Results 1,841-1,860 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: Against the background of the deterioration in public finances, my approach in preparing the 2009 estimates for my Department was to focus available resources on the measures that allow us to maintain and grow the productive capacity of the agri-food sector. Because I had chosen to protect expenditure in certain areas, expenditure in other areas had to be curtailed. In relation to the...
- Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 43 and 79 together. The CAP Health Check dossier was presented to Ministers at the Informal May Council. A full first round examination of the texts has now been completed by the Working Groups and most of the technical and linguistic issues have been addressed. Tri-lateral meetings took place at the Agriculture Council on 29/30 September to identify the...
- Written Answers — Domestic Abattoirs: Domestic Abattoirs (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 83 together. Under my Department's capital investment scheme for the marketing and processing of agricultural products, a total of 51 eligible applications were received in respect of small slaughterhouses and low throughput meat establishments. The applications are going through a competitive assessment and evaluation process in which the strengths of...
- Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: My approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to focus available resources on the measures that allow us to maintain and grow the productive capacity of the agri-food sector. The 2009 Estimates provide over â¬1.8 billion for my Department, and, when combined with EU funding of â¬1.4 billion, means that total expenditure in 2009 by my Department will amount to over...
- Written Answers — Sheep Imports: Sheep Imports (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The majority of imported sheep presented for slaughter in Irish plants come from or through Northern Ireland and a small number of these would have originated in Great Britain or beyond. All imported sheep are accompanied by veterinary certification. While the identification and certification of imported sheep is checked at the plants prior to slaughter, records of these are not maintained...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: EU legislation stipulates that food products of animal origin imported from an EU source must come from an approved food business establishment and be accompanied to its destination by a commercial document or a health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the Member State of origin. In the case of importation from third countries they must originate in...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: In the "Towards 2016" Partnership Agreement, a provision was made to provide â¬250 million in support of a suckler scheme over five years 2008-2012. This is being honoured. In order that the scheme is continued within the â¬250 million funding budget, it will, on current levels of participation be necessary to reduce the rate of payment in future years. Almost 54,000 farmers have joined...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 59 together. The EU regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme provided for the setting up of a National Reserve. In Ireland's case reducing each farmer's individual Single Payment by 1.82% created the Reserve. The total amount of money available for distribution under the 2005 National Reserve was some â¬22.5m. A further â¬6.5m was added...
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: My Department has responsibility for foreshore functions under the Foreshore Acts 1933 to 2005. When considering applications under the Foreshore Acts, including offshore energy projects, the role of my Department is to ensure the protection and sustainable development of the foreshore. A consolidation and streamlining of the Foreshore Acts has been under consideration for some time. This...
- Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: An informal discussion to mark the start of the debate on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy was held with Fisheries Ministers on the margins of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on the 29th September 2008. The Common Fisheries Policy was formally established in 1983, and has since then been subject to revision every ten years. The latest Reform was agreed in 2002, and is up for...
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 58 together. The development of renewable energy in Ireland, including solar, thermal, wind and bioenergy are matters in the first instance for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. My Department's role is to support the supply side of the bioenergy market by encouraging farmers and foresters to produce biomass feedstocks. In...
- Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: There is a substantial backlog in licence applications at present. This is due in large measure to the fact that many of the existing licences were granted for a period of 10 years on foot of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 and are therefore falling due for renewal at present. In addition, many of the outstanding aquaculture licence applications are located in Natura 2000 sites. My...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health and Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency, the Health Service Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency....
- Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: A comprehensive review of the Forestry Act 1946 has been completed and the draft Scheme of a new Forestry Bill has been prepared which will update and consolidate the 1946 Act. The draft Heads of the new Bill will be submitted to the Government shortly for approval to be sent to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. It is not possible at this stage to indicate a date for...
- Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: My approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to focus available resources on the measures that allow us to maintain and grow the productive capacity of the agri-food sector. The 2009 Estimates provide over â¬1.8 billion for my Department, and, when combined with EU funding of â¬1.4 billion, means that total expenditure in 2009 by my Department will amount to over...
- Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: My approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to focus available resources on the measures that allow us to maintain and grow the productive capacity of the agri-food sector. The 2009 Estimates provide over â¬1.8 billion for my Department, and, when combined with EU funding of â¬1.4 billion, means that total expenditure in 2009 by my Department will amount to over...
- Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The allocation for the Fallen Animals Scheme in 2009 is reduced to â¬14m. An adjustment of the burden sharing of this Scheme is now appropriate with the sectors involved taking a greater share of the costs. The reduced funding will be implemented through reduced rates under the Scheme, which will be discussed with the various interests over the next few weeks.
- Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: While there has been a significant increase in the number of applications received this year under the Schemes of Grant Aid for the Development of the Organic Sector, I remain satisfied that the current staffing levels in the Organic Unit of my Department are sufficient to provide applicants with an appropriate level of service.
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The spreading of slurry and farmyard manure is governed by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In view of the poor weather conditions in recent months, with the exceptional rainfall making land unsuitable at times for the spreading of livestock manures, I obtained...
- Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: This is a matter for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), an independent authority, which was established under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 on January 1st 2007. The Act clearly provides that the appointment of a complaints officer is solely a matter for the Authority. I understand that a person has been appointed to this role and I have asked the SFPA to...