Results 1,601-1,620 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (8 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Unfortunately, I am unable to attend this ceremony owing to a long-standing previous commitment. I have conveyed my regrets to the organisers.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has not employed external public relations companies in 2008. Public relations advice, where required is provided by my Department's Corporate Affairs Division.

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (9 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The WTO Ministerial meeting convened in July last in Geneva ended without agreement on agriculture and NAMA modalities despite emerging convergence on a range of headline numbers and detailed technical issues. The sticking point was irreconcilable differences between US, India and China on the extent of remedies that developing countries would be allowed to apply to counter import surges in...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (9 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I attended the recent Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Ministers Meeting in Brussels on the 29 September 2008. The main item of interest to Ireland at this Council Meeting was a discussion on a proposal for cod recovery in Community waters. This proposal is one of key importance to Ireland and would involve the introduction of a strict days at sea limitations for fishing vessels...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (9 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am happy to arrange a meeting as requested which can be organised through the Fisheries Offices in Clonakilty (023 59500).

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (9 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: There is routine ongoing contact between my Department and Teagasc in relation to its annual financial allocation. In that context the Department informed Teagasc in July of a revision to its 2008 allocation in view of the Government Decision on required savings in Government Departments and State Agencies. The financial allocations made to Teagasc by my Department for capital and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person named is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department is that some 600 headquarters staff will move to Portlaoise, 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, involving over 80 staff, is now...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The payment in question refers to an Afforestation grant for the establishment of a new forest by the individual in question, rather than the sale of forestry. I understand that there were a number of issues with this application. These have now been resolved and both grant and premium have been paid.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (9 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: This appeal was received at the Agriculture Appeals Office and was assigned to an Appeals Officer. On examination of the case, it was found necessary to obtain further information from Mayo County Council. On receipt of this new information, the file was forwarded to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to review the case. The necessity of holding an oral hearing will depend...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (9 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person named is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Written Answers — Local Authority Projects: Local Authority Projects (14 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: A draft lease was issued by my Department to Donegal County Council in respect of this project on 20 August 2008. The response of the County Council is awaited.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (14 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Aghada Pier, Midleton, Co. Cork is owned by Cork County Council and responsibility for its repair and maintenance rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. In late 2007, all coastal Local Authorities were asked to submit applications for priority harbour development projects to be included in my Department's Fishery Harbours and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: In the period referenced by the Deputy, one Agency, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), was established on 1 January 2007 and came under the aegis of this Department in June 2007. It is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of National and EU Regulations on Sea Fisheries Protection and Seafood Safety. The budget in 2007 for the SFPA was €10.95 million with an...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (14 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Last year a series of measures were announced by my predecessor in support of the sheep industry in response to the recommendations of the Malone Report. These measures form a comprehensive package of support to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Good progress is being made in implementing the various measures. These include the following. National Reserve Payments of...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (14 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person named is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Written Answers — Departmental Initiatives: Departmental Initiatives (14 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has wide-ranging initiatives in place for the assistance of farmers in agricultural production including, inter alia, disease eradication programmes, animal welfare schemes, quality assurance schemes and REPS. All these schemes contribute to the production of quality products be they organic or non-organic. An Bord Bia carries out a series of food promotion initiatives on an...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: National Organic Week, now in its fourth year, is an important event and serves to raise awareness among consumers about what organic food and farming is all about and where they can get organic produce. National Organic Week ran this year from 15 to 21 September and a wide range of events took place nationwide. The total cost to my Department will be in the region of €280,000. There is a...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (14 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: It is a requirement of the EU Council Regulation under which the Early Retirement Scheme 2007 was introduced that the Early Retirement Pension can be paid only as a supplement to any national retirement pension to which the participant, and his or her spouse or partner in a joint management arrangement, is entitled. This means that the entire value of any such national retirement pension...

Written Answers — Information Obligations: Information Obligations (14 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: In March of this year, the Government decided to reduce the administrative burden of domestic regulation on business by 25% by 2012. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for devising the approach and methodology to be used across Government, for co-ordinating this work across Government Departments and agencies and for reporting to Government on progress. At...