Results 4,161-4,180 of 18,457 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I am in the process of meeting with large retailers to impress on them the Government's commitment to agri-food sector. I am taking the opportunity to explain the importance of the sector to the economy as well as the high quality standard of food production in this country. These standards have been achieved as a result of major investment over the years in traceability and food safety...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payments are continuing to be made under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. To date in 2009, 13,381 payments totalling almost €185.9 million have been made to farmers under the Scheme, while a further 1,396 claims for grant-aid have been inspected and approved for payment. This compares to 12,847 payments in the...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for the enforcement of this legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (F.S.A.I.). This is done through service contracts with other relevant agencies, including the Health Service Executive, the Local Authority Veterinary Service and my Department. Any...

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

Brendan Smith: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988. One of the company's principal objects under the Act is to carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis and in accordance with efficient silvicultural practices. When it was first established in 1989 the company actively engaged in land acquisition for...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 90 together. 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...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: At the June Fisheries Council Meeting I was happy to give my support to the Commission's plan to promote the European aquaculture industry through the targeted sustainable strategy, along with all EU Fisheries Ministers. The Commission's plan endeavours to bolster the aquaculture industry through a targeted strategy that promotes competitiveness, guarantees product quality and respect for the...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 94 together. A range of market management mechanisms at EU level have now been activated to assist in stabilising the dairy sector. These include private storage aid for butter, public intervention for butter and skimmed milk powder, as well as export refunds for butter, skimmed milk powder, whole milk powder and cheese. These measures have now put a...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: At this month's Fisheries Council in Luxembourg, Minister Killeen took the opportunity to meet with Commissioner Borg to outline some of the key issues facing the Irish fishing industry currently. The discussion dealt with the impact of the increasing cost of fuel and deteriorating prices being achieved for fish. Minister Killeen put Ireland's submission for additional EU funded restructuring...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 72 together. The situation of the dairy market was discussed at the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting on Monday the 22 June last. This was the fourth consecutive Council meeting that debated the very severe difficulties facing the dairy industry. The Commission outlined the measures it has taken to date to deal with the situation. All the...

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

Brendan Smith: The sheep sector benefits significantly from the main schemes operated by my Department — the Single Farm Payment, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and REPS. I also took account of the needs of this sector in deciding that the €7 million available from the National Reserve in 2009, should be used on a new Uplands Sheep Payment, which is expected to benefit approximately 14,000 hill sheep...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The issue of retail margins on food products and prices paid to producers have become a focal point of public debate in recent times, and this has been reflected in numerous fora both at home and abroad. I had an opportunity to discuss this recently with my EU counterparts at the EU Council of Ministers meeting at the end of May and it is obvious that this is not just an Irish issue but an...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The live export trade is an important element of Ireland's meat and livestock industry providing a complement to the beef trade. Up to 20 June, some 2,500 head were exported to Great Britain this year — a 290% increase on the same period last year. Shipments of cattle to Northern Ireland are close to 31,600 head, an increase of some 230%. Total live cattle exports to the UK, at almost...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: 6,857 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Farm Improvement Scheme and entitlement to grant-aid under the Scheme is established when it has been determined that the completed investment works are in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme. To date in 2009, 985 payments totalling €12.3 million have been made to farmers who have completed work under the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Some 91% of farmers who applied for REPS 4 in 2007 and 2008 have received the first stage payment of 75% payment. I expect the remaining 25% payment to issue to these farmers within weeks. Arrangements are being made to ensure that the remaining applicants are paid as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas: Disadvantaged Areas (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: There are currently three categories of Less Favoured Areas (LFAs) or Disadvantaged Areas in the EU, viz: Mountain Areas — there are none in Ireland but the category covers 16% of land area across the EU; Intermediate Less Favoured Areas — which covers over 99% of Ireland's LFAs; and Areas of Specific Handicap — which covers 0.4% of Ireland's LFAs (Coastal Regions). Prompted criticism...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 83 together. A first policy debate on CAP post 2013 took place at the Informal Agriculture Council in September last year under the French Presidency and the Czech Presidency has continued the debate in the first months of 2009. Notwithstanding discussions to date, concrete proposals have yet to emerge on the shape of EU agriculture policy beyond 2013....

Written Answers — Statutory Levies: Statutory Levies (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following table lists the statutory levies collected by my Department, together with information on the legislative basis for the levy, its use and the amount collected in 2008. Name of Levy Basis for collection (purpose/use) Amount collected in 2008 â'¬m Bord Bia statutory levy The An Bord Bia Act, 1994, provides for payment to the Board of a levy per head on cattle, sheep and pigs...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 102 together. 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...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The withdrawal of the planned 17% increase in REPS 4 payments was necessitated by the overall difficult economic and financial situation and the funding available to me in the 2009 Vote for my Department. My officials are in discussion with the farm bodies regarding the possibility of a commensurate reduction in a farmer's obligations under the Scheme. As this is an EU-approved Scheme, any...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Early Retirement Scheme was suspended for new applications on 14 October 2008. I am, however, conscious that some potential applicants were at an advanced stage of preparing an application when entry to the scheme was suspended and had made, or were making, arrangements to meet the requirements of the Scheme. I am aware of the difficulties which a number of such intending applicants had...