Results 13,521-13,540 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department is responsible for the operation of EU controls on imports of products of animal origin under a service contract with the FSAI and in compliance with Community rules for the hygiene of food and feed. These rules stipulate that food products of animal origin imported from an EU source must be from approved food business establishments and be accompanied to destination by a...

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: A substantial amount of public funds are spent each year in support of the farming community. In 2009, it is estimated that over €2 billion will be paid in direct payments to farmers. This includes €1.3 billion under the Single Payment Scheme, €220 million under the area based compensatory allowance scheme and €369 million under REPS, with the remainder paid out under smaller schemes....

Dairy Sector. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Last month I announced my intention to establish a consultative group to advise me on medium and long-term measures for the dairy sector. I did this following the special Council of Ministers meeting on 5 October, where we had a thorough discussion on the need for measures to manage the dairy market in the period up to and beyond quota abolition in 2015. At that meeting it was agreed to set...

Dairy Sector. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Cregan for his particular interest in this matter. He has raised the difficulties affecting the dairy sector during the course of this year. It is an issue that has been discussed in this House on many occasions. On his question on the composition of the group, it comprises mainly different farm organisations, the IFA, the ICMSA, the ICSA, Macra na Feirme, the Irish...

Dairy Sector. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Yes. Deputy Cregan also asked about the high level group. The purpose of establishing the high level group was to deal with the issue of ensuring that we have in place in Europe a means to stabilise dairy farmers' incomes and to improve market transparency. It comes back to the issue of the growing power of the multiples and the deficiencies in the food chain.

Dairy Sector. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: As Deputy Sherlock is aware we have engaged in conversation both in the House and outside in respect of the work of this group. Our dairy consultative group will run in parallel with the work of the high level group. It is our intention to keep the consultative group fully informed of the issues under discussion at the high level group in the European Union in advance of the discussions in...

Dairy Sector. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Teagasc will participate. I do not know whether its representatives were present at the last meeting but I presume they were and I will clarify that for the Deputy. We want all relevant stakeholders to participate. We would be pleased to keep the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food fully briefed and informed and we welcome its input. A large number of issues must be dealt...

Departmental Offices. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Government approved my plan for a reorganisation of my Department's local office network last July. The plan involves reducing, from 57 to 16, the number of offices from which the Department will operate district veterinary, forestry and agricultural environment and structures support services in the future. The decision to close some 40 offices was made only after we had completed a...

Departmental Offices. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: I welcome Deputy Creed's support for the rationalisation of our office network. He made that support known on previous occasions. When he refers to docking stations, I presume the Deputy is referring to making facilities and technology available at existing offices. Senior management in the Department has been involved with the personnel in all of our offices in respect of the...

Departmental Offices. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Deputies who represent Cork East and Cork North-West have made adequate proposals on what they see as the optimum location for the enhanced office in their region. Management at the Department is involved in discussions with the officials in all the local offices to ensure that the rationalisation will result in the creation of the number of enhanced offices to which I referred earlier....

Departmental Offices. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: I accept that. It is because offices should not be situated in city centre locations that a decision was taken to transfer operations from South Mall in Cork. Where possible, we should ensure that the service is brought out to local farming communities. However, I accept that this cannot always be done.

Departmental Offices. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Perhaps I might discuss with both Deputies the particular issues relating to location of the office for the north and east Cork areas on another occasion. I am sure Members share my view that there should be as much co-location as possible in respect of the offices of the Department and Teagasc. We are intent on taking this route. It is often the case that a person who goes to a...

Departmental Offices. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The use of technology has changed our ways and means of doing business and will continue to change them. In the past, far too many statutory agencies, be they Departments or local agencies or authorities standing alone in isolation in the provision of services to the public in general. There can be greater utilisation of public services by all Departments and agencies. I assure Deputy...

Live Exports. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The live export trade is an important element of Ireland's meat and livestock industry providing a complement to the beef trade. The UK remains the largest single destination with more than 81,500 animals exported in 2009, an increase of more than 150% on the same period in 2008. Of these exports, 86% consists of weanlings, stores and finished cattle with calves accounting for the...

Live Exports. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: As Deputy Creed stated, of course the price is a critical issue for farming families. Unfortunately, those prices have declined and the economic conditions have added to their difficulties. The volume of beef sold on all our major markets has declined while demand has shifted towards cheaper cuts. Additionally, sales in food service outlets, such as restaurants, have fallen as fewer people...

Live Exports. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: As everyone in the House agrees, live exports are absolutely essential. If we did not have them the competitive element of the industry would be rather weak. I am anxious that we have as strong a live export trade as possible. Naturally we want a strong beef processing industry also. That balance must be achieved because the beef industry is important for jobs in processing facilities....

Live Exports. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: I want to see delays minimised. I had a meeting with the marts division of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society on a number of issues. Delays were not an issue discussed at that meeting which was on minimising costs with regard to the number of personnel attending. In our area, I provided additional resources for marts and assembly centres for the export of animals. Particular...

Live Exports. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Brady has raised the issue with me on previous occasions. I will ensure that our exports meet statutory requirements and that no undue delays arise. I will also facilitate farmers and mart operators in transporting stock as rapidly as possible.

Common Agricultural Policy. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: I am open to examining the benefits of premium payments for low carbon grass based production systems in the context of the future Common Agricultural Policy, along with the other policy options that are being put on the table. However, I believe it would be premature to direct Irish policy solely in such a specific direction at this time. The discussions on the Common Agricultural Policy...

Common Agricultural Policy. (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: I share the concerns of Deputies Doyle and Sherlock. We need to join up our thinking on climate change policy and the future of CAP. Teagasc and other institutes have been conducting research on methane gas emission from livestock and grasses. I have consistently raised with the Council of Ministers the need to ensure that the EU's proposal to the Copenhagen summit gives due cognisance to...