Results 16,281-16,300 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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...

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 but, for the present, it has been necessary to suspend new applications for this scheme. I have no plans, at present, to reopen the Scheme to new applications, but the limiting of its suspension will be considered at the earliest opportunity having regard to the general...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: An allocation of €125 million has been provided in the 2009 Estimates in order to provide grant-aid to farmers who are currently carrying out work under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. This is in addition to the €377 million which is likely to be spent under the same Scheme this year and the €114 million which was spent under the Scheme in 2007.

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

Brendan Smith: I have received a number of representations, directly and indirectly, from various interest groups requesting that I reconsider the 2009 Budget 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 allocation of the limited resources available. I made these...

Written Answers — Agricultural Exports: Agricultural Exports (3 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Agricultural production in Ireland and the EU must be viewed in the context of a reformed and evolving Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which is placing much more emphasis on market orientation and competitiveness. Following the decoupling of direct payments from production, farmers can now take advantage of the freedom to farm exclusively for the market, allowing them to focus on meeting...

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

Brendan Smith: There are a significant number of measures in place to encourage the early transfer of farms and the entry of young farmers into the sector. These include: 100% stamp duty relief on transfers of agricultural land and buildings to young trained farmers; 100% stamp duty relief on land purchased by young trained farmers; 100% stock relief for four years for young trained farmers; 90%...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing 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 — 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: The person named is an applicant under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. Payment will be made by my Department to the person concerned shortly.

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: The person named is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Payment will be made by my Department to the person concerned shortly.

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

Brendan Smith: The person named applied under Category C of the 2007 National Reserve which caters for farmers for whom at least 40% of their Single Payment was derived from direct payments associated with sheep production (Ewe Premium/Rural Word Premium) during the reference period, their existing Single Payment is less than €10,000 and individual payment entitlements are less than the District Electoral...