Results 12,221-12,240 of 18,328 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I accept the point Deputy Sherlock made. It is one I have made consistently, that those resources must stay within the farm gate and they are not for rural development. I am very much of the opinion that resources voted to agriculture must remain, in whatever systems are finalised - we know what are our preferences - within the farm gate and not be broadened out into the wider rural economy.

Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: At a recent special debate in the Seanad on the future of the CAP post-2013, I set out some of my views on the need to ensure security of food supply and to maintain family farming in Europe. It must be borne in mind that negotiations on the future on the CAP post-2013 are taking place against the background of an EU budget review and a new EU financial perspective for the period 2014 to...

Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: With regard to timing, the Commission is expected to issue a formal communication later this year. Prior to the formation of the new Commission, it was expected during the time of Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel that the communication would issue in the middle of this year. However, the Commission was delayed in being established by a number of months. It was expected to take office in...

Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I share the view that we should be supporting active farmers. Whatever about drawing a minimum, I know where I would draw a maximum line. I am not going to say where, however.

Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I said we would have discussions in regard to models that we have done, so we will let the Deputy in on some of the thinking. However, there are always calls to public representatives' offices when the figures are published, which include some people with very large payments. I believe there should be a cut-off point and it should be directed more towards active farmers. There is a good...

Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: There is absolutely no problem with that. The Irish permanent representation in Brussels will be echoing our views. On both ministerial and official level, the Department has ongoing contacts, including dialogue and briefings, with MEPs of all parties on a weekly basis. In addition, there is interaction between our MEPs and our permanent representatives in Brussels. I understand that our...

Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: As I said earlier in response to Deputy Blaney's question, Ireland was one of the very active members in putting this particular group together, along with France, Germany and Austria. Last December, we got 22 of the 27 member states to sign up to the need for proper CAP resources. Within that group of 22 not everyone shares the same view on the direct payments system, but we are working on...

Common Agricultural Policy (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Neither will the Deputy, but he should.

Single Farm Payment Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: As part of proposals on the use of unspent single payment scheme and modulation funds and the European economic recovery programme, I announced in 2009 that, subject to the receipt of EU Commission approval, I intended to introduce support for a number of specific categories of farmer, which would be focused on supporting productive investment. The measures include a scheme for dairy farmers...

Single Farm Payment Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I introduced the other two schemes because they are the ones with the nearest deadline, which must have their systems changed. That is why I am prioritising those two particular schemes. I hope to launch them before mid-June. We have been involved in discussions with the relevant representative groups and farming organisations to ensure that the technical details of these schemes are as...

Single Farm Payment Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: For the information of the House - and I have mentioned this privately to Deputy Crawford - within the last two weeks I met with the chief agricultural advisers of all the main banks, as well as their support staff. I outlined the position regarding the roll-out of these schemes, particular for poultry and pigs. I asked that the relevant credit be put in place to ensure that people who need...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The bio-energy market is an important segment of the renewable energy sector. Important and challenging EU and National targets now exist to develop renewable energy in response to concerns about climate change and energy security. Two key policy documents have been published in Ireland to increase renewable energy output. The White Paper on Energy "Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: This concerns a Letter of Formal Notice received from the Commission on 5th May 2010 indicating that Ireland has not adequately implemented measures necessary to comply with the judgement of the European Court of Justice in case C-66/06, Commission v Ireland. Specifically, the Commission wants Ireland to apply the criteria in Annex 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is caused by a viral infection of cattle. The virus is called Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus. It is not a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Animals Act. Where individual problems occur, whether in relation to notifiable or non-notifiable diseases, as they do from time to time on farms, the Veterinary Laboratory Service of my Department is available to...

Written Answers — Farm Incomes: Farm Incomes (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: EUROSTAT report that agricultural income per annual work unit fell by 11.6% in the EU in 2009. This figure varied from –32.2% in Hungary to +7.8% in Malta. Ireland was one of 21 Member States that reported a decrease in income per annual work units, while only six counties reported an increase in income. The fall in factor income in 2009 was mainly attributed to a sharp fall (-10.5%) in...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department publishes statistics each year on the national cattle population in the annual AIM Bovine Statistics report. The report for 2009 has recently been published and contains detailed information on many aspects of the beef and dairy herd. The total number of calf births in the country has been relatively stable over the last number of years, at just over 2 million calves each year,...

Written Answers — Food Imports: Food Imports (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Based on CSO provisional statistics, Bord Bia estimate that the value of food imports (excluding live animals) from the UK declined by six per cent in 2009 from €2.4billion euro to €2.3billion euro, by contrast with an increase in 2008 of almost 20%. In volume terms, imports did increase in 2009, primarily due to the weakness of sterling. Almost half of these imports would be classified...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: There has been significant interest in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme since it opened for applications on 30 March 2010. The closing date for receipt of applications was Monday 17 May 2010 and at close of business on that day some 4,400 applications had been submitted to my Department's office at Johnstown Castle Estate in Wexford. However, given the short time frame for submitting...

Written Answers — Sheep Production: Sheep Production (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The sheep sector is a valuable part of the economy with two-thirds of its product destined for export and its future dependant on its ability to meet the needs of the market. I have always acknowledged this fact and have developed a strategy to provide specific supports to the sector. Last year, on a once-off basis, I introduced the Uplands Sheep Payment, worth €7 million, availing of...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: There has been significant interest in the Scheme since it opened for applications on 30 March 2010. The closing date for receipt of applications was Monday 17 May 2010 and at close of business on that day some 4,400 applications had been submitted to my Department's office at Johnstown Castle Estate in Wexford. However, given the short time frame for submitting applications, and in order to...