Results 16,521-16,540 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: 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. The 2009 Estimates provide over €1.8 billion for my Department, and, when combined with EU funding of €1.4 billion, means that total expenditure in 2009 by my Department will amount to over €3.2...

Written Answers — Price Increases: Price Increases (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Since 1st January 2008, with the implementation of EU Regulation 882/2004, meat inspection fees have increased for the slaughter of cattle at an EU approved export premises to €5, an increase of €0.50 on the previous rate. In July of this year, approval was granted to Teagasc for a 4.4% increase for general advisory and education/training charges. In addition, a 15% increase in REPS...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Officials of my Department carry out inspections of a proportion of REPS applicants and Teagasc have no function in this respect. I am satisfied that my Department has sufficient resources to carry out the necessary number of inspections.

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: 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 — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person in question currently holds an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of oysters. He has submitted an application for another aquaculture licence for a site adjacent to his existing licensed site. This application is being considered by my Department and I expect to be in a position to make a determination in this case shortly.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have no plans at present to reopen the Early Retirement or Young Farmers' Installation Schemes to new applications.

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. There has been a high level of investment in developing this sector in recent years, with the commitment of significant financial...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The number of applications and payments made to date, on a county basis, under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme are as at Table 1. The number of applications and advance payments made to date, on a county basis, under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme are as at Table 2. The number of REPS payments to date in 2008 is set out in Table 3, while the figures for 2007 are set out in Table 4. It is not...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application from the person named was received in my Department on 9 May 2008. In August 2008 my Department requested additional information and this has been received. The person named will be informed of the outcome once the examination of his application is complete.

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Based on the records of the Central Statistics Office and my own Department, Irish beef has been exported to the following countries in the period from 2003 to 2007. EU Countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Non-EU...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Irish dairy products are exported to other EU member states and to over 100 countries worldwide. The amount of exports to any particular destination varies in accordance with changes in the supply/demand dynamics in particular regions of the world and in respect of the various dairy products involved. In overall terms, Ireland's dairy exports increased in 2007 by 13%, to €2.36 billion, an...

Written Answers — Sheepmeat Sector: Sheepmeat Sector (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Irish sheepmeat has been exported to the following countries in the period from 2003 to 2007. EU Countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden & United Kingdom. Non-EU Countries: Ghana, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Tunisia, Vatican City. Approximately 70% of...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (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 Scheme...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (30 Oct 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 which will lead...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The CAP Health Check proposals are described as a fine-tuning of the 2003 reform of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP); there are three areas (i) a review of the implementation of the single payment scheme (SPS), (ii) a review of market management measures including the milk quota regime and (iii) a response to the so-called new challenges of climate change, bio-energy, water management and...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The issue of food security has informed the current discussion on the CAP Health Check and the situation relating to agriculture post 2013. I raised the matter of food security with my EU colleagues at the Ministerial Council in Annecy in September. I emphasised the need to maintain a strong sustainable agricultural production base in Europe and to have an appropriately resourced common...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: One of the key challenges facing us in the medium term will be to ensure that Irish farming and the agri-food sector is at the heart of an evolving high-value food market, which is focussed on quality, competitiveness and innovation. This is at the core of Government strategy, as evidenced by the National Development Plan 2007-2013, AgriVision 2015 and the Partnership Agreement Towards 2016....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am well aware of the impact of the measures introduced in the 2009 Budget for my Department. The Budget was framed against the background of a serious deterioration in the public finances and required difficult decisions to be made on the allocation of the resources available. I made these decisions in the best interests of the sector following detailed analysis of my Department's programme...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have no plans at present to reopen the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme to new applicants.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together. The agri-food and fish, or 'bio-sector' remains Ireland's largest indigenous employer with a unique regional spread and accounts for over 32% of our net foreign earnings from primary and manufacturing industries. The sector is characterized by resilience and a capacity to adapt to meet new challenges and opportunities in changing times...