Results 18,201-18,220 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Motion (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: I noticed on the chart of attendance that was published last week that he is a good attender in Dáil Éireann.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Motion (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy is looking for a different way of measuring it.

Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Motion (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: The Minister is doing a good job.

Live Exports. (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: The function of the Department of Agriculture and Food with regard to the transport of livestock by sea is to approve vessels based on statutory requirements regarding the protection of animal welfare. The actual provision of such services is a commercial matter. Approval for the carriage of livestock on roll-on roll-off vessels is considered on a case-by-case basis, having regard to the...

Live Exports. (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: I accept Deputy Crawford's point that the export market is very important. We have a very successful and important export market. The exports to date this year represent an increase of 35% on the comparable period last year. I reiterate that the Department acts in a speedy and efficient manner when applications are made for the licensing of vessels. Certain criteria must be met with regard to...

Live Exports. (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: The main destinations of Spain, Italy and the Netherlands are very important markets, as everybody in the House will be aware. The Department understands that some commercial interests are considering the commissioning of an already approved dedicated vessel to provide additional capacity for live exports, particularly to the Spanish market. Were such an application to come before the...

Live Exports. (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: As Deputy Crawford knows, the matter is not straightforward and it is a difficult issue. It is under consideration by Bord Bia.

Live Exports. (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: The Department authorised the transport of live cattle on aircraft from Shannon Airport. To date three consignments of animals have been exported by these means and it is expected there will be future consignments, though this method of transport is not expected to last in the long term. It was availed of due to bad weather at sea some weeks ago and helped us to meet commitments abroad.

Food Safety Standards. (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: Common standards in relation to traceability, animal health and welfare and consumer protection apply throughout the EU. These are set out in a range of food safety, consumer protection and veterinary legislation and are subject to inspection by member states own authorities as well as by the Food and Veterinary Office of the EU Commission. My concern is that producers in some WTO member...

Food Safety Standards. (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: The European Union has developed its own systems of traceability and animal welfare. Different systems operate in jurisdictions outside the control of the EU. We demand guarantees that the food products imported into the EU meet the relevant health and safety requirements. The Minister, Deputy Coughlan, is the only Minister at the Council of Ministers to have raised the issue of the extra...

Food Safety Standards. (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: I assure Deputy Upton, the House and the wider community that the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, has sought at the WTO negotiations a continuation of the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement whereby, if issues arise and the EU feels products are a danger to the health of consumers, it can implement measures and ban them. Ireland is seeking recognition for the additional costs borne by our...

Food Safety Standards. (29 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy is aware that the Minister last October wrote a formal letter on the issue to the Commissioner for Health and Consumers' Protection, Commissioner Kyprianou, apart from raising it at the Council of Ministers. The Commission response was that it was satisfied with the level of monitoring and controls in place in respect of imports from third countries.

Seanad: Grant Payments. (7 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I am glad to be able to speak on a topic of such interest to farmers within the context of implementation of the nitrates directive here. The revised farm waste management scheme will provide a very satisfactory financial package for those farmers who are required to carry out investment works to comply with the terms of that directive....

Seanad: Grant Payments. (7 Mar 2006)

Brendan Smith: We are not talking about months.

Genetically Modified Organisms. (16 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: The value of the seed potato industry in 2005 is estimated at €5.8 million and the value of sales of certified seed potatoes on the domestic market in 2005 is estimated at €2.8 million, with exports valued at €170,000. The notification by BASF to trial genetically modified potatoes was made to the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with Part B of EU Directive 2001/18/EC on...

Genetically Modified Organisms. (16 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Sargent is trying to pre-empt the processing of the application by the Environmental Protection Agency. We have a strong working relationship with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Scotland. I spent part of St. Patrick's Day 2005 discussing this issue with the Scottish Minister. We have a good relationship and we both want to ensure we protect our plant health status...

Genetically Modified Organisms. (16 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: The European Union regulations have not been finalised.

Genetically Modified Organisms. (16 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: The protection of our clean, green image is of the utmost importance to the agri-food industry and every step will be taken to ensure food safety and the environment will not be compromised.

Food Labelling. (16 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in food products of animal origin, including the traceability aspects, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. It is a requirement that animal products imported from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade...

Food Labelling. (16 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: I understand Deputy Naughten raised that issue on the Adjournment recently with the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children. The beef labelling requirement issues are centralised under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. With regard to the issue of transformation, which has been raised constantly by Deputies Naughten and Upton, the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, has consistently raised...