Results 14,241-14,260 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 459 and 460 together. There were no advertising campaigns carried out by my Department during the first six months of 2009. The question of advertising campaigns by agencies within the remit of my Department is an operational matter for the bodies themselves.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under EU rules payments in respect of REPS 4 are to be made in two instalments. The first instalment consists of 75% of the total payment due for the year and is paid to individual applicants once all administrative checks on all plans have been completed. The person named has received the first instalment of his payment and my officials expect to release the remaining 25% shortly.

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department is not in direct negotiation with the estate mentioned by the Deputy with regard to a lease in Lough Foyle for aquaculture licensing. Section 35 of the Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Act 2007 amends section 3 of the Foreshore Act 1933 to provide that where the Minister grants a foreshore licence to the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission "such licence may, if the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payments under the Farm Waste Management Scheme have proceeded very satisfactorily this year with over 13,000 payments having been approved to date in 2009 compared to 12,847 payments in the whole of the 2008 calendar year. Additional staff have been employed in certain areas of the country, including some local offices in Cork, to ensure that the remaining payments to be made under the...

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department's contribution to the Fallen Animals Scheme ceased with effect from Tuesday 14th April 2009. This was as a result of budgetary constraints and also reflects the greatly reduced incidence of BSE in this country. However I did provide continued financial support for the collection of certain dead animals, in particular bovines over 48 months of age, for sampling, as required under...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The study in question is being undertaken by the Marine Institute, with others, and was commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency. As such my Department has no role in relation to the terms of reference for the study.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named has 16 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment has issued for ten of the animals. The remaining six animals were rejected for payment as they were registered outside the 27-day limit under the scheme. The other three animals are awaiting disbudding details, and one of these three also has a query as its dam was slaughtered before the date...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I understand that there is no record of any application for an afforestation grant or premium in respect of the person concerned in the Forestry Division of my Department.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Jun 2009)

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

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (18 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Early Retirement Scheme was suspended for new applications on 14th October, 2008. I am, however, conscious that some potential applicants were at an advanced stage of preparing an application when entry to the scheme was suspended and had made, or were making, arrangements to meet the requirements of the Scheme. I am acutely aware of the difficulties which a number of intending...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (18 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Any unestablished person who left the civil service prior to 1 January 1975 is not entitled to preserved superannuation benefits. I understand that the person named had broken service in an unestablished capacity in the Forest Service from 5 December 1966 to 7 November 1969. As the person named left the civil service in 1969 he is not entitled to any preserved benefits in respect of service...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (18 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following the consultation process initiated on the draft Animal Health and Welfare Bill, almost 400 submissions/comments were received from stakeholders, including organisations and individuals with an interest in animal health and welfare matters. On foot of receipt of these submissions my officials met with a number of the organisations and individuals to provide an opportunity for...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under EU Regulations, payment on individual REPS 4 applications for 2009 cannot be made until completion of administrative and area checks on all applications received up to the closing date of 15 May 2009. At that stage 75% of the payment to each individual participant can be released, with the balance being payable when the last of the on-farm inspections for the year has taken place.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The REPS 4 application by the person named cannot be processed further until a reply is received to the letter sent to him by my officials on 8 October 2008 regarding a variance between his REPS plan and his 2008 Single Payment application. A reminder letter issued on 20 March 2009 but no reply has been received.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (17 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. My response to Question No. 202 of 27 May 2009 referred to the possible future potential risk of proliferation of the pacific oyster in Ireland and the study being undertaken at present by the Marine Institute, with others, on reproduction, settlement and environmental interactions of pacific oysters in Ireland. The results of this study...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (17 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: A map has been drawn up in this case and my Department is proceeding to dispose of the turbary rights over the plot. This will require an advertisement of the sale of the turbary rights in accordance with section 8 of the Irish Land Commission (Dissolution) Act 1992.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. My Department is currently examining the application and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned was an applicant for grant-aid under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. The application in this case was rejected by Department letter of 6 November 2008 as he was determined to be ineligible for the Scheme. A Departmental review which upheld the original decision was communicated to the applicant on 16 February 2009. The case is currently under appeal to the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payment issued on 19 May 2009.