Results 18,281-18,300 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Food Labelling. (4 Oct 2005)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy will be aware that we already have in place a full identification, traceability and labelling system for beef under comprehensive EU regulations. The labelling requirements under those regulations extend up to and including retail level and to the point of delivery into hotels, restaurants and catering establishments. My priority in this area is to extend the existing beef...

Food Labelling. (4 Oct 2005)

Brendan Smith: I record our appreciation for the positive approach of the various representative groups to the voluntary code. Bord Bia will work with the relevant representative associations to ensure the scheme works as well as possible. It will be proposed in the legislation that all meats will be included so that meat from sheep, pigs and poultry will be covered as well. The immediate priority is to...

EU Directives. (4 Oct 2005)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy will see it in January.

Seanad: Company Closures. (29 Sep 2005)

Brendan Smith: I thank Senator Kenneally for raising this matter. I note he has taken every opportunity available to him to address this issue and to highlight the concerns of the local community. It is clear from the Senator's contribution that he knows this subject exceptionally well. On 5 September 2005 the board of Glanbia plc announced that its Kilmeaden cheese plant would close with the loss of 45...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (1 Jul 2005)

Brendan Smith: I thank all Deputies who contributed on the new Land Bill. It is heartening to hear that agriculture is still of major interest and considered to be of high importance and value to the country as a whole. As Deputy Durkan stated, the measures contained in the Bill will benefit many, including farmers, sporting organisations and ultimately the taxpayer. Almost two thirds of all land annuities,...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee. (1 Jul 2005)

Brendan Smith: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Agriculture and Food, in accordance with Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Decentralisation Programme. (30 Jun 2005)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Donal Moynihan for raising this important issue. As he stated, the Minister for Finance announced the decentralisation of 10,300 public service staff to 53 centres in 25 counties, including eight Department headquarters, in budget 2003. The overall decentralisation plan for the Department of Agriculture and Food provides for the relocation of 600 staff, including 200...

Sugar Industry. (22 Jun 2005)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the opportunity to comment on the Commission's proposals for reform of the common market organisation for sugar, which were finally published today, having been well signalled over the past few weeks. The key elements of the proposals are a 39% price cut in the institutional price for sugar, a corresponding reduction in the minimum price for sugar beet and 60% compensation to...

Dairy Sector. (15 Jun 2005)

Brendan Smith: I am glad to have the opportunity to debate the current situation in the dairy sector and to inform the House about the comprehensive set of initiatives taken in recent weeks to emphasise Ireland's strong opposition to the European Commission's management of the EU dairy market. Both at Council of Ministers and at bilateral meetings with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural...

Dairy Sector. (15 Jun 2005)

Brendan Smith: At farm level we must look at increasing the scale of operations, reducing costs where possible, and encouraging a profitable future in the sector for the next generation of dairy farmers. While the mid-term reform of the CAP has ensured the extension of the quota regime until 2014-15, it is imperative now, more than ever, to assist those who wish to expand their operations within this new...

Natural Gas Grid. (2 Jun 2005)

Brendan Smith: In the unavoidable absence of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, I will update the House on the review of the Corrib gas field developers' quantified risk assessment, QRA, for the onshore pipeline. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources awarded the contract after a tendering process. Tenders for the QRA review were...

Postal Services. (2 Jun 2005)

Brendan Smith: I reply on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey. A postcode is a necessary piece of infrastructure for a modern developed economy. Almost 90% of mail in Ireland is now generated by business. A recent report to the European Commission on developments in the European postal sector identified that Ireland has relatively low mail volumes....

Schools Building Projects. (2 Jun 2005)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Wall for raising this matter as it provides an opportunity for me, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, to outline to the House the action planned to progress the application for capital funding from Athy community college. Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 750 post-primary schools is not an easy task given the legacy of decades of...

Hospital Staff. (2 Jun 2005)

Brendan Smith: I am pleased to have been given the opportunity by Deputy Allen to clarify, on behalf of the Tánaiste, who is unavoidably absent, the position of the Department of Health and Children. The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on...

Decentralisation Programme. (31 May 2005)

Brendan Smith: In the unavoidable absence of the Minister for Transport, I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the strong case made by Deputy Callanan. I am pleased to confirm that the decentralisation of Department of Transport staff to Loughrea is among the priority moves in the Government's decentralisation programme. This will involve the transfer of the road haulage functions of the...

Grant Payments. (31 May 2005)

Brendan Smith: Ireland implemented the single payment scheme in January 2005. The special beef premium scheme, with the slaughter premium scheme, were the only schemes under which the deadline for the receipt of applications was 31 December 2004. This meant that as many farmers as possible submitted their applications in late December 2004 so that they could benefit from the special beef premium. Under the...

Grant Payments. (31 May 2005)

Brendan Smith: Following the submission of the unprecedented number of applications, the Minister took immediate steps to ensure applications were processed promptly and payment made to farmers as quickly as possible. I am satisfied this objective was met. The following were included in these measures to achieve these objectives: the implementation of procedures which resulted in the timely return of...

Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)

Brendan Smith: The case the Deputy mentioned arose from a dispute between a company, the Department of Agriculture and Food and two codefendants. This related to the storage of tallow at its premises going back to 1997. A settlement was reached with the plaintiff on 6 December 2004. The settlement was agreed on the basis of legal advice from State counsel and with the sanction of the Office of the Attorney...

Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)

Brendan Smith: I do not accept that the Department got it wrong. A company initiated legal proceedings against the Department. I said at the outset that the terms of the settlement would remain confidential and that is how I intend to leave it. The taxing master has yet to determine the legal costs.

Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)

Brendan Smith: The Department followed the legal advice available from the State counsel. That advice had the sanction of the office of the Attorney General.