Results 14,641-14,660 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the person named within the next fifteen days.

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

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the person named within the next fifteen days.

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

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements under Category B of the 2008 National Reserve. This category caters for new entrants to farming who commenced farming after 31 December 2005 and who did not pursue any agricultural activity in his/her own name or at his/her own risk in the five years immediately preceding the commencement of the new agricultural...

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

Brendan Smith: The decision to reduce the forestry premium and to restrict the availability of the reconstitution grant to forests damaged by disease or frost was set against the background of unprecedented pressure on the public finances and the necessity to take difficult decisions in order to make maximum use of limited resources. Maintaining an active afforestation programme was an important...

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

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the person named within the next 15 days.

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

Brendan Smith: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the annual forestry premium that is paid to clients who have established forests under the Afforestation Scheme administered by my Department. This year's annual forestry premiums were paid earlier this month and included an 8% reduction. This decision to reduce the forestry premiums must be viewed in the context of the unprecedented pressure on...

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

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. 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...

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

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health and 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...

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

Brendan Smith: According to the Central Statistics Office, in the 4-year period covering the years 2005 to 2008 inclusive, the food price index has recorded a slightly lower level of increase than the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI). Food prices increased by 11.1% over that period while overall prices as measured by CPI increased by 13.5%. The most recent annual data available from the Central...

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

Brendan Smith: An indication of the country of origin is not mandatory for the poultry sector, except in the case of unprocessed meat coming from third countries. My Department has been in extensive communication over the past year with the European Commission with a view to making such labelling compulsory. While the Commission adopted a negative opinion in relation to our proposal for national...

Written Answers — Arable Crops: Arable Crops (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: The area of potatoes grown in Ireland in the past three years was as follows. Year Hectares 2006 11,500 2007 11,700 2008 11,600 The area grown has remained static in recent years.

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Teagasc has prepared a development strategy for the Irish pig industry, which identifies the issues facing the sector and makes certain recommendations. The 'Pig Industry Strategy Steering Group', which includes representation from my Department and all sectors of the industry, has been established for the purpose of furthering those recommendations. This group will identify, prioritise and...

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

Brendan Smith: Data supplied by the Central Statistics Office indicates that the total quantity of pet food imported into this country from January to December 2008 was approximately 72,700 tonnes. Under EU harmonised rules petfoods must be produced from animal by-products obtained from animals that are fit for human consumption in accordance with EU legislation. Processed petfood must be produced at an...

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

Brendan Smith: Responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency. As far as my Department is concerned labelling checks are carried out as part of the routine official checks...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 259 together. Bord Bia closely monitors food exports and has recently published a Strategy to boost food exports for the period 2009-2011. The strategy sets out the Bord's six key priorities to be addressed including enhancing the industry's position on its home market to capitalise on the potential for growth and expansion of exports with a particular...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: I believe that the report of the Sheep Industry Strategy Development Group sets out a proper framework for the future development of the sheep sector. While most of the group's recommendations need to be implemented by the industry itself, a number of them fall within the remit of my Department and the state agencies under my aegis and good progress has been made on them. 'Sheep Ireland' has...

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

Brendan Smith: My Department is responsible for the operation of EU controls on imports of products of animal origin and fresh fruit and vegetables under its service contract with the FSAI and in compliance with Community rules for the hygiene of food and feed. The EU rules stipulate that food products of animal origin imported from an EU source must be from approved food business establishments and be...

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

Brendan Smith: The number of applications under the Early Retirement Scheme currently being processed by my Department is 68. These were all received before 14 October 2008. A total of 280 applications have been approved in the past 12 months. My Department received approximately 60 applications for the Early Retirement Scheme after 14 October 2008. These applications could not be accepted for processing as...

Written Answers — Forestry Planting Programme: Forestry Planting Programme (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: All tree species grant-aided by my Department under the forestry grant schemes achieve high levels of carbon-sequestration. The potential of different tree species to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere depends mainly on their rate of growth. Some conifer species grow rapidly and will begin to sequester considerable amounts of carbon early in their life. Other species, including...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry: Fishing Industry (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: Since taking up the Agriculture Fisheries and Food portfolio in June 2008, it has been highlighted to me very forcefully by the Federation of Irish Fishermen that it is essential to have in place a level playing field on control across the EU. The EU Commission estimates that 88% of EU stocks are over-exploited and Scientists have recommended closure of 19% of fisheries. These are...