Results 17,021-17,040 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (24 Sep 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. I have raised this issue with the European Commission, as recently as July and the Commission has since reaffirmed that it expects Ireland to respect this deadline strictly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The mixed grazing supplementary measure is available to farmers joining REPS 4 and was approved by the European Commission on the basis of the environmental benefits accruing from following a mixed grazing regime. Payments of €1.112m have been made in respect of REPS 4 contracts commencing in 2007 of which €9,000 relates to the mixed grazing supplementary measure. Some 11,600 applications...

Written Answers — Fish Imports: Fish Imports (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: According to CSO figures, the volume and value of all seafood imports for human consumption in 2007 amounted to 45,171 tonnes and €177 million. CSO figures do not provide a breakdown by location of import.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned under the Farm Waste Management Scheme is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2008. While payments under that scheme are scheduled to commence on 1 December 2008, in light of the severe weather conditions which prevailed here over the summer months, I recently sought the approval of the EU Commissioner to my proposal that advance payments of the 2008 Scheme be allowed as...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The decision to introduce the 20% requirement to this year's Temporary Leasing Scheme was informed, as always, by my stated objective of ensuring that as much milk quota as possible is made available on a permanent basis to active, committed milk producers. Unfortunately, in recent years many quota holders have repeatedly supplied nominal or token amounts of milk to their Co-ops and...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted an application for additional milk quota to the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal under the Hardship category in respect of the 2008/2009 quota year. The application was acknowledged on 17 July last. The Tribunal is currently working through all of the Hardship applications. When a recommendation has been made in this case, a letter will issue to the person named and...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted an application for additional milk quota to the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal under the Hardship category in respect of the 2008/2009 quota year. The application was acknowledged on 17 July last. The Tribunal is currently working through all of the Hardship applications and when a recommendation is made in this case a letter will issue to the person named and his...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application was received on 20 February 2008 requesting the transfer of 19.72 standard entitlements to the person named from his late father. The herdnumber was transferred into the sole name of the person named from the sole name of his father on 11 May 2007. In October 2006, the father of the person named executed a Deed of Transfer in which he transferred land 'together with all...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: Applications were submitted in May 2007 requesting the transfer from two other farmers of 6.25 standard entitlements and 17.00 standard entitlements respectively to the person named. The entitlements in question are not in the possession of the two farmers and consequently it has not been possible to complete the requested transfer to the person named. The two farmers concerned have been...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: Under the 2005 National Reserve the person named was successful under Category B which catered for farmers who made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000-2002. Investments can include purchase or long-term lease of land, purchase of suckler...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The independent Agriculture Appeals Office has upheld my Department's decision to seek recovery of REPS monies paid in respect of lands incorrectly claimed as eligible for payment. The amount to be recovered will be deducted from payments due from all schemes until the full amount has been recovered.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: Operators of farmers markets are not required to report sales and statistics are not available on the volume of food produce sold at local farmers markets. The number of markets continues to increase and there are now over 140 farmers markets throughout the island. The bulk of Irish food production is sold on export markets and in retail trade.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1555, 1556 and 1582 together. Ireland's share of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is fixed on the principle of relative stability, although minor variations may occur from year to year. The following table sets out the Irish quota for 2008 and the corresponding EU TAC in all the fisheries where Ireland has a quota and historical involvement. The TACs are...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: Overall responsibility for energy policy in Ireland, including renewable energy rests with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Alternative energy sources encompass a wide range of materials and processes including wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and bioenergy. My Department is implementing the agri-related actions in the National Bioenergy Action Plan to support...

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

Brendan Smith: Ireland does not have any fishing quotas in the Kattegat and Skaggerak fishing zones. These fishing grounds are to the north and east of Denmark and Irish vessels had no history of fishing in these areas.

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

Brendan Smith: Following negotiations between officials from the Department and officials from DG Mare, the Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-2013 was adopted by the EU Commission on 9 September 2008 under the EU Commission decision (C/2008/4993).

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department is that some 600 headquarters staff will move to Portlaoise, the local offices in Cork city will move to Fermoy, involving some 100 staff; and the laboratories in Cork and Limerick will move to Macroom, involving up to 100 staff. The move of the Fisheries function of my Department to Clonakilty, involving over 80 staff, is now...

Written Answers — Sheep Tagging: Sheep Tagging (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy is referring to the introduction of electronic identification (EID) for sheep on a mandatory EU wide basis as provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No. 21/2004 which will come into force on 31st December 2009. I can tell the Deputy that I have already expressed major concerns with regard to the introduction of EID for a sheep sector that is clearly under pressure. In this...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: Grant-aid will be paid to all farmers who complete work in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Farm Waste Management Scheme. To date this year, in excess of €180 million has been paid. My Department continues to make every effort to ensure that the timescales set out in the Farmers' Charter are as closely adhered to as possible.