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

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy should listen and cut out the misrepresentation. The Minister realised at an early stage that slurry storage and the needs of the intensive dairy, pig and poultry sectors were issues. Following completion of a survey by Teagasc of storage levels on farms, the Minister has made proposals for major improvements to the farm waste management scheme in terms of grant rates and wider...

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: Fine Gael did away with that scheme in the mid-1990s. Funding of €43 million has been provided for the scheme in the Department's 2006 Estimates. Grant aid is also to be provided to support the demonstration of new technologies in the treatment of livestock manure. This will be of particular benefit to pig and poultry producers. The early negotiation of a derogation for farmers operating...

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: It is snobbery.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: That is not correct.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: That is the Government that abolished payments in the mid-1990s under the former Minister, Mr. Yates.

Future of Irish Farming: Motion (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Brendan Smith: That is a misrepresentation.

Sugar Beet Industry. (31 Jan 2006)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this important issue. I wish to put on record that the Minister did not mislead anyone with regard to the levy. It will be a matter for beet growers and Irish Sugar Limited to make decisions about sugar beet growing in light of the reformed sugar regime on which political agreement was reached by the Council of Ministers in November 2005. The main features...

Seanad: Food Promotion. (16 Dec 2005)

Brendan Smith: I am responding to Senator Mooney on the Adjournment on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Senator for raising this important matter because it has given me an opportunity to outline to the House the position of the Department of Health and Children on it. Senator Mooney outlined succinctly and clearly the issues which arise...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes. (16 Dec 2005)

Brendan Smith: I thank Senator Mansergh for raising this important matter and articulating so well his concerns about an issue that is of importance to many individuals and communities. The primary purpose of community employment as an active labour market programme is to reintegrate long-term unemployed persons into open labour market jobs. Community employment provides unemployed people with temporary...

Seanad: Community Employment Schemes. (16 Dec 2005)

Brendan Smith: My understanding is that this will not apply to all schemes, but I will check on the demarcation.

Seanad: Sugar Beet Industry. (16 Dec 2005)

Brendan Smith: I thank Senator Bradford for raising this important issue and for his considered contribution to the debate. This is the third time I have addressed the House on this issue in 2005. On the first occasion Senator Mansergh made an important contribution. This is a matter which has understandably exercised the minds of Oireachtas Members of all parties during the year. The recent agreement by...

Seanad: Sugar Beet Industry. (16 Dec 2005)

Brendan Smith: I assure Senator Bradford that I will bring his proposal to the Minister for Agriculture and Food early next week.

Seanad: Regional Veterinary Centres. (13 Dec 2005)

Brendan Smith: I thank Senator Finucane for raising this important matter in the House this evening. In his 2003 budget speech, the then Minister for Finance announced the decentralisation of 10,300 public service staff to 53 centres in 25 counties, including eight Department headquarters. The Government's decision on the locations and numbers involved in the decentralisation of the Department of...

World Trade Organisation Negotiations: Statements. (1 Dec 2005)

Brendan Smith: I wish to share time with Deputy Callanan.

World Trade Organisation Negotiations: Statements. (1 Dec 2005)

Brendan Smith: As we have heard today, the negotiations on the next WTO agreement have entered an intensive phase in the run-up to the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong which begins on 13 December. Although it appears there may be a need to hold a further ministerial conference in the first half of 2006 to finalise all the details of a new agreement, there is no doubt that the negotiations which begin...

Food Imports. (15 Nov 2005)

Brendan Smith: There are EU harmonised rules in place that govern the importation of animal products to minimise any risks that might be associated with trade with third countries. It is a general requirement that animal products imported in the European Union from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in and trade between EU member states. All meat imports must...

Food Imports. (15 Nov 2005)

Brendan Smith: Most of the issues raised by Deputy Sargent have already been dealt with. One of the words used by the Deputy in his question was "deluge" when referring to beef imports. In 2004 Ireland exported approximately 411,000 tonnes of beef and imported 22,000. The traffic was in the right direction from our point of view. Both the Minister and I have indicated to this House and other fora that we...

Food Imports. (15 Nov 2005)

Brendan Smith: The voluntary code is operational in advance of compulsory requirement. There are three regions of Brazil from which exports of beef are banned by the European Union. That was on the basis of the country being regionalised as we experienced ourselves some years ago when Ireland had an incidence of foot and mouth disease. The matter of Gaelic labelling was referred to the Food Safety Authority...

Food Imports. (15 Nov 2005)

Brendan Smith: I refute that contention.

Food Imports. (15 Nov 2005)

Brendan Smith: I refute the Deputy's contention. We are determined to ensure that country of origin labelling is advanced as quickly as possible, and the appropriate legislation is currently before the Oireachtas. With regard to general standards, the food and veterinary office of the European Union carries out regular audits in third countries from which exports are allowed into the European Union.