Results 13,121-13,140 of 18,338 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Departmental Agencies. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Creed should note that in no way am I being disingenuous. We are entitled to check if a question is suitable when it refers to the detailed work of a semi-State organisation.

Departmental Agencies. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: That is good and I appreciate it. The Deputy might also consider lauding the Government for the major investment in the past-----

Departmental Agencies. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy should also laud the Government in parallel terms for the major funding that has been put into research, development and innovation in recent years, including in our universities, institutes of technology and our research centres.

Departmental Agencies. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: We are not working against innovation and research; we are supporting it very well and we work in collaboration with Teagasc to ensure the needs of Teagasc are addressed and that it works to priorities.

Departmental Agencies. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: I did not send any such letter and I am not aware of any correspondence.

Departmental Agencies. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: I am not aware-----

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Annual bi-lateral negotiations with Norway concluded late yesterday evening after a marathon session which commenced on Tuesday 19th January. Indeed this session follows three other such meetings – two in Bergen, Norway and one in Brussels – which were held in November and December last. The EU/Norway agreement forms part of what are collectively known as the "Northern Agreements"....

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) virus and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus are two viral agents that have been recognised as being endemic and causing disease in animals in Ireland for decades. Johne's disease is an infectious disease of cattle, sheep and goats associated with infections by a bacterium (Mycobacterium paratuberculosis). It causes wasting in all the above species and...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Issues relating to eligibility for pensions are a matter for the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. Following a review of certain pension claims, it was discovered that a number of individuals who had been in receipt of a pension did not satisfy the condition whereby they were required to have paid at least one year's self employment contributions before reaching age 66. As they did not...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Ireland's amended Rural Development Programme, including a new agri-environment scheme, was presented to the EU Rural Development Management Committee in Brussels on 20 January. This followed detailed and protracted discussions with the Commission. The Committee agreed the programme and the Commission will now proceed to take a formal decision to approve it. This procedure is expected to...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The package of fish quotas and other conservation measures for 2010 were agreed at the December 2009 Fisheries Council after a marathon 36 hours of intensive negotiations. Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State at this Department, represented Ireland at those negotiations. I welcome the agreement reached and I am satisfied that it provides a balanced and fair outcome for Irish fishermen. The...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The submission of a detailed five year business plan by all new applicants is now required as part of the application process for the Organic Farming Scheme. The purpose of the Business Plan is to facilitate an assessment of the level of farming activity and sustainability of the business which is the subject of the application. The Scheme conditions were amended as a result of a review of...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Ireland's amended Rural Development Programme, including a new agri-environment scheme, was presented to the EU Rural Development Management Committee in Brussels on 20 January. This followed detailed and protracted discussions with the Commission. The Committee agreed the programme and the Commission will now proceed to take a formal decision to approve it. This procedure is expected to...

Written Answers — Lost at Sea Scheme: Lost at Sea Scheme (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Lost at Sea Scheme was a limited scheme introduced in June 2001, with a closing date of 31 December 2001, whose objective was to enable qualifying applicants, who were otherwise unable to do so for financial or related reasons, to continue a family tradition of sea-fishing. It was a bounded, limited scheme under which replacement capacity (gross tons and kWatts) that would otherwise have...

Written Answers — Tillage Sector: Tillage Sector (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Since Ireland is a deficit market for cereals, prices here are greatly affected by world prices and supplies. In 2007, increased demands for grain from the biofuels sector and the growing needs of new emerging markets like China and India drove up world grain market prices. In line with this rise in world prices, grain prices in Ireland increased to record levels during 2007 and growers here...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The report of the Inter-Agency Review Group tasked with examining the dioxin contamination incident in Ireland in December 2008 made a number of recommendations in relation to labelling and traceability. Firstly it concluded that the traceability system for Irish pigmeat fully complied with EU legislative requirements and was of the same standard as systems in other countries but recommended...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The first payments for the 2009 scheme year issued on 18 December 2009, and payments have continued to issue in the meantime. To date, 9,823 REPS 4 participants have been paid in full. A further 4,508 have received the first phase of 75% of their payments and are due to receive the balance shortly. Payments will issue this week to approximately 1,300 participants. My Department continues to...

Written Answers — Crop Losses: Crop Losses (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Mindful of the hardship and distress caused by the recent widespread flooding, on 27 November 2009 I announced the introduction of the Fodder Aid Scheme, targeted directly at those farmers who encountered damage to fodder in the affected areas. While I was very anxious that the funding reach the affected farmers as quickly as possible, it was essential that farmers demonstrate that their...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 136 together. These are matters for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), an independent authority, which was established under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 on January 1st 2007. The Act clearly provides that the Authority is independent in the exercise of its functions and as such I have no remit as to its work...

Written Answers — Bee Population: Bee Population (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Department is aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy bee population due to the role of bees in producing honey, aiding pollination and promoting and maintaining Irish Biodiversity. The Department currently has a number of initiatives in place to promote and facilitate development in the beekeeping sector in terms of grant aid, funding bee health research and in conserving the...