Results 14,101-14,120 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: There is an applicant awaiting payment under the Pigmeat Recall Scheme whose name and address approximate to that supplied by the deputy. My officials are currently scrutinizing the company's response to a number of queries raised by my Department. I expect that claims that have been found to be proper and appropriate will be paid before the end of July.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. His application for payment, following the receipt of some additional information, is currently being examined and a decision will be made in regard to the application as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: As indicated in a previous reply, an application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 1 May 2008. The details of the over-claims in respect of the areas declared are as follows. This application was selected for a satellite eligibility inspection which required a follow-up field visit. During this visit, discrepancies were found in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named received his 75% payment in March 2009. I expect the remaining 25% payment to issue within weeks to those farmers who have already received their first payment of 75% in respect of REPS 4 applications lodged in 2007 and 2008.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: From January 2009 to the end of May 2009 my Department made forestry premium payments totalling almost €62.5 million. Of this figure, approximately €900,000 was for first premiums in respect of new planting and €61.5 million was for subsequent premiums in respect of previous planting. Premium payments since the Supplementary Budget reflect the 8% reduction. As for future premium...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: 223 people have applied to transfer to Portlaoise with this Department under the Decentralisation Programme. This is broken down as follows. Location Number of staff who have applied to transfer via the Central Applications Facility (CAF) Staff assigned to this Department via the Decentralisation programme currently awaiting transfer to Portlaoise. Total Portlaoise 142 81 223 The...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: As I advised the Joint Oireachtas Committee I established a Review Group, chaired by Dr. Patrick Wall, to make recommendations on whatever adjustment of controls or other measures are necessary in the light of the experience gained during the dioxin contamination incident. The work of the Group is ongoing and it will report both the Minister for Health and Children and myself. The Group is...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Forestry premiums were introduced with a view to encouraging farmers to plant new forests. Over 90% of all afforestation undertaken in recent years was by farmers with forestry regarded as an important and viable alternative land use option. For these farmers it is an integral part of their farming activity and a very important source of additional income. In 2008, 11,500 farmers received...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Government policy in relation to the development of the aquaculture industry is set out in the Cawley Strategy — Steering A New Course, Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007 — 2013. The Strategy sees a much bigger role for aquaculture in meeting the increasing demands for seafood and on this basis includes a range of recommendations to promote...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Against the background of the deterioration in public finances, my approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to focus available resources on the measures that would permit us to maintain and grow the productive capacity of the agri-food sector. Because I had chosen to protect expenditure in certain areas, expenditure in other areas, such as installation aid for young...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002, which sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law, stipulates among other things that food business operators at all stages of production, processing and distribution within the businesses under their control must ensure that foods satisfy the requirements of food law. Specifically in regard to traceability the regulations require that the...

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The CSO's final estimate for Output, Input and Income in Agriculture for 2008 shows that operating surplus in agriculture declined by 11.8% in 2008. This follows an increase of 12.5% in 2007, which was brought about by higher output prices, particularly on dairy and cereal markets. While these high commodity prices were maintained into the early part of 2008, there was a decline in the latter...

Written Answers — Farm Advisory Services: Farm Advisory Services (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I fully understand that the current economic climate represents a particularly difficult time for farmers. Farmers are already in a cyclical business and that situation has been compounded by the current international and domestic downturn and low prices for certain commodities. Assistance is provided to farmers in a number of ways and by a number of different agencies and Departments. ...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Inspections to meet the requirements of the Nitrates Regulations are undertaken by my Department. The Department's inspectors currently undertake all on-farm cross-compliance inspections, including checks for compliance with the Nitrates Regulations and have considerable expertise in this area. On-farm inspections are also required under the EU Water Framework Directive which is the...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 65 together. My Department applied to the European Commission on 31 March last for formal recognition of Officially Brucellosis Free status (OBF) for Ireland. The EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health is due to meet to-day and tomorrow and a draft Commission decision on this matter is expected to be presented. If adopted it will then...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Aquaculture licensing is governed by the terms and conditions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997, as amended, and Regulations made thereunder, including, in particular, the Aquaculture (Licence Application) Regulations 1998, S.I. No. 236 of 1998. Other Regulations made under the European Communities Act 1972, as amended, also govern other aspects of aquaculture. In considering an...

Written Answers — Meat Processing Sector: Meat Processing Sector (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: A grant aid scheme for the small meat sector, which includes small slaughterhouses and low throughput meat establishments, culminated in my Department awarding a total of €7.8m in grant assistance to 31 enterprises in December 2008. This grant aid is expected to contribute to an actual investment on projects in excess of €25 million. Details are set out below. A substantial number of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I expect that the remaining 25% payment will issue within weeks to those farmers who have already received their first payment of 75% in respect of REPS 4 applications lodged in 2007 and 2008.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My officials have rejected 237 of the applications for REPS 4 received in the period concerned. The applicants concerned have the right to appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office and I understand that a number of them have already done so.

Written Answers — Meat Processing Sector: Meat Processing Sector (30 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under the Beef and Sheepmeat Investment Fund, grant assistance of over €69 million was recently announced in respect of 15 investment projects. The awards, which are part of a strategy to position the industry to face the challenges and grasp the opportunities that lie ahead, will contribute to total investment in the region of €168 million. The objective of the Fund is to support...