Results 17,381-17,400 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department is committed to supporting research in non-food land uses. To date, it has awarded in excess of €6 million in funding for biofuel research projects under the Department's Research Stimulus Fund Programme arising from Calls for Proposals issued in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The 2005 Research Stimulus Fund Programme funded a project entitled 'Development of a strategy (E-supply) for...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for REPS 4 are derived from a new Commission Regulation which reflects the Commission's objective of integrating and harmonising the operation of the various farm payment schemes — including the Single Payment Scheme, REPS and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. For REPS 4, this means that applications to join the Scheme must be submitted by 15 May each year. Payments will...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: As custodian of some of the richest fishing grounds within the European Community, Ireland is strongly committed to the protection of our fish stocks from depletion due to over-exploitation, both at European and national levels. At EU level, Ireland has consistently argued for a level playing field in the enforcement of measures to prevent such over-exploitation, and we look forward to...

Written Answers — Plant Protection Products: Plant Protection Products (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Commission has proposed a Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The Strategy includes a number of initiatives designed to reduce the negative impacts associated with use of "Plant Protection Products" (agro-chemical sprays). It is in this context the Commission has proposed: 1. A framework Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides, the aim of which is to reduce...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: At its meeting on 12 June 2007, the Council of Agriculture Ministers invited the Commission to come forward with a proposal for a school fruit scheme based on an impact assessment of the benefits, practicalities and administrative costs that would be involved. On 18 December 2007 the Commission began a public consultation process which ended on 29 February 2008. The Commission is currently...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: All fishermen are eligible to undertake Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) training programmes including those serving on vessels that are decommissioning. In this regard, BIM and FÁS have agreed to co-operate to provide training for fishing vessel crew members that find themselves without a job when their fishing vessel is decommissioned. Both agencies will work closely together to provide...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Recent data from the Central Statistics Office on the Consumer Price Index shows that Ireland, in common with the rest of the world, has experienced a steep rise in food prices. The cost of food and non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 8.1% in the year to April 2008. This compares to an increase of 1.6% for the year to April 2007 and mirrors the upward trajectory in food prices as...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: All clear felling of afforested areas is subject to the licensing conditions as laid down under the Forestry Act 1946. Licences are issued following detailed inspection and approval of the proposed clear felling sites by the Forest Service Inspectorate and following consultation with the relevant authorities. There are two types of licence, a general felling licence which carries a...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The escalation of fuel costs, as a result of global economic and political conditions, remains a matter of concern for all sectors of industry. It is important to note that the fishing industry in Ireland already receives favourable treatment in the form of a full rebate on excise and VAT on marine fuel, if the enterprise concerned is registered for VAT. Fuel subsidies, in terms of operating...

Written Answers — Farm Safety: Farm Safety (20 May 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 6 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Farmers can choose to have payments made to them by cheque or electronic funds transfer directly into their bank account during the remainder of the 2008 EU financial year which ends on 15 October. However, as and from the 2009 EU financial year which commences on 16th October 2008, payment by cheque will no longer be permitted under EU rules on the financing and management of the Common...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The position in relation to leases and licences for Offshore Windfarms under the Foreshore Act 1933 is as follows: A. There are currently three valid Foreshore licences for site investigation. B. There are seven Foreshore licence applications for site investigation currently being processed. C. Two Foreshore leases have been granted: (i) In January 2002 a lease was granted to Sure Partners...

Written Answers — Sheep Industry: Sheep Industry (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Sheep Industry Development Strategy Group, under the chairmanship of Mr. John Malone, set out a blueprint for the sector's future development. Its recommendations relate to all elements of the industry and do not have a fixed timeframe. My Department and the state agencies under my aegis are dealing with the areas relevant to them. Under REPS 4, a new mixed grazing measure specially...

Written Answers — Plant Protection Products: Plant Protection Products (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Commission has proposed a Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The Strategy includes a number of initiatives to reduce the impact of sprays. The Commission has proposed a framework Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides. The aim of this proposal is to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment. The current Commission...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (20 May 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 1980s when fish stocks were being shared out between Member States. The share allocations were based on catch records and reflected the fishing levels by the Irish fleet at that time. The percentage shares held by each Member State have generally remained the same for over 20...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Dairy Investment Fund was a fixed period competitive call for proposals for dairy processing companies to assist them in increasing efficiency by supporting the upgrading of existing facilities in order to capture new business and develop value added products. The Government established a fund of €100 million and, when fully implemented, the approved projects will generate total dairy...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Health Service Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency....

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Climate change has potentially serious implications not just for agriculture but for all sectors of the economy. The Irish agricultural pasture-based production system has many advantages in terms of sustainability and in a decoupled environment, efficiency of production is pursued which means that carbon emissions per unit of production are kept as low as possible. In the context of carbon...

Written Answers — Climate Change: Climate Change (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. The focus in Ireland is on mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and there is ongoing analysis of the potential impacts of climate change, especially in relation to agriculture. The available information from regional climate models indicates that there will be impacts on the Irish climate. However, these are...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the one referred to by the Deputy, are the responsibility of the company. I understand that Coillte has processes in place for dealing with contractor issues and I believe that, as this is an operational matter, it is for the company to address any...