Results 16,061-16,080 of 18,347 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The EU/Norway bilateral negotiations follow on from the Coastal States Negotiations which set the over all Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for certain stocks in the Northeast Atlantic in which Ireland has an interest. The key stocks for Ireland in the Coastal States discussions are Mackerel, Blue Whiting and Atlanto-Scandian Herring. The EU has a long-standing bilateral fisheries agreement with...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Under the general labelling Directive (2000/13/EC), the place of origin of the foodstuff must be given only if its absence might mislead the consumer to a material degree. The European Commission is currently undertaking a major review of all food labelling legislation. In this context...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: When Ireland joined the EEC in 1973, the Community received a very significant additional fishing resource out to the 200 mile limit. At that time however, Ireland's fishing industry was totally underdeveloped. In this context, the 1976 Hague Agreement recognised the development needs of peripheral regions whose populations were heavily dependent on fishing activity. The Hague Agreement...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have noted the contents of Teagasc's recently published medium-term outlook, which analyses prospects for the period 2008 to 2017. The findings are a reflection of the challenging environment facing the agriculture sector over the period. The dairy sector is not immune from these challenges. However, it is the manner in which we and the whole industry respond to these challenges that will...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Ireland has a very important position as custodian of some of the largest and richest fishing waters within the EU but also in our location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Ireland continues to maintain high standards in the enforcement of regulations within the Exclusive Fisheries Zone using the resources of the Naval Service, the Air Corps and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. The...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The seafood marketing and promotion element of Bord Iascaigh Mhara is to be merged with An Bord Bia. The Government's initiative in transferring the seafood marketing and promotion functions to Bord Bia will ensure the strengthening of seafood marketing as part of a more cohesive overall food marketing effort, while allowing BIM to focus all its energies in developing the seafood industry in...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The very poor state of many whitefish stocks targeted by the Irish fishing fleet is clearly reflected in the decreases in annual Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and quota allocations that Ireland receives and in the landings of the fishing fleet over the past decade. The levels of TAC and ultimately quotas for Ireland are determined each year at the December Fisheries Council following...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Several Government Departments have responsibility for aspects of GM Policy and these are: Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government which has responsibility for the deliberate release of GM's into the environment including for crop cultivation; Department of Health and Children which has responsibility for GM food safety and consumer protection; Department of Enterprise Trade...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The seafood marketing and promotion element of Bord Iascaigh Mhara is to be merged with An Bord Bia. The Government's initiative in transferring the seafood marketing and promotion functions to Bord Bia will ensure the strengthening of seafood marketing as part of a more cohesive overall food marketing effort, while allowing BIM to focus all its energies in developing the seafood industry in...

Written Answers — Food Prices: Food Prices (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Changes in food prices are primarily a function of market forces operating at international, EU and national levels. Consistently strong economic growth in developing countries is a major driver of changing world food demand towards high-value agricultural products and processed foods. Slow-growing supply, low stocks, and supply shocks at a time of increasing demand for feed, food and fuel...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: It is not possible to give an accurate assessment of the number of people who may have made commitments with a view to making an application under the Early Retirement Scheme, though I am aware of figures submitted to my Department by various farming organisations. I have made provision of €47 million in 2009 to meet current commitments under the Early Retirement Scheme from Farming and...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 114 together. The movement of susceptible animals within and from bluetongue restricted areas is subject to EU legislation which is kept under ongoing review and adapted from time to time. As Ireland is free of Bluetongue, it has availed of certain transitional provisions available under EU rules which limit movements of live susceptible animals out of...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. The European Commission has since reaffirmed that it expects Ireland to respect this deadline strictly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: My approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to focus available resources on the measures which support the maintenance and growth of the productive capacity of the agri-food sector. The 2009 Estimates provide over €1.8 billion for my Department, and, when combined with EU funding of €1.4 billion, means that total expenditure in 2009 by my Department will amount to...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-13 (The Cawley Report) is the blueprint for the development of the seafood sector. An implementation group, the Seafood Strategy Implementation Group (SSIG) was set up last year under the chairmanship of Dr Noel Cawley. It is comprised of stakeholders from all sectors of the industry as well as...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. The European Commission has since reaffirmed that it expects Ireland to respect this deadline strictly.

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Steering a New Course, the Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-13 (The Cawley Report) recommended a restructured fishing fleet, consistent with the sustainable exploitation of available resources and economic requirements of vessel owners and the shore-based industries dependent on it. The Cawley report prioritised in the first instance a...

Written Answers — Climate Change Strategy: Climate Change Strategy (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The agricultural sector is already making a significant contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol allowed Ireland to increase emissions to a level 13% above 1990 levels by 2012. In its latest analysis, published in September 2008, the Environment Protection Agency projects that emissions from the agriculture sector in that period will actually fall to...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I recently announced that I intend to convene a Dairy Forum. The purpose of the forum will be to take stock of the current situation on milk markets and to consider, in the light of the new policy direction at EU level arising from the conclusion of the Health Check negotiations, how Ireland can best exploit our new milk production potential. Having secured an additional increase of over 9%...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy is aware, it was decided by the Government, as announced on Budget Day, that COFORD (the National Council for Forest Research and Development) is to be merged into my Department. The implications of this decision for COFORD, and the necessary actions to implement the decision, are currently being examined within my Department.