Results 12,721-12,740 of 18,338 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Fishing Quotas: Fishing Quotas (25 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Due to Industrial Action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (25 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The leasing arrangements and rental costs of properties for my Department's use are a matter for the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (24 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Due to Industrial Action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Written Answers — Meat Processing Sector: Meat Processing Sector (24 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Beef and Sheepmeat Investment Fund supports investment in scale and efficiency in primary processing of beef and sheepmeat, and added value in further processing for retail, food service and manufacturing outlets. Pigmeat processing is not included within the scope of the fund. The selection of projects followed evaluation by an expert committee comprising members from Enterprise...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Due to industrial action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Parliamentary Question referred to by the Deputy concerns the payment of the second instalment of 40 per cent due to farmers under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. Total expenditure under the Scheme in 2009 was €292.76 million which included expenditure of €49 million in respect of the second instalment of grant-aid to 3,683 farmers. Expenditure under the Scheme, to date in 2010,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Due to industrial action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (24 Mar 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 — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware there is a moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service. My Department has been seeking to put in place alternative arrangements to ensure the prompt processing of claims.

Written Answers — Food Producer Organisations: Food Producer Organisations (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: In the face of ever-greater concentration of demand, the grouping of supply through producer organisations (POs) is an economic necessity in order to strengthen the position of producers in the market. Accordingly, in its 2007 reform of the common organisation of the market for fruit and vegetables, the EU made further provision for financial assistance to producers grouping, on a voluntary...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health and Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for the enforcement of this legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (F.S.A.I.). This is done through service contracts with other relevant agencies, including the Health Service Executive, the Local Authority Veterinary Service and my Department....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware there is a moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service. My Department has alternative arrangements in place to ensure the prompt processing of claims.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Due to industrial action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The leasing arrangements and rental costs for this Department buildings is a matter for the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table and the numbers involved are expressed in full-time equivalents: Area FTE Payroll 61 Financial Management 18.5 Human Resources 95* Means Assessment - Procurement 6 ICT 189 *Including Training & Development Unit The corresponding information requested by the Deputy in respect of the agencies under my remit is a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: This person named had 27 animals born during 2008 for consideration under the Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment issued for 12 of these animals on 12 March 2009 and for 1 animal on 12 June 2009. The applicant was advised by letter, dated 30 June 2009, that the remaining animals were not eligible for payment as 13 had not been registered within the statutory 27 days of birth and the mother of the...

Written Answers — Noxious Weeds Legislation: Noxious Weeds Legislation (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Noxious Weeds Act, 1936, is being examined in the context of an on-going review of legislation in this area. The penalty for non-compliance with this legislation, £20 on conviction, remains unchanged since 1936. Additionally, payments relating to certain schemes administered by this Department are contingent on compliance with the control of noxious weeds. No prosecutions were taken in...

Written Answers — Horse Breeding Industry: Horse Breeding Industry (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 680 and 695 together In an effort to support the equine industry I have approved three plants for slaughter of horses and I am aware that a fourth plant has been approved by the Local Authority Veterinary Service. This element of choice should improve competition and price paid to the producer. I do not propose to introduce a scheme to reduce breeding mare...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Due to industrial action by staff in my Department, I am not in a position to provide a reply to this question.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (23 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Out of 28,842 farmers due payments in REPS 4, 19,951 had been paid in full, including the 25% second instalment payment, as of 22 March 2010. To meet the requirements of EU regulations, applications for REPS payments have to go through an exhaustive series of administrative checks before payment can be released. In a significant number of cases, those checks raised issues and queries which...