Results 12,021-12,040 of 18,326 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The 2009 Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies applies to all the State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department has received EU approval for the introduction of a number of new on-farm investment schemes, including the provision of grant-aid for sheep fencing and mobile handling facilities. However, due to the relatively short time-frames for completion of work, my priority has been the introduction of the Poultry and Sow Welfare Schemes which were launched on 16 June last. I now intend...

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The disposal of fallen animals is subject to Regulation (EC) No 1774 of 2002. Under this Regulation, animals which die on-farm must generally be disposed of through approved intermediate plants (knackeries) and rendering plants. While my Department's contribution to the Fallen Animals Scheme in general ceased with effect from 14th April 2009, I have continued to provide financial support for...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 24 April 2009. This application was selected for a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. During the course of the ground eligibility inspection a discrepancy was discovered with parcel number D23102066. The claimed area for Single payment of 29.7ha was reduced to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application was received from the person named on the 3 May 2007 requesting the transfer by way of inheritance of 15.37 Single Payment entitlements from his late uncle under the 2007 scheme year. Subsequent applications relating to the same set of entitlements were received for the 2008 and 2009 scheme years. As the required testamentary information and documentation has not been...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: On examination of the application received from the person named under the Early Retirement Scheme, a number of queries arose and my Department has requested clarification from her regarding outstanding documentation. Until these queries have been answered satisfactorily, processing of the application cannot be finalized.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: On examination of the application received from the person named under the Early Retirement Scheme, a number of queries arose and my Department has requested clarification from him regarding outstanding documentation. Until these queries have been answered satisfactorily, processing of the application cannot be finalized.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The named person sold his milk quota into the first stage of the 2009/2010 Milk Quota Trading Scheme. In accordance with the detailed rules of the scheme, a person who sells his or her entire quota under this Scheme will not be entitled to be allocated quota in subsequent trading or other quota schemes for a period of 3 years.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: There are no plans to introduce an independent appeals mechanism by my Department at the meat plants. My Department proposes, in conjunction with the industry, to introduce a range of measures to enhance the existing system of monitoring the performance of mechanical grading.

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: Following on from discussions with the farming organisations in the context of the charter of rights for farmers in 2005, Ireland adopted a weighting system within the cross-compliance inspection regime whereby due account was taken of infringements of the cross-compliance requirements which were, on their own, inadvertent and minor in nature, and were capable of occurring in practical...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. Under the terms of the Scheme, payment of the grant is made once it has been established that the requirements of the Scheme have been met, including the conditions in relation to property, education and income. The outcome of my Department's examination of the application will be made known to the applicant...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. Under the terms of the Scheme, payment of the grant is made once it has been established that the requirements of the Scheme have been met, including the conditions in relation to property, education and income. The outcome of my Department's examination of the application will be made known to the applicant...

Written Answers — Farm Schemes: Farm Schemes (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: By the closing date of 17 May 2009, my Department had received over 9,000 applications under the recently introduced Agri-environmental Options Scheme from farmers who, if they prove eligible, will be entitled to up to €5,000 per year for the period ending 31 December 2015. Together with ongoing commitments in REPS, this means that all EU funding for agri-environment payments up to the end...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: I am aware that there has been an increase in the incidence of Brucellosis in certain parts of Northern Ireland, particularly Co Armagh, since the beginning of 2010. However, based on available figures, the number of outbreaks in the province as a whole in the period January to April has fallen from 83 in 2008 to 36 in 2009 and again to 25 this year. Notwithstanding the improvement in the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: In general, the payment deadlines set down in the Farmers Charter for 2010 have been met with the exception of the REPS scheme and the Young Farmers Installation Aid Scheme where some delays have occurred. I recently established a Farmers Charter Monitoring Committee which will meet later this month to monitor the implementation of the Charter.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The application of the person named under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme has now been fully processed and payment will issue later this week, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: An own initiative report on the future of the CAP after 2013, prepared by MEP George Lyon, was agreed by the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee last month. That report will be voted on at the plenary session of Parliament in July. This is the first own initiative report to be prepared by the European Parliament on the future of the CAP after 2013. A second report will be prepared...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named began her REPS 3 contract on 1 October 2006. She was paid in advance on 23 November 2009 for the contract year beginning on 1 October 2009 and therefore there is no payment due to her.

Written Answers — Farm Schemes: Farm Schemes (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: Under EU Regulations, all applications for the Agri-Environment Options Scheme must be administratively checked for eligibility before approval can issue. This process is under way and will be completed as quickly as possible. My Department has already written to all applicants acknowledging receipt of their applications, and advising them that once all applications have been assessed they...

Written Answers — Beef Sector: Beef Sector (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: Officials of my Department are currently examining the new computer generated reports required to report beef carcase classification data in a format compatible with the new beef pricing grid (MII Grid). The new reports will be available once the necessary IT software programming is completed.