Results 5,741-5,760 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department recently received EU Commission approval for the various targeted on-farm investment schemes announced by my Department in 2009. Due to the relatively short time-frames for completion of the investment works concerned, my priority is to introduce the Sow Welfare and Poultry Welfare Schemes first. Arrangements will then be made to introduce the three remaining schemes,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named has 20 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. During the validation process it was deemed that the applicant breached one of the Terms and Conditions of this Scheme and was, therefore, not eligible for payment. However, the person subsequently provided confirmation to my Department that he had, in fact, adhered to the condition. If this is confirmed...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue within 10 days.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (28 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The following REPS payments issued to the owner of the Herd number supplied prior to 2002: Date Amount 6-Jan-1998 â'¬2,640.90 4-Jul-1998 â'¬2,640.89 13-Jan-1998 â'¬1,236.19 30-Apr-1999 â'¬6,058.80 23-Feb-2000 â'¬328.19 7-Apr-2000 â'¬6,058.80 28-Feb-2001 â'¬246.14 30-Mar-2001 â'¬6,058.80

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (28 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: An adjusted plan was requested from the person named in this case. The adjusted plan was received on 12 March 2010, and is currently being processed by my officials.

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (28 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: A review of records indicate it was not possible to answer 66 questions and partial answers could only be provided to 2 other questions.

Carcase Classification Systems. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: Beef carcase classification is traditionally based on a visual assessment of the carcase by a human classifier and, prior to the introduction of mechanical classification, critics would have regarded such human assessment as subjective, prone to error and lacking consistency. Mechanical classification was introduced in Ireland more than five years ago and is now well established and accepted...

Carcase Classification Systems. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: I am glad Deputy Creed referred to the report in one of our daily national newspapers which totally misinterpreted the data given to them, causing as he correctly stated, anxiety among farmers who are sending cattle for slaughter and payment. I assure Deputy Creed - it is important to put this on record - that there is large-scale checking by human classifiers of the mechanical results....

Carcase Classification Systems. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: Yes. It was ridiculous.

Carcase Classification Systems. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: It is very important to put on record for everyone that the machines have continued to perform very well when assessed using the performance criteria laid down in the EU regulations. As I remarked earlier, classification was based on a visual assessment of the beef carcass by the classifier. Since the introduction of the mechanical classification of beef carcases, the performance of the...

Grant Payments. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The sheep sector is a valuable part of the economy with two-thirds of its product destined for export and its future dependent on its ability to meet the needs of the market. I have always acknowledged this fact and have developed a strategy to provide specific supports to the sector. On the financial side, I assigned €7 million from the 2009 single farm payment national reserve to 13,000...

Grant Payments. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: I totally disagree with Deputy Creed. We are not throwing money at anything. We are providing a very valuable investment.

Grant Payments. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: I noticed Deputy Creed's statement on the Wednesday after Easter when I launched the scheme. I recall that he both welcomed it and criticised it the same sentence.

Grant Payments. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: Of course I do. I introduced the €7 million upland sheep scheme last year. That was the totality of the funding available from the unused funds to which I had access in 2009. I stated I would dedicate that funding to the sheep sector because of the difficulties it has gone through. More than €5 million of that €7 million has been paid out. Queries were made to certain people. It...

Grant Payments. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The figure was €7 million in 2009.

Grant Payments. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: We are discussing the upland sheep scheme now. More than €5 million has been paid down. We have introduced schemes that are altogether administratively simple, under which we do not have a necessary inspection process that costs money. I refer to the new €18 million scheme. Department officials were engaged in widespread consultation with each of the farming organisations. We sought...

Grant Payments. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: We are providing assistance now. Sheep farmers and their representatives have warmly welcomed this investment, which is very important and will maintain an increased-----

Grant Payments. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: I totally reject what Deputy Creed has said. I refer to genetics. We have established Sheep Ireland which will be very important for improving the genetics. People will not remain in a sector if they do not get an adequate return.

Grant Payments. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The market decides that as well. This is a support to help the industry to maintain a critical mass such that we have adequate product for the processing industry as well. We export two thirds of what we produce in this country. This very important sector is worth €250 million per annum. The targeted additional funding that is to be provided will arrest the decline in numbers that has...

Common Agricultural Policy. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: I launched a consultation process with stakeholders in July 2009 to obtain their views on the EU agriculture policies which will serve Ireland and the EU best in the years to come. I am pleased with the responses I received, which will help to inform our position during the important negotiations that lie ahead. In this House last month, I announced my intention to establish a consultative...