Results 16,421-16,440 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I outlined the purpose and acceptance of AHCS 1 forms in my replies to the Deputy on 24 September 2008 (Ref No. 30581/08) and on 7 October 2008 (Ref No. 33381/08). A detailed breakdown of the very precise and detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and it would place excessive demands on scarce staff resources in the Department to compile this data. The AHCS 1...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: This voluntary decommissioning scheme was introduced to deliver on a key recommendation of the Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Seafood Industry 2007 to 2013 — Steering a New Course (the Cawley Report). It represents a very substantial commitment from the Government in bringing the Irish fishing fleet into balance with available recourses and ensuring that those...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Only fully completed applications made under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and received by my Department up to and including 14 October 2008 will be processed.

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Only fully completed applications made under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and received by my Department up to and including 14 October 2008 will be processed.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: In the event of the death of a participant, force majeure is applied and the REPS contract is terminated where the contract was in the sole name of the deceased person. No reimbursement of aid already paid is sought. Where a contract is in joint or several names the surviving participants can see out the remaining period of the contract. Following the death of a sole participant in REPS,...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have made provision of €47 million in 2009 to meet current commitments under the Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming but, for the present, it has been necessary to suspend new applications for the scheme. 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 — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application for ex-gratia funding has been received from the organisation in question. Provision of ex-gratia assistance this year is subject to the availability of funds and the application will be considered in this context and having regard to competing claims for financial assistance submitted by other animal welfare bodies.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Significant progress has been made 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. The large number of submissions and comments received following the public consultation process on the draft Bill continue to be examined. My officials will...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The current Early Retirement Scheme is 50% co-funded by the EU. A provision of €47 million has been made available for the scheme in the 2009 Estimates and it is not possible to quantify the savings which will arise due to suspension of applications. In the case of installation aid, grant payments under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme are co-funded by the EU, whilst grants under the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The application received under the Early Retirement Scheme on 14 October 2008 for the person named will be processed, and if it is in order payment will be made.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: While my Department received an application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme, in the names of the new owners of the above-mentioned herdnumber. No application to transfer the payment entitlements was received. Consequently, payment cannot issue. In order to allow for the further processing of the application documentation which has been forwarded directly to the parties acting for the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The powers and duties delegated to Minister Killeen are set out in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Delegation of Ministerial Functions (No. 4) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 292 of 2008). They relate to the areas of: Animal Health and Welfare, T.B. Eradication Programme, Brucellosis Eradication Programme, Bovine Tagging and Registration, National Beef Assurance Scheme, Forestry and fisheries The...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The rules governing milk quotas and super levy are laid down in EU regulations. Article 79 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, states that the surplus levy shall be entirely allocated among the producers who have contributed to each of the overruns of the national quotas and that producers shall be liable for payment of their contribution to the surplus levy due. The herd-owner in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 1 May 2008. The application was selected for a 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 — Fishing Licences: Fishing Licences (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the licensing regime introduced by the Loughs Agency in Lough Foyle this year to develop and regulate the wild oyster fishery in Lough Foyle. Responsibility for the Loughs Agency is a matter for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. In relation to lobster fishing, a discussion document on Managing Access to the Irish Lobster...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 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 — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The implementation of the Habitats Directive is a matter, in the first instance, for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Agreement was reached between the NPWS and the farm bodies on additional measures to reduce the grazing pressure on the Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex and Maumturk Mountains Special Areas of...

Written Answers — Pesticide Controls: Pesticide Controls (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 445 and 446 together. Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988, and day-to-day operational matters are the responsibility of the company. I have, however, been advised by Coillte that, to protect young seedlings against the Large Pine Weevil, the company dips seedlings in a flexcoat and cypermethrin mix...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The use of septic tank residual sludge on grassland and untreated sludge in agriculture is controlled by the Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 1998 to 2001. At present, residual sludge from septic tanks may be used on grassland provided that the grassland is not grazed within six months following such use. Untreated sludge may only be used in agriculture if...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The agricultural sector is already contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. The Kyoto Protocol allowed for an increase in Ireland's emissions of 13% over 1990 levels by 2012. The Environmental Protection Agency's analysis of September 2008 projects that emissions from the agriculture sector in the period up to 2012 will fall to 18.95 million tonnes or 4.3% below 1990 levels. The...