Results 13,381-13,400 of 18,338 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Seafood Sector: Seafood Sector (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Irish State agency with responsibility for developing sustainable Irish Sea Fishing and Aquaculture industries, is an independent statutory agency. As the matters raised are operational matters for BIM. I have asked the CEO of BIM to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 to 310, inclusive, together. These are matters for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), an independent authority, which was established under 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 — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: I announced the implementation of a €2 million targeted Scheme of Aid for Damaged Fodder on 27th November 2009. This Scheme is targeted at farmers, who encountered damage to fodder (silage, hay, straw, concentrates) in areas that suffered flooding in November 2009. Under the Scheme, farmers are required to demonstrate that the fodder was damaged and the extent of that damage. Initially,...

Written Answers — Animal Identification Scheme: Animal Identification Scheme (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 314 together. It is my view that the introduction of electronic identification (EID) should be on a voluntary basis for those farmers who could clearly derive benefit from the technology. This view has not been supported at EU level and the introduction of EID for sheep must come into force on a mandatory basis on 31 December 2009 having been already...

Written Answers — Animal Identification Scheme: Animal Identification Scheme (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under Council Regulation 21/2004 as amended the implementation date for the mandatory introduction of electronic tagging (EID) of sheep is definitively set at 31 December 2009. I have consistently sought the introduction of EID on a voluntary basis and most recently at the Agriculture Council on 20 November 2009. However, there is not sufficient support among other Member States or from the...

Written Answers — Departmental Fees: Departmental Fees (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The level of fees charged by my Department is determined by the type of approval sought by the applicant and reflects the amount of evaluation work involved in the assessment of the application. Annual renewal fees of €300 are levied on each pesticide product on the Irish market. Fees were introduced following consultation and agreement with the chemical industry. The current fee...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together. There are three Special Advisors employed in my Department. Their details are as follows:- Name Title Annual Salary Dermot Ryan Special Advisor to Minister Brendan Smith €116,142.91 Philip Hannon Media Advisor to Minister Brendan Smith €99,845.46 Stiofán Nutty Special Advisor to Minister of State Trevor Sargent €102,439.22

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: A total of €21,226.91 was paid to 2 special advisers (Media Advisor to Minister Smith and Special Advisor to Minister of State Sargent) by way of contributions towards their pensions for 2009.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: I am satisfied that expenditure on special advisors in my Department represents good value for money. In each case, special advisors employed by my Department are remunerated in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Department of Finance.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: A total of 68 reports, documents and memos were translated since the commencement of the 30th Dáil on 14 June 2007. Details of these documents and the translation cost in respect of each are set out in the following table. Description Total Cost (€) E.U. Regulation 512.40 Document on Veterinary Medicine 900.24 Press Release 225.64 EU Premium Notice 150.28 Council Speaking Note l...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–2013 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications, including plan checks, to be completed before the first 2009 payments issue. Processing of applications, including that of the person named, is at an advanced stage. I hope to be in a position to begin releasing the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Dec 2009)

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

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–2013 and is subject to EU regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications, including plan checks, to be completed before the first 2009 payments issue. Processing of applications, including that of the person named, is at an advanced stage. I hope to be in a position to begin releasing the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Dec 2009)

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

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Ombudsman's Special Report to the Oireachtas in relation to her investigation of a complaint made by an unsuccessful applicant under the Lost at Sea Scheme. The Ombudsman's special report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on Monday, 14 December last.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (16 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following is the information requested by the Deputy: 2006 - Minister Coughlan, €1,731.20; Minister Smith, €5,855.83; and Minister Wallace, €1,459.41 2007 - Minister Coughlan, €12,280.52; Minister Smith, €2,365.81; Minister Wallace, €423.08; Minister Sargent, €2,623.15; and Minister Browne, €2,469.48; 2008 - Minister Coughlan, €3,824.37; Minister Smith, €1,837.55;...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application in respect of the 2009 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 7 May 2009. Processing of the application revealed that a number of the land parcels declared by the person named had also been claimed by other scheme applicants. In keeping with standard processing procedures, all parties were written to and asked to clarify the...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (15 Dec 2009)

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.). This is done through service contracts with other relevant agencies, including the Health Service Executive, the Local Authority Veterinary Service and my Department. My...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application in respect of the 2009 Single Payment Scheme received from the person named on 6 May 2009 has been fully processed, and payment due under the scheme will issue shortly. My officials are about to complete the initial administrative processing of REPS 4 applications and I hope to be in a position to start making payments on valid applications later this week.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy is aware of the background to this case following replies to previous Questions on the matter. The person named established 24.47 entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme, but these entitlements reverted to the National Reserve, as the person named did not submit an application under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme. A subsequent appeal of this decision to my Department's...