Results 1,281-1,300 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The application for a REPS 3 payment from the person named was received in my Department on 24 June 2008 and is being processed in accordance with the REPS terms and conditions and the timeframes set out in the Charter of Rights for Farmers.

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (9 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: No representatives of my Department will be visiting Beijing in an official capacity to coincide with the 2008 Olympics.

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (9 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Tree Felling Licences: Tree Felling Licences (9 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Section 37 of the Forestry Act 1946 requires, with certain exceptions, the owners of land on which the trees stand to give notice of intention, by way of a Felling Notice, when uprooting trees over ten years of age or cutting down trees of any age. No Felling Notice has been received to date by the Forest Service of my Department for lands at Knockroe, Castlerea. Should a Felling Notice be...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister for Finance has outlined, the fundamentals of our economy are sound. Our current difficulty does not represent a return to the 1980s. Indeed, the economy has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Our public debt is the second lowest in the European Union. The general Government debt has declined from over 100% of GNP in the 1980s to 53% of GNP in 1998 and to a...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following is the up to date position in respect of the foreshore licence applications referred to by the Deputy. Outfall from Stormwater/Surfacewater Collection system at Cappoquin (Application received 29 April 2005). Outfall from Wastewater Treatment Plant at Cappoquin (Application received 29 April 2005). These applications have completed the public notice stage of the process and...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following are the number of hectares of trees planted in each of the past five years by species: Year Broadleaf Conifer Total 2003 2,075.37 7,022.35 9,097.72 2004 2,799.71 6,938.90 9,738.61 2005 3,001.89 7,094.12 10,096.01 2006 2,527.16 5,509.48 8,036.64 2007 2,181.80 4,764.79 6,946.59

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Details of the expenditure by my Department on consultancies, as defined under the Department of Finance Guidelines, for the years 2003 to date in 2008 is as follows: Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007* 2008* Expenditure â'¬616,985 â'¬684,741 â'¬243,083 â'¬922,228 â'¬2,825, 875 â'¬843,197 Number of Contracts 22 26 17 21 34 13 *Figures include expenditure relating to Fisheries...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Indicative funding of €3m was allocated to implement the recommendation of the Sheep Strategy Implementation Group that sheep breeding functions be transferred from my Department to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). This indicative funding was allocated at €1m per annum for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009. Due to delays in implementing the recommendation of the Sheep Strategy...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (10 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 — Community Development: Community Development (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The current Rural Development Programme for Ireland covers the period 2007-2013. It has a budget of €5.778 billion over the lifetime of the Programme of which €2.339 billion will be funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EARDF) and €3.438 billion by the national exchequer. The contribution from the exchequer includes the necessary funding to match the EU...

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Article 3 of the Birds Directive, implemented in Ireland under the Wildlife Acts, allows for the creation of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the protection of birds. Such areas have been designated in Ireland where they contain significant populations or species of birds that are of national or international importance. Article 4(4) of the directive indicates that Member States shall take...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The strategic environmental assessment of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 was commissioned to report on the draft Programme in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2001/42/EC and relevant national legislation. This legislation requires an assessment to be carried out in respect of programmes which are likely to have significant environmental effects. The assessment was...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Strategic Environmental Assessments have been undertaken by my Department since the introduction of Directive in respect of the following: 1. Rural Development Plan 2007-2012; 2. Seafood Operational Programme 2007-2012.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government published the Freshwater Pearl Mussel requirements in March 2008. These requirements were implemented from 31 March 2008. Consequently the moratorium on all clearfelling harvesting in Freshwater Pearl Mussel catchments has now been lifted. The number of hectares licensed to date for clearfelling...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013 was a formal, systematic evaluation of the anticipated significant environmental effects of the Plan. The Environmental Report, undertaken as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment, is a major assessment measure and sets out the conditions that are applied at implementation level. This report...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 governs the licensing of aquaculture within the State. Under the terms of the Act a person may, in accordance with the application regulations, apply to the Minister for an aquaculture licence or trial licence. There are no provisions in the Act for the designation of areas for aquaculture purposes. Since 1 July 2003 the Department has issued 111...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy is a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, which is an independent agency under the aegis of my Department. My Department has requested the Authority to compile the information sought as soon as possible and I will forward it to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together. 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...

Written Answers — Hazardous Substances: Hazardous Substances (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters are the responsibility of the company. I have, however, been advised by Coillte that they take the safety of forest workers very seriously and that they implement effective safety controls in all its operations. I understand from the company that they treat some...