Results 16,121-16,140 of 18,347 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: A strategic blueprint to develop the fisheries sector into the 21st century is contained in the report of the Seafood Strategy Review Group "Steering a New Course" (The Cawley Report). One of the key recommendations of the Cawley Report was for the introduction of a sea fishing boat decommissioning scheme. To date a total of 45 vessels have accepted offers with one further vessel having...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: A breakdown on a county-by-county basis of the 12,675 applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 was set out in the reply to the Parliamentary Question referred to by the Deputy. As a sum of €79 million was made available for the scheme by the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, these applications are currently being processed up...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 147 together. Political agreement was achieved on the Health Check on Thursday 20 November last following long and sometimes difficult negotiations. The overall agreement represents a very good deal for Irish farmers negotiated in very challenging circumstances. Resulting from this agreement we now have funding to the tune of approximately €24m per...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79 million as agreed under the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, and was suspended on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached this level of funding. I have no plans at present to reopen the scheme to new applications.

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

Brendan Smith: Following is the statement: Month Date Country May 18/05/08 Brussels, Belgium Council of Ministers 25/05/08 Ljubljana, Slovenia Informal Council of Ministers June 04/06/08 Rome, Italy FAO Meeting 18/06/08 Strasbourg, France Meeting with Commissioner Borg 23/06/08 Luxembourg Council of Ministers July 14/07/08 Brussels, Belgium Council of Ministers 20/07/08 Geneva, Switzerland WTO...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The next meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council is not scheduled to take place until 18/19 December next and no agenda has yet been received. However, we are aware that the agenda will focus principally on fisheries and the setting of the annual Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for fish stocks. The levels of TAC and ultimately quotas for 2009 for Ireland will be determined...

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

Brendan Smith: The number of infringements of food safety and food labelling legislation in plants referred to in the Deputy's question that come within the remit of my Department are outlined as follows: Total number of Poultry infringements at retail and wholesale level 2007 2008 (to date) Infringements 219 195 Total number of infringements in relation to Meat and Poultry Processing Plants 2007...

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

Brendan Smith: Work is continuing on drafting the new Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which is intended to give effect to a number of commitments, in the area of animal health and welfare, contained in the Programme for Government. Following the public consultation process initiated by me earlier in the year on the draft Bill, almost 400 submissions/comments were received containing wide-ranging...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: By the end of 2007 Ireland had over 10% of land area under forest cover. This is someway short of the average EU-member State coverage of 35% and it is my intention to continue to support increased sustainable afforestation. My Department, however, remains committed to working towards the achievement of the 17% forest cover target as specified in the Forestry Strategic Plan. It is not...

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

Brendan Smith: Under the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector 2008 my Department granted approvals totalling some €2.8m in grant aid to the mushroom sector. This aid will fund capital investment in buildings and equipment to the value of some €7m and will help producers meet the higher hygiene, environmental and quality standards demanded of all food...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (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 — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (3 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 — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (3 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 (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 19th April 2008. This application was selected for a cross compliance and satellite eligibility inspection. The cross compliance inspection was carried out on 29th October 2008 and the results have been processed. However, the satellite inspection raised a number of issues...

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

Brendan Smith: 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 bluetongue restricted zones to cattle and sheep that...

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

Brendan Smith: I have made provision of €47 million in 2009 to meet current commitments under the Early Retirement Scheme from Farming. It is not possible to quantify the savings that will arise due to suspension of the Scheme for new applications.

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

Brendan Smith: I am aware of the difficulties facing the sheep sector and the possibilities of support to it 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...

Written Answers — Agriculture Policy: Agriculture Policy (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: It is essential, in my view, that we maintain a strong agricultural production base in the European Union in the years to come. We must also undertake food production and distribution in a manner that is fully sustainable economically, socially and environmentally. We face daunting challenges ahead in meeting increasing demands for food, in addressing climate change, in reconciling our need...

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

Brendan Smith: In general, 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 Authority, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency. My Department is responsible for the operation of EU controls on imports of products of animal...