Results 461-480 of 4,571 for speaker:Trevor Sargent

Food Industry. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: My Department, my ministerial colleagues and I will be doing everything possible to encourage more people to increase their tillage and cereal production rates. There is also a need to think laterally in respect of this matter. A considerable amount of cereal produced is required for both human and animal consumption. The development of animal breeds that are able to thrive on a diet which...

Food Industry. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle will be interested to hear that I will be in Wexford tomorrow to visit an abattoir with the owner and staff. The regulation of local abattoirs is the responsibility of local authorities, who report to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on this matter. Under new EU regulations, collectively known as the hygiene package and which came into operation on 1 January...

Food Industry. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: I am conscious of that.

Food Industry. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: And my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Browne.

Food Industry. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: I identify with the frustration on this matter. Small abattoirs have particular difficulties which are different to those of large factories. We must deal with the hygiene package, which is an EU package and aims to establish hygiene requirements for EU citizens which everybody will agree should be of the highest standard. Regardless of whether exportation is involved, every EU citizen is...

Food Industry. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: The marketing and processing scheme is designed specifically for small abattoirs and they will be favoured. The issue should not be confused with regard to exporting. We are discussing the standard and whether an abattoir exports is a matter for its marketing strategy. This concerns a standard which allows them to export if they are in a position to do so. It neither requires an abattoir...

Farmers' Markets. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: I thank Deputy Sherlock for attending the local food conference held in Mullingar last week. The Government is committed to supporting local and regional food and measures in this area are contained in both Towards 2016 and my Department's Agri-Vision 2015 action plan. Bord Bia, which operates under the aegis of my Department, has worked closely with other State and local agencies to...

Farmers' Markets. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: This week.

Farmers' Markets. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: I tried to take a train to Wexford but it would have left me there for just half an hour.

Farmers' Markets. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: I am not, as the Deputy may have implied, always on the road. I met representatives of all the multiples as soon as I took office, recognising the need to secure access to market for local producers. We have a great deal of work to do to deliver the outcomes Deputy Sherlock and I would like in this regard. As I indicated in Mullingar, notwithstanding the research referred to in the...

Organic Farming. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: The programme for Government has set a target of increasing the amount of utilisable agricultural land area under organic production from its current rate of less than 1% to 5% by 2012. Even though this is a challenging target I believe it is attainable. My Department offers substantial incentives to promote the growth of the sector. The new organic farming scheme, introduced under the...

Organic Farming. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: It is probably too early to say exactly what measures in the health check can be brought to bear in addition to what I have just outlined. The marketing of organic food is currently the area in which we have to drive improvements because the incentives, if one is taking to the organic certification bodies, are quite solid and are appreciated. It comes down to ensuring that gaps are filled...

Organic Farming. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: ——it was clear that the catering sectors in schools, hospitals and the nursing homes in those countries have developed direct market opportunities for organic producers. For example, in Rome 150,000 organic school meals are provided every day. That is a huge marketing opportunity which we need to develop here.

Organic Farming. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: That is a very serious point that has been raised by the Deputy. When I came into the Department I asked about this matter and I was told that a dedicated official was going around the country to examine, inspect and ensure that what was being sold as certified organic, actually legally, was certified organic. I felt that person was being run off his or her feet.

Organic Farming. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: Thankfully, I was able to ensure that the person was matched by another person to increase the capacity for inspection. I will reconsider the matter to ascertain how the work is progressing. At present we are evaluating whether it is possible to do all this with the two people involved. There has been an increase in the powers of those two individuals as the Minister, Deputy Coughlan,...

Grant Payments. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: Under the National Development Plan 2000-06, my Department operated a grant aid scheme for the development of commercial horticulture including the mushroom sector. Over the period 2000-06 a total of €5.01 million was paid to 190 mushroom growers. The following schedule shows the breakdown per county to mushroom growers for the period of the National Development Plan 2000-06. County No...

Grant Payments. (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: I have been very concerned by reports regarding abuse of labour law. I am also conscious of increasing labour and energy costs in the sector which have brought pressure but which have been somewhat alleviated by the influx of non-nationals into the sector. This has meant we need to be extremely vigilant to ensure the competitive nature of the sector is not pursued at the expense of anybody...

Climate Change and Energy Security: Statements (22 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: Cork city.

Young People: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: I will tell the Deputy later.

Food Industry. (6 Nov 2007)

Trevor Sargent: Support for the development of farmers' markets is included under the village renewal and development measure in Axis 3 of Rural Development Programme, Ireland, 2007-2013, which programme is operated by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív. The aim of this measure is to provide appropriate small-scale infrastructure to enhance the economic and social...