Search Results for 'Brendan Smith'

Fine Gael spokesperson on community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs Deputy Michael Ring has contacted the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food regarding the rules governing the timing for the spreading of slurry. According to Dep Ring the rules are doing more harm than good to the environment and should be urgently reviewed.

Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith TD, to immediately sanction the payment of outstanding grants owed to farmers who participated in the Farm Waste Management Scheme. It was revealed at the weekend that the Government underestimated what it has to pay to farmers by €400m and the Minister is now hoping to persuade farmers to accept some form of deferred payments.

Mayo farmers in receipt of the Single Farm Payment will receive a refund in respect of modulation, according to Government spokesperson on agriculture in Seanad Éireann, John Carty.

Independent councillor Michael Holmes has hit out at the Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith, for the delay in making REPS 4 payments to farmers, stating that the hold-up was simply unacceptable. He said that many farmers submitted their completed application forms more than a year ago and still have not received payment. He also denounced the Minister’s current policy of ‘drip-feeding’ REPS 4 payments.

A slaughtering plant in Westmeath has been named as the largest beneficiary in the country of government investment in the meat processing sector.

Deputy Paul Connaughton has called on the Minister for Agriculture Mr Brendan Smith, and Gerry Boyle Director of Teagasc to provide sufficient staff to accommodate the record breaking number of students who have applied for places at Mountbellew Agriculture College this September.

The Government’s decision to close REPS 4 and accept no further applications will be the death knell of farming in Mayo according to Independent councillor Michael Holmes.

While Fianna Fáil TD, Beverley Flynn is calling for an extension of the current REPS scheme or for a new scheme which would replace REPS to be implemented, Fine Gael Deputy John O’Mahony is criticising her move as “giving false hope” saying that she is “talking out of both sides of her mouth”.

A Galway county councillor, who says that Connemara farmers have been left in limbo, is now calling on Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, Brendan Smith TD, to reinstate REPS.

Labour TD for Westmeath/Longford, Deputy Willie Penrose, has raised the issue of the Government’s decision to close the District Veterinary Office (DVO) in Mullingar with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Brendan Smith.