Results 13,801-13,820 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Dairy Sector. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: With regard to Deputy Creed's last point, I do not accept that the dairy investment fund was not worthwhile. It was exceptionally worthwhile and in many instances-----

Dairy Sector. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: It was not frittered away.

Dairy Sector. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Perhaps Deputy Creed and his colleagues could identify-----

Dairy Sector. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: In response to Deputy Creed's last point, I do not think that any of colleagues up in my constituency would disagree with giving grant aid to Lakeland Dairies for a very substantial and worthwhile investment at their Bailieboro plant.

Dairy Sector. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Lakeland Dairies is not paying the worst price, unfortunately, as there are prices below what it is paying. The investment being put into the Bailieboro plant is very worthwhile and will create greater efficiencies. Greater production and efficiencies go back to the individual primary producer. I was in north Cork, Deputy Creed's county, with Dairygold and I saw very worthwhile investment...

Dairy Sector. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Yes I did and I do not mind that. I received a very warm welcome and I saw the great work going on in that plant as well as the supply from its four constituent dairy co-operatives. That investment has been very worthwhile. Naturally, we wish to see greater collaboration and co-operation. In early September, I travelled to Finland and Denmark with the major dairy companies and we met all...

Dairy Sector. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: I do not know who in the world could answer the question of what price milk will be next year.

Dairy Sector. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The intervention by the European Commission since January has involved the activation of market support measures. That is the nature of the support the European Union can give to the dairy sector. The aids to public and private storage were brought forward to 1 January and the other market support measures were activated from March onwards. Normally, they end in August but at the July...

Common Agricultural Policy. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: A first policy debate on CAP post-2013 took place at the informal Agriculture and Fisheries Council in September last year under the French EU Presidency. The Czech Presidency continued the debate in the first months of 2009, focusing in particular on the issue of direct payments to farmers. The Swedish Presidency programme provides for further discussion later this year concentrating on...

Common Agricultural Policy. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: No. I point out to Deputy Creed the document we issued was consultative. It was to generate debate and to put out the parameters of the issues to be discussed. We have clearly stated that we have no set views. The point we have outlined strongly, clearly and consistently in Europe is that we must have a well-funded CAP. We will not tolerate the weakening of the European Union's food...

Common Agricultural Policy. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: All the points raised by Deputy Sherlock are very important. I do not favour additional funding going to pillar two. Pillar one has been extremely beneficial not just for farmers, but also for protecting the environment and ensuring that Europe has security of food supplies for its citizens. That was the second article of the Treaty of Rome in 1957 and it is as appropriate today as it was...

Common Agricultural Policy. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Yes, but it is by 2050.

Common Agricultural Policy. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: I cannot give a commitment for the other 26 member states of the European Union.

Common Agricultural Policy. (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Absolutely. My commitment is to pillar one. I have outlined that very clearly at every opportunity we have had to discuss the future of the Common Agricultural Policy post-2013.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in 2011. I have also announced that a special ex-gratia payment not exceeding 3.5 per cent of the value of the deferred amount will be made to...

Written Answers — Domestic Abattoirs: Domestic Abattoirs (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department has awarded financial support to the small meat sector, which includes small slaughterhouses and low-throughput meat establishments. Following a call for applications in December 2007, and a detailed selection and evaluation process in 2008, a total of €7.8m has been awarded to 31 enterprises. This funding will assist food business operators in the sector to improve...

Written Answers — Sheep Production: Sheep Production (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy seems to be referring to the Teagasc National Farm Survey 2008, which shows the average Family Farm Income (FFI) for sheep enterprises was €9,593 last year. The Survey also indicates that sheep farms received an average of €15,816 in direct payments in 2008. In addition, account needs to be taken of off-farm income. More than half of all sheep farms in Ireland were shown to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Last week I announced my intention to establish a consultative group to advise me on medium and long term measures for the dairy sector. I did this following the special Council of Ministers meeting on the 5th of October, where we 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...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: For participants in REPS 4, the prohibited period for spreading slurry begins on 15 October. The corresponding date laid down in REPS 3 is 31 August, but I announced on 24 August that in view of the exceptional weather conditions during the summer I was bringing this into line with REPS 4. This is the same as the date on which the prohibited period begins for all farmers under the European...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together as they cover similar ground. As you are all probably aware at this stage, the European Commission published a Green Paper last April on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. The launch of this paper was aimed at stimulating broad public debate on the future of the CFP ahead of the next review of the Policy, scheduled for 2012. The...