Results 17,001-17,020 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: It should be emphasised that there are in place a number of strategic plans operated by my Department that have the overall objective of developing and enhancing the capacity, sustainability and competitiveness of the agriculture, food, and forestry sectors. These include the Agri Vision 2015 Action Plan, the relevant commitments in Towards 2016, the National Development Plan and the Rural...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme, introduced in July 2007 following receipt of EU approval for the 2007-2013 RDP, provided grant-aid for the areas mentioned. The Scheme was, however, closed for new applications on 31 October 2007 as applications had reached the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Rural Development Programme: Rural Development Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Rural Development Programme for Ireland 2007-2013 was approved by the EU Commission in July 2007. 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 main measures and allocation of funds under Axes 1 and 2 are...

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The State's role is to facilitate a climate that assists competitive drive and innovation, for example, through the implementation of the Agri Vision 2015 Action Plan. At EU level a range of market support measures are operated, while the exchequer and the EU together also provide almost €2 billion per year in direct payments to support farm income. A number of schemes and reliefs have...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: A new REPS 4 scheme was launched in late 2007 as part of the Rural Development Programme 2007-13. For the first time REPS is open to more intensive farmers and this, together with more attractive payment rates agreed in Partnership, has potential to bring numbers to the targeted level. By the deadline of 15 May, some 11,500 farmers had applied to join REPS 4. There are some 54,000...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 490 and 531 together. My Department recently launched its Organic Farming Action Plan 2008-2012, which is central to assisting in reaching the Programme for Government target. The Plan has four main objectives: to increase production in line with market trends, increase the knowledge base, develop the organic market at home and abroad, and encourage the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491, 498, 499, 501 and 502 together. Work is progressing on drafting the new Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which gives effect to a number of commitments, in the area of animal health and welfare, contained in the Programme for Government. The Bill will amend and consolidate previous legislation to reflect the changed disease status of our nation's animals...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department's responsibilities extend to animal and plant health and the diseases of these sectors. In this regard it works closely with the Department of Health & Children and the Health Services Executive in relation to the public health aspects of and the potential implications for human health posed by these diseases, as for example in relation to avian 'flu which crosses both...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Several Government Departments have responsibility for aspects of GM Policy and these are the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government which has responsibility for the deliberate release of GM's into the environment including for crop cultivation; the Department of Health and Children which has responsibility for GM food safety and consumer protection;the Department of...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 506 together. Irish food safety is guaranteed by the rigorous standards, processes and audits required under the European Food and Feed Hygiene legislation, the Department's animal traceability system and the comprehensive quality assurances schemes operated through Bord Bia. State aid approval has been secured for Bord Bia's advertising campaign for...

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

Brendan Smith: I proposed to take Questions Nos. 495 and 518 together. My Department, in conjunction with Department of Health and Children, drafted national regulations that would require the country of origin to be indicated on pigmeat, poultry and sheepmeat. The draft regulations were notified to the European Commission in December 2007 as required by EU legislation. The Commission adopted a negative...

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

Brendan Smith: Food advertising issues are primarily the remit of the Department of Health and Children/FSAI. However, my Department has encouraged the food industry to provide more nutritional information. Regulations on nutrition and health claims in force in July 2007 (Reg 1924/06) cover claims on foods marketed in the EU, food supplements, foods for particular nutritional uses. Under Article 13 of the...

Written Answers — Health Promotion: Health Promotion (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Obesity is, I believe, an immensely important issue for the future health of our society and demands a multi-faceted response as indicated in the Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity which made recommendations for cross-sectoral actions in areas including education, social and community, health, food supply and the physical environment. The recommendations to my Department have been...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 511 together. My Department is actively progressing a herd health initiative and has consulted with the major stakeholders, including farming organisations and representatives of industry, service providers and relevant state agencies, for the purpose of developing proposals to further improve herd health in Ireland particularly in relation to...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The inclusion of animal welfare and other non-trade concerns in WTO negotiations are pursued on an ongoing basis with the Commission and other Member States. These regulations have now reached an important juncture with the calling of a WTO Ministerial meeting for later this month in Geneva. Further progress on the trade talks will be dependent on the outcome of that meeting.

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 504 and 515 together. The Capital Investment Aid Scheme for both the beef and sheepmeat primary processing sectors was launched in April 2007. The support package, amounting to €50 million, should trigger overall investment of some €120 million. The objective of the scheme is to make financial assistance available towards the cost of the construction and...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (10 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Animal Welfare, Recording and Breeding Scheme for Suckler Herds came into operation in January 2008 and runs for 5 years with a budget of €250m. It aims to encourage and underpin the adoption of high standards of animal welfare in suckler herds and to improve the quality of breeding cattle in the beef sector. Almost 53,000 suckler farmers have joined the scheme and over 80% of all the...

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

Brendan Smith: The Minister launched a capital investment package for the Irish Dairy Processing Sector in September 2006. Following the commercial and technical evaluation of applications a total of 19 capital investment projects were approved and awarded Government grant assistance of €114 million, which will generate an estimated capital spend of €286 million. Four of these projects were completed...

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

Brendan Smith: The public good Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM) operated by my Department has been providing research funding on a competitive basis for research projects on milk, cheese, food ingredients and technologies. This support will continue within future budget availability. The broad thematic areas of research in this area will be developed in consultation with stakeholders and with...

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

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme (FIS) introduced in 2007 extended grant-aid to feeding systems and increased the specific investment ceilings for milking machines and bulk milk tanks from €16,000 to €40,000 and €25,000 respectively.