Results 16,441-16,460 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 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. 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 stage but cannot be completed until industrial...

Written Answers — Fisheries Statistics: Fisheries Statistics (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Since the establishment of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) on 1 January 2007, the provision of the information requested is a matter for that Authority, which is an independent statutory body. I have asked that body to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Sea Fishing Boat Licences issued by the independent Licensing Authority for Sea Fishing Boats are not area-specific. Any Irish commercial sea-fishing vessel may engage in commercial sea fishing activities in EU non-precluded waters in accordance with the licensing conditions attaching to its sea fishing boat licence and may use the facilities of any one of the 6 Fishery Harbours, or any...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (18 Nov 2008)

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

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (18 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. 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 stage but cannot be completed until industrial...

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

Brendan Smith: The Single Payment in Ireland is based on the 'Historical Model'. This means that the Single Payment Scheme is applicable to farmers who actively farmed during the reference years 2000, 2001 and 2002, who were paid Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid in one or more of those years and who will continue to farm in 2005 and onwards. The gross Single Payment is based on the average number of...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The National Forest Inventory, undertaken by my Department, found that there are some 397,460 hectares of forests in public ownership, which encompasses all state owned forests. This equates to some 982,000 acres.

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An estimate of the market value of the forestry portfolio is provided. I would emphasise that the results should be treated as indicative only and a more detailed valuation model supported by economic analysis and market research would be required to provide a more robust estimate of market value. As differing valuation methods were used to arrive at an estimate of market value for each of...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The estimated total value of forestry to the economy in 2007 was €828 m. Preliminary research suggests that if the processing sector is included, the total value to the economy could rise to as much as €1.886 billion.

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Employment in the forestry sector including full-time and part-time workers is estimated at 16,000 persons.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 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. 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 stage but cannot be completed until industrial...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (18 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. EU beef...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Public Service Benchmarking Body was established as an independent body in July 2000 under the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to examine public service pay and jobs by comparison with the private sector. The Body reported in June 2002 and recommended varying levels of pay increases for the grades examined. The Benchmarking Body, in their first report, recommended that,...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Consideration by my Department of the applications is at a very advanced stage and a determination on the applications is imminent.

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

Brendan Smith: The person named applied for an allocation under Category A of the 2007 National Reserve which caters for farmers who inherited, leased or otherwise received free of charge, or for a nominal amount from a farmer who retired or died before 16 May 2005 a holding that was leased out to a third party during the 2000-2002 reference period. As the person named did not submit sufficient...

Written Answers — Tuberculosis Incidence: Tuberculosis Incidence (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in all of the detail requested and, insofar as it is available, 2006 is the most recent year for which detailed information can be provided in the time available. The total cost of the TB programme in 2006 was approximately €70 million, of which some €33.8 million related to staff costs. A specific figure for the cost of farm...