Results 11,681-11,700 of 18,461 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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 — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department's statutory responsibility extends to the welfare and protection of farmed animals only i.e. animals normally bred or kept for the production of food or for use in or for the purpose of farming. Notwithstanding this, it is apparent from ongoing communications between officials of my Department and representatives of Local Authorities and Animal Welfare Organisations that there...

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

Brendan Smith: The Report of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation referred to by the Deputy analyses the business operating environment of the agri-food sector and makes recommendations within the overall theme of increasing employment in the sector. The Report identifies the importance of the sector to the Irish economy, which is also the focus of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy for the...

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

Brendan Smith: The following are some of the actions which have been taken to date to progress the implementation of Food Harvest 2020: I have established and am chairing the High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC). The HLIC consists of all the key actors on the state sector. Its function is to direct and take whatever actions are necessary to successfully implement Food Harvest 2020 and to act as a...

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

Brendan Smith: Further participation in the new Agri-environment Options Scheme as well as other scheme implementation and service delivery by my Department in the future will be considered in the context of the 2011 Budgetary process and the preparation by the Government of the 4 year Expenditure Programme".

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

Brendan Smith: It is anticipated that planting in 2010 will be in the region of 7,000 hectares. Like all other State spending programmes the funding for the afforestation programme in 2011 is currently being considered as part of the Estimates process. I am well aware of the contribution forestry makes, through carbon sequestration, in meeting our climate change commitments. In 2008 Kyoto-eligible...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (4 Nov 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Sheep Fencing/Mobile Handling Equipment Scheme opened for applications on 1 November 2010.

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

Brendan Smith: The Renewed Programme for Government commits, subject to resources, to increase the level of annual planting to 10,000 hectares per annum. In order to make progress towards that objective provision of €116.5m was made in 2010 to facilitate an increase in planting from 6,648 hectares in 2009 to 7,000 hectares this year. This increased planting is on course to be met. The serious decline in...

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

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 19 April 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 application has now been fully processed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue...

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

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2010. The 50% advance payment, which issued on 18 October, was in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. A number of parcels listed on the application required digitisation; immediately this process is complete, provided no errors are identified, the further payment due will...

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

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2010. The advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued on 18 October, based on the land cleared at that stage. A number of parcels listed on the application of the person named required digitisation; immediately this process is complete, provided no errors are...

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

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on the 26 April 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. The inspection process is completed and the application has now been fully processed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 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 58 animals, which were eligible for payment. There are outstanding queries in respect of all of the remaining animals. My Department has received no reply to the letter issued to the person named regarding these queries.

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

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on the 8 April 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. The inspection process is completed and the application has now been fully processed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue within...

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

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 26 April 2010. Advance payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Single Payment Scheme issued on 21 September and 18 October, respectively, in both cases based on the land cleared at that stage. A number of parcels listed on the application of the person named required...

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

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2010. A number of parcels listed on the application required re-digitisation, as this process is now complete, the total payment due in respect of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue to the person named in the coming days.

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

Brendan Smith: The market performance of the meat, dairy and cereal sectors is a function of supply and demand, and has been affected by the recent global economic downturn, exchange rates and other factors. Food Harvest 2020 provides a vision for Irish Agri-food and Fisheries for the next 10 years and includes specific recommendations for these valuable sectors. Dairy Sector The development of a strong and...

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

Brendan Smith: My development programme for the dairy sector is, in fact, a ten-year one, taking the sector to milk quota abolition and beyond. The Food Harvest 2020 report, which I launched during the summer with the Taoiseach, outlines the positive prospects for the dairy sector over the medium- to long-term, and sets an ambitious target of a 50 per cent increase in milk production by 2020. It outlines a...

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

Brendan Smith: I am strongly committed to securing a future for the sheep industry in Ireland. This sector is a valuable part of the overall agri-food sector and its future depends on its ability to meet the needs of the market. In order to do this effectively, the sector must focus on competitiveness, innovation and the demands of the consumer. Food Harvest 2020 provides a vision for Irish Agri-food and...

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

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for the enforcement of this legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). This is done through service contracts between the FSAI and my Department, The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Health Service Executive and the Local Authority...