Results 16,201-16,220 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Cattle Identification Scheme: Cattle Identification Scheme (4 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovines and national legislation, it is obligatory to tag cattle. In addition each keeper of bovine animals is required to register a calf on the national Cattle Movement Monitoring System (CMMS) database within 27 days of birth. While there is no requirement for the...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (4 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the programme cost of the TB eradication scheme, excluding administration costs and travel and subsistence costs, is set out in the following table: 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 €m €m €m €m €m €m €m €m €m €m €m Supplies/Services 2.33 2.99 2.94 2.80 2.66 3.60 5.20 5.07 6.60 6.49 6.92...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (4 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The level of disease in a region is best measured on the basis of the number of reactors, the herd incidence and the numbers of reactors per thousand animals tested (APT). The table sets out this information in relation to Ireland and Northern Ireland for the period 1997 to 2007. Year No. of Reactors Herd Incidence APT Ireland N. Ireland Ireland N. Ireland Ireland N. Ireland 1997 28,647...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (4 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Forum, which was established in 1996, was a consultative body consisting of the major stakeholders in the animal health area and did not produce any report. The main function of the Forum was to achieve a consensus on the policy framework for the Department's approach to animal diseases and all of the major policy changes which were introduced into the TB and Brucellosis eradication...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 15th May 2008. This application was selected for a cross compliance and satellite eligibility inspection. The cross compliance inspection was carried out on 10th October 2008 and the results have been processed. However the satellite inspection raised a number of issues...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has no record of having received a complete application under the Farm Waste Management Scheme from the person concerned.

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 — Pig Sector: Pig Sector (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The relevant EU market support measures — private storage and export refunds — assisted the sector over the last year. Ireland raised the possible re-introduction of export refunds for fresh and frozen pigmeat in the context of a recent EU management committee for animal products. The EU Commission declined, however, to take action at this stage. It holds the view that the outlook for pig...

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

Brendan Smith: I am very much aware that the future health of Ireland's agriculture sector is inextricably linked with the ability of Irish farmers to respond, in a sustainable way, to both the challenges and the opportunities arising from changes to our climate. There is no evidence to suggest that climate change poses any major threat to our staple fruit and vegetable crops. Indeed, the impact on...

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...