Results 3,921-3,940 of 18,457 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: An indication of the country of origin is not mandatory for the poultry sector, except in the case of unprocessed meat coming from third countries. My Department has been in extensive communication over the past year with the European Commission with a view to making such labelling compulsory. While the Commission adopted a negative opinion in relation to our proposal for national...

Written Answers — Arable Crops: Arable Crops (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The area of potatoes grown in Ireland in the past three years was as follows. Year Hectares 2006 11,500 2007 11,700 2008 11,600 The area grown has remained static in recent years.

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Teagasc has prepared a development strategy for the Irish pig industry, which identifies the issues facing the sector and makes certain recommendations. The 'Pig Industry Strategy Steering Group', which includes representation from my Department and all sectors of the industry, has been established for the purpose of furthering those recommendations. This group will identify, prioritise and...

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

Brendan Smith: Data supplied by the Central Statistics Office indicates that the total quantity of pet food imported into this country from January to December 2008 was approximately 72,700 tonnes. Under EU harmonised rules petfoods must be produced from animal by-products obtained from animals that are fit for human consumption in accordance with EU legislation. Processed petfood must be produced at an...

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

Brendan Smith: Responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency. As far as my Department is concerned labelling checks are carried out as part of the routine official checks...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 259 together. Bord Bia closely monitors food exports and has recently published a Strategy to boost food exports for the period 2009-2011. The strategy sets out the Bord's six key priorities to be addressed including enhancing the industry's position on its home market to capitalise on the potential for growth and expansion of exports with a particular...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: I believe that the report of the Sheep Industry Strategy Development Group sets out a proper framework for the future development of the sheep sector. While most of the group's recommendations need to be implemented by the industry itself, a number of them fall within the remit of my Department and the state agencies under my aegis and good progress has been made on them. 'Sheep Ireland' has...

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

Brendan Smith: My Department is responsible for the operation of EU controls on imports of products of animal origin and fresh fruit and vegetables under its service contract with the FSAI and in compliance with Community rules for the hygiene of food and feed. The EU rules stipulate that food products of animal origin imported from an EU source must be from approved food business establishments and be...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The number of applications under the Early Retirement Scheme currently being processed by my Department is 68. These were all received before 14 October 2008. A total of 280 applications have been approved in the past 12 months. My Department received approximately 60 applications for the Early Retirement Scheme after 14 October 2008. These applications could not be accepted for processing as...

Written Answers — Forestry Planting Programme: Forestry Planting Programme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: All tree species grant-aided by my Department under the forestry grant schemes achieve high levels of carbon-sequestration. The potential of different tree species to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere depends mainly on their rate of growth. Some conifer species grow rapidly and will begin to sequester considerable amounts of carbon early in their life. Other species, including...

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

Brendan Smith: Since taking up the Agriculture Fisheries and Food portfolio in June 2008, it has been highlighted to me very forcefully by the Federation of Irish Fishermen that it is essential to have in place a level playing field on control across the EU. The EU Commission estimates that 88% of EU stocks are over-exploited and Scientists have recommended closure of 19% of fisheries. These are...

Written Answers — Farming Statistics: Farming Statistics (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The most recent figures available from the Central Statistics Office are for the year 2007 and these show that there were 67,177 farmers whose sole occupation was farming or 52% of the total, this compares with a figure of 87,500 for 1997. Over this period the number of farmers with another either major or subsidiary occupation rose from 56,200 to 60,923. The trend in recent years has been...

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

Brendan Smith: Irish dairy products are exported to other EU Member States and to over 100 countries worldwide. The amount of exports to any particular destination varies in accordance with changes in the supply/demand dynamics in particular regions of the world and in respect of the various dairy products involved. In overall terms, Ireland's dairy exports amounted to €2.2 billion in 2008. The UK...

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

Brendan Smith: The value of Irish meat and livestock exports reached almost €2.6 billion in 2008, some two per cent ahead of 2007 levels. Within the overall food and drinks sector, meat is extremely important, with exports accounting for just over 30% of total agri-food exports of over €8 billion. Beef In 2008 Irish beef exports totalling 486,000 tonnes, were sent to 21 markets within the Continent of...

Written Answers — Cereals Sector: Cereals Sector (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The maintenance of an efficient and viable cereals sector in Ireland is clearly of the utmost importance. In addition to generating an income for our tillage farmers, it is a key source of feedingstuffs for the livestock sector. Annual cereals production in Ireland has fluctuated around 2 million tonnes in recent years. It is desirable to try to sustain this level of production in order to...

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

Brendan Smith: The main aspects of the deal that are of interest to Ireland are as follows: Milk quotas will be increased by 1% per annum for each of the next five years (2009-2013). In addition an adjustment in the butterfat reference will mean the equivalent of an extra 2% in milk quota for Ireland in 2009. Two reviews of the market situation are planned, by December 2010 and by December 2012. Due to...

Written Answers — Bio-Energy Crops: Bio-Energy Crops (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: There has been contact with the European Commission at Ministerial and official level in relation to support for energy crop cultivation. Under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), farmers who cultivate energy crops can benefit from the Single Farm Payment and the EU Energy Crops Scheme, which pays farmers a premium worth €45 per hectare. My Department has supported participation in the...

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

Brendan Smith: All such products are expected to be compliant with the specified EU Regulations. In general, responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency. My...

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

Brendan Smith: The following is the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the main schemes operated by my Department. Single Payment and Disadvantaged Areas Schemes In respect of both the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, full payments have issued to all Scheme applicants, other than those subject to appeal or outstanding query. A small number of payments are also...

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

Brendan Smith: The AgriVision Action Plan was the Government's response to the seminal Report of the AgriVision 2015 Committee on what needed to be done to secure the optimal development of the agriculture and food industries. It contained 167 actions based on three key drivers for success, i.e. competitiveness, innovation and consumer focus. Substantial progress has been made to date with 98% of its...