Results 901-920 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Food Shortages. (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Increasing food prices and concerns regarding availability of food is a global situation, which is most severely affecting those people living in developing countries. This complex issue has many causes, including recurrent bad weather and changing and increasing food requirements among countries caused in particular by economic and population growth. There is also an increasing global...

Food Shortages. (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Sherlock for his good wishes and look forward to working with him and our colleagues on all sides of the House. We export 80% of the food we produce in Ireland. I was very glad that this particular issue was down for discussion yesterday at the Council of Ministers. It reinforces once again the particular issues raised by Deputy Sherlock as regards the importance of the...

Food Shortages. (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: We have been very strong supporters of the Common Agricultural Policy. We want it strengthened and improved because we realise its value to Europe and for the Irish economy, farming and the agri-food industry. We shall continue to highlight the importance of the Common Agricultural Policy. Perhaps we should also reflect on the fact that Ireland's overseas development aid has increased...

Grant Payments. (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The farm improvement scheme, FIS, was introduced by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in July 2007 with funding of €79 million, as agreed under the partnership agreement, Towards 2016. The scheme was suspended on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached this level of funding. It was specifically made clear, at the time of its launch, that the scheme would be...

Grant Payments. (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Crawford for his good wishes. He took the opportunity in other fora, in the constituency and elsewhere, to convey them to me. As the Deputy knows, 12,675 applications were received from farmers under the FIS by the closing date, 31 October 2007. These applications are being processed up to the level of funding available. Applications received up to 31 October 2007 are...

Grant Payments. (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am not familiar with the exact office that serves County Wicklow but I can check out the matter relating to staffing levels. I understand the close-off date for projects under the farm improvement scheme may be two years away. I am open to correction but it is not imminent. I will check the position relating to staffing levels in Wicklow that Deputy Doyle queried.

Grant Payments. (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I know that some people from Deputy Crawford's county, Monaghan, would say Cavan people would not send back money. I am sure that some of the farmers from our two counties who were caught in the time lapse and spoke to Deputy Crawford also spoke to me.

Grant Payments. (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: There is provision in Towards 2016 to have a review of the terms of this scheme during 2008.

Grant Payments. (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am not familiar with the staffing levels of particular offices in County Cork but I will bring this matter to the attention of the Department's personnel section. Above all Departments, there has been a huge investment in technology in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in recent years. This has led to progress and efficiency and I am sure the programme will continue.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Virtually all commercial felling is undertaken on foot of a General Felling Licence, issued in accordance with the requirements of the Forestry Act 1946, and it is a standard condition of such licences that all areas felled must be replanted. The Deputy does not ask for details in respect of any particular period, but by way of illustration, General Felling Licences for the clear-felling of...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: In practical terms, the Reform Treaty will not alter the arrangements that currently apply in the fisheries sector to any great extent other than applying the principle of co-decision in certain areas for the first time. Fisheries are now included in the Articles on the Common Agricultural Policy and references to the Common Agricultural Policy will be deemed to include fisheries. The...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Health Service Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency....

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The worldwide increase in the price of commodities such as cereals and oil over the last 18 months has caused the price of compound animal feeds and fertilizers to increase by about 30% and 50%, respectively. My predecessor has taken steps, through the Council of Ministers, to address some of the causes of these increases by bringing about a suspension of the obligation to set 10% of arable...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Commission proposals on the Health Check of the CAP are due to be published on 20 May. Advance copies of the proposals have been received in the last few days. The negotiating process will commence under the Slovenian Presidency with a series of Working Groups in May and June. My aim in the negotiations will be to achieve the best possible outcome for Ireland and for agriculture. We...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department is committed to supporting research in non-food land uses. To date, it has awarded in excess of €6 million in funding for biofuel research projects under the Department's Research Stimulus Fund Programme arising from Calls for Proposals issued in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The 2005 Research Stimulus Fund Programme funded a project entitled 'Development of a strategy (E-supply) for...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for REPS 4 are derived from a new Commission Regulation which reflects the Commission's objective of integrating and harmonising the operation of the various farm payment schemes — including the Single Payment Scheme, REPS and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. For REPS 4, this means that applications to join the Scheme must be submitted by 15 May each year. Payments will...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: As custodian of some of the richest fishing grounds within the European Community, Ireland is strongly committed to the protection of our fish stocks from depletion due to over-exploitation, both at European and national levels. At EU level, Ireland has consistently argued for a level playing field in the enforcement of measures to prevent such over-exploitation, and we look forward to...

Written Answers — Plant Protection Products: Plant Protection Products (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Commission has proposed a Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The Strategy includes a number of initiatives designed to reduce the negative impacts associated with use of "Plant Protection Products" (agro-chemical sprays). It is in this context the Commission has proposed: 1. A framework Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides, the aim of which is to reduce...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: At its meeting on 12 June 2007, the Council of Agriculture Ministers invited the Commission to come forward with a proposal for a school fruit scheme based on an impact assessment of the benefits, practicalities and administrative costs that would be involved. On 18 December 2007 the Commission began a public consultation process which ended on 29 February 2008. The Commission is currently...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: All fishermen are eligible to undertake Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) training programmes including those serving on vessels that are decommissioning. In this regard, BIM and FÁS have agreed to co-operate to provide training for fishing vessel crew members that find themselves without a job when their fishing vessel is decommissioned. Both agencies will work closely together to provide...