Results 11,141-11,160 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: With regard to Deputy Creed's comments, I do not accept that the Government made mistakes with the sugar regime. I said earlier in the House-----

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Creed is very well versed in this subject. He knows well that Greencore was the quota holder. It decided to exit the industry, not the Government.

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The then Minister, Deputy Mary Coughlan, was extremely active in opposing the European Commission in regard to sugar reform. Thirteen other member states initially supported the Irish stance and the Tánaiste chaired that group and led it at that time. When the decision came to the Council-----

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: -----meeting about the sugar regime, Ireland did not have the support to block the Commission proposals. In that event, the then Minister had negotiated a compensation package to be available to the different stakeholders-----

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Creed raised that issue and it was important that I give my view. I will come back to Deputy Creed in case I am inaccurate in any detail. I checked my information when we debated this previously. I understand that Greencore did some study on the possibility of starting a bioethanol facility. It stated at the time that this was not viable. The issue has to be addressed in the term...

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: There is Government support for the renewable energy sector. Deputies questioned us regarding support for the growing of miscanthus and willow. This coming year provision has been made for a very substantial increase, the largest ever. I wish to be accurate in my reply to Deputy Sherlock regarding the implications for the EU sugar regime, were a bioethanol production facility to be...

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: With regard to the point made by Deputy Coonan, I would not try to influence any company on where it might locate a potential industry.

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Crawford and I would indicate the merits of locating industry in Cavan or Monaghan, but I would not try to influence anybody.

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: I am not familiar with the potential project Deputy Coonan mentioned. Those people may have been in touch with the Department, although I am not aware of it.

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: As Deputy Coonan knows, that is the lead Department for that industry.

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: Of course we will. I said in my initial reply that we have ongoing co-operation with that Department.

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: In very difficult financial circumstances, we have made provision for 1,800 ha. of miscanthus and willow to be planted in the coming year.

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: I will just answer Deputy Creed's question about the report of the European Court of Auditors. There has been public commentary about that, particularly on national radio. The report mentioned that Mallow could have been a viable sugar beet processing facility, but only if the European Commission reforms had not been carried out. That is always left out of the commentary.

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The reforms were carried out.

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: It is.

Sugar Beet Production (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: No, I am not. That is the point.

Animal Carcase Classification (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: In the European Union, carcases of adult bovines are classified or graded in accordance with Commission Regulation EC 1249/2008 using the EUROP scale for conformation and a scale of 1 to 5 to indicate fat cover. Classification is used in many cases as the basis for payment to producers and it underpins the EU price reporting system for beef. Some member states further divide each main class...

Animal Carcase Classification (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: There has been constant discussion with the various stakeholders, and we want to ensure there is maximum confidence in the system. A number of measures have been introduced to enhance controls and procedures, including increased frequency of control visits by officials of my Department; enhanced monitoring of control and classification results; formal self-checks of machines in each meat...

Animal Carcase Classification (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: I do not know the exact numbers, but I can check if necessary. I presume some of the departmental officers involved in the work also have other duties. There is also an EU inspection process. After the last inspection that took place, the conclusion of the EU audit team was that the standard of classification was very good for both conformation and fat cover. We conduct regular unannounced...

Animal Carcase Classification (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: In recent months, discussions have been held with all stakeholders with the aim of improving confidence in the operation of the mechanical classification system, which, as Deputies Doyle and Sherlock said, is important. A number of measures, which I have mentioned, have been introduced to ensure we have the best possible results for everybody involved.