Results 4,221-4,240 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: My Department has made no reduction in REPS payments to the person named. He submitted an amended REPS plan earlier this month following a Single Payment Scheme area inspection. The implications for his REPS payments, if any, will be examined by my officials when they process his annual application for payment, which is now due. The Single Payment Scheme for the person named was reduced as...

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

Brendan Smith: Government policy in relation to the development of the aquaculture industry is set out in the Cawley Strategy — Steering A New Course, Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007 — 2013. The National Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-2013, which provides for grant aid support to develop the aquaculture industry, was advertised for...

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

Brendan Smith: EU legislation governing trade into the EU stipulates that all animals and animal products entering the EU from a country outside the EU (a Third Country) must undergo veterinary and documentary checks at the point of entry before release into transit to final destination or free circulation within the Community. These rules are aimed at the overall protection of animal and public health...

Written Answers — Harbour Authorities: Harbour Authorities (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Harbour Master at Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre has been absent from work due to sick leave. A vacancy for the position does not arise at this time in these circumstances. In view of the needs of the harbour, the Assistant Harbour Master has been assigned the post of Acting Harbour Master. I trust this clarifies the position.

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

Brendan Smith: I propose taking Questions Nos. 454 to 457, inclusive, together. A review of the fishery control regime in Ireland was undertaken by Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management Ltd in 2007 who subsequently presented its findings and recommendations to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, who held responsibility for fisheries at that time. The Minister wrote to the Chairman...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 460 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 nor did it set...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Any breaches of controls in relation to importation or production of food falling within the remit of my Department are reported in accordance with the service contract to the FSAI. Any imports failing to comply with requirements for entry on the market may be detained for further examination. Where non-compliance is established they are returned to the exporting country or destroyed.

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

Brendan Smith: Responsibility for food safety rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Health Service Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency. The authority co-ordinates and monitors the operation of community standards applied to all foods for human consumption under the EU Food...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together. I have been conscious for some time of the need to maintain policy frameworks that support the viability of the food-producing sector in Ireland and throughout Europe and that preserve the adequacy, security and safety of our food supply. In the light of these challenges on the domestic front, the AgriVision 2015 report established...

Written Answers — Animal Numbers: Animal Numbers (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The annual number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered at export-approved plants in each of the years between 1999 and 2008, inclusive, is as follows: Year Cattle Slaughter Sheep Slaughter Pig Slaughter ('000 head) ('000 head) ('000 head) 1999 1,997 4,523 3,340 2000 1,752 4,117 3,050 2001 1,779 3,903 3,210 2002 1,675 3,307 3,040 2003 1,763 3,159 2,830 2004 1,725 3,565 2,710 2005...

Written Answers — Animal Numbers: Animal Numbers (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The number of animals in the suckler cow herd in each of the last ten years is set out in the table that follows this reply. The size of the herd has remained relatively stable during this time with very little annual fluctuation. Year No. in Suckler Cow Herd ('000 head) 1999 1,217 2000 1,187 2001 1,197 2002 1,154 2003 1,187 2004 1,207 2005 1,228 2006 1,215 2007 1,181 2008...

Written Answers — Animal Numbers: Animal Numbers (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The table that follows this reply sets out the number of animals in the dairy herd in each of the last ten years. The size of the herd has decreased each year except for 2001 and 2008, when there were increases on the previous year. Overall, there was a 7% decline in numbers between 1999 and 2008. Year No. in Dairy Herd ('000 head) 1999 1,201 2000 1,178 2001 1,183 2002 1,164 2003...

Written Answers — Animal Numbers: Animal Numbers (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following table sets out CSO figures for the sheep population in Ireland, in June of each year, for the past ten years: Year Total sheep (000 head) 1998 8,312.0 1999 7,925.5 2000 7,555.0 2001 7,330.3 2002 7,209.6 2003 6,848.9 2004 6,777.2 2005 6,392.2 2006 5,973.2 2007 5,521.6 2008 5,061.4 The report of the Sheep Strategy Development Group charts the correct way...

Written Answers — EU Legislation: EU Legislation (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002, which sets out the general principles and requirements of food law, stipulates inter alia, that food business operators at all stages of production, processing and distribution within the businesses under their control must ensure that foods satisfy the requirements of food law and that these requirements are met. One such requirement is that the operator...

Written Answers — State Laboratories: State Laboratories (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Irish Multi Annual National Control Plan, which is drawn up by my Department in conjunction with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, details the official control of foodstuffs required under the EU Regulation 882/2004. At present, my Department utilises the facilities of its own laboratories together with the facilities of the Irish State Laboratory, Teagasc, public analyst...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together. My Department is currently reviewing its local office structure. No decisions have been taken regarding the future of any local or regional office, other than the Dublin local office, already announced.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The process of on-farm inspections and approval of payments under the Farm Waste Management Scheme in Counties Cavan and Monaghan is continuing and, to date in 2009, 1,539 payments totalling almost €24.7 million have been made to farmers in those counties under the Scheme, whilst a further 348 claims for grant-aid have been inspected and approved for payment. The remaining claims for...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Officer concerned is placed number 58 on my Department's Clerical Officer Transfer List for Portlaoise. My Department does not currently have Clerical Officer vacancies in this location.

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: There is an applicant awaiting payment under the Pigmeat Recall Scheme whose name and address approximate to that supplied by the deputy. My officials are currently scrutinizing the company's response to a number of queries raised by my Department. I expect that claims that have been found to be proper and appropriate will be paid before the end of July.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. His application for payment, following the receipt of some additional information, is currently being examined and a decision will be made in regard to the application as soon as possible.