Results 4,341-4,360 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Ministerial Correspondence: Ministerial Correspondence (23 Sep 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department has received a submission from the Irish Farmers' Association setting out its response to the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and expenditure Programmes. The submission will be examined, together with any other submissions that may be received, in determining the budgetary framework and in the preparation of the 2010 Estimate for the Department.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Sep 2009)

Brendan Smith: In the first instance, the designation and protection of Natura 2000 sites is the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. EU funding is provided under the rural development Regulations for the overall improvement of the environment and the countryside. This funding is channelled through the Rural Development Programmes of each Member State and may...

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

Brendan Smith: The Single Payment Scheme application for the person named was selected for eligibility inspection by Remote Sensing (satellite) in 2009. The inspection has been completed. Following the exclusion of ineligible area, an area over-claim has been found in respect of one of the land parcels declared by the applicant. A letter, along with a map of the land parcel in question, has issued to the...

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

Brendan Smith: I presume the Deputy is referring to an application for grant-aid by the person concerned under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Grant-aid was paid by my Department under that Scheme to the person concerned on 22 September 2009.

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (24 Sep 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food publishes detailed data on the agri-food sector based on CSO Census of Industrial Production (CIP) data. This data is published in the Compendium of Agriculture Statistics on an annual basis. The Compendium is available under the Publications section of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie. The...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (24 Sep 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) publishes detailed data on the food-manufacturing sector in its Census of Industrial Production (CIP), which is an annual publication. The CIP is available under the Industry publications section of the CSO website at http://www.cso.ie/ The table gives details, in terms of the breakdown between larger and smaller companies involved in food processing for...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (24 Sep 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food publishes detailed data on the agrifood sector based on CSO Census of Industrial Production (CIP) data. This data is published in the Compendium of Agriculture Statistics on an annual basis. The Compendium is available under the Publications section of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie . The...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (24 Sep 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food publishes detailed data on employment in the agrifood sector based on two sources, the CSO Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) and the CSO Census of Industrial Production (CIP). This data is published in the Compendium of Agriculture Statistics on an annual basis. The Compendium is available under the Publications section of the...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (24 Sep 2009)

Brendan Smith: At present, there are total of 213 companies involved in organic food production in this country. The number of companies involved in organic food production over the past 5 years is as follows: 2004 – 107 2005 – 112 2006 – 142 2007 – 200 2008 – 210 The figure of 213 companies involved in organic food production includes farm based food processing units and is therefore not...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (24 Sep 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) publishes detailed data on the overall Industry sector, including the food-manufacturing sector in its Census of Industrial Production (CIP), which is an annual publication. The CIP is available under the Industry publications section of the CSO website at http://www.cso.ie/ The CIP indicates that in 2006 (most recent data available) a little over 14% of...

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

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted an application for additional milk quota to the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal under the Hardship category in respect of the 2009/2010 quota year. The application was acknowledged on 10 July last. The Tribunal is currently working through all of the Hardship applications. When a recommendation has been made in this case, a letter will issue to the person named and his...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: As Ireland's largest indigenous, manufacturing sector the agrifood sector is crucial to sustaining and reinvigorating the economy. Strategies for the development of a consumer focused, competitive and sustainable agrifood sector at home and abroad are set out in the Agri-vision 2015 report and the Cawley Report. These strategies identify the delivery of safe, high quality, nutritious food,...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1038 to 1040, inclusive, together. 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.). Under the general labelling Directive (2000/13/EC), the place of origin of the foodstuff must be given...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: CSO data (Quarterly National Household Survey) for Quarter 2, 2009 shows there were approximately 47,500 people employed in the food and beverages sector out of a total of over 258,000 employed in overall industry (defined as NACE sectors B to E inclusive). The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food publishes data on employment in the agrifood sector based on two sources, primarily...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: I understand that there are no outstanding forestry payments due to the person in question.

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department does not compile data that would allow the average age of a dairy farmer to be calculated, and I note that the CSO, similarly, does not derive this information from its census returns.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named, following which a full review of the case is being undertaken. The person named will be advised of the outcome of this review, in writing, immediately it is concluded.

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: In the case of aquaculture sites located outside the Natura 2000 area 85 applications are currently being examined by my Department's Engineering Division as a matter of priority. In the case of aquaculture sites located within the Natura 2000 area my Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute, is gathering the necessary baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives of...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: A person who is admitted to the Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming has undertaken to cease farming definitively and cannot be given a herd number at any time after that.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application for payment of a forestry road grant is currently being processed by my Department. I have asked that the matter be finalised as quickly as possible.