Results 18,141-18,160 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Food Labelling. (17 Oct 2006)

Brendan Smith: I take Deputy Upton's point. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland indicated recently that it is distributing written guidance to all caterers on how to comply with regulations. That would take account of the issues which have arisen since the regulations were brought into effect on 3 July last. During the months since, people on all sides of this House spoke of the value of having...

Energy Policy. (17 Oct 2006)

Brendan Smith: The cost of fuel and energy, driven by international oil prices, is an issue for all parts of the economy, including farmers and the food industry, and is the subject of regular analysis by, among others, the Competitiveness Council in its annual reports. Such studies underline the need to use inputs in an efficient manner and to maintain and, where possible, improve productivity. The...

Energy Policy. (17 Oct 2006)

Brendan Smith: In the Agri-Vision 2015 report published earlier this year by my Department, we emphasised the factors that have to be taken into consideration in the development of the food industry and they include the increasing cost of oil, the volatility of oil supply and the need to reduce emissions. Over the past 18 months, the Minister for Agriculture and Food and I have met different people...

Energy Policy. (17 Oct 2006)

Brendan Smith: I did not say that.

Energy Policy. (17 Oct 2006)

Brendan Smith: I said that in visiting all food companies over the past two years, even before energy became a key issue in recent months, we were conscious of the substantial burden on industry due to energy costs.

Energy Policy. (17 Oct 2006)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy should not minimise the word "conscious".

Energy Policy. (17 Oct 2006)

Brendan Smith: When introducing the farm waste management scheme, we made funding available for anaerobic digestion projects. We have asked farmers' organisations and businesses to come up with proposals. Substantial grant assistance is available to help people develop viable projects. The other matter can be considered in the context of the publication of the Green Paper and is a matter for the...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (10 Oct 2006)

Brendan Smith: I join other Members in paying tribute to the memory of the late Tom Fitzpatrick. As stated by previous speakers, Tom Fitzpatrick served with great distinction as a member and chairman of Cavan Urban District Council and as a member and vice chairman of County Cavan VEC. As a member of the Seanad and the Dáil, he worked extremely hard and with great diligence on behalf of his constituents...

Schools Building Projects. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: I apologise for the absence of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who is unavoidably absent owing to other commitments. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter of the application for capital funding for Scoil Ruain, Killenaule, County Tipperary. I am happy to be able to outline to him where the project stands in the context of the huge amount of capital works being...

Farm Waste Management. (6 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Finneran for raising this important issue and making such a positive contribution. I am pleased to have this opportunity to clarify the current position regarding the updating of the Department's standard costings for the purposes of grant payments under the new farm waste management scheme. Deputy Finneran has been in constant contact with the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, and...

Seanad: Sugar Beet Industry. (5 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: I thank Senators Browne, Bradford and John Paul Phelan for raising this important issue, which they have also raised on previous occasions. I am pleased to have this opportunity to give Members of the Seanad on update on the arrangements for implementing the European Union restructuring scheme for the sugar industry. The restructuring scheme forms part of the agreement on reform of the EU...

Seanad: Sugar Beet Industry. (5 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: To be absolutely accurate I will revert to the Senator tomorrow.

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the motion and to set out how a modern agrifood sector has developed under the Government. It has been said that the two parties opposite are united more by what they are against than what they are for. This is certainly the case with regard to farming.

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: The Opposition motion was moved by the Labour leader who in a previous incarnation as a Democratic Left representative called farmer taxation a joke. His then leadersneered that farmers were rolling in it. When it was suggested that Ireland might seek the agriculture portfolio in the Barroso-led Commission, the former Labour Party leader, Deputy Quinn, said that Ireland should look forwards...

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: It would rather see the people go on the boats and planes to England and America.

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: We are proud that emigration has ended.

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: The Opposition will not get the opportunity to destroy the economy. The high level of these exports at €7.5 billion and the use of mainly indigenous resources mean the sector accounts for a significant level of the net foreign earnings from the trade of manufactured goods. The commitment of the Government to the long-term development of agriculture, food, forestry, and a vibrant rural...

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Durkan should know that WTO talks are still in progress. The Deputy should not show his complete lack of knowledge of the sector.

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: The WTO talks will continue next July. This rise in aggregate farm income was due to a record level of payments to farmers by this Government in 2005. Total direct payments amounted to more than €2.2 billion, which included more than €1 billion under the single payment scheme, €550 million in rural development measures and more than €600 million in premia payments in respect of...

Government Record: Motion (Resumed). (5 Jul 2006)

Brendan Smith: They are not leaving. That is a black lie.