Results 18,481-18,500 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Live Exports. (29 Mar 2006)
Brendan Smith: The Department authorised the transport of live cattle on aircraft from Shannon Airport. To date three consignments of animals have been exported by these means and it is expected there will be future consignments, though this method of transport is not expected to last in the long term. It was availed of due to bad weather at sea some weeks ago and helped us to meet commitments abroad.
- Food Safety Standards. (29 Mar 2006)
Brendan Smith: Common standards in relation to traceability, animal health and welfare and consumer protection apply throughout the EU. These are set out in a range of food safety, consumer protection and veterinary legislation and are subject to inspection by member states own authorities as well as by the Food and Veterinary Office of the EU Commission. My concern is that producers in some WTO member...
- Food Safety Standards. (29 Mar 2006)
Brendan Smith: The European Union has developed its own systems of traceability and animal welfare. Different systems operate in jurisdictions outside the control of the EU. We demand guarantees that the food products imported into the EU meet the relevant health and safety requirements. The Minister, Deputy Coughlan, is the only Minister at the Council of Ministers to have raised the issue of the extra...
- Food Safety Standards. (29 Mar 2006)
Brendan Smith: I assure Deputy Upton, the House and the wider community that the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, has sought at the WTO negotiations a continuation of the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement whereby, if issues arise and the EU feels products are a danger to the health of consumers, it can implement measures and ban them. Ireland is seeking recognition for the additional costs borne by our...
- Food Safety Standards. (29 Mar 2006)
Brendan Smith: The Deputy is aware that the Minister last October wrote a formal letter on the issue to the Commissioner for Health and Consumers' Protection, Commissioner Kyprianou, apart from raising it at the Council of Ministers. The Commission response was that it was satisfied with the level of monitoring and controls in place in respect of imports from third countries.
- Seanad: Grant Payments. (7 Mar 2006)
Brendan Smith: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I am glad to be able to speak on a topic of such interest to farmers within the context of implementation of the nitrates directive here. The revised farm waste management scheme will provide a very satisfactory financial package for those farmers who are required to carry out investment works to comply with the terms of that directive....
- Seanad: Grant Payments. (7 Mar 2006)
Brendan Smith: We are not talking about months.
- Genetically Modified Organisms. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: The value of the seed potato industry in 2005 is estimated at â¬5.8 million and the value of sales of certified seed potatoes on the domestic market in 2005 is estimated at â¬2.8 million, with exports valued at â¬170,000. The notification by BASF to trial genetically modified potatoes was made to the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with Part B of EU Directive 2001/18/EC on...
- Genetically Modified Organisms. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: Deputy Sargent is trying to pre-empt the processing of the application by the Environmental Protection Agency. We have a strong working relationship with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Scotland. I spent part of St. Patrick's Day 2005 discussing this issue with the Scottish Minister. We have a good relationship and we both want to ensure we protect our plant health status...
- Genetically Modified Organisms. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: The European Union regulations have not been finalised.
- Genetically Modified Organisms. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: The protection of our clean, green image is of the utmost importance to the agri-food industry and every step will be taken to ensure food safety and the environment will not be compromised.
- Food Labelling. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in food products of animal origin, including the traceability aspects, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. It is a requirement that animal products imported from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade...
- Food Labelling. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: I understand Deputy Naughten raised that issue on the Adjournment recently with the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. The beef labelling requirement issues are centralised under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. With regard to the issue of transformation, which has been raised constantly by Deputies Naughten and Upton, the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, has consistently raised...
- Food Labelling. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: The point raised by the Deputy is one for the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Department of Health and Children. Of course, there is a strong working relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and agencies that have a relationship with the food and agriculture industry. I think the report to which Deputies Upton and Naughten referred is some years old. So far as I...
- Food Labelling. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: I understood there was a more recentââ
- Food Labelling. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: The labelling and monitoring of the food industry was centralised in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland which was the first such body to be established in the European Union. Obviously, if there are discrepancies and if there are people who are not following the laws of the country and enacting them properly, the full rigours of the law will apply and will be implemented by the relevant...
- Beef Exports. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: As a member of the EU and the World Trade Organisation Ireland is in a position to avail of opportunities for trade that are essential for the development of our open economy. Membership of these organisations also brings reciprocal trade obligations. The principle is that imported animal products meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between,...
- Beef Exports. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: I am sometimes accused of speaking too quickly.
- Beef Exports. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: Since 2000, six audits were carried out in Brazil, as well as a further audit at the end of 2005 regarding which European Commission officials are still in consultation with Brazilian authorities. My recollection is that four audits were carried out in Argentina. With regard to the operation of EU controls on exports from Brazil, an FVO inspection to evaluate animal health and public health...
- Beef Exports. (16 Feb 2006)
Brendan Smith: The application of standards in the member states of the European Union is monitored by the FVO, which has total confidence in that area. Inspections are carried out by that body to ensure that the relevant standards are adhered to.