Results 4,121-4,140 of 18,457 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department is not in direct negotiation with the estate mentioned by the Deputy with regard to a lease in Lough Foyle for aquaculture licensing. Section 35 of the Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Act 2007 amends section 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933 to provide that where the Minister grants a foreshore licence to the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission "such licence may, if the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payments under the Farm Waste Management Scheme have proceeded very satisfactorily this year with over 13,000 payments having been approved to date in 2009 compared to 12,847 payments in the whole of the 2008 calendar year. Additional staff have been employed in certain areas of the country, including some local offices in Cork, to ensure that the remaining payments to be made under the...

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department's contribution to the Fallen Animals Scheme ceased with effect from Tuesday 14th April 2009. This was as a result of budgetary constraints and also reflects the greatly reduced incidence of BSE in this country. However I did provide continued financial support for the collection of certain dead animals, in particular bovines over 48 months of age, for sampling, as required under...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The study in question is being undertaken by the Marine Institute, with others, and was commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency. As such my Department has no role in relation to the terms of reference for the study.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named has 16 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment has issued for ten of the animals. The remaining six animals were rejected for payment as they were registered outside the 27-day limit under the scheme. The other three animals are awaiting disbudding details, and one of these three also has a query as its dam was slaughtered before the date...

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

Brendan Smith: Payment issued to the person named on 22 June 2009.

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (24 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The decision by my Department to consider the person concerned ineligible for grant-aid under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme is currently the subject of an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office. The review by that Office of my Department's decision will be completed as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (24 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department is currently reviewing its local office structure. No decisions have been taken regarding the future of any local office, other than the Dublin local office, already announced.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (24 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My objective in relation to milk quota is to ensure that as much quota as possible is made available to active milk producers. The person concerned last produced milk in excess of 20% of his quota in the 2005/2006 milk quota year. He produced only a nominal amount of milk in 2007/2008 and had no production in 2008/2009. When no deliveries have been recorded against a milk quota for two...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (24 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following the transfer of the aquaculture function from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, a strategy document was drafted by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food entitled "A Strategy for Improved Pest Control on Irish Salmon Farms". The strategy was approved by the then Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in May 2008. One of the measures...

Seanad: Dairy Industry: Motion (24 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I wish to deal with a few important points made by earlier speakers. Senator Bradford referred to the possible need to restructure the industry. In recent years the Department had the dairy investment fund, which allowed us to provide new facilities and to upgrade existing facilities and there was better cohesion and synergy. Senator Bradford rightly spoke about the need for...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry: Fishing Industry (25 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Council Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 introduced restrictions on fishing for cod, haddock and whiting in ICES zones VIa (off the north west coast) from the 1 February 2009 for vessels over 15 metres and for all other vessels from 1 April 2009. By way of derogation, certain cod avoidance fishing gears are permitted under the EU regulation subject to strict conditions. No such derogation exists...

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (25 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department's contribution to the Fallen Animals Scheme ceased with effect from Tuesday 14th April 2009. This was as a result of budgetary constraints and also reflects the greatly reduced incidence of BSE in this country. However I have provided continued financial support for the collection of certain dead animals, in particular bovines over 48 months of age, for sampling, as required...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My officials have examined the applications for the 2009 REPS Scheme received in the Co Cork local offices and have found no record of an application from the person named. The total number of applications received for 2009 was in the region of 17,000. The precise number will be available when the applications received in each of the local have been entered on the Department's computer...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (25 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy insofar as it relates to aquaculture licences is contained in the following table. All marine aquaculture licensees are also required to hold a corresponding foreshore licence issued under the Foreshore Act 1933 as amended. I understand that the Deputy is also requesting details of foreshore leases and licences granted and sought in respect of...

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (25 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department is currently reviewing its local office structure. No decisions have been taken regarding the future of any local office, other than the Dublin local office, already announced.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following a compliance inspection in 2008, the person named was asked to submit an adjusted REPS plan. My officials have not yet received such a plan, however, and payment cannot be released until they do.

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (25 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The national lobster v-notching scheme has been operated every year by BIM since 1994 with great support from the indoor catching sector. The scheme is in included in the EU co-funded National Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-13. I expect to be in a position to formally launch the 2009 scheme shortly. Taking into account that the traditional lobster season has already started,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. 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...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: As I advised the Joint Oireachtas Committee I established a Review Group, chaired by Dr. Patrick Wall, to make recommendations on whatever adjustment of controls or other measures are necessary in the light of the experience gained during the dioxin contamination incident. The work of the Group is ongoing and it will report both the Minister for Health and Children and myself. The Group is...