Results 13,421-13,440 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The REPS 3 payment due to the person named will issue within the next 10 days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 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 release the 75%...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The information sought by the Deputy will be published in the context of the 2010 Budget, details of which are being announced by the Minister for Finance this afternoon.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (9 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: As indicated in my previous reply of 18 November, an application under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2009. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with payments issuing in respect of those cases cleared for payment at that stage. Payments have continued to issue, as outstanding issues are resolved. While it...

Written Answers — Fodder Aid Scheme: Fodder Aid Scheme (3 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Fodder Aid Scheme which I announced will require individual farmers to demonstrate that their fodder was damaged and the extent of that damage. Although this scheme is targeted primarily at farmers in the West, Midlands and South West who suffered damage to fodder (silage, hay, straw or concentrates) caused by flooding in November 2009, those farmers in other areas also affected by the...

Written Answers — Fodder Aid Scheme: Fodder Aid Scheme (3 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Fodder Aid Scheme which I announced will require individual farmers to demonstrate that their fodder was damaged and the extent of that damage. Although this scheme is targeted primarily at farmers in the West, Midlands and South West who suffered damage to fodder (silage or hay or concentrates) caused by flooding in November 2009, those farmers in other areas also affected by the recent...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (3 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following an on-the-spot REPS inspection carried out by my officials on 8 October 2008, the person named was found to be non-compliant with his undertakings under Measure 3 (fencing of wells and boreholes), Measure 5 (maintaining farm and field boundaries) and Biodiversity Option 5A (hedgerow rejuvenation). Penalties totalling 45% were imposed. The person named appealed the decision to the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 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. The processing of applications is at an advanced stage. I hope to be in a position to release the 75% payment due on valid applications in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 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 is at an advanced stage. I hope to be in a position to release the 75% payment due on valid applications in mid...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (2 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: On 15th July, the Government approved my plan for a reorganisation of my Department's Local Office Network. The plan involves reducing, from 57 to 16, the number of offices from which the Department will operate District Veterinary, Forestry and Agricultural Environment and Structures support services in the future. The decision to close some forty offices of the Department was made only...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (2 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The draft legal instrument to introduce a ban on the sale of raw milk from all species for direct human consumption is at an advanced stage. Officials from my Department have been in consultation with the Department of Health and Children with a view to implementing the ban by means of a Statutory Instrument under the Health Act of 1947 (as amended). A public consultation process was...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (2 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: This is a matter 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 programme or its strategic deployment of resources. I have, however,...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (2 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application from the person named was received in my Department on 27 October 2009. All applications received up to the closing date of 30 October are being examined in my Department at present. The details of the application from the person named, as well as the funding available, will be taken into account in reaching a decision. As soon as the decision has been made, she will be...

Written Answers — Tax Clearance Certificates: Tax Clearance Certificates (2 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: It is a matter for REPS participants to paint farmyard sheds themselves or to arrange to have them painted and I do not intend to introduce a register of approved painting contractors. I would however encourage anyone who is aware of possible breaches of social welfare schemes to report such incidences to the relevant authority for investigation.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (2 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: A person intending to acquire milk quota as a new entrant under the Milk Quota Trading Scheme must satisfy a number of eligibility criteria. These include having the necessary educational qualifications, having previously held no quota, and having their own lands, herd number and separate milking facilities. The detailed rules governing the scheme are available from my Department (including...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (2 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: In 1990, greenhouse gas emissions from Ireland's agriculture sector amounted to 19.9 million tonnes CO2 equivalent. By 2007, this amount had been reduced, by 6.5%, to 18.6 million tones. This reduction was achieved despite a marginal increase in livestock activity in that period. The most recent EPA projections indicate that emissions from the sector will be reduced further, to an average of...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Government established a cabinet sub committee and inter-departmental group to promote economic recovery and measures have been taken, in particular a reduction in energy costs, to address factors currently impacting adversely on the competitiveness of the food industry. My Department has also been working closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and our respective...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy will be aware that my Department has national disease control programmes in place to counter what are known as "regulated diseases" in the national herd, examples of which include TB & Brucellosis. We have made major progress in dealing with many of the regulated diseases - for example Ireland now has Brucellosis-Free status and the incidence of BSE continues to decline....

Written Answers — Beef Sector: Beef Sector (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy is aware, the price paid for beef is a matter for the industry and the farmers who supply cattle. Beef carcases are classified or graded in accordance with EU Regulations using the EUROP scale for conformation and a scale of 1 to 5 to indicate fat cover. In most cases, the classification or grading result is used by the industry to determine the price paid to farmers. Each main...