Results 16,101-16,120 of 18,347 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 122 together. The EU Commission has proposed a reduction of 15% in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and quotas for Nephrops (Prawns) in waters adjacent to Ireland. Based on recent scientific advice, however, I am not convinced that this suggested cut in the TAC is required. On this basis, I will be working closely with industry and my UK colleagues to...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: One of the major challenges in the medium term will be to ensure that Irish farming and the agri-food sector is at the heart of an evolving high-value food market, which is focused on quality and innovation. This is at the core of Government strategy, evidenced by the National Development Plan 2007-2013, AgriVision 2015 and the Partnership Agreement Towards 2016. A key element of this...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: This proposed legislation is subject to the Co-decision process, involving both the EU Council and the EU Parliament working in parallel. The first reading of the proposed Commission Directive has been completed at both Council and Parliament and the second reading is in progress, with the aim of agreeing a common position before the end of the year. I am aware of the vote taken by the...

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

Brendan Smith: The main challenge facing the indigenous Irish poultry industry is competition from imports of fresh poultry from other EU countries. Under single market rules unrestricted volumes can be traded between Member States and, for various reasons, they are very competitively priced. The primary outlet for Irish-produced poultry is the fresh retail trade where Irish product is still dominant....

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

Brendan Smith: The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was suspended for new applications on 14 October 2008. I have already indicated that the scheme's suspension will be considered at the earliest opportunity having regard to the general budgetary situation. 941 applications were received by my Department prior to the suspension of the scheme and, if they are in order, payment will be made in respect of...

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

Brendan Smith: The possibility of support to the sheep sector will be considered in the light of the outcome of the recent CAP Health Check. That outcome provides that an additional amount of some €24 million annually will be available to Irish farmers from 2010 onwards. That amount may be used to target specific sectors in need of assistance and represents money that would otherwise not be available to...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: In practical terms, the Reform Treaty will not alter the arrangements that currently apply in the fisheries sector to any great extent, other than applying the principle of co-decision in certain areas for the first time. Fisheries are now included in the Articles on the Common Agricultural Policy and references to the Common Agricultural Policy will be deemed to include fisheries. The...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 129 together. 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...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Following is the statement: Month Date Country December 04/12/08 London, UK Bord Bia Trade Reception 18/12/08 Brussels, Belgium Council of Ministers January 19/01/09 Brussels, Belgium Council of Ministers February 23/02/09 Brussels, Belgium Council of Ministers March 23/03/09 Brussels, Belgium Council of Ministers

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

Brendan Smith: Under the final compromise in the Health Check negotiations, a 5% increase was agreed in the rate of modulation. I would have preferred if no additional modulation were agreed. However, this was one element of the Health Check proposals on which Commissioner Fischer Boel was particularly determined. Nevertheless, I succeeded in co-operation with my colleagues from other Member States, in...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Protection: Fishing Fleet Protection (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 — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have received a number of representations, directly and indirectly, from various interest groups outlining their views on the impact of the 2009 budget for my Department and requesting that I reconsider my decisions. The situation is that the 2009 budget was framed against the background of a serious deterioration in the public finances which required difficult decisions to be made on the...

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The terms of the Agreement reached with the IMPACT Union at the Labour Relations Commission provided for the cessation of the industrial action on Friday 21 November, 2008 and provided for further discussions commencing in January, 2009 on a range of structural issues. On foot of that Agreement normal work resumed in all Department's offices last Monday 24 November. Staff are currently...

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

Brendan Smith: The issue of high levels of discards in commercial sea fisheries is a global problem and is on the agenda of all major international organisations who deal with the development of sustainable sea fisheries and the protection of marine ecosystems. Discarding is usually a feature of mixed fisheries where one species may be the target of fishing activity, but other species may be caught...

Written Answers — Domestic Abattoirs: Domestic Abattoirs (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The applications received under my Department's capital investment scheme for the marketing and processing of agricultural products have been 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. The process has taken time as this competitive scheme is not limited to abattoirs...

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

Brendan Smith: I have made provision of €56.7 million in 2009 to meet current commitments under the Early Retirement Scheme from Farming and the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. I have no plans at present to reopen these schemes to new applications. The limiting of the suspension of these schemes will be considered at the earliest opportunity having regard to the general budgetary situation.

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

Brendan Smith: In the light of the temporary volatility being experienced in international dairy markets at present and uncertainty in the short-term outlook, I contacted EU Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel seeking the introduction of market support mechanisms to assist the sector through the current difficulties. I was pleased that the Commissioner acted decisively and brought forward the scheme of...

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

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health and 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...

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

Brendan Smith: I assume the Deputy is referring to the EU Commission proposal that was made this year to include the Celtic Sea cod stock within the terms of the Community's Cod Recovery Plan. The original plan was introduced in 2004 for four cod stocks: in the North Sea and Skaggerak, in the area West of Scotland, in the Kattegat and in the Irish Sea. The plan, which set out catch ceilings and an array...

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

Brendan Smith: I presume the Deputy is referring to the proposals from the EU Commission on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Health Check and the recent final negotiations, which I successfully concluded with my EU Council of Ministers colleagues. The package of measures that I secured for Ireland is of substantial value in terms both of additional funding worth some €70 million and additional milk...