Results 17,561-17,580 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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

Brendan Smith: The staff issues have been addressed and remedial work has been carried out in the offices.

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

Brendan Smith: The issue of high levels of discards in commercial sea fisheries from large pelagic factory vessels is a matter of substantial concern. Ireland has pushed for the introduction of observers on board these vessels. I consider that the monitoring of the activity of factory vessels is necessary to deliver sustainable fisheries and I intend to pursue this agenda with Commissioner Borg and other...

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

Brendan Smith: Within the European Community, fishing activities are carried out under the Common Fisheries Policy. Under this Policy, the annual Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas for fish stocks are agreed each year during negotiations at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in December. The TACs and quotas are based on advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 358 together. Changes in food prices are primarily a function of market forces operating at international, EU and national level. Consistently strong economic growth in developing countries is the main driver of changing world food demand towards high-value agricultural products and processed foods. Slow-growing supply, low stocks, and supply shocks...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Details of expenditure by my Department for the years 2003 to 2007 and to date in 2008 are as follows: Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007* Expenditure â'¬616,985 â'¬684,741 â'¬243,083 â'¬922,228 â'¬2,805,875 No. of contracts 22 26 17 21 34 *Figure includes 2007 expenditure for Fisheries functions. It was not possible to compile details of expenditure for 2008 within the time...

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

Brendan Smith: The information requested is not readily available but will be collated and referred directly to the Deputy.

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

Brendan Smith: The Seafood Strategy — Steering a New Course 2007 sets down a vision for a sustainable profitable and self-reliant industry. The Strategy clearly recognises that the vision must revolve around developing a strong and positive identity for Irish seafood on the domestic market and in key international export markets. The development of such an identity will assist in positioning Irish...

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. In addition Bord Iascaigh Mhara...

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

Brendan Smith: The Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006 was enacted on the 4th of April 2006 and provides for dissuasive and effective penalties for infringements of fisheries law as required under the Common Fisheries Policy. On foot of the recent Court of Auditors Report on Fisheries control the Commission is proposing wide-ranging proposals to reform and update the EU Fisheries Control...

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

Brendan Smith: I am not aware of any specific requirements being placed on small animal feed merchants, other than those required of any small business enterprise, that could be considered burdensome red tape. The Deputy may be referring to a letter distributed by my Department last November, with an end December closing date, to all commercial feed operators involved in the manufacture, storage or...

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

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 375 together. It is a matter for the FSAI to ensure that appropriate checks are carried out and any breaches of food labelling legislation should be reported to the FSAI. EU 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 catering trade...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Applications under this Scheme are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. The application concerned is, therefore, eligible for consideration and will be processed subject to funding still being available at that time.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named is a participant in the 2000–2006 Early Retirement Scheme. From 1 November 2006, the maximum annual pension under this Scheme was increased from €13,515 to €15,000 per annum. The person named received the appropriate increase in his pension.

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. To date, 6,017 approvals have issued to farmers to commence work under the Farm Improvement Scheme. The remaining applications...

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

Brendan Smith: 12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007. A county-by-county breakdown of these applications is as follows: County Number of Applications Carlow 176 Cavan 675 Clare 510 Cork 1,863 Donegal 931 Dublin 29 Galway 850 Kerry 875 Kildare 133 Kilkenny 519 Laois 336 Leitrim 375 Limerick 368 Longford...

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

Brendan Smith: 12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007. A county-by-county breakdown of these applications is as follows: County Number of Applications Carlow 176 Cavan 675 Clare 510 Cork 1,863 Donegal 931 Dublin 29 Galway 850 Kerry 875 Kildare 133 Kilkenny 519 Laois 336 Leitrim 375 Limerick 368 Longford...

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

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79 million as agreed under the Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, and was suspended on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached this level of funding. 12,675 applications were received from farmers prior to the closing date of the Scheme. These applications are currently being processed...

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

Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme was suspended for new applications on 31 October 2007 as applications received had reached the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. I have no plans at present to reopen the Scheme to further applications.

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

Brendan Smith: Full details of all the schemes operated by my Department are provided in my Department's main information booklet "Schemes & Services 2008". Copies are available from the local offices of my Department and from Teagasc offices. The booklet is also available on the website www.agriculture.gov.ie. I have arranged for a copy to be sent to the Deputy.

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

Brendan Smith: Meat and meat products imported from an EU source must come from an approved establishment and be accompanied to its destination by a commercial document or a health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the Member State of origin. In the case of importation from third countries meat and meat products must originate in a country approved by the EU for...