Results 18,561-18,580 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Sugar Industry. (22 Jun 2005)
Brendan Smith: I welcome the opportunity to comment on the Commission's proposals for reform of the common market organisation for sugar, which were finally published today, having been well signalled over the past few weeks. The key elements of the proposals are a 39% price cut in the institutional price for sugar, a corresponding reduction in the minimum price for sugar beet and 60% compensation to...
- Dairy Sector. (15 Jun 2005)
Brendan Smith: I am glad to have the opportunity to debate the current situation in the dairy sector and to inform the House about the comprehensive set of initiatives taken in recent weeks to emphasise Ireland's strong opposition to the European Commission's management of the EU dairy market. Both at Council of Ministers and at bilateral meetings with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural...
- Dairy Sector. (15 Jun 2005)
Brendan Smith: At farm level we must look at increasing the scale of operations, reducing costs where possible, and encouraging a profitable future in the sector for the next generation of dairy farmers. While the mid-term reform of the CAP has ensured the extension of the quota regime until 2014-15, it is imperative now, more than ever, to assist those who wish to expand their operations within this new...
- Natural Gas Grid. (2 Jun 2005)
Brendan Smith: In the unavoidable absence of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, I will update the House on the review of the Corrib gas field developers' quantified risk assessment, QRA, for the onshore pipeline. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources awarded the contract after a tendering process. Tenders for the QRA review were...
- Postal Services. (2 Jun 2005)
Brendan Smith: I reply on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey. A postcode is a necessary piece of infrastructure for a modern developed economy. Almost 90% of mail in Ireland is now generated by business. A recent report to the European Commission on developments in the European postal sector identified that Ireland has relatively low mail volumes....
- Schools Building Projects. (2 Jun 2005)
Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Wall for raising this matter as it provides an opportunity for me, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, to outline to the House the action planned to progress the application for capital funding from Athy community college. Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task given the legacy of decades of...
- Hospital Staff. (2 Jun 2005)
Brendan Smith: I am pleased to have been given the opportunity by Deputy Allen to clarify, on behalf of the Tánaiste, who is unavoidably absent, the position of the Department of Health and Children. The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on...
- Decentralisation Programme. (31 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: In the unavoidable absence of the Minister for Transport, I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the strong case made by Deputy Callanan. I am pleased to confirm that the decentralisation of Department of Transport staff to Loughrea is among the priority moves in the Government's decentralisation programme. This will involve the transfer of the road haulage functions of the...
- Grant Payments. (31 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: Ireland implemented the single payment scheme in January 2005. The special beef premium scheme, with the slaughter premium scheme, were the only schemes under which the deadline for the receipt of applications was 31 December 2004. This meant that as many farmers as possible submitted their applications in late December 2004 so that they could benefit from the special beef premium. Under the...
- Grant Payments. (31 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: Following the submission of the unprecedented number of applications, the Minister took immediate steps to ensure applications were processed promptly and payment made to farmers as quickly as possible. I am satisfied this objective was met. The following were included in these measures to achieve these objectives: the implementation of procedures which resulted in the timely return of...
- Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: The case the Deputy mentioned arose from a dispute between a company, the Department of Agriculture and Food and two codefendants. This related to the storage of tallow at its premises going back to 1997. A settlement was reached with the plaintiff on 6 December 2004. The settlement was agreed on the basis of legal advice from State counsel and with the sanction of the Office of the Attorney...
- Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: I do not accept that the Department got it wrong. A company initiated legal proceedings against the Department. I said at the outset that the terms of the settlement would remain confidential and that is how I intend to leave it. The taxing master has yet to determine the legal costs.
- Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: The Department followed the legal advice available from the State counsel. That advice had the sanction of the office of the Attorney General.
- Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: The Department was not the only party to the proceedings. A company initiated the proceedings and another party was also involved along with the Department. The settlement occurred without admission of liability by the defendants, which were the Department and the company. The agreement reached included the stipulation that the terms of the settlement would remain confidential. That is how it...
- Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: The advice available to the Department was that the best outcome would be to bring finality to the case. That advice was given to the Department by the State's legal team and with the sanction of the office of the Attorney General.
- Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: Yes.
- Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: The case had to take its course.
- Food Safety Standards. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including meat and meat extracts, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under harmonised legislation, a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the member states to ensure animal products are produced to...
- Food Safety Standards. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: With the co-operation of the Department of Health and Children, it is hoped the necessary amendment to the Health Act 1970 can be progressed as quickly as possible. All Members know legislation does not come to the floor of the House as speedily as we would like. It is important that we get this legislation right. If there should be any delay in bringing forward the amendment to the 1970 Act,...
- Food Safety Standards. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: The Food and Veterinary Office implements these standards on behalf of the EU throughout the member states. These standards are implemented strictly.