Results 6,021-6,040 of 18,461 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: As I said earlier in response to Deputy Blaney's question, Ireland was one of the very active members in putting this particular group together, along with France, Germany and Austria. Last December, we got 22 of the 27 member states to sign up to the need for proper CAP resources. Within that group of 22 not everyone shares the same view on the direct payments system, but we are working on...

Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Neither will the Deputy, but he should.

Single Farm Payment Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: As part of proposals on the use of unspent single payment scheme and modulation funds and the European economic recovery programme, I announced in 2009 that, subject to the receipt of EU Commission approval, I intended to introduce support for a number of specific categories of farmer, which would be focused on supporting productive investment. The measures include a scheme for dairy farmers...

Single Farm Payment Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I introduced the other two schemes because they are the ones with the nearest deadline, which must have their systems changed. That is why I am prioritising those two particular schemes. I hope to launch them before mid-June. We have been involved in discussions with the relevant representative groups and farming organisations to ensure that the technical details of these schemes are as...

Single Farm Payment Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: For the information of the House - and I have mentioned this privately to Deputy Crawford - within the last two weeks I met with the chief agricultural advisers of all the main banks, as well as their support staff. I outlined the position regarding the roll-out of these schemes, particular for poultry and pigs. I asked that the relevant credit be put in place to ensure that people who need...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The bio-energy market is an important segment of the renewable energy sector. Important and challenging EU and National targets now exist to develop renewable energy in response to concerns about climate change and energy security. Two key policy documents have been published in Ireland to increase renewable energy output. The White Paper on Energy "Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: This concerns a Letter of Formal Notice received from the Commission on 5th May 2010 indicating that Ireland has not adequately implemented measures necessary to comply with the judgement of the European Court of Justice in case C-66/06, Commission v Ireland. Specifically, the Commission wants Ireland to apply the criteria in Annex 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is caused by a viral infection of cattle. The virus is called Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus. It is not a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Animals Act. Where individual problems occur, whether in relation to notifiable or non-notifiable diseases, as they do from time to time on farms, the Veterinary Laboratory Service of my Department is available to...

Written Answers — Farm Incomes: Farm Incomes (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: EUROSTAT report that agricultural income per annual work unit fell by 11.6% in the EU in 2009. This figure varied from –32.2% in Hungary to +7.8% in Malta. Ireland was one of 21 Member States that reported a decrease in income per annual work units, while only six counties reported an increase in income. The fall in factor income in 2009 was mainly attributed to a sharp fall (-10.5%) in...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department publishes statistics each year on the national cattle population in the annual AIM Bovine Statistics report. The report for 2009 has recently been published and contains detailed information on many aspects of the beef and dairy herd. The total number of calf births in the country has been relatively stable over the last number of years, at just over 2 million calves each year,...

Written Answers — Food Imports: Food Imports (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Based on CSO provisional statistics, Bord Bia estimate that the value of food imports (excluding live animals) from the UK declined by six per cent in 2009 from €2.4billion euro to €2.3billion euro, by contrast with an increase in 2008 of almost 20%. In volume terms, imports did increase in 2009, primarily due to the weakness of sterling. Almost half of these imports would be classified...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: There has been significant interest in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme since it opened for applications on 30 March 2010. The closing date for receipt of applications was Monday 17 May 2010 and at close of business on that day some 4,400 applications had been submitted to my Department's office at Johnstown Castle Estate in Wexford. However, given the short time frame for submitting...

Written Answers — Sheep Production: Sheep Production (26 May 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 dependant 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. Last year, on a once-off basis, I introduced the Uplands Sheep Payment, worth €7 million, availing of...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: There has been significant interest in the Scheme since it opened for applications on 30 March 2010. The closing date for receipt of applications was Monday 17 May 2010 and at close of business on that day some 4,400 applications had been submitted to my Department's office at Johnstown Castle Estate in Wexford. However, given the short time frame for submitting applications, and in order to...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I support the continuation of a two-pillar structure. My view is that the core purpose of pillar 1 funding is to provide income support to farmers to allow them to maintain family farming and to produce food competitively in an environmentally sustainable manner. In this context, there is a direct link between the income stabilisation role of direct payments and the market stabilisation...

Written Answers — Trade Negotiations: Trade Negotiations (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I conveyed our Government's serious reservations about the decision to re-engage in negotiations with Mercosur directly to Commissioner Ciolos when I spoke to him on Monday, 17 May. In my discussion with him, I expressed our deep concerns over the decision to re launch the negotiations and the threat which these negotiations could pose for Irish and European agriculture, at a time of great...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Bord Bia hosted the recent Food and Drink Summit – "Building Ireland's largest indigenous industry" – at Farmleigh House on Thursday, 6th May. The summit marked the culmination of a process whereby Bord Bia, in co-operation with Harvard Business School, had engaged with the leaders of the Irish food and drink industry to develop proposals to inform the 2020 agri-food sector strategy...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department has submitted proposals to the European Commission for a number of amendments to the provisions for the Agri-Environment Options/Natura Scheme under the revised Rural Development Programme, 2007–13. The proposals are being pursued as a matter of urgency but, in accordance with regulatory procedures, the Commission is permitted a period of four months in which to deliberate...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Under the final agreement on the Health Check of the CAP Ireland secured access to additional funds of €25 million annually from unspent CAP funds for three year from 2010. Following wide consultation with interested stakeholders and having regard to the provisions of the Regulations, I decided to allocate the funds to three schemes, details of which I announced over the last number of...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Supplementary Budget introduced by the Minister for Finance in April 2009 reduced the funding available for the Forestry programme in 2009 and difficult decisions were taken by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to make the maximum use of these funds. Maintaining an active afforestation programme was an important consideration in this decision-making process given its...