Results 16,241-16,260 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Democracy is a great thing, no matter how one comes to it.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I wish to share time with Deputies Collins, Conlon and Johnny Brady.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: notes that: total expenditure in 2009 by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, including EU funding, in support of the agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry sectors, will be €3.26 billion, in recognition of the role the sector has to play and the enormous contribution it makes...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: That is correct.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: This meant having to make difficult decisions but I am satisfied that, in the circumstances, I made the right ones. Given some of the reactions to the budget measures I announced, one would be easily excused for forgetting that my Department will be spending €3.26 billion in support of Irish agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry in 2009. This expenditure ensures that record funding of...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Deputies should listen to the facts.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: The average holding is 31 hectares. Given the contribution of the disadvantaged area payments to overall farm incomes, I cannot accept that the reduced expenditure in 2009 will have the impact some Members claimed it will. The decision I took on the early retirement and installation aid schemes was to suspend temporarily entry thereto for new entrants and not to abolish them, as some Members...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: ——some of major importance to new entrants and which are worth €65 million per annum, were extended in the budget and the Finance Bill. I have made it clear repeatedly, in response to representations from farm organisations and at meetings therewith and with public representatives, that I intend to revisit the decision to suspend entry to these schemes as soon as budgetary...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am losing time. Deputy Creed should note there will be questions tomorrow.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am not avoiding any question. The outcome of the health check initiative was particularly satisfactory from an Irish point of view and included a number of notable achievements for Ireland. As with all negotiations of this nature, we did not get everything we would have liked but we did achieve an outcome that will be worth some €170 million to Irish farmers over the next five years. We...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: ——which is particularly important given the abolition of milk quotas in 2015. The outcome in regard to milk quotas will result in a quota increase equivalent to 500 million litres by 2014, by comparison with the figure for 2007. Based on existing milk prices, the value of these production rights amount to some €100 million.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Despite the current price for milk, I am confident that the long-term outlook is positive and that the Irish dairy sector is well equipped to take advantage of the opportunities that will result from growing prosperity in developing countries as well as increasing population trends. The world's population is expected to grow by almost 800 million over the next decade.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I do not have to listen to gibberish from Deputy Bannon.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Deenihan made his point on the particular pressures on the dairy sector sensibly. He addressed the issue, unlike some of the commentators I have heard. Unfortunately, price volatility now seems——

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am losing time and cannot get to the facts because the Deputy is wasting my time. That is the reality. I am listening to rubbish from him.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: It is a disgrace, as usual.

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The Government is also investing significantly in the dairy processing industry, through the dairy investment fund, to ensure it will have the capacity to process the increased yield I believe dairy farmers will be more than capable of producing. I had identified the maintenance of market supports as a particular priority given Ireland's seasonal pattern of...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Despite claims to the contrary, I have not backed away from any commitments to sheep farmers. The sector remains a priority and is one that needs assistance. I have no doubt that proposals to support the sheep sector will form a central part of the discussions to which I have invited the farm organisations later this month. I look forward to that dialogue and to constructive discussion and...

Agriculture: Motion (2 Dec 2008)

Brendan Smith: Securing an official brucellosis-free status for Ireland will enable me to reduce some of the control elements of the eradication programme. This will bring consequential benefits for farmers, particularly with regard to trade. In addition, it will be possible to bring about a gradual reduction in the level of testing that will, over time, lead to reduced testing and lower costs for farmers....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The only early retirement arrangements which staff in my Department can avail of is Cost Neutral Early Retirement. This is a facility which allows established staff to retire between 50 and 60 and un-established staff to retire between 55 and 65 with immediate payment of pension and lump sum. These benefits are subject to actuarial reduction to take account of early payment of the lump sum...