Results 15,641-15,660 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Dairy Sector. (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Creed is right. The market mechanism measures can take product off the market, thus giving it a boost. During the course of the health check, many countries argued that such measures should be much restricted and that the Commission should decide when they were invoked. We argued strongly for the need for the private storage system, the intervention system and the export refunds....

Dairy Sector. (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy pinpoints the particular difficulties facing the market. Additional quota will be useful. The commodity price and this industry have suffered from cycles. We can suffer problems arising from the currency, which can be in our favour at times and against it at others, while in 2007 there was a drought in New Zealand which reduced production there. The US emerged as an exporter...

Dairy Sector. (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: In response to Deputy Deasy, the market mechanism measures we discussed previously are European Union wide. Everybody knows the law of supply and demand — if there is over-supply or lack of demand, the producer is, unfortunately, the victim. That is happening with milk production today. We argued within the European Union, with some success, for the retention of aids to private storage,...

Dairy Sector. (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy is well aware that we do not set the price. Deputy Crawford and I are from a constituency that has a huge dairy sector as well. People are working extremely hard.

Dairy Sector. (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: We do not mandate any EU directive, as the Deputy is aware. He was chairman of the European affairs committee and he knows——

Dairy Sector. (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Directives are implemented European Union wide; they are not mandated by me or by the Department. We must implement them when the decision is made.

Dairy Sector. (11 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: Does Deputy Deasy think——

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (10 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department's Engineering Division has confirmed that the site in question does not encroach on State Foreshore. Accordingly, the matter of a foreshore lease does not arise. However if activity on the site requires access via the Foreshore, or if activity affects the Foreshore, a Foreshore licence will be required.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (10 Feb 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 — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (10 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The number of REPS 4 applications for payment received in Mayo up to the closing date of 15 May 2008 was 1,066. The first payments for these cases issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared. In total 51 REPS 4 payments have either issued or are...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (10 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: In respect of applications made under the Farm Waste Management Scheme, arrangements are being made in my Department's local offices for the return to farmers of original invoices as soon as possible to facilitate any such farmers who require those invoices to claim VAT refunds from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (10 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 524 and 526 to 528, inclusive, together. The Minister for Health and Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Under the general labelling Directive (2000/13/EC), the place of origin of the foodstuff must be given only if its absence might mislead the consumer to a material degree. The European Commission is currently...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (10 Feb 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Feb 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 — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (10 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department is currently processing 145 Early Retirement Scheme applications received before 14 October 2008 and these will be paid subject to approval.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (10 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: When an application under the Early Retirement Scheme is approved and provided there are no other outstanding issues, the application is scheduled for the next available payment date. Payments under the scheme are issued in monthly instalments on the last working day of the month.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named is an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. A decision will be made in respect of the application as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named is an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. My Department is currently examining the application and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. My Department is currently examining the application and will carry out the farm inspection concerned as soon as possible.