Results 15,501-15,520 of 18,482 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: The EU has agreed two measures with potential total support of €35.7 million. The first measure allows temporary storage of 30,000 tonnes of product for up to 6 months at a potential cost of €15 million. The second measure allows support of €20.7 million to the costs of the disposal scheme adopted following the dioxin incident.

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together. The CAP Health Check agreement last November represented a very positive outcome for the Irish dairy sector, and the milk quota elements of the final package will be particularly beneficial to milk producers in this country. It was agreed that quotas will be increased by 1% per year for the next five years, commencing on 1 April 2009....

Written Answers — Milk Prices: Milk Prices (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Common Agricultural Policy contains various market support measures for the dairy sector. The initial CAP Health Check proposals had planned to abolish or weaken most of these. During the negotiations I argued very strongly in favour of keeping critical market instruments in place and using them effectively. These support measures can now be used to respond to price volatility in the...

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

Brendan Smith: The product recall scheme provides assistance in respect of eligible product manufactured from pigs slaughtered in Ireland between 1 September and 6 December 2008. A case has been made for other products manufactured in Ireland and that were affected by the product recall to be considered for assistance. These would include products containing both Irish and imported pigmeat and products made...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The main organic food promotion event this year will be National Organic Week, which will be held for the fifth year in a row this September. The National Organic Awards will take place in conjunction with National Organic Week. Bord Bia, in collaboration with Bord Iascaigh Mhara, have invited a number of organic companies to exhibit at Biofach, the World Organic Trade Fair in Nuremberg later...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I have no role in relation to contractual relationships between retail buyers and their suppliers. The Competition Authority, established under the 2002 Act has a role in relation to ensuring that markets operate freely and this includes the retail sector.

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 131 together. The package of measures agreed at the December 2008 EU Fisheries Council were in my opinion the best possible deal available to Ireland in what were very challenging circumstances. The main elements of the package include an increase of 5% in the value of quotas available to Ireland from €194m to €200m and the successful defence of...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware since my appointment as Minister I consistently requested the EU Commission to raise the age for BSE Testing in the light of the on-going reduction in case numbers and the ages of confirmed cases. Consequently, I warmly welcomed the decision to raise the testing age of both animals slaughtered for human consumption as well as emergency slaughtered and fallen...

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

Brendan Smith: In 2008, €9,759,552.12 was paid to 2,140 participants in REPS 2.

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

Brendan Smith: Almost 17,400 payment claims remain to be processed to payment stage under the Farm Waste Management Scheme in 2009. It is not possible at this stage to provide a date for the completion of all farm inspections required to be carried out under the Scheme. However, my Department will endeavour to ensure that these inspections are completed within the shortest time possible and has introduced...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 128 together. The information requested by the Deputy will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

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

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy is shown in the following table. 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Number of aquaculture licence applications received 58 70 73 68 38 26 Number of aquaculture licences granted 23 38 34 25 10 1 Number of Aquaculture licences granted by Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board 2 9 3 1 3 0 The figures provided do not include renewal, assignment, revocation,...

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

Brendan Smith: In 2008, €301,303,772.78 was paid to 44,325 participants in REPS 3.

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

Brendan Smith: I expect 46,376 REPS 3 participants to be in the scheme on 15 May 2009. There are currently 12,773 applicants for REPS 4, made up of 10,773 who submitted applications and farm plans by 15 May 2008, another 1,546 who submitted farm plans after 15 May 2008 under the special arrangement agreed with the European Commission for farmers in REPS 2 with contracts terminating in 2008 after 15 May, and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (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. Last week, the Government took a number of decisions on the overall Expenditure Control and Economic Strategy that included the funding for the...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The EU Fisheries Councils in November and December 2008 adopted a new Cod Recovery Plan, as set out in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1342/2008 and Annex IIa of the 2009 TAC and Quota Regulation (EC) No 43/2009. These Regulations are applicable to the fishing fleets of all Member States fishing with specified fishing gears in the relevant sea areas. Under these Regulations, Ireland and other...

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

Brendan Smith: The representatives of the polyvalent (multipurpose) 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 2001....

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 155 together. The deal I secured for Irish farmers in the Health Check negotiations was a very good one in very challenging circumstances. In terms of additional payments to farmers, the deal itself is worth over €90 million over the coming years. This money arises as a result of the agreement secured by Member States to utilise unspent Single Farm...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department is in consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the EU Commission to agree future procedures to ensure that all applications for aquaculture licences are fully compliant with the requirements of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. €1.46 million has been set aside specifically to support...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I regard the Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-13 (The Cawley Report) as the blueprint for the development of the seafood sector going forward. An implementation group, the Seafood Strategy Implementation Group (SSIG) was set up in 2007 under the chairmanship of Dr Noel Cawley. It is comprised of stakeholders from all sectors of the industry...