Results 14,561-14,580 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Milk Prices. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Apart from the €7 million that I allocated to sheep farmers, which will be distributed in December, we do not have access to the unused funds until 2010. One of the areas identified as a potential recipient is the dairy sector. However, that is not applicable until 2010. The European Union has not yet outlined to us the specific schemes on which we will be able to draw down unused funds....

Milk Prices. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The provision of additional quota does not in any way contribute to current difficulties because Europe will be more than 4% to 5% under quota this year. Quotas will be abolished in 2015. We have argued for increased quotas so that there will not be a hard landing in 2015. For the primary producers and processors the dairy sector is very sophisticated and has the potential to grow. The...

Animal Carcase Disposal. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department's contribution to the fallen animals scheme ceased with effect from Tuesday, 14 April 2009 as a result of budgetary constraints and in reflection of the greatly reduced incidence of BSE in this country. However, I provided continued financial support for the collection of certain dead animals, notably bovines over 48 months of age, for sampling as required under the ongoing...

Animal Carcase Disposal. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: There is an onus on farmers to notify the Department of the death of an animal. I do not have figures of on-farm deaths for 2007 but the equivalent figure for 2008 was 298,000, which varies significantly from the figure given by the Deputy.

Animal Carcase Disposal. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: We have entered discussions on the scheme with all farming bodies. I have met representatives from each of the three main organisations at least once and my officials have met them on a number of occasions. They agree that the costs had to be taken out of the system. The scheme was introduced to deal with the severe difficulties we were experiencing in respect of BSE and it was never...

Animal Carcase Disposal. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: We all know that competition generally has the effect of reducing prices. It has already had an effect even with a limited amount of product going North of the Border. We have also issued draft proposals to the renderers regarding the possibility of collecting carcasses directly. If they are in a position to collect, we will be able to allow individual farmers to bring products to...

Dairy Sector. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Other than the introductory paragraph, my response to this question is much the same as that given to Question No. 43. My Department carries out analysis of the dairy sector on an ongoing basis. The causes of the current predicament are widely known at this stage. The past year has been challenging for the EU dairy sector. During 2008 international dairy markets fell from the record high...

Dairy Sector. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: I fully appreciate the concerns expressed by Deputies Creed and Sherlock and other colleagues on both sides of the House regarding the serious difficulties facing the dairy sector. I am aware of these difficulties having spoken to farmers and processors in the various sectors. We have argued with the Commissioner at Union level that we need to use the market mechanism measures effectively...

Dairy Sector. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Quantifying the value of the supports in place is not straightforward. The one way to increases prices is to remove product from the market. The Deputy correctly said the processors have not had it all their own way because they are not achieving prices on the world market, according to the dairy board and individual processors. At the April Council meeting, I specifically tabled an item...

Animal Carcase Disposal. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 51 together. My Department's contribution to the fallen animals scheme ceased with effect from Tuesday, 14 April 2009. This was as a result of budgetary constraints and also reflects the greatly reduced incidence of BSE in this country. However, I provided continued financial support for the collection of certain dead animals, notably bovines aged...

Animal Carcase Disposal. (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: With regard to sending material to Northern Ireland, ten knackeries have been approved by the Department and, to date, six licences have issued to companies in the North. Some product has been transported to Northern Ireland for rendering. I also understand that another knackery intends to start sending material to Northern Ireland shortly. Applications that were submitted by enterprises...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: At the time of the Supplementary Budget, in April, I indicated that, given the pressures on the public finances and having considered other alternatives, I had decided to reverse the seventeen per cent increase in REPS 4 payments. The effect of this decision is to bring REPS 4 payment levels back to the current REPS 3 levels. This reduced level of payment will be applied to REPS 4 payments...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under the Health Check agreement €120 million in additional modulation funds will be allocated to Ireland's Rural Development Programme over a four year period beginning in 2010. This funding may only be spent on measures addressing the new and ongoing challenges of climate change adaptation and mitigation, renewable energies, water management, biodiversity, innovation measures relating to...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (20 May 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 — Food Industry: Food Industry (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: While the relationship between the food industry and the retail trade is essentially a matter between the parties themselves, there are specific provisions in competition law that extend to business relationships, including relationships between suppliers and retailers. These provisions prohibit various anti-competitive practices, including price-fixing, abusing a dominant position,...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive is the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister has established seven River Basin District Projects whose responsibilities include the development of management plans for each River Basin District, designed to achieve the water quality objectives required by the Water Framework...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: There are currently a total of 372 inspectors involved in farm inspections in relation to schemes operated by my Department. My Department's Management Services Division is engaged in a number of reviews related to staff currently involved in the inspection of farms. The number of inspectors involved in such work will continue to be examined in the light of these reviews.

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Common Agriculture Policy of the EU provides a range of measures that can be utilised to assist the European dairy market. Those measures have been modified over recent years, in the Mid Term Review of the CAP in 2003 and in the Health Check last year. In those negotiations I argued strongly in favour of keeping the critical market instruments in place and of using them effectively....

Written Answers — Sheep Identification Scheme: Sheep Identification Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The introduction of electronic identification (EID) for sheep was agreed at EU level in late 2003. At that time, it was agreed to defer the implementation date until January 2008. The Council revisited this issue in December 2007 when it was agreed that the deadline for the compulsory introduction of EID should be definitively set for 31 December 2009. I am of the view that the introduction...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62. 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...