Results 14,801-14,820 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (7 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue shortly from my Department in relation to the application by the person concerned for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (7 Apr 2009)

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

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: There are currently 18 members of staff with fixed-term contracts in my Department. As a result of the moratorium and the ongoing business requirements of my Department 17 of these contracts will not be renewed in 2009 and 1 in 2011. The saving to the exchequer in terms of salary will be approximately €450,000.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (2 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: This Government is committed to the maintenance of an active and substantial forestry programme, evidenced by the almost €125 million that has been allocated to the forestry subhead for 2009. The current suite of Afforestation Grant and Premium Schemes is the most financially attractive package made available in the history of forestry in Ireland. The establishment grant covers 100% of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: Grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme is calculated on the basis of my Department's Standard Costs or on the total of the eligible receipts/invoices submitted by the applicant, whichever is the lesser. The person concerned was also eligible for a 60% grant in this case, rather than the 70% rate referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (2 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Green Paper on the Review of the Common Fisheries Policy is being prepared by the EU Commission. I would expect that the Commission will publish this paper very shortly as it has advised that it will be presenting it to the EU Fisheries Council at its next meeting on 23rd April 2009.

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (2 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: Ministerial approval was granted to Mayo County Council in 2005 to facilitate the construction of an outfall for the Killala Sewerage Scheme. The Council subsequently revised its proposal to allow for the connection of the sewerage scheme to an existing outfall in the vicinity. The new proposal has been assessed and approved by my Department's technical advisors. However legal issues...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (2 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: As has been the practice in regard to previous notices sent by my Department to applicants under this Scheme, the recent letters issued to applicants referred to by the Deputy indicated the name and address of the responsible Division of my Department and provided contact points for applicants who wished to receive further information. In view of the number of letters involved (approx....

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (2 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: New rules restricting fishing vessels' days at sea in the Irish Sea and the waters to the northwest of Ireland and Scotland have been introduced as part of the EU's revised Cod Recovery Plan. The plan has introduced a new system of effort management that sets effort ceilings (expressed in kilowatt-days) for groups of vessels or fleet segments. The management of these ceilings has been...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007-13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks....

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (2 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: The cockle fishery remains closed due to restrictions arising from Ireland's obligations under the EU Birds & Habitats Directives and a related European Court of Justice Judgement. A plan outlining Ireland's roadmap to compliance with these Directives has been submitted to DG Environment and a follow-up meeting between Irish officials and the Commission is due to take place in April. My...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named has 5 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. It is a condition of the scheme that applicants must commence the meal feeding of their calves a minimum of 4 weeks before weaning. The applicant provided a weaning date for 4 calves, which was less than 4 weeks from the date of the commencement of meal feeding. The remaining calf was sold together...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (2 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 to 223, inclusive, together. There is no question of a dispute between the Russian Government and my Department in relation to compensation for stock recalled after the discovery of dioxins in pork products sent to the Russian Federation. Officials from my Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bord Bia are in ongoing contact with the Russian...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (2 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: Tax relief was provided in the Finance (No 2) Act 2008 where an employer provides a bicycle for an employee. The implementation of the scheme for the Civil Service is being dealt with by the Department of Finance. It is understood that implementing the scheme in the Civil Service has given rise to a number of issues, particularly in relation to procurement, warranty and insurance. The...

Written Answers — Agriculture Investment Schemes: Agriculture Investment Schemes (1 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: A Capital Investment Aid Scheme for the beef and sheepmeat primary processing sectors was launched in April 2007, with the aims of achieving efficiencies in processing and improving market sustainability, competitiveness and added value. As indicated in reply to previous Parliamentary Questions the process of examination and evaluation of project proposals under the scheme has been...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department has put in place an Attendance Management Policy which has been developed in consultation with Senior Management and Staff Associations. The management of sick leave is a central focus of this policy document. The aim is to make staff aware that attendance is a vital factor in managing the work of the Department and in the efficient delivery of services and to encourage all...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (1 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988 Teagasc has responsibility for the provision of education and training to the agriculture sector. The delivery of the education and training programme including the number and the location of the colleges/centres from which the programme will be delivered and the future of any particular college are day-to- day operational...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named has 14 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. When the application was processed, there were errors in respect of all of the animals. My Department has written to the person named regarding the errors, and a Department officer has been in contact with him with a view to resolving the matter.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (1 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: Seafood safety is a matter in the first instance for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. The Marine Institute, Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, and Food Safety Authority in conjunction with the shellfish industry maintain programmes monitoring phytoplankton in Irish waters, in addition to toxins in Irish shellfish. I understand from the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority that high...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007-13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks....