Results 14,541-14,560 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the persons named within the next 10 days.

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (26 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: In 2004, my Department's Veterinary Laboratory Service arranged for a wide-ranging study to be undertaken into the problems on the farm following which a report was produced in June 2006. This report documented the range of the investigations, the methodology involved and the results of different aspects. The farmer involved had certain difficulties with some aspects of the report, and, at...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 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 early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. I have also announced that a special ex-gratia payment not exceeding 3.5 per cent of the value of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue within the next 10 days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS payments totalling €4,638.52 issued to the person named in 2006. My Department has no record of any payments to him under any other schemes.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The REPS 4 application for the person named was received on 11 February 2009. Under EU Regulations, payment on any individual REPS 4 application 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 participant can be released, with the balance being paid when...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following the supplementary budget on 7 April, an 8% reduction was applied to forestry premiums. The 8% reduction for this person equals €26.49 which results in a new premium amount of €304.60 payable from 2009 onwards.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue within the next 10 days.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The forestry premium payment, as with all income, is subject to the income levy but this is a general across-the-board levy which is not specific to forestry. The forestry premiums due for 2009 that were recently paid by my Department included an 8% reduction. This decision to reduce the forestry premiums must be seen in the context of unprecedented pressure on the public finances and the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named has four animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment has issued for one of the animals. The remaining three are in error, as the applicant declared that they were castrated during the six-week meal feeding period. The rules of the scheme state that castration must take place outside this time. My Department has written to the person named to...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: This Bill has been brought to my attention. As there are significant legal issues arising in the first instance I am arranging for the Attorney General to examine and advise in advance of the Government taking a position.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The withdrawal of the 17% increase in REPS 4 rates of payments was a necessary response to the pressures on the public finances and the anticipated level of up-take of REPS 4. Now that the closing date for applications for REPS 4 has passed a full review of the Scheme will be undertaken, in the context of the overall participation rate, the funding which is likely to be available to me and...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department received an application under the Early Retirement Scheme from the person named on 12 December 2008. It could not be accepted for processing as it was received after the Scheme had been suspended for new applications on 14 October 2008 because of budgetary constraints. I indicated at the time that I would monitor all schemes and services throughout 2009 and would review the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: While the person named has submitted a Single Payment application form since the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme in 2005 my Department does not have any record of a National Reserve application form being submitted for the person named for the scheme years 2005, 2006, 2007 or 2008. However, the person named has submitted an application under Category A of the 2009 National Reserve....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Suppliers of good and services to my Department have been paid on average within 16 days of receipt of invoices in the current year in the period from 1 January to 30 April, 2009. Payment for goods and services by State Agencies which come under the remit of my Department are an operational matter for the agencies themselves.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant for grant-aid under both the Farm Waste Management and Farm Improvement Schemes. My Department is currently processing the applications concerned and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

Job Protection. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The agrifood sector is Ireland's most important indigenous sector, providing hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout every county at producer and processor level. The sector was never more important to the Irish economy than it is now. We are justifiably proud of our reputation as "Ireland the Food Island" and, notwithstanding current economic difficulties, the Government is continuing to...

Job Protection. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: I share Deputy Creed's concerns. Indeed, I heard him express on another fora his concerns in regard to the returns to primary producers and, in many instances, processors. I want to reiterate that while recent reductions in prices will undoubtedly be welcomed by consumers and will help to address the difference in price between here and Northern Ireland, the Government appreciates and is...

Job Protection. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: I referred in my earlier remarks to the questions posed by Deputy Creed in regard to the primary producers and processors. I discussed yesterday with the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, and my officials the operation of the UK code, which I understand has been subject to ongoing criticism, in particular by suppliers in terms of its effectiveness. The Tánaiste told the House yesterday...

Milk Prices. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The EU Common Agricultural Policy provides a range of measures that can be used to assist the dairy market. In the health check negotiations last year there was pressure to remove or weaken these considerably. At the time I fought hard to keep the key market instruments in place and these are now being used to help support the market. Dairy farmers' incomes are made up of the market price...