Results 101-120 of 1,310 for speaker:Shane McEntee

Genetically Modified Organisms (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: I have not had any meetings or discussions with any company wishing to engage in the cultivation or growing of GM crops in Ireland. I appreciate this question may have been prompted by the proposal by Teagasc to trial a genetically modified blight-resistant potato on its own land in Carlow. Teagasc submitted an application to the Environmental Protection Agency seeking authorisation to carry...

Genetically Modified Organisms (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: It is to be made at the end of this month. I attended a meeting with the Minister, Deputy Hogan, and the people concerned and this is a trial in which Teagasc is participating. It will not in any way put at risk Ireland's image. This trial is part of a European Union research project and people should read into what is involved. I have also asked a similar question in this regard....

Genetically Modified Organisms (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: I do not suggest the Deputy is doing so but-----

Genetically Modified Organisms (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: I am sure it will take the length of time it takes a potato plant to grow. That is as straight an answer as I can give the Deputy. I also made my position quite clear when I attended the aforementioned meeting. This will not be carried out in an area where it will affect any other plant.

Genetically Modified Organisms (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: This can be guaranteed. The Environmental Protection Agency will make the decision on the day.

Animal Identification Scheme (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: The Deputy should be aware I already have issued a press statement dealing comprehensively with the various issues surrounding sheep tagging and the implementation of electronic identification, EID, in sheep under the national sheep identification system, NSIS. In this statement, I have reminded farmers the practice of re-tagging slaughter lambs on a second or subsequent holding is not...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: It will be recalled that on foot of commitments given in the 2012 budget significant savings needed to be found in my Department's expenditure for 2012, part of which it was decided should come from the funding assigned to the disadvantaged areas scheme, with the budgeted expenditure under the 2012 scheme being reduced from €220 million to €190 million. Rather than simply apply an across...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: I will communicate with the Deputy on the dates relating to his first two questions. All of us involved in agriculture want to encourage farmers to increase production. The Minister and I are on the same wavelength on this in that we do not want to be paying people to do nothing. The increase in the live stock units will be of great assistance to people in forestry, in particular gorse...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: I cannot inform the Deputy of what advice the Department has been given. I can, however, tell him that it is our intention to push ahead with the decisions we have made. People who are not happy can apply to have their case reviewed. I have no doubt that people who through no fault of their own are in difficult circumstances will not be left out in the cold.

Bovine Diseases (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: The bovine TB eradication programme includes a comprehensive range of measures, including the mandatory annual testing of all cattle in the national herd, the early removal of reactors, implementation of a range of supplementary tests such as post-derestriction and contiguous tests, a wildlife programme, the use of the gamma interferon test as an adjunct to the tuberculin test in problem...

Bovine Diseases (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: The Department is always open to suggestions. When I got a telephone call from a man from Kilkenny about the new practices, coming from a farming background, I was a little bit shocked in one way. However, what has shocked me all my life since I was 14 years old and testing cattle, is that we have not got rid of TB. Given that we have got the figures down to such a small number, now is the...

Food Harvest 2020 (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: The Food Harvest 2020 report was developed by an industry-led committee which comprised key figures from the food and drink industry, state agencies, academia and the farm bodies. The report, which was published in July 2010, contains the industry vision for the sector and sets ambitious targets for expansion in the decade to 2020. It contains 215 recommendations aimed at achieving...

Food Harvest 2020 (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: Food Harvest 2020 is a massive goal to achieve but the opening is there for us as a country. Since we joined the EU, Ireland has implemented the highest standards, whether in regard to traceability or the environment, and I have no doubt that will continue. One cannot just go into farming and set up a dairy or beef herd or a sow unit. We comply with the highest standards in the world and...

Food Harvest 2020 (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: I will revert to the Deputy concerning the exact procedure. I do not doubt that the proper procedures were followed and that everyone involved was included in the scenario. For example, everyone was given an opportunity to have an input into Food Harvest 2020.

Sheep Sector (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: In delivering direct payment schemes, my Department must carry out annual inspections covering land eligibility and cross-compliance to ensure compliance with EU regulatory requirements. In any given year, there are two types of checks carried out on the farmers selected for inspection, those being, eligibility checks and cross-compliance checks. The cross-compliance checks are separate...

Sheep Sector (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: There is a major effort under way to put the sheep industry in its rightful place. Last week, I visited Athenry in County Galway where Teagasc presented a good introduction of the work under way. Given the number of flocks that will see an increase, I hope that the people who are being inspected annually will not draw the short straw every year. Every effort is made not to visit a farm...

Seanad: Harbour Charges (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: I am replying on this matter on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney. From a young age, I had a fixation with harbours but then that was lost for a long time. Going to a harbour, such as Dunmore East or Killybegs, is an attraction. This morning on the radio it was stated fish is the most sought after food in Europe. Our senior Minister has done a...

Seanad: Architectural Heritage (10 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: The Senator has drawn attention to his area. He is willing to fight for it and he made a lot of sensible suggestions. With regard to his comments on tracing roots, I welcome Mr. Robert Babcock from Boston, a distant cousin, who is in the visitors' Gallery. He has traced his family back to my county and that is why he is present today. A tracing service is fantastic and I know that we have...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (8 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and if there is any question I cannot answer, I will come back to him. The changes to the rules governing the 2012 disadvantaged areas scheme have recently been published by my Department. I can also confirm that booklets outlining the terms and conditions of the 2012 scheme are being issued to all farmers with DAS-designated land. However, as...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (8 May 2012)

Shane McEntee: I have little to say in response. The Minister and I are committed to encouraging and paying farmers to farm. The stocking rate will make a difference to the amount of stock that farmers can carry and to the environment itself. That there are few animals in some of the areas to which the Deputy referred has caused problems, for example, forestry and gorse fires. The proposed changes will...