Results 16,301-16,320 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: The cost involved for my Department in off site rental storage at Mid Freight Shipping in Tullamore is .078 cents per week per storage box.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2008. Initial processing of the application revealed an issue concerning forestry planting. This has now been satisfactorily resolved, allowing processing of the application to be finalised. Payment will shortly issue to the person named.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The matter in question, the receipt by my Department of an application form under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme, is being investigated and an official of my Department has already been in direct contact with the person named. It should be noted, however, that the letter referred to, dated 28 July, which the person named has indicated was received in an envelope with a postmark of 23 October,...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 8 May 2008. One of the primary provisions of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is that applicants must maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for at least three consecutive months. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified as...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (20 Nov 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. Regarding the...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The number of REPS 4 applications currently recorded on my Department's computer system is approximately 12,700 and my officials are currently carrying out the administrative checks which are required before these can be approved for payment. There are still over 48,300 farmers in REPS 3, and some 2,000 in the last months of their REPS 2 contracts. I expect that the majority of those now in...

Written Answers — Fish Quotas: Fish Quotas (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The overall Total Allowable Catch for mackerel will increase by 33% in 2009. However, Ireland's mackerel quota will not be fully determined until such time as the current EU/Norway Fisheries negotiations are completed over the coming weeks. My colleague, Minister Tony Killeen has already received a range of diverse views from industry representatives and operators regarding how any...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (20 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has this year allocated funding of €470,000 towards works at Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2008. These include Repairs to the East Pier (Phase II), Safety & Maintenance, Upgrading of the slipway and access to the West Wharf. The cost benefit analysis of the proposed development at Dunmore East...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 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. Work on the administrative checks is at an advanced...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department is processing two foreshore applications in respect of the proposed Belmullet Sewerage Scheme. The first application was received from Mayo County Council on 23 June 2008 for a foreshore licence to facilitate the discharge of treated effluent from a proposed wastewater treatment scheme at Belmullet. The application was circulated to my Department's consultees in the normal...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: A draft decision notifying Ireland not to proceed with its draft legislation for country of origin labelling of pigmeat, poultrymeat and sheepmeat was one of the items on the agenda of the meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 13 October 2008. The Commission summarised the grounds advanced by Ireland for the draft legislation but pointed out that it had...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: To date in 2008, my Department has made 532 payments totalling €15.55 million to applicants in County Roscommon under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. This compares to 265 payments totalling €6.27 million during the calendar year 2007. My Department keeps its staffing arrangements in local offices under constant review in order to ensure that payments continue to flow in a timely manner...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The number of REPS 3 applications for annual payment approved in Roscommon and the number awaiting approval is set out in the following table.

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The main source of protein feed for the pig and poultry industry is soya imported from South America. Over 90% of the imported soya comes from GM varieties. Soya from non GM varieties is currently used in some sectors of the poultry industry and this is being purchased at a price premium over the GM soya.

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The report for the European Parliament by Mr. Liam Aylward MEP on the sheep sector in Europe has called for the introduction of an environmental maintenance scheme for ewes to arrest the decline in sheep production. This recommendation and others in the Aylward Report were considered in detail at a special conference on the sheep sector that was held in Limoges by the French Presidency at the...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I presume the Deputy is referring to an extension of the Scheme concerned to June 2009. It is not possible at this stage to provide an estimate of the additional cost which such an extension might involve.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. The EU Commission has repeatedly stated that the exceptional extension to end December 2008 has to be strictly adhered to.

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (19 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: As aspects relating to the AHCS1 form are of a technical matter, I believe that a meeting at official level would be more appropriate in the first instance. If the person concerned contacts my office, the necessary arrangements can be made for a meeting with my officials.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 501 together. Arklow Harbour Commissioners applied in February 2007 for a Dumping at Sea permit to facilitate dredging at Arklow Harbour and the application was circulated to my Department's consultees in the normal way. My Department was advised by the Marine Institute that the results of a chemical analysis of samples from the proposed area to be...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has no record of an application for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme from the person concerned.