Results 15,801-15,820 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272, 273 and 279 together. 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. In view of the exceptional number of claims received, my Department is undertaking a...

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. My Department is currently examining the application and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I have detailed below the annual salary scale for each of the staff appointed by me for the period 7/5/2008 to 31/12/2008: Name Title Responsibility Salary Scale Dermot Ryan Special Adviser Adviser €86,168 – €100,191 (plus 10% allowance) Philip Hannon Press Adviser Media Adviser €86,168 – €100,191 Nuala Brady Personal Assistant Constituency Office €46,588 – €55,030...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Only fully completed applications made under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and received up to and including 14 October 2008 are being processed by my Department. In the event of the Scheme being re opened for applications, consideration will be given to prioritising certain categories of farmers who had taken certain actions based on an intention to join the Scheme before its suspension.

Written Answers — Herbicide Controls: Herbicide Controls (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Pesticide substances, including 2,4-D, are assessed for health and environmental effects and risks by experts from the European Commission, the European Food Safety Agency and the Member States and are approved if they exhibit no unacceptable risks. Pesticide products, containing those EU approved substances, are authorised in Ireland by the Pesticide Control Service of my Department in...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Russian Federation on 14 January 2009 in relation to the export of fishery products. This arose from new requirements of the Russian Federation to confirm the sanitary and veterinary status of fish exports. The Memorandum will permit the continued importation of fishery products from European Union Member...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Jan 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, including plan checks, to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications will issue this week to those whose applications require no correction following the administrative...

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

Brendan Smith: The current board membership of An Bord Bia is as follows: Board Member Length of service Expiry of present term Sector of Experience Mr. Dan Browne (Chairman) 8 years (Chairman since April 2008) 10/04/2011 Dr. Noel Cawley 13 years 04/09/2009 Dairy, food Ms. Brid Rodgers 5 years 14/02/2010 Mr.Vincent Cleary 9 months 10/04/2011 Organic dairying Mr. Joseph Hyland 3 years 09/04/2011...

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

Brendan Smith: Possession of an active herd number in the year the plantation is established will entitle the applicant to the farmer rate of premium.

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (28 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The development of sustainable energy initiatives in Ireland is first and foremost a matter for the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources who have overall responsibility for energy policy. The initiatives undertaken by my Department complement the measures introduced by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and are primarily to encourage farmers...

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

Brendan Smith: In 2008, the total cost of printing reports by my Department, including the cost of design work prior to printing, was €338,524.89. This figure is inclusive of €22,577.05 for the design and printing of annual reports including the Department's Annual Statistical Report. The amount spent by my Department on posting reports to schools etc. cannot be separated from the overall cost of...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licensing: Aquaculture Licensing (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The first person mentioned by the Deputy represents Lough Swilly Shellfish Growers CoOp Society Ltd. which has applied for renewal of its aquaculture licence in Lough Swilly. This application is under consideration having regard to a number of factors including objections from other aquaculture interests in Lough Swilly. The objectors include the second person mentioned by the Deputy, who...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The term contingent liability used in the context of the eligibility of products the subject of the Pigmeat Recall Scheme, referred to any pigmeat product other than eligible product directly provided for in the Scheme that might be assisted at the Department's sole discretion where it regards it as justifiable to do so having regard to all the circumstances and in particular to the...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1160 and 1163 together. The amount of €180 million represents a facility rather than a target amount. The facility made available by the Government for the purpose of the Product Recall Scheme will be available to primary and secondary processors that comply with the eligibility conditions of the scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to provide assistance in...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Irish Association of Pigmeat Processors was represented at the negotiations by a number of its members at chief executive and other senior executive levels and they represented both primary and secondary processors. IBEC was also represented.

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: In very detailed and complex negotiations, conducted over a period of three days, processors presented information on the volume and value of product in storage and product already consigned to markets, at home and internationally that was manufactured from animals slaughtered in Ireland in the period 1st September 2008 to 6th December 2008. Certain assumptions were made on the extent to...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department has paid €36million in December and further payments will be made in the light of conditions set down by my Department. While the facility agreed with pig processors does not cover workers directly, a primary objective of the agreement was to secure the return to full scale processing as quickly as possible thereby securing the jobs of workers in the processing sector and the...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The facility agreed with pig processors as part of securing the return to full scale processing was aimed at putting Irish pork and bacon products back into the domestic and international markets as quickly as possible and to secure the jobs of workers in the processing sector and the livelihoods of pig producers. The facility will provide assistance to processors for eligible product...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Bord Bia plans a number of relevant marketing and promotion initiatives. On the Irish market a series of promotional campaigns are planned. These will commence in February and will focus on building awareness and loyalty to the Bord Bia Quality Mark. These will underline the quality of Irish pigmeat and will communicate its origin. A customer reassurance programme will be carried out in...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following the recent dioxin contamination incident, my Department's National Feed Inspection Programme has been reviewed. The risk assessment for the Programme for 2009 will take cognisance of the experience of the dioxin contamination, and accordingly, the risk associated with drying of feed and grain will be reassessed as appropriate. The risk reassessment will give rise to an increase...