Results 1,041-1,060 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: There are ten agencies under the remit of my Department. They are as follows: Bord Bia is the state agency with responsibility for trade development, information and promotion of Irish food, drink and horticulture. Its mission is to deliver effective and innovative market development, promotion and information services to assist companies grow and win new business. Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)...

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: To date, 330 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Scheme referred to by the Deputy in County Mayo. The remaining applications will be processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme by the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: I understand that energy inputs are calculated by the Environment Protection Agency for the whole agriculture sector, but not for the sub-sectors or at the level of individual farms. Baseline data have been produced on greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, including fuel usage, and it is worth noting that in recent years the sector has achieved significant production efficiencies which...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: Under the relevant EU legislation, in order to draw down full payment in respect of Single Payment Entitlements, an applicant must declare an 'eligible hectare' to accompany each entitlement; an 'eligible hectare' is land that is used for an agricultural activity i.e. land used to grow cereals, etc, grass for silage, grazing or hay, or land that is in set-aside — the provisions of the...

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analysis: Regulatory Impact Analysis (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: To date my Department has carried out a screening regulatory impact analysis (RIA) on the proposed legislation transposing the Shellfish Waters Directive and a proposal for a EU Directive on variations to the terms of marketing authorisations for medicinal products. As the legislation for the Shellfish Waters Directive is still in the deliberation process it is not possible to say whether or...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am aware of the European Parliamentary Question referred to by the Deputy. However, the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced in March 2006 was approved by the EU Commission under a specific EU state aid decision, which does specify a time limit of end-2008 for completion of the works concerned. As I have previously indicated, I have no plans to seek an extension to this deadline.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: I can confirm that my Department has introduced arrangements to facilitate payments to farmers by electronic funds transfer into Irish credit union accounts where the credit union can accept transfers into the individual accounts of members or into the credit union's bank account. In the latter case, farmers will be required to sign a specific authorisation form directing their payments to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: I can confirm to the Deputy that payment will issue to the person named within the next ten days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: It is expected that the modulation refund payment of €200 due to the person named will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Department's New Local Office in Drumshambo, which is scheduled to be ready for occupation in early 2009, is intended to accommodate all Department staff in County Leitrim.

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: The files of the former Land Commission are retained in the Records Branch of my Department, which is currently located in the National Archives Building in Bishop Street. These files have not been formally handed over to the National Archives as they contain title documentation of all land acquired by the former Commission for distribution under the Land Purchase Acts. My officials...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 615 together. My Department's responsibility in the area of animal welfare currently extends to farmed animals only. Primary responsibility for issues relating to safety and welfare of circus animals lies with the owner or keeper of such animals. The Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1965 is the principal legislation governing the welfare of all...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: Council Regulation (EC) No. 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations lays down the welfare requirements and conditions for the transport, handling, loading and unloading of animals. Circus animals are excluded from the scope of this Regulation.

Written Answers — Fishing Industry: Fishing Industry (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: The 1998 Council of Fisheries Ministers took a decision to ban drift netting for tuna with effect from 1 January 2002. This decision to ban a particular form of tuna fishing did not amount to the ending of the tuna fishery, however. For 2008, a quota of 7,958 tonnes of albacore tuna is available to Irish fishermen, which compares favourably with the quota of 3,158 tonnes which prevailed in...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: While I have not received specific proposals from the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority to add extra ports to the list of designated landing ports for specific species of fish, my officials have held discussions with the Authority in the context of proposals from the Federation of Irish Fishermen for the designation of additional ports for landing of monkfish. In this regard, I am currently...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy is aware that the OPW are answering for Departments regarding the property related costs. The non-property costs of decentralisation (e.g. incidental expenses such as travel and overtime) are reported quarterly to the Decentralisation Implementation Group. To the end of March 2008, the last reporting deadline, the costs recorded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and...

Written Answers — Wildlife Conservation: Wildlife Conservation (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: Beekeepers are required to register with my Department as primary producers of honey under the legislation on the hygiene of foodstuffs but there is no requirement to register bee colonies. There are a number of pests and diseases that may lead to colony collapse, in particular the Varroa mite, which is now endemic across Europe including Ireland. It spread in the south-west in recent...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: Allocations of milk quota from the National Reserve are granted on the basis of recommendations from the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal. The Tribunal examines and makes recommendations on applications for additional quota from individual producers. The named person submitted an appeal against the original recommendations of the Tribunal for the allocation of 40,000 litres of temporary quota, on...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department did not employ external public relations companies in 2007. Public relations advice, where required is provided by my Department's Press Office. It is not possible to provide costs for this service, as the work is carried out as part of the standard duties of the staff involved.

Written Answers — Fishing Industry: Fishing Industry (17 Jun 2008)

Brendan Smith: The escalation of fuel costs, as a result of global economic and political conditions, remains a matter of concern for all sectors of industry. I believe that many of the current issues facing our fishermen, including that of increasing fuel prices, must be dealt with in the European context. In that regard and following a detailed, constructive nine hour meeting with the Federation of Irish...