Results 12,841-12,860 of 18,338 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: The increasing concentration of retail power in the hands of a few large supermarket chains is an international phenomenon, which has fundamentally changed the balance of market negotiating power in the food chain. I have emphasised at EU and national level the necessity for a reasonable balance between granting price reductions to consumers and giving a fair return to suppliers and...

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

Brendan Smith: My Department promotes the planting of new forests through a range of attractive support measures - the Afforestation Grant Scheme, the Forest Environment Protection Scheme and the Native Woodland Scheme. These schemes provide 100% establishment grants and annual premiums for up to 20 years. In addition, my Department also provides grants to encourage forest owners to actively manage their...

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

Brendan Smith: To secure the agreement of the European Commission to the new agri-environment scheme, it was necessary to design it for land other than Natura or commonage as a menu of closely targeted actions which would contribute in a measurable and verifiable way towards the targets of biodiversity, water quality and climate change as set out in the CAP Health Check. It was not possible to negotiate a...

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

Brendan Smith: I am fully committed to ensuring that consumers have full confidence in the organic food they buy. For that reason, since 2007 my Department has assigned additional resources to the Organic Unit and the staff involved are now systematically inspecting retail outlets, including supermarkets, shops and farmers markets, checking to ensure that all product identified as organic has been produced...

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 launch the scheme and to publish all relevant documentation shortly.

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

Brendan Smith: Formal negotiations have yet to commence on the future of the CAP and in that respect there are no proposals as yet to change the calculation method of the single farm payment. However policy debates have begun in a number of Member States, including Ireland, and at EU level on the shape and direction of future EU agricultural policy. Among the issues that are being debated are the shape...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme was launched by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79 million as agreed under the 2006 Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016, as part of an overall programme of investment in the agri-food sector. It was indicated, at the time of its launch, that the Scheme would be terminated when this financial ceiling had been reached and this was also specifically...

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

Brendan Smith: The Government is committed to working with the beef sector, including suckler farmers, to meet evolving market challenges and to provide a sound framework for the development of the sector. To this end a number of policy initiatives are being implemented. In terms of direct aid to suckler farmers, and notwithstanding the current constraints of the public finances, I am continuing to make...

Written Answers — Horse Racing Industry: Horse Racing Industry (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: In relation to the number of thoroughbred horses in Ireland and having regard to statistics published by Horse Racing Ireland, I am aware there has been a reduction in the number of mares being covered from a peak of 20,700 in 2007 to 18,851 in 2009. In relation to the numbers of stallions registered for thoroughbred breeding, the number for 2009 is not finalised, but for the period from...

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

Brendan Smith: It is not possible to isolate the cost of processing an individual Single Farm Payment. However, my Department operates an extremely efficient processing system for the payment of the Single Farm Payment and other area-based Schemes. Payment is generally made to the vast majority of farmers in the immediate time period following the earliest date for the commencement of payments. In a study...

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

Brendan Smith: Payments due in respect of the 2009 Single Payment Scheme application of the person named have issued as per the Attachment Order lodged with my Department.

Written Answers — Teagasc Training Services: Teagasc Training Services (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: The provision of training courses in the agriculture sector is a matter for Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority. Subject to the provisions of the Act, and other requirements it is the responsibility of the Teagasc Authority to exercise full and effective control over the organisation including the level of allowances paid to agriculture students. Ministerial responsibility...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191, 203 and 204 together. Due to Industrial Action in my Department I am not in a position to provide a reply to these questions.

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

Brendan Smith: Agricultural production in Ireland and the EU must be viewed in the context of a reformed and evolving Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with much more competitive EU and world commodity markets. As a result of the reformed CAP farmers can now take advantage of the freedom to farm exclusively for the market. They can focus on meeting the requirements of the consumer in a competitive manner....

Written Answers — Livestock Numbers: Livestock Numbers (11 Mar 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 to 195, inclusive, together. The CSO publishes detailed statistics with regards to livestock numbers in Ireland. The December Livestock Survey is available on the CSO website at www.cso.ie and presents estimates of numbers of livestock in December 2008 at State level. The table below present the data from the last 5 December 2008 Livestock Surveys...