Results 15,921-15,940 of 18,347 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Between 2001 and 2008 my Department sent 682 samples of animal feed abroad for analysis for dioxins. In this period as the routine screening for PCBs showed negative results there was no need to send samples from animal products for analysis for dioxin. However, to-date twenty samples associated with the present incident have been sent for testing to the UK. The cost of such tests varies...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 460 together. Bord Bia is funding the new label campaign from existing resources and will prioritize meat promotion within its budgetary allocation for 2009.

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: On 5 December 2008 the Food Safety Authority of Ireland informed the EU Commission through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) that an investigation was being conducted by my Department in close collaboration with the FSAI into the source of a contaminant in animal feed. On 6 December 2008 the FSAI informed the European Commission that Ireland was taking steps to remove from...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: To reassure consumers, the use of a new label for Irish pork and bacon products has been authorised. This applies both to products produced before 1st September and after 6th December 2008, and in addition products during this period that the food control agencies have verified as being unaffected by the contamination. Only pigs certified by veterinary officers from food control agencies as...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The applications received under my Department's Capital Investment Scheme for the marketing and processing of agricultural products are going through a competitive evaluation process in which the strengths of the various proposals are being assessed and ranked in line with the objectives of the Scheme. This process will be completed shortly and applicants will be informed of the outcome.

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Following the recall of pork products initiated on 6 December 2008, and on the basis of an ongoing evaluation process by my Department and other agencies involved in this issue I confirmed on 10 December 2008 that all the necessary controls are now in place to enable the restoration of supplies of Irish pork and bacon to consumers. The recalled product is classified as Category 1 ABP under...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Following the recall of pork products initiated on 6 December 2008, and on the basis of an ongoing evaluation process by my Department and other agencies involved in this issue I confirmed on 10 December 2008 that all the necessary controls are now in place to enable the restoration of supplies of Irish pork and bacon to consumers. These controls, which were developed over a very short...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The agreement the Taoiseach and I concluded with pigmeat processors early last Thursday morning involved making available a facility of €180 million from the public finances to assist processors in funding the recall and destruction of certain pork products from the market and products in storage. This support provided the mechanism to enable processors secure the working capital required...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to different EU Regulations from the preceding versions of REPS. Under REPS 4, all payments are to be made in just two instalments. The first payment, of 75%, can be made only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. This is why it...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: A penalty of €3,904.45 was applied in this case for late submission of the application for payment (IAS 2). My Department has not received a documented request for the application of force majeure from the person concerned.

Written Answers — Farm Restrictions: Farm Restrictions (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The livestock movement restriction placed on this farm has now been lifted.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (11 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Evaluations of the Food Dude Programme were undertaken by UCD in 2006 and 2007, which indicated that children who participated in the programme were now consuming more fruit and vegetables both at school and at home. The success of the pilot programme was recognised when it was awarded the International Best Practice Award from the World Health Organisation in 2006. An evaluation of the...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (11 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: 42,970 approvals to commence work have issued, to date, to farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006. A county-by-county breakdown of these approvals is not available at present. To date in 2008, €346.56 million has been paid out to farmers under the Scheme. This compares to €113.88 million in 2007 and €21.32 million in 2006.

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (11 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Live exports are an important component of Ireland's livestock industry providing an essential alternative to competition with the beef trade. Live cattle exports from Ireland in 2007 amounted to 207,000 animals, worth an estimated €110 million. To date this year, 141,347 live cattle and calves have been exported from Ireland (up to week ending 22nd November). This number is some 30% below...

Written Answers — Bord Bia Marketing Strategies: Bord Bia Marketing Strategies (11 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Bord Bia marketing strategy for Irish beef for 2008 to 2013 is being implemented since the beginning of this year. The main emphasis of the strategy is on the high value European market. While the retail penetration of Irish beef in Europe is already very high and there is little room for significant conversion of new business there have been considerable gains in terms of volume of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: An officer in the Legal Services Division of my Department is a member of the RIA Network and is also the liaison officer within the Department for RIA. The Better Regulation Agenda is a portion of this officer's work. In addition 8 officers attended the RIA training course at the Civil Service Training and Development Centre this year. It has not been necessary for my Department to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Payment of €1,360 in respect of seventeen animals was issued on 14 November 2008. Five calves will not qualify for payment as they were registered outside the statutory requirement of 27 days from the date of birth. One calf will not qualify because its dam calved down under 22 months of age. The remaining two animals are showing errors on the animal event dates. Staff from the Suckler...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (11 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 246 together. The EU Commission provides the satellite imagery used for eligibility inspections by way of Remote Sensing. Satellite inspections are carried out for the control of eligibility of the area-based schemes in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 796/2004 laying down detailed rules for the...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named commenced participation in REPS with effect from 1 May 2005. She received payments for the first two years. However she was then selected for inspection and land included in the application was found to be ineligible. She appealed this decision locally and then to the Agriculture Appeals Office. The Appeals Office upheld the Department's decision and the person named was...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (11 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The application in question is being examined with a view to being finalised shortly. The person named will be informed of the outcome once this examination is complete.