Results 17,101-17,120 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — On-Farm Investment Schemes: On-Farm Investment Schemes (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Dairy Hygiene Scheme was introduced by my Department in 2001 under the aegis of the 2000-2006 National Development Plan and accordingly closed for new applications on 31 December 2006. Expenditure on the Scheme since its introduction has been as follows: Year Amount (€ million) 2001 0.164 2002 2.057 2003 2.429 2004 2.951 2005 6.045 2006 6.994 2007 7.673 2008 (to date) 2.385...

Written Answers — On-Farm Investment Schemes: On-Farm Investment Schemes (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: In April 2007, my predecessor announced the approval of grant assistance from the Dairy Investment Fund in the amount of €114 million towards capital investment in the processing sector. The Fund is expected to generate gross capital investment in the sector of €286 million when all projects have been completed. Capital investment outside this programme is a matter for the individual...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health and Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Specific actions have been taken and initiated in relation to origin labelling of meat and meat products. As regards beef labelling legislation requiring country of origin labelling of beef has been in place since September 2000. As this legislation did not cover beef sold by the...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The price paid to pig producers, currently stands at €150/100kgs. This is up 15% on last year and the price has been improving steadily over the past weeks. This positive development for producers has been assisted by the availability of export refunds, which has helped alleviate pressures on the EU market. On the matter of advice to pig producers, Teagasc's programme of activities...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information sought by the Deputy is set out hereunder. Year Total Grant-in-Aid Food Dudes — National Roll-Out Quality Assurance € € 1998 15,153,765 8,291,390 1999 18,351,524 10,044,898 2000 14,637,377 12,755,789 2001 17,054,264 17,013,221 2002 18,738,114 18,507,000 2003 17,000,439 17,003,000 2004 17,122,604 17,067,244 2005 21,282,671 20,973,118 2006...

Written Answers — On-Farm Investment Schemes: On-Farm Investment Schemes (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 and closed for new applications on 31 October 2007. 12,675 applications were received from farmers prior to the closing date of the Scheme. Expenditure on the Scheme in 2007 was €0.014 million and, to date in 2008, has been €2.783 million. I have no plans at present to reopen the Scheme.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: 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 chaired by my Department and comprised of representatives from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, An Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Iascaigh Mhara has been...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department is in regular contact with the European Commission with a view to simplification of the Direct Payments Scheme requirements. In this connection the European Commission, in consultation with Member States, undertook a full review of the cross-compliance regime. The results of that review were presented to the Council of Ministers and Council conclusions were adopted in June 2007....

Written Answers — Veterinary Training: Veterinary Training (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 606 together. The Veterinary Practice Act 2005 substantially reformed regulation of veterinary practice in Ireland, including formal recognition for the first time of the veterinary nursing profession. The Act provides that day to day regulation of the professions is vested in the Veterinary Council of Ireland in accordance with the principles laid...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Grant aid of €65,280 was paid to the company in question in July 2005. It is a condition of the award of this grant aid that the beneficiary must not dispose of the equipment without the written authorisation of my Department, or abandon the investment, for a period of four years from the date of payment. The company has been reminded of the contingent liability period and has indicated...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Standard Costings used to calculate grants under my Department's on-farm investment schemes were last revised with effect from January 2007. A review of these Costings then took place in late-2007 and the decision was taken to maintain these Costings at their current rates.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The new Council Regulation establishing a Community System to prevent, deter and eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing achieved political agreement at the recent Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers. After formal adoption at an upcoming Council, it is intended that the Regulation will come into effect from 1 January 2010. In the meantime, detailed rules and...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: This question is a matter for the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), which is a statutory body independent of me and my Department.

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Bord Iascaigh Mhara's grant aid for 2008, excluding staff salaries, pension payments and administrative expenses is €36.465 million, which is made available for the development of the seafood sector. This allocation includes €21 million for the permanent decommissioning of fishing vessels. In addition, grant aid of €6.35 million for the development of aquaculture and seafood...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The disposal of waste materials in all sectors, including agricultural, is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the first instance. The Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, require manufacturers and importers of farm plastics — that is, silage bale wrap and sheeting — to take steps to recover farm plastics waste which they have...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The expenditure review of the Farm Waste Management Scheme was completed by my Department in 2007 and is available on my Department's website. Many of the review's considerations were taken into account in the introduction of the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme in 2006 which provided increased grants to farmers in order to assist them meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The value for money review of the Dairy Hygiene Scheme was completed by my Department in 2007 and was made available on my Department's website in early 2008. As the Scheme closed for new applications at the end of 2006, no changes could be made to the terms of the Scheme as a result of the review. However, the draft findings of the review were taken into account in the introduction of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Value for Money Review of the Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM) was completed in March 2008. The Review concluded that FIRM has produced high quality research which compares favourably to work being undertaken internationally. The review also established that there was a relatively high level of satisfaction with the administration of FIRM and that it is managed in an efficient...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The value for money review of the Bovine TB Eradication Scheme will be completed very shortly and the final report is currently being finalised. Consideration will be given to implementation of any recommendations that may be contained in the report. Consequently, it is not possible at this stage to quantify the extent of any savings that may result from the review.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department's Value for Money Review of the Temporary Veterinary Inspectors scheme was completed in December 2007. A report on the review has been presented to the Department's Management Advisory Committee. The report sets out in detail a number of alternative recommended proposals for the future operation of the scheme, each of which has its own cost implications. The Management Advisory...