Results 16,341-16,360 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following table sets out the average number of working days lost per employee in my Department for the past three years: Year 2005 2006 2007 Average no. of days lost 5.89 5.70 4.64 Average no. of days lost (excl. long term sick leave)* 3.13 2.92 2.69 *Assumes that long term sick leave is defined as an absence of more than fifty days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 15th May 2008. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing these Schemes, this application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. The file is currently being examined and the findings will be...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Given the volume of detail requested by the Deputy in his question, it is not possible to supply him with the information at this time. I will arrange to forward it to him directly in the coming days.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested is set out in the table. Year Number of staff Amount of pension Amount of lump sum â'¬ â'¬ 2006 78 1,837,507.34 5,473,638.00 2007 84 2,310,653.77 6,410,572.89 2008 to date 77 1,861,798.87 5,730,730.48

Seanad: Agriculture Sector: Statements (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the opportunity to take part in this debate on agriculture which takes place on the eve of the European Union Agriculture Council at which we will finalise the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, health check. Last week, Senators had the opportunity to discuss the recent budget. I thank my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, who took the debate in my absence in the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The position is that an application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 15th May 2008. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing these Schemes, this application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. The advance payment under the Single Payment...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The position is that an application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received in this case on the 24th April 2008. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing these Schemes, this application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. The file is currently being processed and payment will...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have listed below the details of people appointed by myself and the two Ministers of State as requested: Minster Brendan Smith Name and Grade Responsibility Location Salary Scale Elected or Member of State Boards Dermot Ryan Special Adviser Adviser Department €86,168 – €100,191 + 10% allowance No Philip Hannon Press Adviser Media Adviser Department €86,168 – €100,191 No...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I outlined my Department's policy on AHCS1 forms in my replies to recent questions from the Deputy. With regard to the further queries from the Deputy, I do not accept that the statement in the first paragraph of the letter submitted by the Deputy that the number of AHCS1 forms is much higher than expected contradicts the assertion that "occasionally they are not identified until some time...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Commission's preliminary audit findings relate to the completeness of administrative checks on applications, the keeping of records at farm level and the scope and recording of on-the-spot checks. The Commission has requested additional information which is currently being collated within my Department and will shortly be forwarded to the Commission. The outcome of the audit will not be...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (13 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. Due to the scale of the investment required for the future...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Agri-Vision 2015 Report sets out a vision identifying the delivery of safe, high-quality, nutritious food, produced in a sustainable manner, to well-informed consumers in high value markets as the optimum road for the future of the Irish food industry. The 160 actions in the Agri-Vision Action Plan set out a coherent strategy together with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have no plans at present to reopen the Early Retirement Scheme (ERS3) 2007 to new applications. The limiting of the suspension of the Scheme will be considered at the earliest opportunity but with regard to the current budgetary constraints.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Since the programme began there has been an increase of 297 posts in Portlaoise; 220 of which were decentralised from Dublin. 84 posts have moved to Clonakilty; 33 of which were decentralised from Dublin. This is broken down by grade as follows. Grade To Portlaoise from Dublin To Clonakilty from Dublin Principal Officers 2 2 Assistant Principals 20 4 HEO/AO 48 9 Executive Officers 64...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The position is that an application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 12th May 2008. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing these Schemes, this application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. The file is currently being processed and payment...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Early Retirement Scheme has been suspended for new applications, but it has not been closed, and the decision to suspend entry to the scheme will be reviewed as soon as the current budgetary constraints allow.

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The development in question is divided into a number of phases. One of the phases relates to the proposed construction of a training wall. The Marine Licence Vetting Committee, which advises my Department on scientific/environmental matters, has recommended an alternative approach to the construction of the training wall and this matter is being examined by my Department. However as the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Where a valid application has been submitted, advance payments of 75% under the EU regulations governing the Organic Farming Scheme can issue only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS, the Organic Farming Scheme and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. This work is still ongoing with a view to beginning payment this month. The balancing 25% payment will...

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: In the aftermath of the EU ban in November 2000 on the feeding of MBM to cattle, the Exchequer supported the livestock and meat sector by subsidizing the rendering and destruction of the product (costing €146m between 2001 and 2003), as did most other EU countries. The costs of dealing with MBM have since largely been passed back to industry. The storage of MBM cost the State €25.3m in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Advance payments of 75% under the EU regulations governing REPS 4 can only issue when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the 2008 Single Payment Scheme are completed. This work is still ongoing with a view to beginning payment this month. The balancing 25% payment will follow when all 2008 REPS on-farm inspections have taken place.