Results 12,801-12,820 of 18,338 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 196 together. 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...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: 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 being prepared in my Department. The new 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 — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The practice of incorporating clover into suitable grassland in order to reduce dependency on fertilizers was one of the actions in my Department's initial proposals for the new agri-environment measure. In negotiations with the European Commission on the terms of the new scheme, the Commission took the view that this action was not an eligible measure and it cannot be included in the new scheme.

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The EU Commission set up the High Level Expert Group on milk last October, following a special Council of Ministers meeting to discuss measures to manage the dairy market in the period up to and beyond quota abolition in 2015. The Group includes representatives from all member states, is chaired by the Commission's Director General of Agriculture, and is examining the type of arrangements...

Written Answers — Animal Identification Scheme: Animal Identification Scheme (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The introduction of EID for sheep was agreed at EU level in late 2003. At that time, it was agreed to defer the implementation date until January 2008. The Council of Agriculture Ministers revisited this issue in December 2007 when it was agreed that the deadline for the compulsory introduction of EID should be set for 31 December 2009, six years after the original decision was taken. The...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 44, 55, 68 and 85 together. The new Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Ciolos, took up office on 10 February. I was in telephone contact with him the day following his appointment and I had a bi-lateral meeting with him on 22 February. We discussed a number of current issues including the future of the CAP. While it is relatively...

Written Answers — Agri-environment Scheme: Agri-environment Scheme (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The deadline for applications of 17 May is in accordance with EU Regulations. It is not possible to accept applications for the new scheme from farmers who will still be participating in REPS on that date. I will be reviewing the situation in relation to those participants in REPS whose contracts expire after the closing date of 17 May to determine when they can apply for entry into the new...

Written Answers — Agri-environment Scheme: Agri-environment Scheme (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The level of payment available to each farmer who joins the new agri-environment will depend on his or her particular circumstances and the actions that he or she can or chooses to undertake. I am satisfied, however, that a payment of up to €5,000 can be achieved by a wide range of participants.

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The main focus of the report in question is on the impact of the economic downturn on off-farm employment patterns among farmers. It also reports briefly on employment trends in the agriculture sector in the period 2004-2009 as reported in the Quarterly National Household Survey. Using this source, the report finds that the number employed in the sector declined in the period 2004 to 2005,...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 43 and 66 together. Following the launch of the EU Commission's Green Paper on the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), last April, Minister Killeen appointed Dr Noel Cawley to co-ordinate and oversee an extensive, nationwide public consultation process which involved meetings around the coast and a seminar organised by the Federation of Irish...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 67 and 77 together. Broad discussions on the future of the CAP have been underway since the second half of 2008 when the French Presidency held a first policy debate at the Informal Agriculture Council. Since then, every Presidency has contributed to the debate with the Czech Presidency focusing, in particular, on the issue of direct payments to farmers...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) provides a range of measures that can be used to assist the dairy market, and these were modified in the CAP reforms of 1999 and 2003. In the Health Check negotiations in 2008 there was pressure to remove or weaken the support measures significantly. At that time I fought hard to keep the key market instruments in place and the importance of the...

Written Answers — Sheep Production: Sheep Production (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Mindful of the particular difficulties being experienced by the Irish sheep sector, late last year I decided on a two-fold approach to address the situation. In the first instance, I decided to allocate approximately €7 million from the Single Payment National Reserve to 14,000 sheep farmers, the only funds to which I had access in 2009. Subject to a maximum payable area of 15 hectares,...

Written Answers — Beef Imports: Beef Imports (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Central Statistics Office is responsible for the collection of statistics in relation to imports of meat and meat products. Information on imports for 2009 is available on a provisional basis for the period up to the end of October 2009 during which a total of 1,274 tonnes was imported from Brazil. Brazilian beef must be sourced from holdings in regions of the country approved for export...

Written Answers — Agri-environment Scheme: Agri-environment Scheme (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The payment rate in the new scheme for farmers with Natura or commonage land, which like all rates in the scheme was approved by the European Commission, includes an element to reflect the cost of having a sustainable management plan prepared.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Following a comprehensive review of the Forestry Act, 1946, the Government approved the Heads of a new Forestry Bill in March 2009. The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is drafting the new Bill and will deal with all legal issues arising. It is intended that the Bill will be published at the earliest possible date with a view to enacting it as soon as possible thereafter.

Written Answers — Sheep Production: Sheep Production (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 50 together. 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. My Department already provides significant support to the sector through the Single Farm Payment, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and REPS. In addition this year Bord Bia will spend up to €1 million...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (11 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 — Beef Imports: Beef Imports (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Central Statistics Office is responsible for the collection of statistics in relation to imports of meat and meat products. Information on imports for 2009 is available on a provisional basis for the period up to the end of October 2009 during which a total of 1,274 tonnes was imported from Brazil. Brazilian beef must be sourced from holdings in regions of the country approved for export...

Written Answers — Agri-environment Scheme: Agri-environment Scheme (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Finance is committed to providing funding for the acceptance initially of up to 10,000 participants into the new scheme at a maximum payment of €5,000 per participant.