Results 12,821-12,840 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. 49 and 84 together. The Department launched a new Bioenergy Scheme in February 2010 to grant aid miscanthus and willow planting to the end of 2012. This succeeds the pilot scheme in place since 2007. Approved costs will be grant aided up to 50% of establishment costs, subject to a maximum grant of €1,300 per hectare (€526.31/acre) for both crops. In...

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

Brendan Smith: Changes in food prices are primarily a function of market forces operating at international, EU and national levels. The food price index as measured by the CSO is currently at a level similar to that which existed prior to the significant increases in food prices evidenced throughout late 2007 and into much of 2008. Numerous factors on both the demand and supply side of the global world food...

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

Brendan Smith: The amendment to the Rural Development Programme 2007–13, which includes the new agri-environment scheme, received a favourable vote at a meeting of the EU Rural Development Management Committee in January. I expect to receive the formal approval of the European Commission very shortly. I am planning to launch the new scheme as soon as the Commission approval has been received.

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & 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.). Under the general labelling Directive (2000/13/EC), the place of origin of the foodstuff must be given if its absence might mislead the consumer to a material degree. It...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has no proposals to publish an inter-departmental group report on the coastal sector. The Department has recently published and submitted to the European Commission the National Response to the EU Green Paper on Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. That report can be obtained at www.fishingnet.ie or www.agriculture.gov.ie. The Report is a...

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 Minister for Finance has committed to provide funding for the acceptance initially of up to 10,000 participants into the new scheme at a maximum payment of €5,000 per participant.

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

Brendan Smith: My Department has no direct role in the provision of further education programmes in the agri-food sector. However, Teagasc, the Agriculture, Food and Development Authority delivers a wide range of agricultural education and training services to the agriculture industry. They receive substantial Exchequer resources each year from my Department to fund these activities. The total grant in...

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

Brendan Smith: The live export trade is an important component of our meat and livestock industry and provides a complement to the beef trade. The following table shows data on live cattle exports in 2009 along with the corresponding figures for 2008. Destination 2009 2008 United Kingdom 89,503 34,577 Northern Ireland 79,430 32,712 Great Britain 10,073 1,865 Other Destinations 196,781 113,159...

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

Brendan Smith: As the agri-environment Options Scheme has not yet been launched, no funds have been spent on it so far. I intend to launch the scheme in the very near future. The Minister for Finance has committed to provide funding for the acceptance initially of up to 10,000 participants into the new scheme at a maximum payment of €5,000 per participant.

Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Bord Bia, the agency responsible for the promotion of potatoes, is aware of the reduced consumption of potatoes by younger consumers, primarily because potatoes are not regarded as a 'convenient food' in terms of meal preparation. To redress this trend, Bord Bia has engaged in various promotions, including a 'Best in Season' campaign, and a specific initiative at the end of 2009 to promote...

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

Brendan Smith: Applicants for the new agri-environment scheme are classified into two categories for the purposes of applying for the scheme for the purposes of the selection process. Category 1 will be those with commonage or Natura land on their holdings while other applicants will fall into category 2. Category 1 applicants will have a higher priority for acceptance into the scheme.

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 — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Belgian delegation brought its request to increase the age of BSE testing to 60 months or phase out testing for animals born from 1 January 2004, to the Agriculture Council meeting of 22 February, 2010. The Commission, in its response confirmed that new strategic guidelines on tackling BSE will be released by the Commission by the summer and acknowledged that the EU is now at a stage to...

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 — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Responsibility for the authorisation of veterinary medicines rests with the Irish Medicines Board. Accordingly, it will be a matter for that body, on the basis of applications to vary marketing authorisations from pharmaceutical companies, to determine in specific cases if and when the restrictions, which have recently been placed on the use of certain flukicides in dairy cows producing milk...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare Regulation: Animal Welfare Regulation (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The transport of animals is governed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations. The Commission is undertaking a review of this legislation. However it may take some time before the Commission prepares a proposal. A draft proposal developed in 2009 failed to obtain the agreement of the outgoing Commission. I wish to assure...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: Due to industrial action by staff in my Department, I am unable to provide a reply to this question.

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

Brendan Smith: The preparation of documents relating to the new agri-environment scheme is at an advanced stage and I hope to be in a position to publish them and to launch the scheme shortly. My officials have already had discussions with the farming organisations and I envisage that there will be further consultation before the final details are determined.