Results 4,201-4,220 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Having regard to overall economic situation, the state of the public finances, and the funding available to me in the 2009 Vote for my Department it was necessary following the April 2009 supplementary budget, to reduce the rate of premium under the suckler welfare scheme 2009 to €40 per eligible animal to be paid in 2010. The financial pressures have not eased and I have no plans at...

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

Brendan Smith: The delays in processing REPS 4 applications occurred mainly as a result of the urgent need to devise a comprehensive system of eligibility checks following EU audits in late 2007 and early 2008 as a result of which the European Commission indicated that the previous system of checking did not meet the requirements of the new EU Regulations now in force. To reduce the risk of a "financial...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (30 Jun 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 — Agrifood Sector: Agrifood Sector (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Agriculture and food production are always subject to change and challenges and while agriculture is often more resilient to economic crises than other sectors, there is no doubt that certain parts of the industry are facing significant challenges this year, not least from low milk prices. However, the agriculture and food sector has the innate capacity to help lead the economic recovery in...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: A legal basis for the deferment of payments under the Farm Waste Management Scheme is provided for in section 12 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009.

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 to 434, inclusive, together. These applications for foreshore consents were received by my Department in the period January to April 2008. The applications were circulated to statutory consultees and responses have been received. The applications are currently being examined by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC), which advises my Department on...

Written Answers — Fisheries Conservation: Fisheries Conservation (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: If the Deputy is referring to Spurdog (Squalus acanthias), there is a limit as to the total catch allowed in each month. For June and July 2009, these limits were set at 6 tonnes for over 55 feet vessels and 3 tonnes for under 55 feet vessels. These limits are outlined in detail in Fisheries Management Notice No. 16. for June and No 18 of 2009 for July. There are currently no catch limits...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department has completed and published a total of eight Value for Money reviews over the past three years. They covered the following areas of expenditure: Title of Review Publication Date Laboratory Facilities (Plant Health, Crops, Research & Development Grants) February 2007 Farm Waste Management November 2007 Public (Exchequer and EU) Supports for Aquaculture June 2007 Food...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application for a foreshore lease to facilitate construction of a pier at Doonbeg, Co. Clare was received on 9 October 2007. The application was circulated to my Department's consultees in the normal way. The observations of the consultees have been forwarded to Clare County Council and a response is awaited.

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

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue in the next 10 days.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The interest paid by my Department in respect of late payment for goods or services is as follows: Year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 to 31 May Late Interest paid €13,971 €11,908 €4,032 €3,941 €8,160 €2,778 My Department is fully committed to complying with the terms of the Prompt Payment Regulations and also with the recent Government decision that all Departments commit to...

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

Brendan Smith: Attendance at a 20-hour training course before their third year of participation is mandatory for participants in REPS 3. Participants may be exempted from this requirement if they have already completed a 20-hour course under REPS 2. However the course attended by the person named in 2000 was held under REPS 1 and does not provide exemption from the requirement under REPS 3. My officials...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: In accordance with E.U. requirements, all inspections should generally be unannounced: A Member State can give up to 14 days notice for land eligibility inspections and for cross-compliance inspections involving Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) other than those related to animal identification and registration, food, feed, and animal welfare. For checks involving animal...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. The information will be compiled from the files held by my Department and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Cattle Identification Scheme: Cattle Identification Scheme (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: A herdnumber is an administrative arrangement designed primarily for the purposes of disease control under the disease eradication schemes, which involves the allocation of a number to a herd as provided for under S.I. No. 276 of 1999 (European communities (Identification and registration of bovine animals) Regulations, 1999). An 'epidemiological unit' or herd is considered to be any number...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: An applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme who is unhappy with the terms of a decision taken by my Department should firstly request the local office of my Department to carry out a review of the decision concerned. If, following that review, the applicant is still unhappy with the decision concerned, he/she has the option of lodging an appeal with the Agriculture...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together. The information requested by the Deputy will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

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

Brendan Smith: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988. In accordance with Section 44 of that Act, while a voluntary early retirement scheme is submitted to me in the first instance for approval, such approval may only be given with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance. I wish to advise the Deputy that I have given my approval, with the...

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

Brendan Smith: The REPS 4 agri-environmental plan submitted by the person named was lodged in my Department on 5 September 2008 and, consequently, his contract could not start before 1 January 2009. Under EU Regulations, payment on individual REPS 4 applications for 2009 cannot be made until completion of administrative and area checks on all applications received up to the closing date of 15 May 2009. At...

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

Brendan Smith: I am satisfied that the person named has received all payments to date to which entitlement has been established definitively under REPS and the Single Payment Scheme.