Results 16,061-16,080 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 8th April 2008. This application was selected for a cross compliance and satellite eligibility inspection. The cross compliance inspection was carried out on 25th June 2008 and the results have been processed. However, the satellite inspection raised a number of issues...

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

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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Because of concerns about the eligibility of land declared by the person named for REPS payment, it was necessary to have a full investigation, including a farm inspection in November 2008, to determine if the agri-environmental plan submitted meets the requirements of the REP scheme terms and conditions. The applicant will be notified as soon as possible of the outcome of the investigation.

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

Brendan Smith: While the person named lodged applications under both the 2007 and 2008 Single Payment Schemes, these have not been fully processed, as issues relating to the transfer of entitlements to the person named remain to be resolved. An application was received on 24 April 2007 requesting the transfer of 48.36 standard entitlements to the person named under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme. As...

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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Payment of €1,749.88 in respect of twenty-two animals was issued on 12 December 2008. Seventeen animals are showing errors on the animal events dates. One calf will not qualify because its dam calved twice within 300 days during 2008. The remaining thirteen animals have not yet been validated, as no weaning date has been submitted. Staff from the Suckler Herds Section of my Department...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (16 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 448, 449, 458 and 466 together. The establishment must comply with relevant National and EU legislation, including those set down in the: European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations, 2005 (SI No. 910 of 2005) giving effect to EU Regulation 183/2005 laying down the requirements for feed hygiene; and European Communities (Undesirable substances in...

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

Brendan Smith: My officials are currently engaged in discussions with producers and the industry with a view to putting in place the framework necessary to deal with issues relating to the slaughter of pigs and cattle that have been exposed to, or are suspected of having been exposed to contaminated animal feed. To date and apart from a small number that were slaughtered for sampling and testing purposes,...

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

Brendan Smith: Following the Government announcement on 6 December 2008 that laboratory results of animal feed and pork fat samples obtained by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed the presence of dioxins, the FSAI required the food industry to recall from the market pork products produced from certain pigs slaughtered in Ireland. Potentially contaminated pork products will be destroyed by...

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.