Results 6,421-6,440 of 18,482 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: The role of forestry in relation to climate change forms part of the ongoing review of State forestry policy. The Review Group is scheduled to report by the end of the year.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Government has approved the heads of the Forestry Bill, and discussions are continuing between my Department and the Office of the Attorney General with a view to finalizing the text of the Bill. It would be my intention to publish the Bill in the current Parliamentary Session. A comprehensive review of the Forestry Act, 1988, establishing Coillte Teoranta, is not proposed at present.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: National calculations of greenhouse gas emissions and uptake in peatland afforestation include changes in soils below ground as well as biomass. Five carbon pools are reported: above ground biomass, below ground biomass, litter, dead organic matter and soils. Calculations are in accordance with the Common Reporting Formats of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the greenhouse...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: Felling licence applications do not make reference to the soil type in which trees are planted. Therefore the Department does not collate the information requested.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: Analysis has been done by my Department, through COFORD (National Council for Forest Research and Development), on the environmental effects of forestry operations, including forest replanting, on peatland. The PEnrich project (Forestry Operations and Eutrophication), was a joint COFORD/EPA funded project which examined the influence of forestry and forest operations on water quality. The...

Written Answers — Nitrates Directive: Nitrates Directive (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: The definition of peat soils used by my Department is taken from Peatlands of Ireland, Soil Survey Bulletin by R.F. Hammond (1979). It constitutes a peat layer greater than 30 cm on drained peats and greater than 45 cm on undrained peats. It is not proposed to change this. The soil classification criterion used in the Nitrates regulations, the European Communities (Good Agricultural...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: Details of the amount spent during the requested periods are shown in the table below: Year Total € 2007 924,019.60 2008 1,008,088.10 2009 701,944.06 2010 — (first six months) 261,296.20 My Department currently has 1,644 active mobile phone accounts, the supply of which is split between Vodafone and O The framework agreement is intended to maximise volume discounts and provide for...

Written Answers — Land Commission Documents: Land Commission Documents (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: A solicitor for a person named has inspected documents for the two estates mentioned in the request in the Records Branch of my Department in Portlaoise. Copies of certain documents were given to the solicitor and inspection of other documents was facilitated. The only documents that were not available were the fair rent orders/judicial tenancies mentioned in the details. My Department has...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: The information the Deputy requested is in the following tables: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Staff by Grade as at end-August 2010 Grade FTE Administrative Officer 20.40 Administrative Officer — Higher Scale 3.00 Advisory Counsel — Grade 3 1.00 Agricultural Inspector 75.94 Area Superintendent 15.00 Assistant Agricultural Inspector...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1678 and 1679 together. Following a recent Court judgement in the Netherlands the importation of mussel seed into that jurisdiction for the purposes of relaying is no longer permitted. The import of mussels for direct human consumption is not currently affected. However I am concerned about the possibility that the implementation of the Court judgement by the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with payments issuing in respect of those cases cleared for payment at that stage. Payments have continued to issue, as outstanding issues are resolved. The application of the person named has...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (29 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named is a participant in REPS 3. He is not entitled to any payment until he starts the fifth year of his contact on 1 December. He has to send in his Form 1C, his application for payment, before 1 January.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Single Farm Payment application of the above named has been fully processed and is now clear. Payment will issue when payments commence on 18 October 2010.

Written Answers — Animal Identification Scheme: Animal Identification Scheme (30 Sep 2010)

Brendan Smith: A registered herdowner must be in possession of passports of animals prior to presenting the animals for slaughter and entry to the food chain. The person in question wishes to slaughter a number of cattle but does not have the passports of three of the animals which belonged to a herd owned by a sibling, now deceased. He has recently applied to my Department for the transfer of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named applied for 12 animals under the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment issued to the applicant in respect of one animal issued on 23 August 2010 and payment for the remaining 11 animals has been processed and will issue shortly

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 26 April 2010. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with an advance payment of 75% issuing in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. The required digitising of the balance of the land declared has now been completed, as...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The EU Regulations governing REPS 4 and other area-based schemes provide that payments issue in two instalments. The first instalment of 75% may be paid once all administrative checks on all applications, as well as cross-checks against areas declared on Single Payment Scheme applications, have been completed. This process is underway and while my objective is to make all payments as soon...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: Preparation 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 new bill will consolidate and update a wide range of existing legislation to ensure that the welfare of all animals, including non-farm animals is properly...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: My entire focus is to make the maximum permissible payments to farmers under each of the relevant Direct Payment Schemes, at the earliest possible dates, having due regard to the governing regulations. In this regard, I am confident that almost €1.5 billion will be paid to Irish farmers before 31 December 2010. In relation to the 2010 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, I have exercised the option...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: In relation to the 2010 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, I have exercised the option of making an advance payment of 75% of DAS beginning on 22 September, with the balancing 25% payment commencing 20 October. I have taken this option because of the EU requirement to entirely process applications before payment can be made in full. However, this approach is ensuring the maximum number of farmers...