Results 16,001-16,020 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned was paid grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme by my Department on 16 December 2008.

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324, 325, 336 and 337 together. 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...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health and Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency....

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health and Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 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...

Written Answers — Irish Draught Animals: Irish Draught Animals (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The dispute between the Irish Draught Horse Society and Horse Sport Ireland relates to the registration status of a number of Irish Draught mares inspected by the Irish Draught Horse Society in Autumn 2008. This dispute is a matter for Horse Sport Ireland and the Irish Draught Horse Society. Horse Sport Ireland is the organisation approved by my Department to maintain the Irish Draught...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Ireland operates a residue/contamination monitoring programme that is annually approved by the EU Commission. As part of this monitoring programme, indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are looked for in samples taken from animals at an EU agreed sampling level. Testing for indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) takes place throughout the year at the pesticides division of DAFF...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 331, 334 and 335 together. Detailed terms and conditions of the Product Recall Scheme will be finalised as soon as possible. The purpose of the scheme is to provide financial assistance in respect of the recall of eligible pork products from commercial markets and eligible products in storage. The scheme is aimed at primary and secondary pork processors and...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (18 Dec 2008)

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 (18 Dec 2008)

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 (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department is working closely with An Bord Bia and our embassies abroad to reassure our international customers as to the safety of Irish pork. In the case of our Asian markets our diplomatic representations are in regular contact with the relevant regulatory authorities. I am reassured by the positive consumer response to the information label and nationwide media campaign introduced by...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department is engaged, in conjunction with a number of other State Agencies, in an ongoing overall review of activities associated with the recent dioxin incident and this review will include the Department's annual feed control programme. I will also be briefing my EU colleagues at this weeks council in Brussels.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has no record of an application under the Early Retirement Scheme by the person named.

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: All leases for this Department are arranged by the Office of Public Works. The material requested by the Deputy will be included in the reply from the Minister for Finance (ref. Parliamentary Question No. 102).

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: My officials are currently engaged in discussions with producers and the industry with a view to putting in place the necessary framework to deal with issues relating to the slaughter of pigs that have been exposed to, or are suspected of having been exposed to contaminated animal feed. All pigs that are required to be slaughtered will be slaughtered humanely. To date and apart from a small...

Written Answers — State Laboratories: State Laboratories (18 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The State Laboratory (Dept of Finance) moved to new Laboratory facilities in Backweston in May 2005 and the Laboratory has been fully operational since then. Additional laboratory capability to enhance the capacity of the Laboratory to respond to customer needs is continually being developed. The State Laboratory has now developed an analytical capability to carry out dioxin analysis in...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (17 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 562 and 571 together. Since the transfer of fisheries functions to my Department, work has continued on this issue and in May of this year my Department published a Strategy for Improved Pest Control on Irish Salmon Farms. A National Implementation Group with representatives from my Department, BIM, Marine Institute and industry representatives has been...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 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 — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Public Participation Directive (PPD) was issued by the European Commission in order to provide members of the public with opportunities to participate on the permitting and ongoing regulation of certain categories of activities within Member States. Such opportunities are provided through access to information, justice, and through consultation on certain key documents. The transposition...