and higher returns on the market. Bord Bia...

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

Brendan Smith: The original Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department was that some 600 headquarters staff would move to Portlaoise; that some 90 staff in the fisheries areas would move to Clonakilty; that the local offices in Cork city would move to Fermoy; and that the laboratories in Cork and Limerick would move to Macroom. The decision regarding State agencies was that Bord Bia would...

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

Brendan Smith: Given the pressures on the public finances and the level of up-take of REPS 4, I decided that it was necessary to reverse the 17% increase in REPS 4 payments and this reduction applies to REPS 4 payments in respect of 2009. The closing date for REPS applications for 2009 has now passed. When the number of applications has been determined, I will be in a position to assess what level of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 May 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...

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

Brendan Smith: By 31 December 2008, my Department had received 12,146 applications for REPS 4. Payment of the first instalment of 75% of the amounts due has issued in 10,021 cases and a further 340 have now been approved for payment. Payments will issue shortly to these applicants. Some 355 applications contained major deficiencies and have been determined to be ineligible. These applicants had until 15...

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

Brendan Smith: Given the pressures on the public finances and the level of up-take of REPS 4, I decided that it was necessary to reverse the 17% increase in REPS 4 payments and this reduction applies to REPS 4 payments in respect of 2009. The closing date for REPS applications for 2009 has now passed. When the number of applications has been determined, I will be in a position to assess what level of...

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

Brendan Smith: By 31 December 2008, my Department had received 12,146 applications for REPS 4. Payment of the first instalment of 75% of the amounts due has issued in 10,021 cases and a further 340 have now been approved for payment. Payments will issue shortly to these applicants. Some 355 applications contained major deficiencies and have been determined to be ineligible. These applicants had until 15...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: It is a requirement of the EU regulations governing the financing of the Common Agricultural Policy, which are applicable in all Member States, that details of payments to beneficiaries are published. Ireland is expected to receive transfers of EU funding of more than €11 billion between 2007 and 2013 through CAP payments. The requirement to publish originated in the European Transparency...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Given the potential for contamination of the animal feed chain from certain waste food products, my Department is currently drafting legislation to govern the collection, transport, treatment, use and disposal of former foodstuffs in the context of their use in animal feed. Officials in my Department are also in contact with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Significant progress has been made regarding this initiative since the beginning of the year. Animal Health Ireland is now a legal entity with its own Board of Directors, having recently been incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. A specialist recruitment company has been engaged by Animal Health Ireland to proceed with the recruitment of a Chief Executive Officer for the...

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 Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department received approximately 60 applications for the Early Retirement Scheme after 14 October 2008. These applications could not be accepted for processing as they were received after the date on which the Scheme had been suspended for new applications due to budgetary constraints. Apart from these 60 applications my Department is not aware of the number of other farmers who may...

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

Brendan Smith: The additional €2.5m in Grant in aid to Bord Bia will be used, in particular, to assist companies severely affected by sterling depreciation and the resultant challenges created in the Irish and UK markets. Initiatives being planned by Bord Bia will focus specifically at helping companies to broaden their export reach in European markets and will include a more aggressive trade fair...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: This matter is the subject of ongoing discussion with the Federation of Irish Fishermen and I am awaiting their specific proposals before taking any further action.

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following confirmation by the Valuation Office that it would not be in a position to supply a valuation service in respect of activities on State foreshore, my Department sought approval from the Department of Finance for the use of valuers from the private sector. A number of applications for foreshore consents currently on hand cannot be progressed without valuation. The Department of...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was closed for new applications on 14 October 2008 and only fully completed applications received up and including that date are being processed by my Department. I have no immediate plans to reopen entry to the Scheme at this time.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Against the background of the deterioration in public finances, my approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to protect expenditure for major developmental measures in the agri-food sector. To achieve this objective, savings had to be found in other areas and I decided reluctantly to reduce expenditure under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme for 2009 by reducing the maximum...

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 — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. At present EU food labelling legislation is harmonised by Council Directive 2000/13/EC, transposed in 2002, with 8 amendments since. In January 2008, the European Commission presented its proposals to update this legislation which aims to provide a high level of consumer protection in...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the fisheries policy of the European Union which was first put in place in 1983 and has been subject to reviews every 10 years, the most recent was in 2002 and the next is formally scheduled for 2012. On 21 April 2009 The European Commission published a Green Paper on the latest reform of the CFP in order to launch a consultation with Member States and...