Results 11,501-11,520 of 18,328 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Matters concerning maritime safety, including in respect of sea fishing vessels, is a matter for the Minister for Transport. I have no function in relation to the matter. I have no plans for a further decommissioning scheme at present.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: By the time the processing of the 2010 applications is completed, it is expected that my Department will have processed and digitised maps received from over 70,000 farmers. This compares with a figure of 30,000 for 2009 and an average of 22,000 maps in recent years. On average each farmer submitted two maps with their 2010 application forms. Despite the huge additional workload significant...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Some 6,000 letters of approval for participation in the scheme have now issued to applicants under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme. Comprehensive administrative and validation checks must be carried out on all applications to ensure eligibility and compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme before letters of approvals can issue, particularly in the case of those applications...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The estimated cost for establishment grants and first premiums for the 1500 hectares approved for this autumn's planting programme is approximately €5.6 million.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 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. This process is under way and while my objective is to make all payments as soon...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The annual consultations between EU and Norway on a bilateral fisheries agreement for 2011 will commence on 15 November 2010. At the last Fisheries Council meeting, held on 26 October 2010 in Luxembourg, the fisheries agenda item of particular importance for Ireland was the discussion regarding these negotiations between the EU and Norway on a bilateral fisheries agreement for 2011....

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The objective of this Scheme is to deliver enhanced environmental and animal welfare benefits and to encourage producers to respond to the market demand for organically produced food. The domestic organic retail market is currently worth about €94 million and a large portion of this produce is imported. Apart from the domestic market, major export opportunities for Irish organic produce...

Written Answers — Food Harvest 2020: Food Harvest 2020 (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Action on all recommendations is overseen by the High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC) which I chair. In relation to horticulture, a Horticulture Action Group will shortly be established to oversee implementation and to report back to the HLIC on an ongoing basis on progress. Responsibility for progressing actions in relation to organics and all areas is being assigned at senior official...

Written Answers — Equine Identification: Equine Identification (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: European Commission Regulation (EC) No. 504/2008 set out an improved system for the identification for equidae and is binding on all Member States of the European Union. It is a legal requirement since July 2009 that each equine must be identified in accordance with this Regulation. This involves the equine being implanted with a microchip and having a passport issued from an approved...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Funding of approximately €10 million in total over four years has been allocated to the recently announced Research Call across the Food Institutional Research Measure, the Research Stimulus Fund and the Programme of Competitive Forest Research for Development. This funding comprises a number of new initiatives that will facilitate collaborative, inter-institutional, public good type...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department has contributed significantly to the support of the horticulture industry through its grant aid scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector under the National Plan 2007-2013. The scheme assists capital investment on farms to promote the specialisation and diversification of on-farm activities, improve the quality of products and facilitate...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 77 together. I expect that the Food Harvest 2020 target of a 50 per cent increase in milk production by 2020 will be achieved through a focused and determined implementation of the report's recommendations for the dairy sector. These recommendations cover the full range of activities in both production and processing, and include: the need to improve...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: A total of €100m has been paid out under the Scheme to date: €35m in 2008, €55m in 2009 and €10min in 2010. Co funding in the sum of €8m was provided by the EU in respect of some 7,500 tonnes of the affected pigmeat product. A total of 120 companies have been paid to date. The information requested by the Deputy relating to how much each company received is commercially sensitive...

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 43 and 63 together. According to records held in my Department, some 79 poultry flocks are involved in the production of hatching eggs, with a further 33 involved in rearing these birds to laying age. During 2009, approximately 6 million eggs were imported into Ireland for the purpose of hatching, while for the first nine months of 2010 some 6.6 million...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department is involved in the payment of a wide range of grants and subventions including, for example, payments under the Single Payment Scheme to some 130,000 beneficiaries and area based compensation allowances to some 102,000 farmers. The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department and the resources required to compile the level of detail would not be...

Written Answers — Veterinary Medicines: Veterinary Medicines (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department does not have any statutory function in relation to the pricing of veterinary medicines. However, my Department does have statutory responsibility for the regulation of veterinary medicines from the point of view of public health and animal health and welfare. In exercising these functions, my Department is conscious of the need to minimise costs for farmers and pet animal...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: To date under the local office reorganisation plan Department services provided by 31 former local offices have been consolidated at 10 enhanced regional offices. These regional offices allow my Department to provide in a more efficient and effective manner the full range of services to our clients at Castlebar, Clonakilty, Drumshanbo, Enniscorthy, Navan, Limerick, Roscommon town, Tipperary...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The classification results for beef carcases are forwarded to my Department by meat plants on a weekly basis. The classification results are in turn reported to the European Commission in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) 1249/2008. The computerised reporting systems that report classification results make use of main classes for both conformation and fat and were not designed to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: It is intended that the ex-gratia payment due to farmers, whose grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme were paid on a phased basis, will be made in January 2011.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Incredible Edibles challenge is funded by the fruit and vegetable industry and Bord Bia and is administered by Agri Aware on their behalf. In 2010, 2,635 equating to 79% of all primary schools, participated in the Incredible Edibles programme. The challenge has the aim of educating pupils about how fresh produce is grown and what is involved in taking it from the field to the fork. The...