Results 16,261-16,280 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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...

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...