Results 1,261-1,280 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The new Council Regulation establishing a Community System to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing achieved political agreement at the recent Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers. After formal adoption at an upcoming Council, it is intended that the Regulation will come into effect from 1 January 2010. In the meantime, detailed rules and...
- Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: This question is a matter for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), which is a statutory body independent of me and my Department.
- Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: Bord Iascaigh Mhara's grant aid for 2008, excluding staff salaries, pension payments and administrative expenses is â¬36.465 million, which is made available for the development of the seafood sector. This allocation includes â¬21 million for the permanent decommissioning of fishing vessels. In addition, grant aid of â¬6.35 million for the development of aquaculture and seafood...
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The disposal of waste materials in all sectors, including agricultural, is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the first instance. The Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, require manufacturers and importers of farm plastics â that is, silage bale wrap and sheeting â to take steps to recover farm plastics waste which they have...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The expenditure review of the Farm Waste Management Scheme was completed by my Department in 2007 and is available on my Department's website. Many of the review's considerations were taken into account in the introduction of the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme in 2006 which provided increased grants to farmers in order to assist them meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The value for money review of the Dairy Hygiene Scheme was completed by my Department in 2007 and was made available on my Department's website in early 2008. As the Scheme closed for new applications at the end of 2006, no changes could be made to the terms of the Scheme as a result of the review. However, the draft findings of the review were taken into account in the introduction of...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Value for Money Review of the Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM) was completed in March 2008. The Review concluded that FIRM has produced high quality research which compares favourably to work being undertaken internationally. The review also established that there was a relatively high level of satisfaction with the administration of FIRM and that it is managed in an efficient...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The value for money review of the Bovine TB Eradication Scheme will be completed very shortly and the final report is currently being finalised. Consideration will be given to implementation of any recommendations that may be contained in the report. Consequently, it is not possible at this stage to quantify the extent of any savings that may result from the review.
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: My Department's Value for Money Review of the Temporary Veterinary Inspectors scheme was completed in December 2007. A report on the review has been presented to the Department's Management Advisory Committee. The report sets out in detail a number of alternative recommended proposals for the future operation of the scheme, each of which has its own cost implications. The Management Advisory...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993, the Strategic Management Initiative and the Public Service Management Act 1997 emphasised the need for increased efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public resources and set the background for the Expenditure Review process. Under this initiative, my Department carries out Value for Money and Policy Reviews on major spending...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Value for Money Review on the Fallen Animals Scheme commenced recently. It is expected that the review will be completed in the coming months.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: There are 4751 staff (4,287 full-time equivalents) currently employed in my Department which includes staff employed to cover Term Time, Job Sharing etc. None of these staff have to remain at home due to not having office space or workstations although a number work from home on an agreed basis.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: Staffing levels in my Department's offices in Louth, Meath and Cavan, as in all areas of my Department, are subject to constant review. Where vacancies that need to be filled are identified, recruitment of clerical staff is carried out on behalf of my Department by the Public Appointments Service or posts are filled by transfers of staff.
- Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: My Department does not levy any charges against processors in respect of scrapie testing and any charges that may be levied by processors for such testing is a commercial matter between the processor and the farmer for which I do not have any responsibility.
- Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: Grant-aid under the Installation Aid Scheme was paid by my Department to the person concerned on 2 July 2008.
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: Details of the administrative costs of State agencies funded by my Department are available in their Annual Reports, or directly from the agencies themselves.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: There are no staff in my Department who work at the national minimum wage.
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme and my Department has recently written to all approved farmers under the Scheme reminding them of the importance of compliance with this deadline in order to avail of the generous...
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (8 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: Allocations of milk quota from the National Reserve in respect of Hardship cases are granted on the basis of recommendations from the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal. The closing date for receipt of applications in respect of the current 2008/2009 milk quota year was Friday 27th June. My Department is currently processing these applications, and the Tribunal has also commenced consideration of...