Results 14,161-14,180 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: The dairy sector downturn has its roots in the supply response that resulted from high prices in 2007 and in the early part of 2008. That situation was then exacerbated by the international financial crisis. This has had a major effect on the demand side. My efforts have focused on ensuring that the full range of market management supports would be made available at EU level. As a result...
- Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: A total of 19 capital investment projects were awarded Government grant assistance of over â¬114 million from the Dairy Investment Fund. This grant aid is geared to generating an estimated capital spend of â¬286 million in the Irish dairy processing sector and will play a key role in ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the dairy industry in Ireland. Over â¬33 million in grant aid...
- Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: In recognition of the difficulties and costs, including compliance costs, facing the sheep sector, I decided that unused funds from the Single Payment National Reserve would be paid to hill sheep farmers in 2009 in the form of an Uplands Sheep Payment, as a means of ensuring that Irish sheep farmers could benefit immediately from these funds in 2009. During the negotiations on the CAP Health...
- Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (30 Jun 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. The Green Paper on the reform of the current CFP, published by the European Commission on 21 April 2009 has initiated a Pan-European consultation process on...
- Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 105 together. From a dairy sector perspective the CAP Health Check agreement of last November had two key elements, supply control and market support. The agreement essentially provided the framework for the EU milk quota regime leading up to its abolition in 2015. There was a wide divergence of views among member states in the months leading up the...
- Written Answers — Equine Identification Regulations: Equine Identification Regulations (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: European Commission Regulation No. 504/2008, which sets out an improved system of identification for equidae, comes into effect tomorrow, 1 July 2009 and is binding. All keepers of horses, passport issuing bodies and veterinary practitioners are obliged to comply with the provisions of this legislation. Anyone failing to comply with the provisions of this Regulation could face the prospect of...
- Written Answers — Equine Identification Regulations: Equine Identification Regulations (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: EU and national legislation currently requires that all equines be accompanied by a passport (identification document) when being moved. In addition the vast majority of approved studbook keeping organisations operating in this country currently require that animals are micro-chipped as part of their registration systems. European Commission Regulation No. 504/2008 comes into effect...
- Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: Having regard to overall economic situation, the state of the public finances, and the funding available to me in the 2009 Vote for my Department it was necessary following the April 2009 supplementary budget, to reduce the rate of premium under the suckler welfare scheme 2009 to â¬40 per eligible animal to be paid in 2010. The financial pressures have not eased and I have no plans at...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: The delays in processing REPS 4 applications occurred mainly as a result of the urgent need to devise a comprehensive system of eligibility checks following EU audits in late 2007 and early 2008 as a result of which the European Commission indicated that the previous system of checking did not meet the requirements of the new EU Regulations now in force. To reduce the risk of a "financial...
- 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 — Agrifood Sector: Agrifood Sector (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: Agriculture and food production are always subject to change and challenges and while agriculture is often more resilient to economic crises than other sectors, there is no doubt that certain parts of the industry are facing significant challenges this year, not least from low milk prices. However, the agriculture and food sector has the innate capacity to help lead the economic recovery in...
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: A legal basis for the deferment of payments under the Farm Waste Management Scheme is provided for in section 12 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009.
- Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 to 434, inclusive, together. These applications for foreshore consents were received by my Department in the period January to April 2008. The applications were circulated to statutory consultees and responses have been received. The applications are currently being examined by the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC), which advises my Department on...
- Written Answers — Fisheries Conservation: Fisheries Conservation (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: If the Deputy is referring to Spurdog (Squalus acanthias), there is a limit as to the total catch allowed in each month. For June and July 2009, these limits were set at 6 tonnes for over 55 feet vessels and 3 tonnes for under 55 feet vessels. These limits are outlined in detail in Fisheries Management Notice No. 16. for June and No 18 of 2009 for July. There are currently no catch limits...
- Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: My Department has completed and published a total of eight Value for Money reviews over the past three years. They covered the following areas of expenditure: Title of Review Publication Date Laboratory Facilities (Plant Health, Crops, Research & Development Grants) February 2007 Farm Waste Management November 2007 Public (Exchequer and EU) Supports for Aquaculture June 2007 Food...
- Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: An application for a foreshore lease to facilitate construction of a pier at Doonbeg, Co. Clare was received on 9 October 2007. The application was circulated to my Department's consultees in the normal way. The observations of the consultees have been forwarded to Clare County Council and a response is awaited.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: Payment will issue in the next 10 days.
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: The interest paid by my Department in respect of late payment for goods or services is as follows: Year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 to 31 May Late Interest paid â¬13,971 â¬11,908 â¬4,032 â¬3,941 â¬8,160 â¬2,778 My Department is fully committed to complying with the terms of the Prompt Payment Regulations and also with the recent Government decision that all Departments commit to...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: Attendance at a 20-hour training course before their third year of participation is mandatory for participants in REPS 3. Participants may be exempted from this requirement if they have already completed a 20-hour course under REPS 2. However the course attended by the person named in 2000 was held under REPS 1 and does not provide exemption from the requirement under REPS 3. My officials...
- Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (30 Jun 2009)
Brendan Smith: In accordance with E.U. requirements, all inspections should generally be unannounced: A Member State can give up to 14 days notice for land eligibility inspections and for cross-compliance inspections involving Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) other than those related to animal identification and registration, food, feed, and animal welfare. For checks involving animal...