Results 17,161-17,180 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Pesticide Use: Pesticide Use (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I supported most of the provisions contained in the draft EU Regulation. However there were a number of aspects of the Regulation that give rise to very significant concern on my part. I am particularly concerned that the use of 'hazard-based cut-off criteria', as a basis for the approval of substances, ignores the scientific principle of risk assessment. Of course it is important that the...

Written Answers — Food Aid: Food Aid (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 3149/92 of 29 October 1992 lays down detailed rules for the supply of food from intervention stocks for the benefit of the most deprived persons in the Community. Normally food that is distributed under Regulation 3149/92 is sourced from intervention stocks. Butter and beef have been used in previous years, with some butter being traded for cheddar cheese. This...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 115 together. The WTO Director General announced on Friday last that he will propose that a WTO Ministerial meeting take place in Geneva in the week commencing 21 July. The purpose of this meeting is to finalise the modalities or detailed texts of agreements on agriculture and non-agricultural market access (NAMA). It is envisaged that a Signalling...

Written Answers — Farm Safety: Farm Safety (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am aware and very concerned with the increase in fatal farm accidents between 1993 and 2007 involving farmers over 60 years of age. I fully support the work of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the statutory body established under the 1989 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, which works in partnership with the agriculture and forestry sectors to improve health and safety in farm...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following is the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the salaries and other benefits received by the Chief Executives of the commercial and non-commercial State sponsored bodies under the aegis of my Department: Agency Remuneration Pension Scheme Ancillary Benefits â'¬ Coillte Teoranta 297,024 Yes Performance Related Bonus Scheme Irish National Stud 104,668 Yes...

Written Answers — Sea Fishery Offences: Sea Fishery Offences (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together. Since 1959 Ireland has applied its criminal law in relation to fisheries matters and, since our membership of the European Community, Ireland has applied the criminal law in the enforcement of fisheries policy. Successive Governments have applied the criminal law. We do this to protect fish stocks and to seek to avoid financial...

Written Answers — Fishery Quota: Fishery Quota (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: In relation to quota allocations, the position is that Ireland's shares of the main fish stocks were set in the early 1980's when fish stocks were being shared out between EU Member States. The share allocations were based on catch records and reflected the fishing levels of the Irish fleet and other Member states' fleets at that time. The percentage shares held by each Member State have...

Written Answers — Fishery Quota: Fishery Quota (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: 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 activity, but other species may be caught accidentally...

Written Answers — Food Imports: Food Imports (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The production of pate foie gras is not banned in Ireland. The importation of this product is regulated at EU level and there are no current proposals to ban this trade.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Broadleaf Thinning and Tending Scheme aims to improve the quality of broadleaf plantations by encouraging thinning and tending at a young age. Demand for all the forestry schemes is quite high this year, relative to the funds available. The Department is now in the process of prioritising expenditure within the Forestry budget as a whole.

Written Answers — State Appointments: State Appointments (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, provided for the establishment of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). This independent authority was established on January 1st 2007. The Act clearly provides that the Authority is solely responsible for the appointment of a complaints officer and consequently I have no remit with regard to that particular appointment.

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Agriculture and Fisheries Council took place on 23/24 June. I represented Ireland together with my colleague Tony Killeen, Minister of State. The Council reached political agreement on the following proposals for Council Regulations: Establishment of a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; Fishing authorisations for Community...

Written Answers — Poultry Sector: Poultry Sector (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am aware that the poultry industry not only in Ireland but also throughout Europe is facing increasing difficulties in maintaining profitability. The ever-increasing fuel costs along with high prices of feeding stuff is continuing to apply pressures on the trade. In the context of labelling my Department in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, drafted National...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (1 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 and Children and the Health Service 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 — Farmers' Rights: Farmers' Rights (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department, in the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes worth up to €1.9bn annually, is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms covering land eligibility, and cross-compliance. A minimum of 5% of applicants are inspected annually under the eligibility rule. Up to two-thirds of these inspections are carried out without a farm visit and using the...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: At the Council of Fisheries meeting in Luxembourg last week EU Fisheries Commissioner Borg, undertook to come back to the next Council meeting on the 15th July with definitive proposals to address the issues facing fishermen. However, I will continue to use every avenue open to me, as will Minister Killeen to convey in the strongest possible terms the depth of feeling of Irish fishermen on...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department is working with pig producers and meat processing plants to improve salmonella controls and reduce the levels of salmonella in the pig sector. The existing national salmonella control programme, which has been in place since 2002, is being revised with the objective of strengthening key elements at farm level, and during the transport and meat production stages. Discussions...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Commission Health Check proposals in the milk sector cover the full range of market management measures currently in place, and milk quota expansion is at the forefront of these. The Commission has proposed to increase national quotas by 1% per annum from 2009/10 to 2013/14 and to allow quotas to expire in 2015. My approach in these negotiations will be to ensure a 'soft landing' towards...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I support the principle of maximum price transparency at all levels. In Ireland, producer prices at export meat plants are published weekly by An Bord Bia. This includes a comparison with EU lamb markets. One of the recommendations of the Sheep Strategy group was a move to mechanical grading of sheep, as is done for cattle. This will provide an objective assessment of quality and enhance...

Written Answers — Designated Ports: Designated Ports (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have not received any representations from the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority to add extra ports to the list of designated landing ports for specific species of fish. The following is a list of landing ports and details for each species as requested. I have recently, at the request of industry representatives, approved the addition of the ports of Kinsale and Schull as designated ports...