Results 17,181-17,200 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The General Scheme of the new Forestry Bill has been prepared and will shortly be submitted to Government for approval to send to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. I hope to publish the Bill as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Commission presented its legislative proposals on the Health Check to the Informal Agriculture Council in Slovenia on 27 May. The proposals are currently being examined in Council Working Groups and the Special Committee on Agriculture. The impact of the whole package of measures on Irish agriculture will clearly depend on what is agreed at the end of the negotiations. The aim is to...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Minister Killeen and I attended the Council of Fisheries meeting in Luxembourg last week, where we conveyed in the strongest possible terms the depth of feeling of Irish fishermen on this matter and the seriousness of the situation facing them. We outlined a strong case for a package of EU-funded measures to address the current difficulties experienced by fishermen across Europe,...

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

Brendan Smith: Provision was made in the forestry programme of the National Development Plan for the introduction of a scheme to improve the nature quality and biodiversity of older established woodlands. However, 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 — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am fully committed to ensuring that consumers can have full confidence in the organic food they buy. For that reason my Department has assigned additional resources to the Organic Unit and the staff involved are now systematically inspecting retail outlets, including supermarkets, shops and farmers markets, checking to ensure that all product identified as organic has been produced fully...

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

Brendan Smith: Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, has responsibility for the provision of education and training services to the agri-food sector. It actively promotes careers in farming as being very rewarding and fulfilling with the opportunity to develop a lifestyle which competes favourably with other professions, particularly with regard to quality of life and job satisfaction....

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

Brendan Smith: The worldwide increase in the price of cereals over the last 18 months, partly due to adverse weather conditions, has caused the price of compound animal feeds to increase by about 30%. However, the acreage directed to cereal cultivation has increased significantly in 2008, helped by increased market demand and the suspension of the obligation to set 10% of arable land aside. I am hopeful...

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

Brendan Smith: I am very concerned with the level of farm safety on our farms. Last year 11 people died on Irish farms, while this was a decline of almost 40% on 2006, it is still unacceptably high. This year to-date 10 people have died on Irish farms. I strongly support the work of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), which is the national body in Ireland with responsibility for securing health and...

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

Brendan Smith: Minister Killeen and I attended the Council of Fisheries meeting in Luxembourg last week where we conveyed in the strongest possible terms the depth of feeling of Irish fishermen on this matter and the seriousness of the situation facing them. We outlined a strong case for a package of EU-funded measures to address the current difficulties experienced by fishermen across Europe, particularly...

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

Brendan Smith: The Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department is that our headquarters will move to Portlaoise, involving some 600 staff; 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 is now...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The controls in place for monitoring REPS are designed to conform with the requirements set out in EU legislation. All REPS applications are subject to administrative checks, and on-the-spot checks are carried out on at least 5% of applications annually. Additional discretionary on-the-spot checks are carried out where my Department becomes aware of possible incidences of non-compliance. My...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Standard Costings used to calculate grants under my Department's on-farm investment schemes (such as the Farm Waste Management and Farm Improvement Schemes) were last revised with effect from January 2007 in accordance with the commitments contained in the Farmers' Charter 2005-2007. A review of these Costings then took place in late-2007 and the decision was taken to maintain the...

Written Answers — Fish Landings: Fish Landings (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Data produced by The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority show that the volume and value of fish landings by Irish vessels in 2006 amounted to 267,817 tonnes valued at €203.3 million. The landings included those into both Irish and foreign ports. By category of fish these landings comprised: Tonnes €000 Deep Water 1,662 2,032 Demersal 23,690 48,049 Pelagic 192,281 73,256 Shellfish...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: A new seafood market initiative has been established under the chairmanship of Jason Whooley, CEO of BIM to identify and maximise the opportunities for domestic seafood supply to the Irish seafood market. The objectives of the Irish Seafood Market Initiative will be: Develop a shared understanding of key market issues between fishermen, processors, co-ops, retailers and their representative...

Written Answers — Wildlife Conservation: Wildlife Conservation (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: I fully support the conservation of the red squirrel and bat populations in Ireland. Officials in my Department will be working closely with the National Parks and Wildlife Service in implementing these Species Action Plans.

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

Brendan Smith: In the new Forestry Bill, which will replace the 1946 Forestry Act, it is proposed to take a more flexible approach regarding the question of replanting after harvesting. However, the general principle of replanting after felling will remain in order to ensure that the national forest estate is maintained.

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

Brendan Smith: My Department carries out analysis on an ongoing basis of the various negotiating proposals which emerge in these negotiations. This analysis covers a large number of different scenarios and their impacts on the different agricultural sectors. In particular, the analysis evaluates the levels of import protection for individual products under the various different tariff cut scenarios that...

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

Brendan Smith: Recent data from the Central Statistics Office on the Consumer Price Index show that Ireland, in common with the rest of the EU and indeed the world, has experienced a steep rise in food prices. The cost of food and non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 7.8% in the year to May 2008. This compares to an increase of 1.4% for the year to May 2007 and mirrors the upward trajectory in food...

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

Brendan Smith: The new draft EU Regulation to replace Directive 91/4144/EEC concerning the marketing of plant protection products is part of a strategy for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. I supported most of the provisions contained in the draft Regulation but I am concerned that the use of 'hazard-based cut-off criteria', as a basis for the approval of substances, ignores the scientific principle of...

Written Answers — Compliance Costs: Compliance Costs (1 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: In March of this year, the Government decided to reduce the administrative burden of domestic regulation on business by 25% by 2012. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for devising the approach and methodology used across Government, for co-coordinating the work across Government Departments and agencies and for reporting to Government on progress. In this...