Results 13,481-13,500 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Climate Change Policy: Climate Change Policy (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The purpose of the EU climate action and renewable energy package is to deliver the European Union's ambitious commitments to fight climate change and promote renewable energy up to 2020 and beyond. Ireland demonstrated its support for these proposals when, along with Denmark and Luxembourg, we agreed to accept the highest greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, to reduce, by 2020, our...

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79 million as agreed under the 2006 Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016, and was suspended on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached this level of funding. 12,675 applications were received from farmers prior to the closing date of the Scheme and these applications have been processed...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: A new scheme called the "Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme" has been proposed under Ireland's revised Rural Development Programme which was submitted to the EU Commission last July. The proposed scheme includes measures to assist dairy enterprises and sheep enterprises. A water management scheme is also proposed. Animal welfare issues relating to pigs and poultry will also be...

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

Brendan Smith: Payments to all REPS 3 participants will continue, subject to their compliance with the terms and conditions of the scheme,for the duration of the contract period and at the rates agreed in the contracts.

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

Brendan Smith: As I have previously indicated on a number of occasions, a new development plan for the period to 2020 is required to maintain the impetus gained from the Agri-Vision 2015 and the Agri-Food 2010 strategies. Work on this plan is already well advanced and I expect the public consultation element to commence in December. At this stage, it is too early to anticipate its contents but I expect...

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

Brendan Smith: At the special Council of Ministers meeting on the 5th of October my colleagues and I had a thorough discussion on the need for measures to manage the dairy market in the period up to and beyond quota abolition in 2015. At that meeting it was agreed to set up a High Level Group of Member States, chaired by the EU Commission's Agriculture Director General, to examine the type of arrangements...

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

Brendan Smith: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the Fisheries Council attended by my colleague Tony Killeen T.D., Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, last Thursday and Friday as there was no Fisheries Council meeting on the 13th of November. Each year EU and Norway negotiate access to fish stocks, in each others waters and changing stock patterns mean that...

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

Brendan Smith: My Department already provides significant support to the sheep sector through the Single Farm Payment, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and REPS. In addition, this year Bord Bia will spend up to €1 million on the promotion of sheep and lamb at home and abroad, and Teagasc has allocated almost €1.5 million for sheep research. Earlier this year, I made a decision to assign €7 million from...

Written Answers — Food Aid Programme: Food Aid Programme (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Ireland was allocated the sum of €376,977 in 2009 for the purchase on the open market of cheese for distribution as part of the European Food aid Programme for the most deprived. 68 tonnes of cheese were distributed to charities, which represented a full draw down of the allocated budget. Ireland has been allocated a budget of €818,816 for 2010 which will be used to exchange 350 tonnes...

Written Answers — Farm Investment Schemes: Farm Investment Schemes (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: As part of proposals in relation to the use of unspent Single Payment Scheme and Modulation funds and the European Economic Recovery Programme, I have announced that, in the case of on-farm investment schemes, I intend to introduce support for a number of specific categories of farmers which shall be focused on supporting productive investment. The measures shall include: A scheme for dairy...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under the agreement reached in November 2008 on the Health Check of the CAP, I together with support from several of my counterparts in other Member States, secured approval to use previously inaccessible unspent Single Payment System funds to address, among other things, specific disadvantages affecting certain sectors in economically vulnerable or environmentally sensitive areas. Member...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: In accordance with EU rules (Directive 64/432/EEC), the tuberculin skin test (Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test ) must be used by Member States for the purpose of testing herds for bovine TB. Due of the level of herd incidence of TB in Ireland, EU rules provide that herds must have one such test per annum, with follow-up testing in herds that have their status...

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

Brendan Smith: All applications received up to the closing date of 30 October 2009 are being examined in my Department at present. The number of valid applications that can be accepted will be determined by the funds available.

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

Brendan Smith: The live export trade is an important element of Ireland's meat and livestock industry providing a complement to the beef trade. The following table sets out the exports of live cattle in 2009 to the United Kingdom and the corresponding figures for 2008. Destination 1 January – 15 November 2009 1 January – 15 November 2008 Northern Ireland 72,249 30,146 Great Britain 9,311 1,808...

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

Brendan Smith: My Department has no direct responsibility for the day to day activities of Animal Health Ireland (AHI). AHI operates independently of my Department. It is a company limited by guarantee with its own Board of Directors and a Chief Executive. AHI will be responsible for the wide dissemination of information to stakeholders in relation to its programme of activities. AHI aims to improve through...

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

Brendan Smith: The latest Bord Bia figures indicate that in 2009, the organic fresh produce market in the Ireland will be worth approximately €43 million. It is estimated that about 30% of this is produced domestically.

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

Brendan Smith: At the outset I would like to point out that I and my Government colleagues have been fully engaged in dealing with the current dairy market difficulties while at the same time trying to ensure that the industry is well-placed to take advantage of the upturn in dairy markets when it arrives. A revisiting of last November's CAP Health Check agreement would do nothing to achieve either...

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

Brendan Smith: The Beef and Sheepmeat Investment Fund supports investment in increased scale and efficiency in primary processing, and added value in further processing for retail, food service and manufacturing outlets. This is part of a strategy to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the industry and 15 projects have been approved for grant assistance of over €69 million, contributing to total...

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

Brendan Smith: The following data are taken from the CSO's Crops and Livestock Survey for various years. It shows the number of non-dairy cows in the country for 2005-2009. Number of non-dairy cows ('000) 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 1,227.8 1,215.4 1,180.9 1,179.9 1,154.4 Source: CSO, Crops and Livestock Survey (June data)