Results 12,321-12,340 of 18,328 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: All tree species grant-aided by my Department under the forestry grant schemes achieve high levels of carbon-sequestration. The potential of different tree species to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere depends mainly on their rate of growth. Some conifer species grow rapidly and will begin to sequester considerable amounts of carbon early in their life. Other species, including...

Written Answers — Cereal Sector: Cereal Sector (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The maintenance of an efficient and viable cereals sector in Ireland is clearly very important. Not only does it generate an income to our tillage farmers but it is also a key source of feedingstuffs for our livestock sector. Annual cereals production in Ireland has fluctuated around 2 million tonnes in recent years and it is desirable to try and sustain this level of production in order to...

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

Brendan Smith: Less than 0.2% of the agricultural land in Ireland is under non-food crops made up of oilseeds, miscanthus, willow and small quantities of wheat and oats used for energy purposes. The table below details the areas sown between 2007 and 2009 in hectares. Year Willow Miscanthus Oilseed rape Hemp & switch grass Total Hectares 2007 65 630 7,959 90 8,744 2008 127 780 3,087 137 4,131 2009...

Written Answers — Research and Development: Research and Development (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Expenditure on research and development in recent years was follows: € million 2005 10.982 2006 20.628 2007 27.416 2008 25.426 2009 25.051 24.062 Vote allocation. Funding for research and development was also provided by Teagasc and the Marine Institute out of their annual Grants-in-Aid. The amounts expended each year is a matter for the Boards of the respective bodies. The...

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

Brendan Smith: The farm gate value of Irish-produced poultry meat is thought to be approximately €150 million. Despite considerable competition from imports the domestic industry has proven to be quite resilient in recent years. The majority of Irish product is consumed in this country with exports focussing largely on by-products. The target over the medium term is to increase the share of the Irish...

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

Brendan Smith: It is clear that the key to future prosperity in the dairy sector lies in increased efficiency and competitiveness. We in Ireland have the potential to significantly grow our milk production and take advantage of the very positive outlook for the dairy sector over the medium to long term. We also enjoy a significant advantage in the form of a grass-based production system, which, as well as...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The pig sector remains an important component of the Irish agricultural sector. With a farm gate value of some €300 million, and employment in the industry of approximately 7,000, the sector provides an important source of income to rural communities all over the country. Almost half of Irish production is exported with the UK accounting for 50% of exports with the remainder split between...

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

Brendan Smith: The sheep 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 successfully, the sector must focus on competitiveness, innovation and the demands of the consumer. Last month I launched a three-year, €54 million grassland sheep scheme, the funding for which, comes from unused Single Payment funds....

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

Brendan Smith: Beef production is an extremely valuable component of the Irish economy with an export value of some €1.4 billion in 2009. Some 90% of Irish beef production is exported, with over 90% of product now being exported to the high value EU markets. The market performance of, and price return on, beef products is a function of supply and demand. The global economic downturn has meant that the...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The issue of high levels of discards in commercial sea fisheries is a global problem and is on the agenda of all major international organisations who deal with the development of sustainable sea fisheries and protection of marine ecosystems. Fish stocks (the resource base) are the bedrock of the seafood sector and their good status and sustainable exploitation are central to the future of...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 to 245, inclusive, together. The Marine Institute is the national agency responsible for Marine Research. The agency publishes, on an annual basis, a Stock Book that sets out scientific data and advice on the state of fish stocks in Irish waters which are the subject of EU Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas. The Institute also provides me with...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Single Payment Scheme is applicable to farmers who actively farmed during the reference years 2000, 2001 and 2002, who were paid Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid in one or more of those years and who continued to farm in 2005. The gross Single Payment is based on the average number of animals and/or the average number of hectares (in the case of Arable Aid) on which payments were made...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The EU Court of Auditors raised concerns about the procedures for the designation of intermediate Disadvantaged Areas (also known as Less Favoured Areas) in the European Union. The concerns related to the number and variety of criteria used to designate such areas - Member States have used more than one hundred criteria - and the lack of transparency. The EU Commission has made a number of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The payment belonging to the person named is at an advanced stage of processing and he will be advised of the outcome shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The following table sets out commencement dates, and payment details for the 2009 Scheme year, for the 548 REPS 4 applications received in 2007: Commencement date 01/09/2007 01/10/2007 01/11/2007 01/12/2007 Total Number of Applicants 4 42 142 360 548 100% paid for 2009 3 30 102 286 421 First phase (75%) paid for 2009 0 0 4 6 10 Awaiting a payment 1 121 36 68 117 My Department's REPS...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The current review of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was initiated by the European Commission when it issued a Green Paper in April 2009 and sought responses to the proposals it contained. Minister Killeen, who had responsibility for the Fisheries portfolio at that time, appointed Dr. Noel Cawley to chair a nationwide public consultation process. The result of these extensive...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Drafting 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 legislation will amend and consolidate legislation in the area of animal health, particularly to reflect the changed disease status of our animals. Existing...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The original REPS 4 plan submitted by the person named was found to be incorrect. An adjusted plan submitted on 19 April 2010 was again incorrect, and my officials have been in contact with the applicant's planner with a view to resolving the matter.

Written Answers — Irish Horseracing Industry: Irish Horseracing Industry (25 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Since taking over responsibility for the horse and greyhound racing industries on May 12010, I have had the opportunity to meet many of the stakeholders in these very important industries. I look forward to maintaining that engagement, with a view to working with all the stakeholders in the best interests of these industries. The regulation of gambling is under the remit of my colleague,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: This is a very complex situation involving fourteen parcels of common land and ninety claimants. The area involved is claimed by individual farmers under various area-based schemes including the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and REPS. There are four applicants (two of which declared the commonage for the first time in 2009 and the other two in 2007), whose claims on the...