Results 13,461-13,480 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Suckler Welfare Scheme: Suckler Welfare Scheme (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The suckler welfare scheme has been very successful in helping to underpin the beef sector in Ireland since its inception in January 2008. Over 50,000 farmers are now in the scheme. Animal events information and breeding data is now being collected on over 85% of the national beef herd. This is a significant achievement by any standard. Apart altogether from the benefits of the scheme in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: To date in 2009, 17,305 payments totalling €243 million have been made to farmers under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. Approx. 90 payment claims remain to be finalized under the Scheme, mainly due to outstanding tax clearance documents or technical issues regarding the completed investments. 81 penalties totalling €46,683 have been applied, to date this year, in accordance with the...

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

Brendan Smith: Up to the start of the fine spell in September and October fodder supplies on farms were reduced because of the impact of high levels of rainfall during the late Spring and throughout the Summer period on grass growth and harvesting conditions. A survey conducted by Teagasc showed that at least one-third of the farmers who responded said they had inadequate fodder to meet their requirements....

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (26 Nov 2009)

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 temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) drawn from private practice on a rota basis and by Department agricultural officers. Veterinary Inspectors are permanently located in all the larger meat and poultry...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department's Vote for 2009 includes a provision for REPS of €330 million. In addition, I am seeking the approval of the House to a Supplementary Estimate for my Department which will provide a further €39.129m which will bring planned expenditure for the year to €369.129m.

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

Brendan Smith: To date, a total of €69m has been paid to qualifying applicants under the Pigmeat Recall Scheme, €35m in 2008 and €34m to date in 2009. Of this, €30m has been paid to primary processors and €39m to secondary processors. A further €5m was paid during 2009 for the rendering of affected product. A number of claims have yet to be lodged and therefore it is not possible to estimate...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (26 Nov 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 — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department has received pre-budget submissions from a number of farm organisations. These submissions will be considered by my department in the normal way in the context of the preparation of the budgetary framework for 2010, and with due regard to the Government's continuing commitment to developing a sustainable agri food sector, while recognising that the interests of operators in all...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 306 together. Payments are made as claims are processed and there is no question of my Department slowing down or withdrawing payments due to farmers. In fact the contrary is the case. My Department operates one of the most efficient payment systems in the EU and in recognition of the income difficulties experienced by farmers, I have secured the...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following a review of the Organic Farming Scheme, under which support is paid to farmers in the sector, the Scheme conditions have been amended to require the completion of an approved training course as an essential prerequisite to joining the scheme. This requirement will apply when the scheme re-opens in January 2010 and will apply only to those applicants who have not previously...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 50 together. My overarching view is that we need a strong and adequately resourced CAP after 2013. This is a point I have pressed strongly in discussions to date and for which there is good support in the Agriculture Council. I am very conscious of the importance of the EU ensuring security of food supply and recognising the need to maintain family...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Discussions are taking place as a matter of priority between officials of my Department and European Commission officials on amendments to Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2007–13, which include proposals for a new agri-environment scheme. The new scheme will be introduced at the earliest possible date following Commission approval of the amended Programme.

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

Brendan Smith: The live export trade is an important component of our meat and livestock industry and provides a complement to the beef trade. To date this year, this trade has been exceptionally strong with exports to the United Kingdom alone up by more than 250% on the same period in 2008: Destination 1 January – 15 November 2009 1 January – 15 November 2008 Northern Ireland 72,249 30,146...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Bord Bia is the state agency with statutory responsibility for the promotion and market development of food including seafood, drink and horticulture. The marketing of Ireland as a Sustainable Food Island is a new strategic priority for Bord Bia. Critical to that strategy is the building of an evidence-based approach for marketing the environmental performance of farming and food production...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the fisheries policy of the European Union which was first put in place in 1983 and has been subject to reviews every 10 years, the most recent was in 2002 and the next is formally scheduled for 2012. On 21 April 2009 The European Commission published a Green Paper on the latest reform of the CFP in order to launch a consultation with Member States and...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy will be aware that at the end of September I announced the allocation of milk quota to 70 new entrants to dairying. The opportunity to introduce this scheme arose from the availability of the first of five annual increases of one per cent in milk quotas agreed under the CAP Health Check. I was delighted to be able to avail of this opportunity and I was equally delighted with the...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (26 Nov 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 (26 Nov 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 — Climate Change Policy: Climate Change Policy (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: In December 2008, the EU set itself the twin targets of increasing the share of renewables in energy use to 20% and reducing its overall greenhouse gas emissions to at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. At the Conference of the Parties being held in Copenhagen next month, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is hoping to finalise their ongoing efforts to secure an...

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

Brendan Smith: The Government is committed to ensuring that the Irish dairy sector reaches its full potential. One of the major challenges in the medium term will be to ensure that Irish farming and the agrifood sector is at the heart of an evolving high-value food market, which is focused on quality and innovation. This is at the core of Government strategy which sets out a series of actions to develop a...