Results 15,781-15,800 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I believe that the agriculture, food and fishery sectors can play a crucial role in the revitalisation of our economy. The agri-food sector is our pre-eminent indigenous manufacturing sector. It is strongly export oriented, with exports amounting to more than €8 billion, and has a very low import content in its inputs. It is also labour intensive. This is precisely the type of industry...

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (29 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The completion of the negotiations on the CAP health check late last year was an important development for the sector. My main aims in the negotiations were to achieve an increase in milk quotas while maintaining the market management mechanisms in the milk sector and to gain access to unspent single payment funds. I was happy to have succeeded in achieving those aims, while at the same time...

Farm Waste Management. (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The farm waste management scheme is the most successful on-farm investment scheme in the history of the State. It will see over €2 billion invested by both farmers and the Irish taxpayer in providing essential on-farm infrastructure and represents a long-term investment in improving the productive capacity of the most important indigenous sector in the economy. The scheme represents an...

Farm Waste Management. (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I referred to the fact that my constituency colleague, Deputy Crawford, was right when he referred to the price and the demands on commodity prices. I state the facts——

Farm Waste Management. (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Connaughton's intervention is not much use. Can I refer to a constructive contribution that my constituency colleague made?

Farm Waste Management. (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: When the Deputy was a Minister of State, there were not too many on-farm investment schemes in his day in Agriculture House.

Farm Waste Management. (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: They were not allowed in the first place. While market conditions are difficult at the moment, the global demand for meat and milk is forecast to double over the next 40 years and Irish agriculture, and the agrifood sector which is built on it, with the benefit of the investment under the farm waste management scheme, will be well positioned to take advantage of these trends. As Deputies will...

Farm Waste Management. (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I am currently discussing the funding arrangements with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and I expect that a determination on those arrangements will be made shortly. As the Taoiseach said last night, "the Government's aim is to ensure that funding is available to meet claims for properly completed and validated work under the scheme." In the short intervening period, payments...

Farm Waste Management. (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Hayes does not like to hear the facts. Similarly, any individual who did not meet the cross-compliance criteria would be in danger of losing his or her single payment, which is now a very important part of farming income. That scheme has enabled farmers to ensure they are in a position to meet the criteria for the single payment scheme and, from that point of view, it is extremely...

Farm Waste Management. (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The work is done.

Turbary Rights. (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Once, I listened to the Ceann Comhairle on the radio discussing one of his favourite poems. He recited it and perhaps he will put Deputy Connaughton's contribution to song some evening. I thank Deputy Connaughton for raising this issue. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, is unable to reply and I do so on his behalf. The Minister is currently...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (28 Jan 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 urgency of the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Department is currently examining the provisions of the Noxious Weeds Act 1936 with a view to updating and strengthening the provisions in accordance with good agricultural and environmental practice and with realistic penalties.

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: 12,675 applications were received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007. These applications are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Applications under this Scheme are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The pier at Doolin is the property of Clare County Council and responsibility for its repair and upkeep rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. My Department has received an application from Clare County Council for funding under my Department's 2009 Fishery Harbours and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for improvements at the pier. Their application for harbour...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Entry to REPS 4 continues to be available to eligible applicants and I have no plans at present to restrict or close entry to the scheme.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2008; the application was accepted on the basis that the person named was awaiting the assignment of a herd number from the Department's Local Office. In this regard, it is understood that the process of assigning a herd number, including the necessary inspection of the holding of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following table gives details of reports published by my Department during 2008 together with publishing costs and postage costs where available. Name of Report Production cost Postage € € 2007 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Annual Report 22,788 50 Annual Review and Outlook 25,134 700 Agri-vision 2015 (2nd Progress Report) 6,070 2008-2010 Strategy Statement...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Jan 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.