Results 15,481-15,500 of 18,482 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Fishing Quota: Fishing Quota (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The representatives of the polyvalent (multi-purpose) vessels in the Irish fleet sought an increased share of Ireland's mackerel quota for 2009, while the representatives of the Refrigerated Salt Water (RSW) fleet, based in the north-west opposed any increase in the share for the polyvalent vessels. The background to the situation is that the allocation arrangements were last revised in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I am keenly aware of the problems encountered by farmers as a consequence of the bad weather, particularly the harvesting of forage and cereal crops in 2008. In recognition of these problems, I wrote to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Fischer Boel, seeking approval for the early payment of the 2008 Single Payment. My request was for advance payment at a rate of 50%,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: A good deal of work has been undertaken on drafting the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which gives effect to a number of commitments in the area of animal health and welfare contained in the Programme for Government. In particular, the Bill will amend and consolidate previous legislation to reflect the changed disease status of our animals and update existing legislation, to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The new REPS 4 scheme allows grassland farmers to apply for REPS even if they are operating above the general limit of 170 kgs of organic nitrogen per hectare laid down in the Nitrates Directive, provided that they apply for a nitrates derogation. In 2008, 603 REPS 4 farmers applied for a derogation. I welcome the fact that more intensive farmers are joining REPS, as it means that our most...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (11 Feb 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 — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 89 together. 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,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The EU Commission has now brought forward proposals for a new European Fisheries Control system which allows for the application of administrative action or criminal proceedings in conformity with national law. The possibility of introducing administrative sanctions for fisheries offences in Ireland was comprehensively considered, including an examination of practices in other Member States,...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997, as amended, governs the granting, renewal, amendment or revocation of aquaculture licences. In considering an application for an aquaculture licence, including an application to renew an aquaculture licence, the licensing authority must consider: the potential impacts on safety and navigation, the ecological impacts on wild fisheries, natural habitats,...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the Early Retirement Scheme were suspended for new applications on 14 October 2008 due to budgetary constraints. I have no proposals to re-open the schemes.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Nitrates Regulations (SI No. 378 of 2006) are a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the first instance. The objective of the Regulations is to protect water quality and the various provisions are designed to control the management of fertilisers, including the timing, method of application and maximum amounts that may be applied, in order to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: In December 2008 I announced details of a grant-aid package of €16.7 million under my Department's capital investment scheme for the marketing and processing of agricultural products. The grant-aid will benefit 66 enterprises and is expected to contribute to an actual investment on projects in the region of €70 million across the horticulture, livestock marts and small meat sectors. These...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 98 and 122 together. One of my primary objectives in the Health check negotiations was to get access to unspent funds within the EU's agriculture budget for use by Member States with a wide range of discretion. This was achieved in the final deal and, as a result, Ireland will receive additional funds amounting to approximately €7m in 2009 (from the...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Out of 12,773 farmers who have applied for REPS 4 (including those whose applications have been received since the 2008 closing date of 15 May), 935 farmers have applied for the mixed grazing supplementary measure.

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (11 Feb 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 last month provided no new momentum for the negotiations and the next key event will be the G20 meeting in...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Bord Bia has a comprehensive set of marketing and promotional programmes in place. These programmes are target driven and have been developed in consultation with key stakeholders in the Irish food industry. The UK will continue to be Ireland's single largest export market and a major priority for exporters. While Bord Bia will continue its marketing activities in the UK, however other...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Farm waste Management Scheme was introduced by my Department in March 2006 in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates Directive and closed for the receipt of payment claims on 31 December 2008. Almost 17,400 payment claims remain to be processed in 2009 and my Department is continuing to carry out inspections on completed work carried out under the...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The deadline for completion of work and the submission of claims for grant payment under the Farm Waste Management Scheme expired on 31 December 2008 although applicants were permitted to submit certain supporting documentation up to 9 January 2009. Almost 17,400 payment claims remain to be processed to payment stage under the Scheme in 2009. The Book of Estimates provides €125 million...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (11 Feb 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 March 2009, my Department will apply to the EU Commission for Official Brucellosis Free status in April 2009. At that stage, I would envisage a relaxation of some of the programme's control measures which will reduce the burden...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Checking of REPS 4 applications to the standard required in EU Regulations requires extensive administrative checks including cross-checking REPS applications against the Department's land and animal databases. The detailed examination of plans has revealed a number of issues requiring further assessment. These include: the presentation of biodiversity options and the other mandatory area...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 149 together. Additional support to the sheep sector is being considered in light of the outcome of the recent CAP Health Check. One of my primary objectives in the Health check negotiations was to get access to unspent funds within the EU's agriculture budget for use by Member States with a wide range of discretion. This was achieved in the final...