Results 6,921-6,940 of 18,482 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (9 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the sale of biomass from its forestry estate, are the responsibility of the company. While biomass is an important source of renewable energy, it is one of a number of uses and, as such, its supply for renewable energy purposes and the associated pricing...

Written Answers — Daylight Savings Time: Daylight Savings Time (9 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: There is no cost involved in changing the times of the clocks.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application was received requesting the transfer of 27.65 Single Payment entitlements to the person named from his late uncle. As the person named is not the owner of a herd-number it is not possible to process the requested transfer and consequently payment has not issued. The person named has applied to my Department's District Veterinary Office for the role of herd-owner but he has...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application was received on 5 February 2010 requesting the transfer of 38.73 Single Payment entitlements to the person named from her late husband. As the person named is not the owner of a herd-number, it is not possible to process the requested transfer and consequently payment has not issued. The person named has applied to my Department's District Veterinary Office for the role of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 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 under way and while my objective is to make all payments for 2010...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 13 May 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. The inspection process is complete and the results are now being processed. Under EU regulations governing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 13 May 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. The inspection process is complete and the results are now being processed. Under EU regulations governing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: A Bill providing for the welfare of greyhounds is currently being drafted with a view to presentation in the current Dáil session.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named registered 64 animals in the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. The person named has received payment in respect of 59 animals, which were eligible for payment. A further 4 animals are ready for payment, which will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: A total of 52 people (46.8 full-time equivalents) availed of the incentivised career break scheme in my Department. The net saving to the Exchequer in respect of the uptake of the initiative in my Department is expected to be some €5m, calculated over the lifetime of the career breaks concerned.

Order of Business. (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Durkan should withdraw that.

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The European Court of Auditors report on the sugar reform package of 2006 published yesterday was addressed directly to the European Commission. The report also contains a comprehensive 17-page response from the European Commission to the court's findings. As the Commission itself explains in that response, the sugar reform was concluded against the background of the EU's Everything But Arms...

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: What organisation does Deputy Ó Snodaigh represent? That is a scandalous remark-----

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: -----given the background of the organisation he represents.

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: There are organisations in Ireland which know all about robbery throughout the 32 counties.

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I totally reject the argument that every effort was not made to protect the Irish sugar industry. Every effort was made. Greencore made the decision to renounce the quota, not the Government. To answer Deputy Doyle's first question, the special share in Greencore did not allow the Minister, acting on behalf of the State, to contribute to the decision made by Greencore on the renunciation of...

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I have just read them out for the Deputy. They applied to any changes to certain specified articles of the articles of association of Greencore, the voluntary winding up of Greencore, the sale of more than 49% of Irish Sugar plc and the creation of a new class of shares in Greencore. At the time the Government obtained legal advice on its ability to participate in the decision made by...

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I utterly reject some of the argument put forward by Deputy Seán Sherlock. The Government was not influenced by any outside forces in its negotiations leading up to the decisions made at the end of November 2005. Ireland opposed the Commission's proposals in regard to the sugar regime. The Tánaiste, the then Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Mary Coughlan, led a group of 14...

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: In the background to the discussions in question is the fact that the protected price that was available up to the point to which I refer would - on foot of the WTO panel ruling and the European Union's obligations under international trade rules - no longer have been available. Greencore took a commercial decision to renounce its quota. When it did so, the then Minister, Deputy Coughlan,...

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: That is not an accurate-----