Results 14,901-14,920 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Government fully supports the EU commitments to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions to at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, and to scale up this reduction to as much as 30%, as part of a new global climate change agreement when other developed countries make comparable efforts. The Government also supports the commitment to increase the share of renewables in energy use to 20% by...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 81, 93, 94 and 99 together. 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...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 107 together. The agreement concluded with pig processors in December involves making available a facility of €180 million from the public finances to assist processors in funding the recall and destruction of certain pork products from the market and product in storage. To date the Department has advanced a total of €42m to processors, of which...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following are the details of farm inspections undertaken by my Department in 2008 unless otherwise stated. Name of Scheme/Programme No. of Inspections Cost of Inspections (Non Salary) € Feed Inspection Programme 852 55,000 Farm Forestry Programme 5,003 227,423 On-Farm Investment Scheme Approx. 20,000 1 Installation Aid Scheme Approx. 50 1 Suckler Welfare Scheme 625 1 Single...

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

Brendan Smith: At the outset I should state that a full screening Regulatory Impact Analysis has been carried out by my Department on the CAP Health Check and the report is available on the Department's website. That report outlines in some detail the expected impact of the Health Check proposals. The final deal secured last November differs in some respects from the original proposals. In summary, the...

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

Brendan Smith: A first policy debate on the future of the CAP after 2013 took place at the informal meeting of Agriculture Ministers in Annecy in September last. In the initial debate, there was general agreement on the global context in which policy thinking must be developed. All the ministers present were concerned about global food security, increasing environmental pressures and the impact of climate...

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

Brendan Smith: I have made provision of €9.75m in 2009 to meet current commitments under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the preceding equivalent schemes. The Deputy will also be aware of my ongoing support for young farmers and new entrants to farming, most notably in the dairy sector. For example, the allocation of milk quota to new entrants and young farmers has been a feature of the milk...

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

Brendan Smith: The Early Retirement Scheme and the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme were closed to new applicants on 14 October 2008. I have no immediate plans to reopen entry to these schemes at this time.

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

Brendan Smith: The current position is that traceability of pork at slaughter and after is on the basis of production batch. The Department is in consultation with the EU about the possible potential to improve pork traceability so as to reduce the impact in the event of future recalls. As regards possible improved traceability, this will undoubtedly be a key issue for the Group that I have set up under the...

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: The agri-food sector is Ireland's largest indigenous, manufacturing sector and is crucial to sustaining and reinvigorating the economy. Strategies for the development of a consumer focused, competitive and sustainable agri-food sector capable of meeting the challenges of more liberalised markets and broader societal demands both at home and abroad are set out in the Agri-vision 2015 report...

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

Brendan Smith: The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and Early Retirement Scheme were closed to new applicants on 14 October 2008. I have no immediate plans to reopen entry to these Schemes at this time.

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

Brendan Smith: Payment of the first instalment of 40 per cent of the grants due to farmers under the Farm Waste Management Scheme commenced during the week ending 6 March 2009 and will be continued by my Department as claims are approved. I am satisfied that sufficient funding is available for the Scheme in 2009 to ensure that all farmers will receive their entitlements under the Scheme this year.

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

Brendan Smith: Payment of the first instalment of 40 per cent of the grants due to farmers under the Farm Waste Management Scheme commenced during the week ending 6 March 2009 and will continue as claims are approved. The second instalment of 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 exceeding...

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

Brendan Smith: Good progress is being made under the Pigmeat Recall Scheme. At this stage, virtually all affected product in Ireland has been rendered under my Department's supervision and a substantial quantity of affected product overseas has also been destroyed. To date, €42m has been paid under the Scheme. This represents the value of interim payments made to 81 processors in respect of product...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 103 together. The financial arrangements in respect of any loans taken out by farmers for the purposes of carrying out investments under the Farm Waste Management Scheme are entirely a matter between the individual farmers and financial institutions concerned.

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

Brendan Smith: Brucellosis is now at a historically low level in Ireland. The last confirmed case was disclosed in April 2006. If no case of Brucellosis is disclosed between now and the end March 2009, I intend to apply to the EU Commission in April seeking Official Brucellosis Free status for Ireland. At that stage, I would envisage a relaxation of some of the Brucellosis programme's control measures...

Written Answers — Animal Health Standards: Animal Health Standards (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 98 together. I recently launched Animal Health Ireland which aims to improve overall animal health standards, thereby enhancing on-farm productivity and securing improved profitability for farmers through a coordinated national approach to animal health. This delivers on the commitment contained in the Programme for Government, referred to by Deputy...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: No changes to the REPS scheme four specifications have been introduced in the past two months. However, from the administrative checks carried out on REPS 4 plans it was apparent the specification requirements were being misinterpreted in some instances. A circular issued to all planners and local AES offices on 10 February 2009 clarifying where a mandatory environmental undertaking under...

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

Brendan Smith: Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension for new applications on 31 October 2007 are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.