Results 6,041-6,060 of 18,461 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: A total of 29,376 applications were received for participation in REPS 4 for payment in 2009. The acceptance of REPS 4 applications is governed by EU Regulations which require exhaustive administrative checks and on-the-spot inspections. In a significant number of the applications received, the administrative checks raised issues and queries which required further detailed examination. My...

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

Brendan Smith: The European Commission issued a Green Paper on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in April 2009 and sought responses to their proposals. Minister Killeen, who had responsibility for the Fisheries portfolio at that time, appointed Dr. Noel Cawley to chair a nationwide public consultation process. The result of these consultations contributed in no small way to Ireland's response...

Written Answers — Cereal Sector: Cereal Sector (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: It is important that producers and merchants continue to explore ways in which harvest prices can be determined in advance to allow for cost-effective forward planning by all sectors of the industry. Grain prices are strongly influenced by both the world and EU markets and indeed Ireland accounts for around only 1% or so of the EU market. The maintenance of an efficient and viable crops...

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

Brendan Smith: The Renewed Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to "implement a Code of Practice for doing business in the Grocery Goods sector to develop a fair trading relationship between retailers and their suppliers" and "to review progress of the Code and if necessary to put in place a mandatory code". The Government will give effect to this commitment by including a specific...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Under the National Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-2013 capital funding of €1.5m has been allocated for fish processing. However a delay has been experienced in the adoption of the Programme due to concerns raised by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources regarding environmental issues...

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

Brendan Smith: The Commission has developed a template for calculating the costs of implementing EU funded schemes under the Common Agricultural Policy for the purposes of showing comparisons between Member States. The comparison shows that the administrative costs in Ireland are significantly lower than the EU average. The latest data submitted for the purposes of the EU comparison shows that the cost to...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Kerry County Council proposes to construct a new pier at Cromane. The proposed pier will be the property of that Local Authority who will be responsible for its development, maintenance and repair. No arrangements have been put in place for a visit to Cromane in the near future.

Written Answers — Access to Credit: Access to Credit (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I recently met with representatives of the Irish Banking Federation and impressed upon them the credit requirements of the agri-food sector, including the pig sector. While it is reported that there has been some easing of the restrictions on the flow of credit, there are still individual cases of difficulty. Therefore I will continue my dialogue with the banks on the issue. Following the...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 100 together. 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...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: My starting point is that I see no compelling reason to change from the current historical model for determining single payments. I believe that the historical model has a distinct advantage in linking the payment with level of farming activity, albeit activity in 2000-2002. I have made my views on the benefits of the historic model clear at meetings of the Council of Ministers and in...

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

Brendan Smith: The farmhouse cheese sector makes a valuable contribution to the local food economy, to exports and enhances the local food culture. The sector receives support from my Department and from Agencies under the aegis of my Department. Additional milk quota is provided to support the development of high value and specialist milk products including farmhouse cheese. Specialist advice and...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 105 together. The EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) provides a range of measures that can be used to manage the dairy market, and these were modified in the CAP reforms of 1999 and 2003. In the Health Check negotiations in 2008 there was pressure to remove or weaken the support measures significantly. At that time I fought hard to keep the key market...

Written Answers — National Laboratory: National Laboratory (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The vast majority of the buildings of DAFF Laboratories, at Backweston are completely operational and functioning as intended. Amelioration works on some areas of the laboratories are required prior to they coming on stream. These are expected to be completed during 2011. The move to and the concentration of laboratory facilities at Backweston has provided state of the art facilities to DAFF...

Written Answers — Oireachtas Committees' Reports: Oireachtas Committees' Reports (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department is considering the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on farming and fishing in the West. It will take account of the report as part of the formulation of agriculture policies for the future.

Written Answers — Marine Institute: Marine Institute (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Marine Institute (MI) is the national agency with responsibility for Marine Research, Technology Development and Innovation (RTDI). The Institute was established under the 1991 Marine Institute Act. The role of the MI is to promote the sustainable development of the marine industry through strategic funding programmes and essential scientific services that safeguard the marine environment...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 98 and 99 together. The 2010 Bioenergy Scheme was announced in February 2010 to build on progress made during the pilot phase which ran from 2007-2009. The new Scheme will support miscanthus and willow cultivation to the end of 2010. Under the terms of the new 2010 Bioenergy Scheme, farmers can avail of establishment grants worth €1,300 per hectare to...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I am deeply concerned with the level of safety on our farms. This year 11 people have already died as a result of accidents on Irish farms. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the national body in Ireland that is responsible for the promotion and enforcement of workplace health and safety. I fully support the efforts made by the HSA to promote the importance of health and safety...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 87 together. The arrangements for payment of the remaining grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis were confirmed in early 2009 with 40 per cent being paid in that year as claims were approved. A further instalment of 40 per cent was paid early in 2010 and the final instalment of 20 per cent will be paid in early 2011. I also...

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

Brendan Smith: All of the projects supported conform to the broad objectives of the COFORD forest research programme namely, to support sustainable and competitive forestry practices and policies and to contribute to building and maintaining a knowledge economy and scientific research in a vibrant forestry sector. The projects will produce benefits not only for producers but also for the wider rural...