Results 1,221-1,240 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Meat Exports: Meat Exports (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following chart sets out the number of countries to which Irish beef, pigmeat and lamb are exported: 2000 2007 Beef 56 36 Pigmeat 51 43 Sheepmeat 14 19 Beef The distribution of Irish beef exports has undergone significant change since 2000. Irish exports have gone from a position where only 50% of exports went to other European markets in 2000 to 97% in 2007. The principal...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. The area devoted to energy crops increased from 137 hectares in 2003 to just over 9,000 hectares in 2007. The varieties of energy crops sown to date are Oilseed Rape, Miscanthus, Willow, Oats and Wheat. A figure for the number of hectares planted under energy crops in 2008 is not yet available. This figure will be forwarded directly to...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: As part of the EU sugar reform package diversification aid worth €44m approximately to Ireland was made available. The main objective of this aid was to provide funding towards the cost of establishing alternative farming enterprises by the former beet growers and thus assist these farmers to earn a replacement income and contribute to the viability of the wider rural economy of the former...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The placing of animal products on to the market for human consumption must be in accordance the provisions of the European Communities Food Law applying at all stages of the production, processing and distribution of food, including importation. It is the responsibility of Food Business Operators under this legislation to ensure food of animal origin, such as beef, they place on to the market...

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

Brendan Smith: A Scheme of Investment Aid for Demonstration On-Farm Waste Processing Facilities was introduced by my Department in June 2006 under the aegis of the 2000-2006 National Development Plan. In 2007, grant-aid was made available under the Scheme for the development of ten on-farm anaerobic digestion facilities. In accordance with the standard practice under my Department's on-farm investment...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Agreement on the Financial Perspectives of the EU for the period 2007-2013 was reached in the European Council in Brussels in December 2005. The main elements of the European Council's decision insofar as agriculture and rural development are concerned were to confirm budgetary allocations representing funding of €320 billion in current prices to pillar 1 of the CAP in the period to 2013,...

Written Answers — Sectoral Development: Sectoral Development (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: As outlined to the Deputy in a reply on 21st February, plans for the development of the agrifood sector are set out in the AgriVision 2015 Action Plan, the Programme for Government, the National Development Plan and the Rural Development Plan. The AgriVision Action Plan was the Government's response to the seminal Report of the AgriVision 2015 Committee on what needed to be done to secure...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Industry: Aquaculture Industry (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has under consideration an application for an aquaculture licence in respect of 3 sites in the Kenmare River area from the CoOp in question. A number of letters of objection to this application have been received in my Department recently. My Department has accordingly written to the CoOp requesting its comments on the issues raised by the objectors. When a response is...

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

Brendan Smith: Under the EU regulations governing the operation of REPS 4, payments will relate to the period in each calendar year during which a participant is in the scheme. In this instance, as the plan commenced on 1 December 2007, the person named is due a payment in respect of the month of December 2007.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 National Reserve under Categories B and D. Category B catered for farmers who made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000-2002. Investments could include...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (2 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Council of Agriculture Ministers provided for the introduction of a Dairy Premium in 2004 as part of the CAP Mid-Term Review agreement in June 2003. The agreement also provided for the decoupling of the Dairy Premium to become part of the Single Payment Scheme, which was also introduced as part of that agreement. Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003 provided that the Dairy Premium could...

Written Answers — Veterinary Qualifications: Veterinary Qualifications (2 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: While I am the sponsoring Minister for the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, which governs the regulation of veterinary practitioners and veterinary nurses, the day to day regulation of the professions is a function of the Veterinary Council of Ireland in accordance with the principles laid down in the legislation. For the first time veterinary nurses enjoy formal recognition in the legislation....

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (2 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The current suite of Afforestation Grant and Premium Schemes, along with the various support measures, is the most financially attractive package made available in the history of forestry in Ireland. The establishment grant covers 100% of the planting costs, while the annual forestry premium is payable to farmers for 20 years. Both the grant and premium rates have been reviewed in recent...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (2 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. While demand for all the forestry schemes is quite high this year, my Department is in the process of prioritising expenditure within the Forestry budget as a whole.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (3 Jul 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 application in the Hardship category for the 2007/2008 milk quota year. The Tribunal considered this application on 8th...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The application in question is currently under evaluation and will be subject to a field inspection. I have asked my officials to expedite consideration of the case.

Written Answers — Land Reclassification: Land Reclassification (3 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: An official from my Department has been in communication with the person named and with a firm of Solicitors acting on his behalf, setting out details of the commonage shares on hands and their origin. My Department's position is that the person named has a claim to only one of the shares and not three shares as claimed by him. It is the view of my officials that it would be best if a meeting...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested is set out in tabular form. Office Location Posts Number moved % of original target Number assigned, not yet moved % Department HQ Portlaoise 600 274 46 96 Fisheries Clonakilty 90 81 90 — Cork local offices Fermoy Up to 100 0 0 25 Cork Labs (3) & Limerick Labs (2) Macroom Up to 100 0 0 25 Bord Bia Enniscorthy 76 0 0 15* Bord Iascaigh Mhara Clonakilty...

Written Answers — Efficiency Reviews: Efficiency Reviews (3 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department is engaged in on-going efforts to improve efficiency and has reduced staff numbers significantly in recent years. As part of the most recent Efficiency Review, my Department again reviewed all aspects of expenditure with a view to identifying possible savings on administrative spending. The exercise has included the bodies within the aegis of my Department. I will be...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: During the years 2004 to 2008, 133 staff in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food either received or are currently receiving support to participate in post graduate educational courses.