Results 14,881-14,900 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 54 and 55 together. The sheep sector is a valuable part of the overall agri-food sector and its future depends on its ability to meet the needs of the market. Following on from the recent CAP Health Check, I received a number of submissions regarding possible future support for this sector. One of my primary objectives in the Health Check Negotiations...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I announced yesterday that unused funds available in 2009 from the Single Farm Payment National Reserve would be paid to hill sheep farmers in the form of an Uplands Sheep Payment. The amount in question is approximately €7million in 2009. These funds have become available as a result of a request by myself, supported by a number of my counterparts from other Member States, in the context...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department has received thirty eight submissions relating to the proposed usage of €120 million in additional modulation funds. Under the Health Check agreement these 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The total number of applications for REPS 4 received in 2007 and 2008 was 12,292. As of today, REPS 4 payments have been made to 6,194 applicants or just over 50% of the total. These payments amount to some €20.5 million. REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to different EU Regulations from the preceding versions of REPS. Under REPS...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The total number of applications for REPS 4 received in 2007 and 2008 was 12,292. As of today, REPS 4 payments have been made to 6,194 applicants or just over 50% of the total. These payments amount to some €20.5 million. REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to different EU Regulations from the preceding versions of REPS. Under REPS...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: While the Irish agri-food sector operates in a global market that is currently experiencing unprecedented change, I am optimistic about its long–term future stability. Despite the well documented challenges in the global market, I believe that our indigenous industry has the potential to boost export returns and approach €10 billion in annual export revenues by 2011, as has been targeted...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: It is part of my role as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to support the sustainable development of the mussel fishing industry which is important to many coastal communities. At all times in my actions as Minister I am bound by national and EU law and in particular by the judgements made by the European Court of Justice. In December 2007, the European Court of Justice found...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The retail sector played a very important role in the actions taken through the supply chain to restore consumer confidence following the dioxin incident. The main priority was to get product back on the shelves with as little discontinuity as possible and the prompt action of the retail trade in this regard contributed greatly to achieving this. The primary purpose of the contingency fund...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The total number of applications for REPS 4 received in 2007 and 2008 was 12,292. As of today, REPS 4 payments have been made to 6,194 applicants or just over 50% of the total. These payments amount to some €20.5 million. REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to different EU Regulations from the preceding versions of REPS. Under REPS...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: In the light of the deterioration in the public finances, and in the context of the Supplementary Budget scheduled for 7th April 2009, the Government is currently reviewing of all public expenditure and taxation measures, including my Department's budget for the coming year. The outcome of that review will be reflected in the 2009 Revised Estimates Volume to be published following the Budget.

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 76, 82, 110 and 112 together. We have an unprecedented situation in the dairy sector at present and the outlook for dairy markets in the short term is poor. Following historically high prices in 2007 and early 2008 a market correction is now taking place and there is the added complication of the credit crunch. These two factors have put an enormous...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The fisheries fuel aid package referred to is the EU Regulation 744/2008 instituting a temporary specific action aiming to promote the restructuring of the European Community fishing fleets affected by the high fuel prices. This was introduced to mitigate against the impacts that the escalating fuel prices had on the European fishing fleet in 2008. Recent developments in the global fuel...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: Movement restrictions were placed on 22 cattle farms to which contaminated feed was supplied. In addition, restrictions were placed on a further 14 farms for further testing. Positive results were found for 4 of these farms. Arising from this, all cattle who had, or were suspected of having, come into contact with the contaminated feed have been slaughtered. In the case of pigs, movement...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The current position in regard to the WTO negotiations is that talks are stalled following the failure to reach agreement at the Ministerial meeting last July and the decision to defer indefinitely a second Ministerial meeting planned for last December. The World Economic Forum at Davos in January provided no new momentum for the negotiations and the next key event will be the G20 meeting in...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: Since 1959 Ireland has applied its criminal law in relation to fisheries matters and, since our membership of the European Community, Ireland has applied the criminal law in the enforcement of fisheries policy. Successive Governments have applied the criminal law. We do this to protect fish stocks and to seek to avoid financial penalties being imposed on the State and the Irish tax payer. ...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: There has been speculation recently about the possibility of Iceland applying for membership of the European Union (EU). As with any other European country, Iceland would not be "asked" to join the EU. It is entirely up to countries who wish to become members to make an application for membership, provided they meet the Copenhagen Criteria which set out the basic standards for membership....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The number of payment claims which remained to be processed to full payment stage under the Farm Waste Management Scheme at the beginning of 2009 was 17,397. Payment of the first instalment of 40 per cent of the grants due to these farmers has already commenced and will be continued by my Department as claims are approved. It is hoped that all approved claims will have been paid their first...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following table set out details of the schemes operated by Department under which financial penalties are imposed together with the details of penalties imposed for failure to comply with the criteria of that scheme. Name of Scheme/Programme Cost of penalty € Installation Aid Scheme 124,085 Farm Waste Management Scheme 100,230 Farm Improvement Scheme 14,930 Scheme of Early...

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The issue of emerging bio-security threats is being dealt with centrally by an interdepartmental working group on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) issues which reports to the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning. My Department is a member of the Committee.

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department's contingency arrangements to mitigate the risk of the introduction of the bluetongue virus into the country are based on existing EU legislation and an ongoing assessment of the risk to Ireland. In terms of my Department's overall contingency arrangements, we have produced a comprehensive Bluetongue Contingency Plan for Ireland. Information and advice leaflets on Bluetongue...