Results 11,281-11,300 of 18,461 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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.

Milk Quota (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: In mid-October I announced the ninth milk quota trading scheme, which is the first of two trading schemes to allocate quota in respect of the 2011-12 milk quota year. The closing date for receipt of applications was Friday, 5 November 2010. The structure of the scheme is largely unchanged from previous years. It operates in respect of each co-operative area and is comprised of a priority...

Milk Quota (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: As Deputy Sherlock is aware, I introduced a national component to the scheme this year, the first time this has been done. The Food Harvest report stated that we would review the existing milk quota trading scheme and I have already done so. Let us consider the line north from Dublin to Galway. The co-operatives in this area, including Connacht Gold, Lakeland Dairies and Town of Monaghan,...

Milk Quota (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: As part of the Food Harvest 2020 report I established a dairy activation group, chaired by Dr. Seán Brady. I have given the group until the end of November to report to me on several issues.

Milk Quota (1 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: Yes, it is completed. The group is comprised of representatives of Teagasc and some processors and farmers, especially young farmers, from various parts of the country. I have not seen the report yet but one issue is to ensure we maximise the plant and machinery in place for processing. There must be co-operation among the plants. I have met the various processors, the farm organisations...