Results 16,561-16,580 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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...

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

Brendan Smith: The seafood marketing and promotion element of Bord Iascaigh Mhara is to be merged with An Bord Bia. The Government's initiative in transferring the seafood marketing and promotion functions to Bord Bia will ensure the strengthening of seafood marketing as part of a more cohesive overall food marketing effort, while allowing BIM to focus all its energies in developing the seafood industry in...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: FAPRI-Ireland, in association with its research partner Teagasc, launched two reports on 29 September, 2008, one of which is an analysis of the impact of a possible WTO deal, and, a second report, which provides an outlook for Irish and EU agriculture markets using 2008 as the baseline and assuming a status quo policy view over the next ten years. FAPRI's report presents an analysis of the...

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

Brendan Smith: The FSAI Report concluded that the current practice of landspreading of organic agricultural materials on agricultural land for food production is beneficial and should continue, with one exception. The exception relates to the spreading of untreated organic agricultural materials on land to be used for ready-to-eat food crops. The quantity of organic agricultural materials used in the...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Substantial funding has been provided by the Government to support forestry grant and premium schemes for 2009. Almost €128 million has been allocated to forestry and bioenergy under Budget 2009. This significant investment in forestry will allow for the operation of a range of forestry schemes next year and demonstrates the commitment of the Government to the future of forestry in Ireland.

Written Answers — Emergency Slaughter of Animals: Emergency Slaughter of Animals (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Under the European Food Hygiene Regulation (EC) 853/2004, specific requirements are provided for in relation to Emergency Slaughter of animals outside the slaughterhouse. Meat from such animals may not be placed on the market unless it bears a special health mark which cannot be confused with the oval health and identification marks that normally apply to meat that may be exported. My...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: State Aid approval for the afforestation schemes, including an agroforestry scheme, was received from the European Commission in September 2007. However, there are no immediate plans to introduce a specific agroforestry scheme. Within the Afforestation and Native Woodland Schemes that have already been introduced, it is open to landowners to combine farming and forestry in that...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: A good deal of work has already been undertaken and significant progress has been made on drafting the proposed 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. Following the public consultation process initiated earlier in the year on the draft Bill, almost 400...

Written Answers — Sheep Production: Sheep Production (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The report for the European Parliament by Mr. Liam Aylward MEP on the sheep sector in Europe has called for the introduction of an environmental maintenance scheme for ewes to arrest the decline in sheep production. This recommendation and others in the Aylward Report were considered in detail at a special conference on the sheep sector that was held in Limoges by the French Presidency at...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 43 and 79 together. The CAP Health Check dossier was presented to Ministers at the Informal May Council. A full first round examination of the texts has now been completed by the Working Groups and most of the technical and linguistic issues have been addressed. Tri-lateral meetings took place at the Agriculture Council on 29/30 September to identify the...

Written Answers — Domestic Abattoirs: Domestic Abattoirs (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 83 together. Under my Department's capital investment scheme for the marketing and processing of agricultural products, a total of 51 eligible applications were received in respect of small slaughterhouses and low throughput meat establishments. The applications are going through a competitive assessment and evaluation process in which the strengths of...

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...

Written Answers — Sheep Imports: Sheep Imports (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The majority of imported sheep presented for slaughter in Irish plants come from or through Northern Ireland and a small number of these would have originated in Great Britain or beyond. All imported sheep are accompanied by veterinary certification. While the identification and certification of imported sheep is checked at the plants prior to slaughter, records of these are not maintained...

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

Brendan Smith: EU legislation stipulates that food products of animal origin imported from an EU source must come from an approved food business establishment and be accompanied to its destination by a commercial document or a health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the Member State of origin. In the case of importation from third countries they must originate in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: In the "Towards 2016" Partnership Agreement, a provision was made to provide €250 million in support of a suckler scheme over five years 2008-2012. This is being honoured. In order that the scheme is continued within the €250 million funding budget, it will, on current levels of participation be necessary to reduce the rate of payment in future years. Almost 54,000 farmers have joined...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 59 together. The EU regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme provided for the setting up of a National Reserve. In Ireland's case reducing each farmer's individual Single Payment by 1.82% created the Reserve. The total amount of money available for distribution under the 2005 National Reserve was some €22.5m. A further €6.5m was added...