Results 17,401-17,420 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 133, 135 and 138 together. A revised negotiating text on agriculture was issued yesterday evening and a text on non-agricultural market access earlier today. These texts are being issued with a view to facilitating a final WTO agreement by the end of 2008. It is by no means clear whether such an agreement will be reached this year. The range of issues...

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

Brendan Smith: As Minister with responsibility for fisheries, I will be working closely with the Irish fishing industry, through its representative organisations, to address the key issues the industry faces into the future. Meetings are held at regular intervals with industry representatives — including those from the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation — through the Sea Fisheries...

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

Brendan Smith: Coillte Teoranta was established from 1 January 1989 and the annual total planting, both afforestation and reforestation, by the company since then is set out in the table. The majority of the afforestation undertaken in recent years has been on behalf of private growers. In 1999 Coillte became ineligible for payment of the afforestation premium due to a decision by the European Commission,...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department accords a high priority to maintaining Ireland's high status in relation to animal health and welfare in the context of protecting consumers and in view of the economic and social importance of agriculture to the country. It remains essential that we anticipate future possibilities wherever possible and maintain the capability of dealing effectively with any threats in this...

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 for the construction of Offshore windfarms have been granted: (i) In January...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 139 and 379 together. Increasing food prices and concerns regarding availability of food is a global situation, which is most severely affecting those people living in developing countries. This complex issue has many causes, including recurrent bad weather, and changing and increasing food requirements among countries caused in particular by economic...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Ireland has been and remains bluetongue-free and the presence of the disease in a number of other member States has not had any significant impact on Irish agriculture to date. It continues to be my objective to ensure that Ireland remains disease free and that we make every effort and take all such reasonable precautions to that end. With regard to vaccination, it is envisaged that we would...

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 chemical pesticides. Firstly, the Commission has proposed a framework Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides, the aim of which is to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human...

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

Brendan Smith: The review of the operation of sanctions under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006 currently being conducted by officials of my Department is ongoing and every effort will be made to have it completed by the early autumn. I look forward to the outcome of this review, and will consider its conclusions carefully. It is important to note that administrative fines for...

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

Brendan Smith: Steering a New Course — strategy for a restructured, sustainable and profitable Irish seafood industry 2007-13, was approved by the Irish Government on 10 January 2007 and launched by the Taoiseach on 28 January as the blueprint for developing the fishing sector into the future. The plan envisages an Irish Seafood Industry that is sustainable, profitable, competitive and market-focused,...

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

Brendan Smith: The Commission submitted their observations on Ireland's Operational Programme (O.P) for Fisheries via a "Negotiation Position" document received on the 22nd of April 2008. This is a normal part of the consultative process for approval of O.P's. The issues raised by the Commission were mainly procedural and/or editorial in nature. Disappointment was expressed at the exclusion of measures...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The position regarding milk deliveries for the 2007/2008 milk quota year is currently being finalised, and the expectation is that the country will be over quota. In accordance with EU law, a levy will therefore be payable by over-quota producers attached to milk purchasers in whose areas quota was exceeded. Although any levies arising in respect of the 2007/2008 milk quota year will...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department is actively working with relevant stakeholders to progress a herd health initiative to deal with non-regulated diseases in a comprehensive and integrated manner. The initiative complements existing animal health programmes and aims to develop effective national plans for action and facilitate Ireland achieving international best practice in the area of animal health. Officials...

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 Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency....

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: â'¬79 million was provided under the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016, for the operation of the Farm Improvement Scheme. 12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Scheme prior to its suspension for new applications on 31 October 2007. To date, 6,017 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Farm improvement Scheme. The remaining applications are...

Written Answers — Support for Young Farmers: Support for Young Farmers (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 149 together. A number of schemes and reliefs have been introduced in recent years to bring about improvements in farm structures and the age profile of the sector. In 2005, 8% of farmers were under the age of 35 and they farmed a similar proportion of farmland. The Irish age structure is in line with the EU average. To maintain this structure, there...

Written Answers — National Statistics: National Statistics (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The most recent figures available from the Central Statistics Office are for the year 2005 and these show that there were 73,500 farmers whose sole occupation was farming or 56% of the total. The number of farmers with another either major or subsidiary occupation was 58,900 or 44% of the total and they would be considered to be part-time. The trend in recent years has been towards part-time...

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

Brendan Smith: The draft Operational Programme (O.P) for Fisheries for Ireland, submitted to the Commission envisages the use of EU funds under the European Fisheries Fund to support decommissioning of fishing vessels, aquaculture development and environmental/inshore fisheries support, specifically a small number of Co-Financed measures under the pillars of axis 1, 2 and 3. As part of the normal...

Written Answers — Cereal Sector: Cereal Sector (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The EU Council of Ministers has set the obligatory set aside rate at zero for sowings for the 2008 harvest and this is expected to lead to a significant increase in EU grain production this year. Production of cereals in Ireland has averaged about 2 million tonnes in recent years, with fluctuations in production being mainly attributable to weather conditions. The increased cereals prices...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: â'¬79 million was provided under the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016, for the operation of the Farm Improvement Scheme. 12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Scheme prior to its suspension for new applications on 31 October 2007. These applications are currently being processed up to the level of funding available. To date, 6,017 approvals have issued to...