Results 13,861-13,880 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Agri-food Sector: Agri-food Sector (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: As Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I fully acknowledge the difficulties facing the farming community this year and have been consistently working both within Government and at EU level, to alleviate the current problems being faced by the sector. I have initiated a series of measure to assist the sector, a key element is the bringing forward of the single farm payment and I...

Written Answers — Agri-food Sector: Agri-food Sector (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The impact of the decisions taken in the 2009 budget and supplementary budget will vary from individual to individual depending on their participation in certain schemes or the extent to which they may benefit from the measures affected. The Deputy will be aware that the 2009 budget and supplementary budget were framed against the background of a global recession and a serious deterioration...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 70 together. I can confirm that, as part of an investigation into movements of sheep, officers from my Department have visited a number of farms and slaughtering establishments. The information that has been gathered as a result of these visits is being examined, and the investigation is continuing. In the circumstances it would be inappropriate to...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The position is that while, in general, all inspections should be unannounced, my Department can give up to 14 days notice for land eligibility and cross-compliance inspections involving Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) other than those related to cattle identification and registration, food, feed, and animal welfare. For checks involving cattle identification and registration the...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: It is proposed to fill the vacant position on the Board of Teagasc in the near future.

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 68 and 71 together. At a special meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers on 5 of October there was a full discussion on the need for measures to manage the dairy market in the period up to quota abolition and beyond. I welcomed the proposal of the Commissioner to establish a High Level Group of representatives to consider a range of options for the future,...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: When I announced recently the allocation of milk quota to 70 new entrants to dairying, I indicated that all of the recipients would have to attend training courses facilitated by Teagasc. That body is currently considering the structure and delivery of the required training, bearing in mind that all successful applicants have until 1 April 2011 to commence milk production.

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

Brendan Smith: As you are aware, 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 Policy, which was first put in place in 1983, has been subject to reviews every 10 years. The most recent...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: My colleague Minister of State Sargent recently announced the outcome of the review of the Organic Farming Scheme under which support is paid to farmers in the sector. It is my intention, subject to the outcome of the Estimates process and a review of the budgetary situation for 2010, to reopen the Organic Farming Scheme from 1 January 2010. The Scheme will be reopened with revised...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The closing date for receipt of applications is 30 October 2009 and no decisions on applications will be taken until after that date.

Written Answers — Sugar Industry: Sugar Industry (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The temporary scheme for the restructuring of the sugar industry, introduced as part of the reform of the EU sugar regime in 2006, provided for payment of EU restructuring aid to three groups of stakeholders: sugar processors, beet growers and specialized beet machinery contractors. The overall amount of aid available was calculated at the rate of €730 per tonne of sugar quota renounced,...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 93 together. Officials from my Department and the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government have had detailed discussions and I have also discussed this matter with my colleague Mr John Gormley T.D., Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I have had representations from farm bodies and a number of farmers requesting an...

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

Brendan Smith: The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and expenditure Programmes is being considered in the context of determining the budgetary framework and in the preparation of the 2010 Estimate for my Department. In that context my deliberations on the 2010 Estimates will, of course, take full account of the effect of the proposals in the report, including those relating to An Bord...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The number of applications received in my Department for approval to plant forestry in each of the past 5 years is set out in Table 1. TABLE 1 Pre approval applications received Forms Hectares 2004 2,815 30,158 2005 2,361 23,300 2006 2,169 18,687 2007 1,251 13,718 2008 1,303 13,844 2009 to date 1,630 13,193 The number of applications received in my Department for payment of...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The payments to date as a result of the dioxin incident total €102.4 million. This comprises the following: Primary Processor: €30m, Secondary Processors: €39m Producers: €23.6m, Renderers and other costs: €9.8m

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (15 Oct 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 young...

Written Answers — Fur Farming: Fur Farming (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The renewed Programme for Government includes a commitment to phase out fur farming over three years. I have asked my officials to examine what legislative changes are necessary to give effect to that commitment.

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (15 Oct 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 – 4 October 2009 1 January – 4 October 2008 Northern Ireland 61,491 21,535 Great Britain 7,180 1,171...

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The disposal of fallen animals is subject to EU Regulations, notably Regulation (EC) No 1774 of 2002. These regulations require that animals which die on-farm must generally be disposed of through approved knackeries and rendering plants. My Department's contribution to the Fallen Animals Scheme ceased with effect from 14th April 2009. This was as a result of budgetary constraints and also...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: On 4 December my Department issued a Press Release to indicate that it was investigating in close collaboration with the F.S.A.I., the source of a contaminant in animal feed. This followed the disclosure of non dioxin like marker PCBs in pork fat. The F.S.A.I. contacted the Food Standards Agency in the U.K. about the matter that day. The first indication that Northern Ireland was...