Results 11,521-11,540 of 18,461 for speaker:Brendan Smith

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I am replying. Deputy Stanton cannot ask a question and then seek to answer it as well. I wish to quote from the reply by the Commission to the findings of the special report of the Court of Auditors. The Commission stated: For reasons of efficiency and transparency, the Commission opted for a reform model in which the final decisions for keeping, reducing or abandoning production would be...

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I did. The special report of the Court of Auditors does not relate to our case, it relates to the European Commission.

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: In regard to the latter part of Deputy Moynihan's question, one of the responses of the Commission on the auditors' report states: The total level of quota renunciation estimated by the Commission is not based on the analysis of the profitability of individual companies but the result of the new macroeconomic conditions prevailing in sugar economics and the European Union, namely, the WTO...

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I may have said "The Council of Ministers at the end of 2006", but I should have said "the end of 2005". The Tánaiste did not know what decision Greencore would take in advance of it announcing its decision. That is the factual position.

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I cannot answer for any of the Deputies.

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The compensation package which the Tánaiste negotiated very successfully for the country was put in place in the event of the quota holder deciding to exit the industry. In regard to Deputy Wall's point, the Court of Auditors report is not about Ireland's role in the sugar quota regime or the rationalisation or restructuring of it, rather it is about the Commission. It is not directed at us.

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: I will repeat again that the most up-to-date information was available to the Commission. It was submitted at every Council of Ministers meeting and meetings with the presidency and the relevant Commissioner at the time. In fairness, none of us would have had time to examine the auditors' report in detail as we would have liked to have done. There seems to be a view in the House that the...

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: It was a voluntary restructuring approach. The approach involved the individual producer, that is, the processor or company, rather than the farmer. They are referred to in the report as "producers" whereas we would call them a processor or company. On Deputy Wall's question, which he has raised twice, I want to quote the response of the Commission to the report of the auditors. It is...

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Commission stated: For reasons of efficiency and transparency the Commission opted for a reform model in which the final decision for keeping, reducing or abandoning production would be taken by individual sugar companies, against the background of a future characterised by substantially lower prices. In addition, a financial incentive was provided by companies that decided to surrender...

EU Sugar Market Reform: Statements (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The European Court of Auditors report on the sugar reform package of 2006 published yesterday was addressed directly to the European Commission. The report also contains a comprehensive 17-page response from the European Commission to the court's findings. As the Commission itself explains in that response, the sugar reform was concluded against the background of the EU's Everything But Arms...

Order of Business. (11 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Durkan should withdraw that.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application was received requesting the transfer of 27.65 Single Payment entitlements to the person named from his late uncle. As the person named is not the owner of a herd-number it is not possible to process the requested transfer and consequently payment has not issued. The person named has applied to my Department's District Veterinary Office for the role of herd-owner but he has...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application was received on 5 February 2010 requesting the transfer of 38.73 Single Payment entitlements to the person named from her late husband. As the person named is not the owner of a herd-number, it is not possible to process the requested transfer and consequently payment has not issued. The person named has applied to my Department's District Veterinary Office for the role of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 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 for 2010...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 13 May 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. The inspection process is complete and the results are now being processed. Under EU regulations governing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 13 May 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. The inspection process is complete and the results are now being processed. Under EU regulations governing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: A Bill providing for the welfare of greyhounds is currently being drafted with a view to presentation in the current Dáil session.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named registered 64 animals in the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. The person named has received payment in respect of 59 animals, which were eligible for payment. A further 4 animals are ready for payment, which will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: A total of 52 people (46.8 full-time equivalents) availed of the incentivised career break scheme in my Department. The net saving to the Exchequer in respect of the uptake of the initiative in my Department is expected to be some €5m, calculated over the lifetime of the career breaks concerned.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: Preparation of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which gives effect to commitments in the Programme for Government and the Renewed Programme for Government on issues relating to animal health and welfare, is ongoing in my Department. The new bill will consolidate and update a wide range of existing legislation to ensure that the welfare of all animals, including non-farm animals, is...