Results 12,481-12,500 of 18,482 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 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 — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (25 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 — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: While there are 12 State Bodies/Agencies under the aegis of my Department, it does not provide funding for all of them. The bodies that do not receive funding from my Department are Coillte Teoranta and the Irish National Stud Company which are both commercial bodies and the Veterinary Council of Ireland and National Milk Agency which are funded by means of registration fees or a statutory...

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

Brendan Smith: There were 2,703 applications for REPS 4 in County Mayo. Of these, 2,081 have been paid in full and the remainder are being processed. The acceptance of REPS 4 applications is governed by EU Regulations which require exhaustive administrative checks and on-the-spot inspections. In a significant number of the applications received, the administrative checks raised issues and queries which...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: A substantial proportion of expenditure under the Department's Vote comprises schemes and activities which are subject to external factors such as demand from beneficiaries, market and economic factors, animal disease incidence and the pace at which capital investment and research projects are completed by the beneficiaries of grant aid. Accordingly, savings on the funding provided in the...

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

Brendan Smith: An appeal by the person named in relation to over-payments recouped from the applicant and relating to Single Farm Payments made between 2005 to 2009 has been successful and all monies concerned have been refunded.