Results 11,441-11,460 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Food Harvest 2020 (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I want to congratulate Deputy Shane McEntee and his colleagues. I mentioned that already to Deputy Andrew Doyle. We look forward to working with them in regard to this particular sector. I thank Deputy McEntee for his compliments regarding the work of Bord Bia. It is an internationally recognised brand for Ireland and it does excellent work. I have the opportunity at times to travel...

Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I can confirm that my primary objective in relation to processing payments under the single farm payment and disadvantaged areas scheme this year is to ensure that as many payments can be made to as many farmers as quickly as possible subject to the necessary requirements of those two schemes being met. For that reason, I set out a very ambitious payments schedule for commencement of...

Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle-----

Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: There is very important information that Deputies will appreciate when they read the record. It is valuable information.

Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: We do not set the criteria for these schemes, which are European Union-wide. In the space of a few short weeks, more than 110,000 farmers have been issued with payments totalling €700 million. We knew from the early part of this year there would be additional requirements from Europe with regard to mapping, land parcel identification and so on. In recent years, individual farmers may...

Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: We should not use the word "discrepancy"; perhaps "change".

Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: If a person writes to the Department or to me, he or she will get a response, and we will take up any issue. I must point out that there are no discrepancies. The administration of the single farm payment, the disadvantaged area payment, the new upland sheep payment and the REP scheme must be done in accordance with the criteria laid down by the European Union. We are not going to...

Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Coonan-----

Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: That type of misrepresentation does us no justice. The Department brought in-----

Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Doyle is well capable of asking the questions, and I will answer them. Deputy Doyle said that this could have been expected. In anticipation of the extra workload, we had arranged for extra resources from a personnel point of view and from the company that does mapping work on contract for the Department.

Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: We should recognise, as should every public representative in the House, that 90% of farmers have received a payment under these schemes. That is an important message that Deputies should be promulgating-----

Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: -----instead of trying to undermine a successful scheme.

Common Agricultural Policy (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I would prefer to avoid direct comment on a leaked document. It is at most a draft and may change as it goes through the inter-services consultation process within the Commission. That said, in so far as the draft communication reflects the main issues that have been under discussion in the CAP debate over recent months, I can outline the following. My overarching view is that we need a...

Common Agricultural Policy (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Coonan for his support and I look forward to working with him and his colleagues. With regard to our allies, the first discussion I had on CAP post-2013 was at the September Council meeting in 2008. There have been numerous discussions on this issue at Council meetings since then at which I have advocated the Irish position strongly and in a positive manner. I have outlined...

Common Agricultural Policy (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I have not had the opportunity to read the document yet. Hopefully, I will get an opportunity over the weekend but I am sure it is positive. Whenever I have appeared before the committee, all members have shared the same views and priorities. Bart Brady, former assistant Secretary General in the Department contributed to the work carried out by the joint committee and he is one of the...

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The agri-environment options scheme was launched in March this year with a closing date for applications of 17 May 2010. In all, 9,236 applications were received by the closing date. The processing of applications is well advanced at this stage and letters of approval for participation in the scheme have issued to almost 6,000 applicants or almost two-thirds of all applicants. The process...

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The average payment of €4,000 is based on the number of applications processed to date. Approximately two thirds have been processed and, therefore, the payment may vary. People had a menu of options for participation in the scheme. Some people opted to participate under different measures and it was up to the individual to decide which measures he or she wished to participate in. The...

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Those who have entered the scheme are in it for five years so funding is ring-fenced for them. No Department's Estimate is finalised yet. I do not know what allocation the Department will have, it is an issue that is up for consideration.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Last year, provision was made in the budget by the Minister for Finance for the new agri-environment options scheme that was to be launched in early 2010. It was decided that provision would be made to allow 10,000 people to participate at a maximum payment of €5,000, a provision of €50,000 per year. Once a person joins the scheme, he is guaranteed access to it for five years. It is a...

Tax Code (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: It is long-standing Government policy to encourage young people to become farmers and substantial tax exemptions apply where young farmers acquire land by way of gift, inheritance or purchase, for the purpose of farming. Some of these are linked to training requirements to encourage expansion and development of a working farm. The tax reliefs include measures across various types of...