Results 14,621-14,640 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department received approximately 60 applications for the Early Retirement Scheme after 14 October 2008. These applications could not be accepted for processing as they were received after the date on which the Scheme had been suspended for new applications due to budgetary constraints. Apart from these 60 applications my Department is not aware of the number of other farmers who may...

Written Answers — Food Exports: Food Exports (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The additional €2.5m in Grant in aid to Bord Bia will be used, in particular, to assist companies severely affected by sterling depreciation and the resultant challenges created in the Irish and UK markets. Initiatives being planned by Bord Bia will focus specifically at helping companies to broaden their export reach in European markets and will include a more aggressive trade fair...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: This matter is the subject of ongoing discussion with the Federation of Irish Fishermen and I am awaiting their specific proposals before taking any further action.

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following confirmation by the Valuation Office that it would not be in a position to supply a valuation service in respect of activities on State foreshore, my Department sought approval from the Department of Finance for the use of valuers from the private sector. A number of applications for foreshore consents currently on hand cannot be progressed without valuation. The Department of...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was closed for new applications on 14 October 2008 and only fully completed applications received up and including that date are being processed by my Department. I have no immediate plans to reopen entry to the Scheme at this time.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Against the background of the deterioration in public finances, my approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to protect expenditure for major developmental measures in the agri-food sector. To achieve this objective, savings had to be found in other areas and I decided reluctantly to reduce expenditure under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme for 2009 by reducing the maximum...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: In the administration of REPS applications my Department, as an accredited paying agency, must respect the requirements of the governing EU Regulations. My Department must therefore ensure that the scheme eligibility conditions are complied with in all cases. Applications are subjected to checks to confirm this and my Department has no option but to reject those which do not meet essential...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. At present EU food labelling legislation is harmonised by Council Directive 2000/13/EC, transposed in 2002, with 8 amendments since. In January 2008, the European Commission presented its proposals to update this legislation which aims to provide a high level of consumer protection in...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (20 May 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. On 21 April 2009 The European Commission published a Green Paper on the latest reform of the CFP in order to launch a consultation with Member States and...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following are details of the approximate number of inspections which it is expected my Department will carry out during the course of 2009; Name of Scheme/Programme No. of Inspections Cost of Inspections (Non Salary) Feed Inspection Programme 900 €40,500 Farm Forestry Programme 5,000 €150,000 On-Farm Investment Scheme 20,000 1. Installation Aid Scheme 50 1. Suckler Welfare...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Under the general labelling Directive (2000/13/EC), the place of origin of the foodstuff must be given only if its absence might mislead the consumer to a material degree. The European Commission is currently undertaking a major review of all food labelling legislation. In this context...

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

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, 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. In reaching this decision, I recognised the difficulties, and costs including compliance costs, facing the sheep sector and was anxious to introduce a scheme immediately in order that Irish sheep farmers could...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: By 31 December 2008, my Department had received 12,146 applications for REPS 4. Of those processed so far, 355 applications contained major deficiencies and were determined to be ineligible. The applicants in such cases had to resubmit a corrected application by the closing date for applications this year of 15 May in order to be eligible for payment in respect of 2009. The applications...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: In the administration of REPS applications my Department must ensure that the scheme eligibility conditions are complied with in all cases. A number of applications for 2007 and 2008 were rejected due to major deficiencies in the farm plans, and any new application submitted for 2009 will be subject to the normal checks before acceptance. I am not aware of a breakdown in communication...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease: Bovine Disease (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Brucellosis is now at an historically low level in Ireland. The last confirmed case was disclosed in April 2006. My Department applied to the European Commission on 31 March last for formal recognition of Officially Brucellosis Free status (OBF) for Ireland. I am hopeful that a decision on our application will be taken in July at the latest. Achievement of OBF status would allow the...

Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: As indicated in reply to Question No 209 of 29th April 2009 the FSAI has overall responsibility for coordination and enforcement of food safety legislation in Ireland. It carries out this remit through service contracts with this Department and the other agencies concerned. These service contracts are established in accordance with the provisions of The Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Maize, soya, oilseed rape and cotton are the only crops used as animal feed ingredients for which there are GM varieties. The World market has adequate supplies of both GM and non GM varieties of these crops for purchase by Irish feed operators. For economic reasons the vast bulk of the purchases made of these are of GM varieties. It is not necessary for my Department to intervene in this...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The issue of labelling of fisheries products is governed by S.I. No. 320 of 2003 which gives effect to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 104/2000 and to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2065/2001 laying down the conditions for informing consumers about fishery and aquaculture products. The Regulations set out the specific information required on the label where fishery products are sold...

Written Answers — Waste Food Recycling Policy: Waste Food Recycling Policy (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: At present the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government is drafting legislation on the management of food waste. Officials in my Department are in contact with that Department regarding the regulation of food waste in animal feed.