Results 1,161-1,180 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: I am aware that the poultry industry not only in Ireland but also throughout Europe is facing increasing difficulties in maintaining profitability. The ever-increasing fuel costs along with high prices of feeding stuff is continuing to apply pressures on the trade. In the context of labelling my Department in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, drafted National...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department's responsibilities extend to animal and plant health and the diseases of these sectors. In this regard it works closely with the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive in relation to the public health aspects of and the potential implications for human health posed by these diseases, as for example in relation to avian 'flu which crosses both...

Written Answers — Farmers' Rights: Farmers' Rights (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department, in the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes worth up to €1.9bn annually, is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms covering land eligibility, and cross-compliance. A minimum of 5% of applicants are inspected annually under the eligibility rule. Up to two-thirds of these inspections are carried out without a farm visit and using the...

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

Brendan Smith: At the Council of Fisheries meeting in Luxembourg last week EU Fisheries Commissioner Borg, undertook to come back to the next Council meeting on the 15th July with definitive proposals to address the issues facing fishermen. However, I will continue to use every avenue open to me, as will Minister Killeen to convey in the strongest possible terms the depth of feeling of Irish fishermen on...

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

Brendan Smith: My Department is working with pig producers and meat processing plants to improve salmonella controls and reduce the levels of salmonella in the pig sector. The existing national salmonella control programme, which has been in place since 2002, is being revised with the objective of strengthening key elements at farm level, and during the transport and meat production stages. Discussions...

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

Brendan Smith: The Commission Health Check proposals in the milk sector cover the full range of market management measures currently in place, and milk quota expansion is at the forefront of these. The Commission has proposed to increase national quotas by 1% per annum from 2009/10 to 2013/14 and to allow quotas to expire in 2015. My approach in these negotiations will be to ensure a 'soft landing' towards...

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

Brendan Smith: I support the principle of maximum price transparency at all levels. In Ireland, producer prices at export meat plants are published weekly by An Bord Bia. This includes a comparison with EU lamb markets. One of the recommendations of the Sheep Strategy group was a move to mechanical grading of sheep, as is done for cattle. This will provide an objective assessment of quality and enhance...

Written Answers — Designated Ports: Designated Ports (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have not received any representations from the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority to add extra ports to the list of designated landing ports for specific species of fish. The following is a list of landing ports and details for each species as requested. I have recently, at the request of industry representatives, approved the addition of the ports of Kinsale and Schull as designated ports...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The General Scheme of the new Forestry Bill has been prepared and will shortly be submitted to Government for approval to send to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. I hope to publish the Bill as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Commission presented its legislative proposals on the Health Check to the Informal Agriculture Council in Slovenia on 27 May. The proposals are currently being examined in Council Working Groups and the Special Committee on Agriculture. The impact of the whole package of measures on Irish agriculture will clearly depend on what is agreed at the end of the negotiations. The aim is to...

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

Brendan Smith: Minister Killeen and I attended the Council of Fisheries meeting in Luxembourg last week, where we conveyed in the strongest possible terms the depth of feeling of Irish fishermen on this matter and the seriousness of the situation facing them. We outlined a strong case for a package of EU-funded measures to address the current difficulties experienced by fishermen across Europe,...

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

Brendan Smith: Provision was made in the forestry programme of the National Development Plan for the introduction of a scheme to improve the nature quality and biodiversity of older established woodlands. However, 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 — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am fully committed to ensuring that consumers can have full confidence in the organic food they buy. For that reason my Department has assigned additional resources to the Organic Unit and the staff involved are now systematically inspecting retail outlets, including supermarkets, shops and farmers markets, checking to ensure that all product identified as organic has been produced fully...

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

Brendan Smith: Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, has responsibility for the provision of education and training services to the agri-food sector. It actively promotes careers in farming as being very rewarding and fulfilling with the opportunity to develop a lifestyle which competes favourably with other professions, particularly with regard to quality of life and job satisfaction....

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

Brendan Smith: The worldwide increase in the price of cereals over the last 18 months, partly due to adverse weather conditions, has caused the price of compound animal feeds to increase by about 30%. However, the acreage directed to cereal cultivation has increased significantly in 2008, helped by increased market demand and the suspension of the obligation to set 10% of arable land aside. I am hopeful...

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

Brendan Smith: I am very concerned with the level of farm safety on our farms. Last year 11 people died on Irish farms, while this was a decline of almost 40% on 2006, it is still unacceptably high. This year to-date 10 people have died on Irish farms. I strongly support the work of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), which is the national body in Ireland with responsibility for securing health and...

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

Brendan Smith: Minister Killeen and I attended the Council of Fisheries meeting in Luxembourg last week where we conveyed in the strongest possible terms the depth of feeling of Irish fishermen on this matter and the seriousness of the situation facing them. We outlined a strong case for a package of EU-funded measures to address the current difficulties experienced by fishermen across Europe, particularly...

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

Brendan Smith: The Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department is that our headquarters will move to Portlaoise, involving some 600 staff; the local offices in Cork city will move to Fermoy, involving some 100 staff; and the laboratories in Cork and Limerick will move to Macroom, involving up to 100 staff. The move of the Fisheries function of my Department to Clonakilty is now...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The controls in place for monitoring REPS are designed to conform with the requirements set out in EU legislation. All REPS applications are subject to administrative checks, and on-the-spot checks are carried out on at least 5% of applications annually. Additional discretionary on-the-spot checks are carried out where my Department becomes aware of possible incidences of non-compliance. My...

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

Brendan Smith: The Standard Costings used to calculate grants under my Department's on-farm investment schemes (such as the Farm Waste Management and Farm Improvement Schemes) were last revised with effect from January 2007 in accordance with the commitments contained in the Farmers' Charter 2005-2007. A review of these Costings then took place in late-2007 and the decision was taken to maintain the...