Results 2,361-2,380 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Yes, there is. I remind Deputy McHugh I read it out to the House.

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: He is out of order.

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: With regard to Deputy Upton's point, PCBs are tested for in the feeding process. With regard to her point about Backweston laboratory and the dioxin facility, I am assured that it would have been a delay of a day at the very most. The Department officials are convinced that it was less than a day but rather a matter of hours. With regard to Deputy Penrose's point and it was a point also...

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have been informed that the wrapping is taken off by machines before the product, the unused food, goes back into the process.

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Ó Caoláin normally does not listen to me.

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Gallagher who was on to me over the past several days on issues concerning processing in County Donegal. I will return to him on the mink farm alternative to rendering. We will continue to ensure there is adequate and immediate dialogue between the processing sector, the retailers, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and departmental and local authority veterinarians. I...

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The most immediate problem is to get the processing sector up and working again. If it is not working, there will be problems everywhere. We have been concentrating on this at official and at political level, as well as the processors, the IFA and other representative groups. That is the way it will continue and how it will be brought to a successful conclusion.

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: As I said earlier, product that cannot be used will be disposed by category 1 rendering. On Sunday, we met the retailers who will be sending their product back to the processors. The Department will oversee this to ensure the products are properly disposed. With regard to Deputy Bannon's question, there is no issue with September. It was November when the Department traced it. The...

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The EPA is carrying out an investigation on the oil used in the process. It is not appropriate for me to comment at this stage until I get the full report.

Recall of Irish Pork and Bacon Products: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Regarding Deputy McEntee's point, the Department, in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, will decide which facilities will be used. It will not be me; I do not have the scientific competence to decide that. The Department's approach will be based on safety and proper facilities to be used to dispose of a product. Regarding the point made by Deputy McHugh, my Department is...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Scraggane Pier, Co Kerry is in the ownership of Kerry County Council and responsibility for maintenance and upgrade works at the harbour lie with that office. My Department has however this year allocated funding of €75,000 towards works at Scraggane Pier under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2008. All claims in respect of funding allocated under...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 389 together. An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received in this case on the 15th May 2008. This application was selected for a cross compliance and satellite eligibility inspection. The cross compliance inspection was carried out on 10th October 2008. This inspection raised issues in relation to bovine...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to different EU Regulations from the preceding versions of REPS. Under REPS 4, all payments are to be made in just two instalments. The first payment, of 75%, can be made only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. This is why it...

Written Answers — Departmental Travel: Departmental Travel (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department complies with all relevant Department of Finance guidelines on foreign travel. All officials engaging in foreign travel in my Department must have their travel approved in advance by an Assistant Secretary or equivalent grade. All foreign travel is booked centrally in the Department and particular attention is paid to ensuring that the least cost option is used where possible...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named was allocated a National Reserve Top-Up to his Single Farm Entitlements and supplementary payments fell due under the Single Payment Scheme for each of the scheme years 2005, 2006 and 2007. The Single Farm payment including the supplementary payment due for the scheme year 2006 issued to the person named on 5 November 2008 and the Single Farm payment including the...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. The European Commission has since reaffirmed that it expects Ireland to respect this deadline strictly. I have no plans to approach the European Commission for approval to...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 394, 395 and 398 together. BIM's National Fisheries College in Greencastle provides training for the Irish seafood industry and it is an operational matter for Bord Iascaigh Mhara to decide what fisheries training courses it provides for fishermen in the National Fisheries College. I have no remit in relation to the National Maritime College of Ireland.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Breakwater is part of a phased approach to the development of improved harbour facilities at Greencastle, Co. Donegal, which is currently under construction. The extent of the breakwater as currently constructed extends from the shore 125 metres of its planned construction length of 290 metres. The primary function of the breakwater is to shelter the new harbour area and the existing...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Greencastle Pier is owned by Donegal County Council and responsibility for its repair, maintenance and development rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. The current development works at Greencastle are however being project managed by my Department's Engineering Division. The Fishery Harbours & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2009 is currently being drafted...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (9 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Please find the information below as requested by the Deputy. Minister of State Tony Killeen Number of persons employed Salary Costs â'¬ Private Office 3 118,975 Constituency Office 4 158,737 Minister of State Trevor Sargent Number of persons employed Salary Costs â'¬ Private Office 5.00 273,813.00 Constituency Office 4.98 236,665.21