Results 12,581-12,600 of 18,482 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (11 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Number of Pet Passports issued by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 2005 - 2009: Year Number of passports issued 2005 3,063 2006 4,538 2007 4,697 2008 4,965 2009 4,734

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named applied for 24 animals in 2009. Payment issued on 26 January 2010 in respect of 9 calves. A number of queries arose during the validation process in relation to the remaining animals and an official from my Department will make direct contact with the applicant with a view to resolving these queries.

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (11 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: There have been 42 meetings of the EU Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers in the 3 plus years since January 2007. I, or my predecessor, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan TD, attended all except three of these meetings, in many cases along with the relevant Minister of State. Minister Tony Killeen (then Minister of State for Fisheries and Forestry) represented Ireland in my place at one...

Written Answers — Forestry Industry: Forestry Industry (11 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: There is no financial assistance in place to assist forestry owners who have lost trees as a result of fire. In 2009 all forestry owners were strongly advised by my Department to insure their plantations against fire and windblow.

Written Answers — Crop Losses: Crop Losses (11 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Following on from a preliminary assessment, by my officials, of the crop losses caused by the severe weather conditions, I announced, on 3rd February 2010, the introduction of a limited scheme of financial assistance for certain potato and field vegetable growers who could demonstrate that they had suffered significant losses of their produce due to these severe frosts. Affected growers had...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Restaurants in Agriculture House, Dublin, Johnstown Castle, Wexford and Government Offices, Portlaoise, are operated by independent commercial companies. The food sourced for these canteens is of Irish origin. The operation of such facilities in the State agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the agencies themselves as part of their day-to-day activities.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I am aware of fishermen's concerns regarding the seal populations in and around our coasts. With regard to the role that the seal plays in the conservation of fish stocks, seals eat a wide array of fish and invertebrates. I am informed that their diet appears to vary considerably depending on location, time of year and the abundance of available prey. Insofar as management of the national...

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

Brendan Smith: For some time recently, the processing of REPS payments has been delayed in my Department's local offices in Kerry because two vacant supervisory posts remained unfilled in line with the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the civil service. My Department has now put arrangements in place to resolve the situation. This will enable the processing of claims to proceed and...

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

Brendan Smith: For some time recently, the processing of REPS payments has been delayed in my Department's local offices in Kerry because two vacant supervisory posts remained unfilled in line with the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the civil service. My Department has now put arrangements in place to resolve the situation. This will enable the processing of claims to proceed and...

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

Brendan Smith: An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named regarding the dual claim of one land parcel under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme, following which the case is now being further reviewed. The person named will be advised of the outcome of the review shortly.

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

Brendan Smith: Payment of the Early Retirement pension to the person named commenced on 28 February 2010. Arrears of pension backdated to 1 October 2009, the date of valid application, were included with the first payment.

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

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the person named within ten working days.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The total area of land owned by Coillte is 426,500 hectares with an additional 3,000 hectares on long term lease and 12,500 hectares under the company's management through farm partnerships – this equates to 442,000 hectares. Some 80 % of Coillte's land is under forestry. Details are not readily available as to areas specifically earmarked for or currently utilized for alternative...

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

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. Queries arose on the application from the person named and my officials requested that an amended plan be submitted. This plan was received on 12 April 2010 and my...

Written Answers — Fireblight Levels: Fireblight Levels (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: There has been no report of fireblight this year. The Department's annual survey for Fireblight (Erwinia amylovora) commences in early June each year and runs until mid-October, as this is the optimum period for observing Fireblight symptoms in Ireland. During this period it is proposed to send approximately 1,600 samples for laboratory analysis. Last year's annual survey returned 21...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 5 May 2006 declaring a total area of 70.52ha This application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility inspection. During the course of the inspection discrepancies were found with parcel number D3332905 and D3330911 and the area found eligible for Single...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The application from the person named is being dealt with in one of my Department's local offices in Kerry. For some time recently, the processing of REPS payments has been delayed in these offices because two vacant supervisory posts remained unfilled in line with the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the civil service. My Department has now put arrangements in place...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted an application under the 2005 National Reserve under Categories B and D. Category B catered for farmers, who made an investment between the 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 – 2002....

Written Answers — Crop Losses: Crop Losses (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: There have been many calls on my Department for assistance in recent times, not only in respect of the recognised difficulties in the dairy and sheep sectors, which I addressed through the Dairy Hardship Scheme, the Dairy Efficiency Scheme, the Upland Sheep Payment and the Grassland Sheep Scheme, but also in response to difficulties brought about by adverse weather conditions. Two issues,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the person named within ten working days.