Results 15,681-15,700 of 18,347 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The interdepartmental group has been established and comprises representatives from the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Foreign Affairs and Enterprise, Trade and Employment and from Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Iascaigh Mhara. This high level market access group has met on two occasions and is currently pursuing a two pronged approach of identifying and exploiting...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: This commitment is progressed primarily through the AgriVision 2015 Action Plan which detailed 167 actions to be undertaken to assist the competitiveness and sustainability of the agri-food industry. By end December 2008, 98% of these actions had been implemented. To continue to achieve these objectives, extensive funding is provided through the Vote, the National Development Plan (NDP) and...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme, introduced in July 2007, provided grant-aid for investment in housing, handling and related facilities. The Scheme was, however, closed for new applications on 31 October 2007 as applications had reached the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016. Overall expenditure under the Farm Improvement Scheme in 2007 and 2008,...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following the approval by EU Commission in September 2007 of the detailed Rural Development Programme (RDP), the implementation of the new schemes and increased payment provisions commenced. In recent months, the budgetary situation has resulted in the curtailment of some of these measures. The total agriculture related RDP expenditure in 2007 was €634 million while to end December 2008 a...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: A range of measures, which are designed to assist farmers to maximise their income, are included in AV2015, Towards 2016, the NDP and the RDP. As already indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question 47653/08 my Department ensures that almost €2 billion in direct payments issue annually to assist farmers maximise their income from farming. A number of taxation measures are in place...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: A new REPS 4 scheme was launched in late 2007 as part of the new Rural Development Programme. For the first time, REPS is open to more intensive farmers and this has the potential to bring numbers to the targeted level. The level of participation at the end of 2006, when REPS 3 closed to new applications, was approx 59,000. By 15 May 2008, the closing date for 2008 REPS 4 applications, some...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The land area under organic production at the end of 2008 was 44,751 hectares compared to 41,122 hectares at the end of 2007, an increase of almost 9%. This represents slightly over 1% of the total utilisable agricultural area. To assist in achieving the Programme for Government target, my Department launched its Organic Farming Action Plan 2008-2012 in April 2008. The Plan was drawn up by...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1197, 1198, 1204, 1205, 1207 and 1208 together. A good deal of work has been undertaken on drafting the new Animal Health and Welfare Bill which will give effect to a number of commitments in the area of animal health and welfare contained in the Programme for Government. In particular the new Bill will amend and consolidate previous legislation to reflect the...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: It has been clarified that this commitment relates to the growing of GM crops and not to the import or consumption of GM food or feed. Consideration on how best to advance this commitment is ongoing.

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Irish food safety is guaranteed by the rigorous standards, processes and audits required under the European Food and Feed Hygiene legislation and the Department's animal traceability system, which supports quality assurances schemes developed and operated through Bord Bia and the industry and related promotional measures. Three traceability projects which can be used to assist marketing are...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1201 and 1224 together. In December 2007, my Department submitted to the European Commission draft national legislation that would require the country of origin to be indicated on pigmeat, poultrymeat and sheepmeat and on food products containing over 70% of these meats. During the past year my Department has been in extensive communication with the Commission...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Food labelling legislation and nutritional claims on food come within the remit of my colleague, the Minister of Health and Children and are primarily covered by EU Regulations. Under Article 13 of EU Regulation 1924/06, Member States are responsible for providing the European Commission with national lists of health claims, based on scientific evidence of effectiveness, by 31 January 2008....

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Department of Health and Children has primary responsibility for the National Strategy for Tackling Obesity. My Department has a role in promoting healthy food production and consumption. Following favourable reaction to the Irish pilot Food Dude programme (including an award by the WHO), a Healthy Eating Initiative was launched in February 2007 to make the Food Dude programme available...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1206 and 1217 together. Good progress is being made in progressing a herd health initiative to deal with non-regulated diseases in a comprehensive manner. Following consultations in recent months with relevant stakeholders including farming, industry, service providers and relevant state agency representatives, there is broad agreement on the establishment of...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The inclusion of animal welfare and other non-trade concerns in WTO negotiations are pursued on an ongoing basis with the Commission and other Member States.

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1210 and 1221 together. The Capital Investment Aid Scheme for the beef and sheepmeat primary processing sectors was launched in April 2007, with the aims of achieving efficiencies in processing and improving market sustainability, competitiveness and added value. The process of examination and evaluation of project proposals has been completed. Enterprise...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The 5-year Animal Welfare, Recording and Breeding Scheme for Suckler Herds came into operation in January 2008. It aims to encourage and underpin the adoption of high standards of animal welfare in suckler herds and to improve the quality of breeding cattle in the beef sector. Almost 54,000 suckler farmers have joined and 85% of all the suckler cows in the country are now covered by the...

Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The first priority of government is to ensure the safety of all food produced, distributed and sold in Ireland and abroad. This is done through the independent Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) (under the aegis of the Minister for Health & Children) The FSAI has full powers for the enforcement of food safety legislation. My Department, like other Departments and Agencies whose...

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: In line with the specific commitment in the Programme for Government, since Bord Bia launched its new European Beef Promotion Campaign in 2005, the volume of Irish beef exported to the European retail market has grown significantly from 145,000 tonnes in 2005 to 245,000 tonnes in 2007. The major EU retail chains now list Irish beef and over 95% of total exports go into the high value EU...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department provided funding of €114 million towards investment in dairy processing and a total of 19 capital investment projects were approved and awarded Government grant assistance under the Fund, which will generate an estimated capital spend of €286 million at full production. The purpose of the Fund is to increase the efficiency of the main dairy outputs by supporting the...