Results 16,241-16,260 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: This matter refers to a recent proposal by the European Commission which calls for the establishment of a moratorium on fishing certain whitefish species in the area off the northwest coast — technically called Area VIa which covers the areas from the south Donegal coast north to north of Scotland. It applies to all waters of a depth less than 200m. The proposed ban prohibits any fishing...

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

Brendan Smith: The allocation of €128 million to the Forestry subhead for 2009 is evidence of the Government's commitment to maintaining an active and substantial forestry programme. Provision has been made for the continuation of the Afforestation Scheme and some Forestry Support Schemes in 2009. However, much of the allocation is already committed, primarily to pay premiums to farmers who planted...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (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 April 23/04/09 Luxembourg Council of Ministers May 25/05/09...

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

Brendan Smith: Ireland's request to the EU Commission to allow mandatory origin labelling for poultry, pig and sheepmeat was based on the provisions of directive 2000/13/EC. The Commission has however adopted a negative opinion on the grounds that the intended actions had not been justified on the basis of Article 18 of 2000/13/EC or that the obstacle to trade created would be proportionate. My Department...

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

Brendan Smith: The spreading of slurry and farmyard manure is governed by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations, 2006 which is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the first instance. Both the Minister, Deputy Gormley, and I recognised the difficulties faced by farmers due to the inclement weather conditions of...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 126 together. My colleague, Minister Tony Killeen has already received a range of diverse views from industry representatives and operators regarding how any additional mackerel quota for Ireland should be allocated. In that context, he held a meeting last week with the Federation of Irish Fishermen and other industry groups with a view to...

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

Brendan Smith: In the 'Towards 2016' Partnership Agreement, a commitment was made to provide funding of €250 million over the five years 2008 to 2012, in support of a suckler scheme. This commitment is being honoured. Based on the very significant level of participation, the cost of the scheme, at a rate of €80 per cow, will be some €77 million for 2008, of which €33 million has been allocated in my...

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...