Results 16,981-17,000 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Strategy for a Restructured, Sustainable and Profitable Irish Seafood Industry 2007-13 (The Cawley Report) is the blueprint for the development of the seafood sector going forward. The recommendations and indicated funding contained in the report are underpinned by the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013, which provides for their roll out over the timeframe of the plan. Annual...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following is the up to date position in respect of the foreshore licence applications referred to by the Deputy. Outfall from Stormwater/Surfacewater Collection system at Cappoquin (Application received 29 April 2005). Outfall from Wastewater Treatment Plant at Cappoquin (Application received 29 April 2005). These applications have completed the public notice stage of the process and...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following are the number of hectares of trees planted in each of the past five years by species: Year Broadleaf Conifer Total 2003 2,075.37 7,022.35 9,097.72 2004 2,799.71 6,938.90 9,738.61 2005 3,001.89 7,094.12 10,096.01 2006 2,527.16 5,509.48 8,036.64 2007 2,181.80 4,764.79 6,946.59

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Details of the expenditure by my Department on consultancies, as defined under the Department of Finance Guidelines, for the years 2003 to date in 2008 is as follows: Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007* 2008* Expenditure â'¬616,985 â'¬684,741 â'¬243,083 â'¬922,228 â'¬2,825, 875 â'¬843,197 Number of Contracts 22 26 17 21 34 13 *Figures include expenditure relating to Fisheries...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Indicative funding of €3m was allocated to implement the recommendation of the Sheep Strategy Implementation Group that sheep breeding functions be transferred from my Department to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). This indicative funding was allocated at €1m per annum for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009. Due to delays in implementing the recommendation of the Sheep Strategy...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (10 Jul 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 and my Department has recently written to all approved farmers under the Scheme reminding them of the importance of compliance with this deadline in order to avail of the generous...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The current Rural Development Programme for Ireland covers the period 2007-2013. It has a budget of €5.778 billion over the lifetime of the Programme of which €2.339 billion will be funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EARDF) and €3.438 billion by the national exchequer. The contribution from the exchequer includes the necessary funding to match the EU...

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Article 3 of the Birds Directive, implemented in Ireland under the Wildlife Acts, allows for the creation of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the protection of birds. Such areas have been designated in Ireland where they contain significant populations or species of birds that are of national or international importance. Article 4(4) of the directive indicates that Member States shall take...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The strategic environmental assessment of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 was commissioned to report on the draft Programme in accordance with the provisions of Directive 2001/42/EC and relevant national legislation. This legislation requires an assessment to be carried out in respect of programmes which are likely to have significant environmental effects. The assessment was...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Strategic Environmental Assessments have been undertaken by my Department since the introduction of Directive in respect of the following: 1. Rural Development Plan 2007-2012; 2. Seafood Operational Programme 2007-2012.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government published the Freshwater Pearl Mussel requirements in March 2008. These requirements were implemented from 31 March 2008. Consequently the moratorium on all clearfelling harvesting in Freshwater Pearl Mussel catchments has now been lifted. The number of hectares licensed to date for clearfelling...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Rural Development Plan 2007-2013 was a formal, systematic evaluation of the anticipated significant environmental effects of the Plan. The Environmental Report, undertaken as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment, is a major assessment measure and sets out the conditions that are applied at implementation level. This report...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 governs the licensing of aquaculture within the State. Under the terms of the Act a person may, in accordance with the application regulations, apply to the Minister for an aquaculture licence or trial licence. There are no provisions in the Act for the designation of areas for aquaculture purposes. Since 1 July 2003 the Department has issued 111...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy is a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, which is an independent agency under the aegis of my Department. My Department has requested the Authority to compile the information sought as soon as possible and I will forward it to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together. The issue of high levels of discards in commercial sea fisheries is a global problem and is on the agenda of all major international organisations who deal with the development of sustainable sea fisheries and protection of marine ecosystems. Discarding is usually a feature of mixed fisheries where one species may be the target of fishing...

Written Answers — Hazardous Substances: Hazardous Substances (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: 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 they take the safety of forest workers very seriously and that they implement effective safety controls in all its operations. I understand from the company that they treat some...

Written Answers — Agricultural Policy: Agricultural Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 485 together. For some time, farmers have chosen to maximise their incomes through a combination of farming and off-farm employment. This Government is committed to maintaining a core of competitive, full-time farmers, while at the same time providing an economic environment which enables smaller scale producers to avail of both on and off-farm...

Written Answers — Agricultural Policy: Agricultural Policy (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 533 to 535, inclusive, together. The introduction of the Single Payment Scheme in 2005 has dramatically reduced the paperwork for farmers in applying for the direct payment schemes. In addition, my Department introduced an on-line application system for the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas' Compensatory Allowance Scheme for 2007 to...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department, working in conjunction with the promotion and development agencies, and with industry through the structures established under the Agri-Vision 2015 Plan of Action, and most recently the Food Industry Research Sub-Group, has promoted marketing and research strategies to develop new products and new food markets. At market level, there are emerging opportunities in Continental EU...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions No. 482, 483 and 507 together. Building on the ongoing work of the Meat Market Access group involving my Department, Bord Bia and meat industry representatives which was established last July, an inter-Departmental Group has been established. It is chaired by my Department and comprised of representatives from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Enterprise,...