Results 11,081-11,100 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Food Harvest 2020 report makes a number of specific recommendations in relation to the organic and horticulture sectors. In addition, there are a large number of recommendations of a general nature which would also impact on the development of the sectors. It is my view that when these recommendations are implemented we should have an expansion of the sectors with improved sustainability...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 82 together. The Food Harvest 2020 report makes a number of recommendations to realise the 50% increase in milk production, in areas such as milk processing, farm competitiveness, technology transfer, and R&D and marketing. The Dairy Expansion Activation Group (DEAG), the composition of which I announced last month, will play a key role in the...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy will be aware that the Food Harvest 2020 report makes a number of recommendations to realise a 50% increase in milk production, in areas such as milk processing, farm competitiveness, technology transfer, and R&D and marketing. The Dairy Expansion Activation Group (DEAG), the composition of which I announced last month, will play a key role in the implementation of these...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: Food Harvest 2020 identified the importance of marketing Irish food and drink products and of creating very strong links for those who buy our products between food, high environmental standards and sustainable production. The idea of going further and creating an umbrella brand for Irish food and drink has potential. Creating a brand would involve detailed assessment and planning,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for payment of the remaining grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis were confirmed in early 2009 with 40 per cent being paid in that year as claims were approved. A further instalment of 40 per cent was paid early in 2010 and the final instalment of 20 per cent will be paid in early 2011. At that stage, total expenditure under the Scheme, since its...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: Financial approval for the autumn planting season has been given for up to 1,500 hectares at an estimated cost of €5.6 million for the afforestation grant and first premium.

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: 149 applications under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme have been received in my Department since the suspension of the Scheme on 14 October 2008. An allocation of €4.5 million has been provided in this year's Estimates to meet the financial commitment involved in processing applications under the Scheme and the preceding installation aid schemes. I have no plans at present to...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The quality payment system (QPS) was introduced in December 2009 following intensive negotiations between Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and the farmers' representatives (IFA) with the objective of rewarding farmers for producing superior carcases and enhancing the marketability of Irish beef. I had no involvement in those stakeholder discussions nor was I consulted on the elaboration of the...

Written Answers — Food Harvest 2020: Food Harvest 2020 (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: It is anticipated that the Horticulture Action Group will report to the High Level Group by the end of January 2011. The role of the Group will be to oversee the implementation of the specific findings relating to the Horticulture section of the Food Harvest 2020 Report. As the Food Harvest 2020 Report itself recognises, it is also vital that the future potential of the Horticulture sector is...

Written Answers — Food Harvest 2020: Food Harvest 2020 (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Food Harvest 2020 report provides a road map for the long-term development of the Irish agri-food and fishery sectors, including the beef sector, and contains a series of recommendations to realise the vision set out in that document. I am chairing a group to direct the implementation of the Food Harvest report and am considering how the recommendations in relation to each sector,...

Written Answers — Departmental Charges: Departmental Charges (1 Dec 2010)

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 — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: Given the importance to Ireland of uninterrupted trade in imports of soya and maize by- products for use as animal feed I indicated, in November 2009, to Commissioner Vassiliou of DG Sanco that Ireland would support the Commission in its efforts to bring forward a technical solution to the concerns being expressed by the trade that low traces of unauthorised GM events could adventitiously...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: A total of €665,000 was allocated to Howth Fishery Harbour Centre in 2010 under my Department's Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The following is a summary of the moneys allocated: Safety and Maintenance €250,000 Disability access €15,000 TBT clean-up €400,000 My Department hosts regular Harbour users' forums at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre which...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: Details of each scheme funded by this Department is listed in the recently published Schemes and Services booklet 2010 – 2011 which is available in Departmental offices and online at www.agriculture.gov.ie. The total amount of funding allocated to each of these schemes for 2010 is published in the Annual Estimates for 2010 by the Department of Finance. In relation to the number of...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: There are 30,895 REPS 4 participants, with an estimated cost from 2010 to 2014 of 878.2m. At the beginning of 2010 there were 34,294 REPS 3 participants with an estimated cost of 147.8m to 2011 when the last participant completes their contract. There are currently a total of 56,365 active participants in REPS. The table below illustrates the number of REPS participants leaving the scheme...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department has given priority to examining applications under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) to processing applications with a view to issuing approvals for entry into the scheme. This process is expected to be completed shortly and arrangements will then be put in place to commence payments. Under the EU Regulations governing AEOS and other area-based payment schemes, a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 6 May 2010. The 75% advance payment on the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme which issued on 21 September 2010 and the 50% advance on the Single Payment Scheme, which issued on 18 October 2010, were both on the basis of the land cleared at that stage, as a number of other land parcels...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The EU Regulations governing REPS 4 and other area-based schemes provide that payments issue in two instalments. The first instalment of 75% may be paid once all administrative checks on all applications, as well as cross-checks against areas declared on Single Payment Scheme applications, have been completed. The SPS application of the person named has not yet been finalized. When this is...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named registered 14 animals under the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Welfare Scheme, it is necessary in the case of herds with more than 10 animals that calves be weaned in at least two separate groups with each group being removed at a minimum interval of 5 days. As the person named submitted a weaning date of 23 September 2009 for 13 of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: I understand that an application on behalf of the person in question for financial approval has been received by my Department. However, I understand that the funding for the 1,500 hectares which the Government approved in October has now been allocated and further financial approvals this year will only issue if some of the allocation referred to is not taken up. In the circumstances I...