Results 16,281-16,300 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 30 April 2008. Following processing of this application, an advance payment of €10,076.15 issued on 20 October 2008 to the bank account of the person named, via Electronic Funds Transfer. Balancing payments under the Scheme are scheduled to commence issuing on 1 December 2008.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Included in the Budget statement by the Minister for Finance on the 14th October was the decision to transfer the marketing functions of Bord Iascaigh Mhara to An Bord Bia and to merge the National Council for Forestry Research and Development (COFORD) into my Department. The Government's initiative in transferring the seafood marketing and promotion functions to Bord Bia will ensure the...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application to purchase an area of reclaimed foreshore was made by Carroll's Ballyhack Boatyard Ltd on 18 October 2006. The application was made in respect of an area comprising 0.75 acres approximately, in respect of which the company holds a foreshore lease. This lease was issued for a period of 35 years from 1 April 1999. In accordance with current policy, my Department does not...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Under the EU Regulations governing REPS, a participant must make an application for each annual payment. Failure to do so means that the contract must be terminated and all payments recovered, unless exceptional circumstances apply. In this case, my Department wrote to the person named on 13 September 2001, advising him that he had to lodge his third year payment application form by 31...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Where a valid REPS 4 application has been submitted, advance payments of 75% under the EU regulations governing REPS 4 can issue only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. The balancing 25% payment will follow when all 2008 REPS on-farm inspections have taken place. Following the resolution of industrial action in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2008. During processing of this application, issues arose regarding the eligibility of one of the land parcels declared, which have now been resolved. Payment will issue shortly to the person named.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: 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 is consulting with the industry representatives and has arranged a meeting of all interested parties for tomorrow 26th of November with a view to establishing whether an...

Written Answers — Compensation Payments: Compensation Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: This question relates to an arrangement arising out of the EU Habitats Directive, and is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government who has responsibility for the implementation of that Directive. I understand that REPS farmers in the Maamturk/Twelve Bens complex who are required to observe additional farming restrictions for a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: All eligible forestry premiums were paid in April 2008. In the case of the person referred to, payment of the 2008 forestry premium was delayed pending clarification as to the exact area which was removed from forestry to facilitate the ESB. I have directed that the 2008 premium be paid and that the exclusion issue be pursued as a separate matter.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Where a valid REPS 4 application has been submitted, advance payments of 75% under the EU regulations governing REPS 4 can issue only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. The balancing 25% payment will follow when all 2008 REPS on-farm inspections have taken place. Following the resolution of industrial action in...

Written Answers — National Reserve Schemes: National Reserve Schemes (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named applied to the 2006 and 2007 National Reserve Schemes under Category B which caters for farmers who commenced farming after 31 December, 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002 but who received no direct payments in respect of that scheme year. The person named was successful under the 2006 National Reserve and an allocation was made. His application under the 2007 National...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy in his question is not readily available but I will arrange to forward it to him directly in the coming days.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: In 2007, my Department paid out a total of €10,634,496 kilometre expenses in respect to official travel undertaken by staff. This figure includes €323,082 paid at a reduced kilometre rate to 1872 claimants in respect of attendances at training courses, conferences, seminars, and to staff on temporary transfer from their headquarters. No costs were incurred in respect of bicycle rate. A...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: In 2007, my Department paid out a total of €10,693,231 kilometre expenses in respect to official travel undertaken by staff. This figure includes €323,082 paid at a reduced kilometre rate to 1,872 claimants in respect of attendances at training courses, conferences, seminars, and to staff on temporary transfer from their headquarters. No costs were incurred in respect of bicycle rate. The...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS)/Disadvantaged Area Scheme (DAS)/ Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS), farmers receiving direct aid are required to observe and respect the various Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) set down in EU legislation on the environment, food safety, animal health, and welfare, and plant health and to maintain the farm in good agricultural and...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The lease application in question relates to the proposed construction of a breakwater. The Council informed my Department that the breakwater is being constructed solely for the use of the use of the RNLI. In this regard, my Department, acting on legal advice, requested the Council to furnish the details of the arrangements which the Council proposed to make with the RNLI concerning the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Given the nature of the industrial action and the timescale involved, it is not possible to quantify the number of farmers affected by delays in payment as a result of the industrial action. Following a series of meetings at the Labour Relations Commission, this dispute has now been resolved, and work is ongoing to ensure the prompt delivery of all payments.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The application under the Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 8th April 2008. The application was selected for a remote sensing satellite inspection. When the result of this inspection has been returned and any matters arising have been dealt with, the application will immediately be further processed with a view to payment issuing shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department sought EU state aid approval in 2000 for a capital investment scheme for to assist the marketing and processing of agricultural products. The scheme ran initially to 2006 and was subsequently extended to the end of 2008 under the EU state aid rules then in operation. Under the scheme to date, over €160m in grant aid has been allocated by my Department for projects to improve...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (25 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following is the information requested by the Deputy. Private Office Constituency Office â'¬ â'¬ Civil Servants 92 53 Political Appointees 2 2 Salary Costs1 209.497.72 95,479.04 Overtime 7,449.52 10,209.34 Allowances 11,864.53 2,775.09 1 Salary Costs, Overtime and Allowances are for the period 3 May to 24 September 2008 2 This number includes 1 work-sharer 3 This number...