Results 1,141-1,160 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The series of measures announced by my predecessor last year in support of the sheep sector constitute the response to the report of the Sheep Strategy Development Group — the Malone Report. Together, these measures form a comprehensive package that recognises the importance of the sheep sector and that addresses the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Good progress is being made...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Premia payments for ewes ceased on the introduction of the Single Farm payment in 2005 and the re-introduction of a headage payment would not be easily achieved without consequences for the Single Farm Payment. The European Parliament report, to which the Deputy refers, makes an important contribution to the ongoing consideration of the future of the sheep sector in Europe. In that context,...

Written Answers — Training Programmes: Training Programmes (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Work is ongoing to facilitate the crew impacted by the decommissioning scheme who wish to re-train for the Merchant Navy. It should be noted that responsibility for setting the standards whereby fishermen can retrain for the Merchant Navy rests solely with the Marine Survey Office (MSO) of the Department of Transport (DoT). BIM have been working closely with the MSO in this regard and most...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The EU Commission reviewed the whole area of food labelling and in that context my Department contributed to Ireland's submission which was coordinated by the Department of Health & Children. The Commission subsequently brought forward a proposal for a regulation on the provision of food information to consumers. This draft regulation will be examined by Council of Health Ministers and the...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My colleague, Éamon Ó Cuív, has responsibility for the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) which was established to provide income support for low income farmers and fisherpersons who are in receipt of certain specified social welfare payments and to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The scheme is currently available to a wide variety of persons engaged in fishing activity....

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The revised Farm Waste Management Scheme was introduced by my Department in March 2006 in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates Directive. Under the Scheme, a standard grant-rate of 60% (70% in the four Zone C counties) is available to farmers who complete investment works under the Scheme. The end-2008 deadline is a condition of the EU state aid approval...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The mixed grazing supplementary measure is available to farmers joining REPS 4. Currently, my Department is in the process of analysing the applications for REPS 4 received up to the closing date of 15 May. The number of farmers opting for the mixed grazing supplementary measure cannot be determined until this analysis is complete. The supplementary measure was approved by the European...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Early indications show that planting figures for 2008 should well exceed the 5,000 hectares referred to by the Deputy. It is worth emphasising that my Department has committed a total of €126 million in the current year to further the national afforestation programme. The current suite of Afforestation Grant and Premium Schemes, along with the various support measures, is the most...

Written Answers — Pesticide Use: Pesticide Use (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I supported most of the provisions contained in the draft EU Regulation. However there were a number of aspects of the Regulation that give rise to very significant concern on my part. I am particularly concerned that the use of 'hazard-based cut-off criteria', as a basis for the approval of substances, ignores the scientific principle of risk assessment. Of course it is important that the...

Written Answers — Food Aid: Food Aid (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 3149/92 of 29 October 1992 lays down detailed rules for the supply of food from intervention stocks for the benefit of the most deprived persons in the Community. Normally food that is distributed under Regulation 3149/92 is sourced from intervention stocks. Butter and beef have been used in previous years, with some butter being traded for cheddar cheese. This...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 115 together. The WTO Director General announced on Friday last that he will propose that a WTO Ministerial meeting take place in Geneva in the week commencing 21 July. The purpose of this meeting is to finalise the modalities or detailed texts of agreements on agriculture and non-agricultural market access (NAMA). It is envisaged that a Signalling...

Written Answers — Farm Safety: Farm Safety (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am aware and very concerned with the increase in fatal farm accidents between 1993 and 2007 involving farmers over 60 years of age. I fully support the work of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the statutory body established under the 1989 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, which works in partnership with the agriculture and forestry sectors to improve health and safety in farm...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following is the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the salaries and other benefits received by the Chief Executives of the commercial and non-commercial State sponsored bodies under the aegis of my Department: Agency Remuneration Pension Scheme Ancillary Benefits â'¬ Coillte Teoranta 297,024 Yes Performance Related Bonus Scheme Irish National Stud 104,668 Yes...

Written Answers — Sea Fishery Offences: Sea Fishery Offences (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together. Since 1959 Ireland has applied its criminal law in relation to fisheries matters and, since our membership of the European Community, Ireland has applied the criminal law in the enforcement of fisheries policy. Successive Governments have applied the criminal law. We do this to protect fish stocks and to seek to avoid financial...

Written Answers — Fishery Quota: Fishery Quota (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: In relation to quota allocations, the position is that Ireland's shares of the main fish stocks were set in the early 1980's when fish stocks were being shared out between EU Member States. The share allocations were based on catch records and reflected the fishing levels of the Irish fleet and other Member states' fleets at that time. The percentage shares held by each Member State have...

Written Answers — Fishery Quota: Fishery Quota (1 Jul 2008)

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. Discarding is usually a feature of mixed fisheries where one species may be the target of fishing activity, but other species may be caught accidentally...

Written Answers — Food Imports: Food Imports (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The production of pate foie gras is not banned in Ireland. The importation of this product is regulated at EU level and there are no current proposals to ban this trade.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Broadleaf Thinning and Tending Scheme aims to improve the quality of broadleaf plantations by encouraging thinning and tending at a young age. Demand for all the forestry schemes is quite high this year, relative to the funds available. The Department is now in the process of prioritising expenditure within the Forestry budget as a whole.

Written Answers — State Appointments: State Appointments (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, provided for the establishment of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). This independent authority was established on January 1st 2007. The Act clearly provides that the Authority is solely responsible for the appointment of a complaints officer and consequently I have no remit with regard to that particular appointment.

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Agriculture and Fisheries Council took place on 23/24 June. I represented Ireland together with my colleague Tony Killeen, Minister of State. The Council reached political agreement on the following proposals for Council Regulations: Establishment of a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; Fishing authorisations for Community...