Results 6,121-6,140 of 18,461 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: The pig sector remains an important component of the Irish agricultural sector. With a farm gate value of some €300 million, and employment in the industry of approximately 7,000, the sector provides an important source of income to rural communities all over the country. Almost half of Irish production is exported with the UK accounting for 50% of exports with the remainder split between...

Written Answers — Sheep Production: Sheep Production (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The sheep sector is a valuable part of the overall agri-food sector and its future depends on its ability to meet the needs of the market. In order to do this successfully, the sector must focus on competitiveness, innovation and the demands of the consumer. Last month I launched a three-year, €54 million grassland sheep scheme, the funding for which, comes from unused Single Payment funds....

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

Brendan Smith: Beef production is an extremely valuable component of the Irish economy with an export value of some €1.4 billion in 2009. Some 90% of Irish beef production is exported, with over 90% of product now being exported to the high value EU markets. The market performance of, and price return on, beef products is a function of supply and demand. The global economic downturn has meant that the...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The issue of high levels of discards in commercial sea fisheries is a global problem and is on the agenda of all major international organisations who deal with the development of sustainable sea fisheries and protection of marine ecosystems. Fish stocks (the resource base) are the bedrock of the seafood sector and their good status and sustainable exploitation are central to the future of...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 to 245, inclusive, together. The Marine Institute is the national agency responsible for Marine Research. The agency publishes, on an annual basis, a Stock Book that sets out scientific data and advice on the state of fish stocks in Irish waters which are the subject of EU Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas. The Institute also provides me with...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Single Payment Scheme is applicable to farmers who actively farmed during the reference years 2000, 2001 and 2002, who were paid Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid in one or more of those years and who continued to farm in 2005. The gross Single Payment is based on the average number of animals and/or the average number of hectares (in the case of Arable Aid) on which payments were made...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The EU Court of Auditors raised concerns about the procedures for the designation of intermediate Disadvantaged Areas (also known as Less Favoured Areas) in the European Union. The concerns related to the number and variety of criteria used to designate such areas - Member States have used more than one hundred criteria - and the lack of transparency. The EU Commission has made a number of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The payment belonging to the person named is at an advanced stage of processing and he will be advised of the outcome shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The following table sets out commencement dates, and payment details for the 2009 Scheme year, for the 548 REPS 4 applications received in 2007: Commencement date 01/09/2007 01/10/2007 01/11/2007 01/12/2007 Total Number of Applicants 4 42 142 360 548 100% paid for 2009 3 30 102 286 421 First phase (75%) paid for 2009 0 0 4 6 10 Awaiting a payment 1 121 36 68 117 My Department's REPS...

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (27 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The details requested by Deputy Kenny in relation to the Department's websites are provided in the following table: Website Name Annual maintenance cost (ex vat) for each site in 2010 (to date) Annual maintenance cost (ex vat) for each site in 2009 http://www.agriculture.gov.ie €7,306.69 €7,306.69 http://www.fawac.ie €62.99 €62.99 http://www.fishingnet.ie €69.99 €69.99...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (27 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: A number of REPS 4 plans produced using eREPS included chemical phosphorus levels which appeared to be in excess of the levels permitted. This situation was not caused by any deficiency in the eREPS system but because instructions for using the system were not followed. To try to prevent this happening again, work was carried out in February 2010 on the eREPS system to provide additional...

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

Brendan Smith: Payment in full for 2009 has issued to 1,736 out of a total of 1,898 Donegal farmers who applied to participate in REPS 4. The remaining 162 cases are being processed as issues outstanding are being resolved and full payments will be made as soon as possible in these cases.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (27 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Greencastle harbour is owned by Donegal County Council and the maintenance and development of the harbour is the responsibility of the Council in the first instance. My Department has, however, in recent years, project managed works on phase 1 of the Greencastle Harbour development project on behalf of Donegal County Council as well as providing funding. The position with regard to...

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

Brendan Smith: My officials have now received satisfactory clarification from the Revenue Commissioners on this matter. Processing of the payment will now take place and it will issue to the applicant in the coming days.

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

Brendan Smith: REPS 3 participants were paid for a twelve months period in advance at each anniversary of the start of their contract. Almost all of the final-year payments to participants in REPS 3, the last version of the scheme to which this payment arrangement applies, have now issued. Participants in REPS 4 are paid in respect of each calendar year rather than for each twelve-month contract period....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Forest Service has yet to receive an application for payment from the person named.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (1 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: Drafting of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which gives effect to commitments in the Programme for Government and the Renewed Programme for Government on issues relating to animal health and welfare is ongoing in my Department. The legislation will amend and consolidate legislation in the area of animal health, particularly to reflect the changed disease status of our animals. Existing...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: The payment due to this applicant under the above forestry contract number is currently being processed. It will issue to the applicant in the coming days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named was the subject of a REPS on-the-spot inspection. In the course of this inspection he was found to be in breach of his undertakings and on 15 March 2010 he was notified of penalties to be imposed for non-compliance. The decision to impose these penalties was reviewed locally on request, and by letter dated 15th April 2010 my officials advised him that the penalties were...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (1 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: Applications for the Agri-Environment Options Scheme were received up to the deadline of 17 May both at my Department's office at Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford, from where the scheme is administered, and, in order to facilitate farmers, at local offices throughout the country. The local offices are in the process of sending the applications they received to Johnstown Castle. As not all...