Results 16,501-16,520 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: In January 2008, the European Commission published an impact assessment of the three key policy proposals for the implementation of a new, post Kyoto, climate change and renewable energy package. The assessment considered, inter alia, the impacts of a proposal relating to the sharing of efforts to meet the Community's independent greenhouse gas reduction commitment, in sectors not covered by...
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: Almost â¬128 million has been allocated to the forestry and bioenergy budget for 2009 which will allow for the operation of a range of forestry schemes next year. This substantial investment in forestry reflects the recognition by the Government of the importance of the forestry sector in terms of its contribution to the economic, environmental and social fabric of this country. The...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The present provisions provide for the deduction of 5% modulation on all payments made under the Single Payment Scheme. The funds raised by this measure are transferred to Pillar II of the EU Budget and used to finance Rural Development measures. The Regulations require that Member States subsequently refund that element of modulation related to the first â¬5,000 of each payment. I...
- Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 90 together. All 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 and, if in order, payment will be made.
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The original Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department was that 600 headquarters posts would move to Portlaoise; some 100 posts in the local offices in Cork city would move to Fermoy; and up to 100 posts in the laboratories in Cork and Limerick would move to Macroom. Fisheries joined the Department in 2007 and the move of that function of my Department to Clonakilty is now...
- Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: Against the background of the deterioration in public finances, my approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to focus available resources on the measures that allow us to maintain and grow the productive capacity of the agri-food sector. Because I had chosen to protect expenditure in certain areas, expenditure in other areas had to be curtailed. In relation to the...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health and 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. As part of...
- Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The most recent Agriculture Council meeting took place in Luxembourg on Monday and Tuesday of this week and dealt with both agriculture and fisheries issues. As regards fisheries, the Council reached political agreement on proposals for Council Regulations fixing fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks in the Baltic and Black Seas for 2009 and for fishing...
- Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: Aquaculture licensing is governed by the terms and conditions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 and regulations made thereunder, including, in particular, the Aquaculture (Licence Application) Regulations 1998, S.I. No. 236 of 1998. The 1997 Act obliges the Minister to determine any application for a licence by either deciding to grant the licence or a variation of the licence, or...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The cost of the Suckler Welfare Scheme is â¬250 million over the five years 2008-2012. This is the figure that was provided for the Scheme in the "Towards 2016" Partnership Agreement and there is no reduction in this figure. A figure of â¬80 per cow will be paid in 2008. There are almost 54,000 suckler farmers currently participating in the scheme, and to remain within the â¬250...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health and 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 — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: I am well aware of the impact of the measures contained in the 2009 Budget for my Department. Against the background of the deterioration in the national finances, difficult choices had to be made in allocating the resources available to me in 2009. I made these decisions in the best interests of the sector following detailed analysis of my Department's programme of expenditure and careful...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 14 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 application is currently being processed and it is expected that...
- Written Answers — : (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: In the time available it has not been possible to assemble the information requested on a county basis. However at National level the position is as follows. Ireland's National Ceiling for 2005 was â¬1,260 million of which 3% (â¬37.8m) had been provisionally set aside to fund the National Reserve. The cost of funding successful applicants under Force Majeure and New Entrants during the...
- Written Answers — Sheep Production: Sheep Production (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The table sets out information on the sheep sector since 1998. The difficulties facing the sheep sector have been apparent for some time and prompted the setting up of the Sheep Strategy Development Group. The Strategy Group's report contained a number of recommendations for action to secure the future of the sector. Considerable progress has been by my Department in implementing the...
- Written Answers — Sheep Production: Sheep Production (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The series of measures announced in May 2007 were in response to the recommendations of the Sheep Strategy Development Group. They form a comprehensive package to address the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. The following sets out progress on the measures. REPs Sheep farmers continue to be major beneficiaries under the scheme and account for some 22,500 participants. Payments made...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant for aid under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and his application is currently being examined within my Department.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: An application under the Early Retirement (ERS3) Scheme for the person named was received in my Department on 17 October 2008. It could not be accepted for processing as new applications to the Scheme had been suspended with effect from 15 October 2008.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The person named is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Applications under this Scheme are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Oct 2008)
Brendan Smith: The person named had entered a repayment agreement with my Department under which the amount owed in respect of his debt under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme would be deducted from future REPS payments. As monies owed were withheld from his Single Farm Payment in error, arrangements are now being made by my Department to refund them as a matter of urgency.