Results 13,301-13,320 of 18,338 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: There were 3,808 full time equivalent civil service staff in my Department at end December 2009. While the Department does not have a comprehensive register of staff qualifications at this time, a project to verify and update all information held on the Department's HRMS (Human Resources Management System) has recently commenced. The establishment of such a register will form part of this...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: An issue has arisen during the processing of the REPS 4 application from the person named. Processing of the application cannot be completed until this has been resolved. My officials will be in contact with him shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: An issue has arisen during the processing of this REPS 4. Processing of the application cannot be completed until this has been resolved. My officials will be in contact with the applicant shortly.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Slaughterhouses and meat processing plants operating under the approval of my Department are supervised by veterinary inspectors employed by the Department, assisted in their duties by technical staff and by temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) drawn from private practice on a rota basis. Recommendations arising from a Value for Money (VFM) review relating to the use of the services of TVIs...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the person named within the next ten days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named had 26 animals registered under the Suckler Welfare Scheme in 2008. Payment has issued for one of the animals. My Department has completed the processing of a further 18 animals and payment will issue in respect of these animals shortly. One animal calved at less than 22 months of age, which does not comply with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme and is, therefore, not...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. Payments to REPS 4 participants amounting to just under €100 million issued in 2009 to those whose applications required no further examination following the...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The area for which the licences are sought is a designated Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 site). Due to the Natura 2000 status of the area the applications in question were referred by my Department to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for further consideration...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. Payments issued in 2009 to those whose applications required no further examination following the administrative checks. However queries arose on a significant number of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Installation Aid Scheme. An appeal in connection with the application has been made to the Agriculture Appeals Office. No decision has been made yet in relation to the appeal by that Office.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named had 32 animals registered under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment has already issued in respect of 21 animals. Errors were identified with the remaining 11 animals. These errors have now been rectified. Payment has now been approved for these animals and will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The agreement with the pig processing sector in the immediate aftermath of the dioxin contamination incident provided for the possibility of the provision of limited funding in respect of certain pig meat product, other than eligible product, subject to compliance with certain specified conditions. The closing date for applications in this respect was 31 December 2009. Applications were...

Written Answers — Fur Farming: Fur Farming (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The submission referred to by the Deputy relates to the legislative and other changes deemed necessary to implement the commitment in the revised Programme for Government to phase out fur farming over three years. As many of the matters in the submission are still under consideration, it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The company in question has recently opened a retail outlet. This outlet is not however part of the company's meat processing establishment, which is approved by my Department under the European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 432 of 2009). The Health Service Executive is the appropriate registering authority for such a retail outlet. Grant assistance provided...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Mindful of the hardship and distress caused by the recent widespread flooding, on 27 November 2007 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 — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The licence in question relates to an area located in Kenmare River, Co. Kerry. The licence was due for renewal from 15 February 2007. The licensee company had applied for renewal of the licence in question in February 2007 thus indicating its intention to utilise the site. The renewal application was under consideration in the normal manner when, in early 2008, my Department became aware...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the person named within the next ten days.

Written Answers — National Reserve: National Reserve (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Regulations governing the National Reserve provide that, for non-mandatory categories (such as new entrants to farming) the Member State must apply objective criteria and ensure that an allocation of entitlements from the Reserve is not greater than the regional average value of entitlements which in Ireland's case is the District Electoral Division (DED) average associated with the...

Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 954, 956, 969 and 983 together. I am aware that, due to very wet conditions in November 2009, that a very considerable acreage of potatoes remained unharvested at the end of the year. Since then, farmers have experienced very severe frost conditions which have resulted in significant losses to these crops. I met with potato grower representatives on Thursday...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. Payments to REPS 4 participants, amounting to just under €100 million, issued in 2009 to those whose applications required no further examination following the...