Results 15,721-15,740 of 18,347 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Monitoring Committee for the 2005-2007 Charter of Rights for Farmers met a number of times under an independent chairman, Dr. Noel Cawley. For each meeting of the committee, officials of my Department provided updates on progress on meeting the commitments covered by the Charter. In general, the farming organisations were satisfied with the results. A new Customer Charter is currently...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department is in regular contact with the farming organisations to ensure that their views on the paperwork associated with the various schemes operated by the Department are taken into account.

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

Brendan Smith: My Department supports Bord Bia in promoting the marketing of quality food on a range of markets and in communicating directly with international buyers via market/sector specific publications and events regarding the qualities, systems and production values of our agri-food production including horticulture. Bord Bia has developed a programme of Quality Assurance Schemes in beef, beef,...

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

Brendan Smith: The interdepartmental group has been established and has held two meetings to date. Membership comprises representatives of my Department and the Departments of Finance; Foreign Affairs; Communications; Health and Children; Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Environment and Local Government. A number of issues of cross departmental nature were discussed including CAP/WTO, energy costs,...

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

Brendan Smith: Increased engagement with the food sector is ongoing through three high level groups established on foot of the Agri-Vision Report (the Food Industry Committee, the Agency CEO Group, the Agri-food Research Subgroup), as well as the Interdepartmental Group established under the Programme for Government. The objective of these groups is to ensure that all elements of the food sector are...

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

Brendan Smith: Following on from the series of six regional food fora, a National Conference on Local Food was held in Mullingar in November 2007. This was a joint initiative by my Department and Bord Bia and aimed to raise awareness of local food, provide practical information for those involved in local food production and address some of the issues highlighted at the Regional Food Fora. The audience...

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

Brendan Smith: The centre of excellence for small businesses (Bord Bia Vantage — Centre of Excellence for Small Business) was formally launched in November 2007 and continues to service the market development needs of small business through a comprehensive one-stop shop website signposting the best on-line resources available to assist small enterprises and providing advice on better practice marketing...

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

Brendan Smith: In addition to the wide range of services provided by the Bord Bia Centre of Excellence for small businesses, the development of small and medium enterprises is also supported by the following Bord Bia and Department initiatives: Alternative Routes to market: Bord Bia has incorporated direct routes to market into its new Centre of Excellence for Small Business and produced a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Young Farmer Supports: Young Farmer Supports (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: A number of measures are aimed at supporting the early transfer of farms and relieving set-up costs, including: 100% stamp duty relief on transfers of agricultural land and buildings to young trained farmers; 100% stamp duty relief on land purchased by young trained farmers; 100% stock relief for four years for young trained farmers; 90% agricultural relief from Capital Acquisitions Tax; New...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Stamp duty relief for young trained farmers was renewed in Budget 2009 for a further four years until 31 December 2012.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1252 and 1253 together. Waste management is primarily a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The control authorities for water, nitrates and integrated pollution are the Environmental Protection Agency and/or local authorities. My Department has taken significant steps in assisting farmers to meet their obligation...

Written Answers — Education and Training Programmes: Education and Training Programmes (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1254 to 1257, inclusive, together. I understand from Teagasc that training programmes are delivered at eight colleges and local centres in agriculture, horticulture, horse breeding/training and forestry. In 2008 a total of 746 students enrolled in further level training programmes bringing the total overall number participating in these programmes to 3,480....

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

Brendan Smith: The National Development Plan 2007-2013 makes provision for the expenditure of €641m on Agri-Food Research over that period and my Department has also secured €13.67m in funding for collaborative research from the Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) on Research and Technological Development. Significant progress has been made in allocating funding for agri-food research. My Department...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: All non-core research funding programmes in my Department i.e. FIRM (Food Institutional Research Measure), RSF (Research Stimulus Fund) and COFORD (Forestry Research) are operated solely on a competitive basis. Calls for applications are widely publicised and all institutions with a research capability are eligible to compete. All applications are subjected to a robust 3-stage evaluation...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The completion of the 2008 Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme saw significant investment at both the six Fishery Harbour Centres (which now includes An Daingean) and various Local Authority owned harbours throughout the country. The following table shows the funding provided to Fishery Harbour Centre projects under the 2008 Programme. Fishery Harbours Centres ...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Cromane Harbour is owned by Kerry County Council which is responsible for its maintenance and development. My Department however allocated funding of €750,000 to Kerry County Council in 2008 in order to advance the development of the Harbour. Kerry County Council encountered delays in securing land required for the advancement of the project and were not in a position to draw down the...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I am happy to report that Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Sea Fisheries Board, the agency responsible for developing sustainable Irish Sea Fishing and Aquaculture industries, is currently actively engaging with co-operatives from the main Fishery Harbours and has put in place a comprehensive programme of work including: Seafood quality training for both co-op staff and members; and Developing key...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1263 and 1271 together. A voluntary fishing vessel decommissioning scheme focussed on the larger whitefish vessels over 18 metres was formally launched in February 2008. The scheme which is now closed has resulted in a total of some 6,900 GT being removed from the Irish sea-fishing boat register. The decommissioning scheme was launched with the objective of...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: BIM delivers grant aid schemes for fleet safety and diversification as well as support for the inshore sector. These schemes will continue to be available to fishermen. BIM is responsible for the provision of seafood industry training in Ireland. Training is delivered at BIM's National Fisheries College (NFC), Greencastle, Co. Donegal, the Regional Fisheries Centre (RFC) Castletownbere, Co....

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: BIM and the Marine Institute implement a policy of grant aiding investment to improve our marine environment. Examples include: the Beaufort Awards which, in conjunction with the Marine Institute, funds research on ecosystem management; and a range of projects under the Science/ Industry partnership which focus on the reduction of discards in fisheries.