Results 61-80 of 17,665 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- 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.
- Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: The Department was not the only party to the proceedings. A company initiated the proceedings and another party was also involved along with the Department. The settlement occurred without admission of liability by the defendants, which were the Department and the company. The agreement reached included the stipulation that the terms of the settlement would remain confidential. That is how it...
- Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: The advice available to the Department was that the best outcome would be to bring finality to the case. That advice was given to the Department by the State's legal team and with the sanction of the office of the Attorney General.
- Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: Yes.
- Legal Settlement. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: The case had to take its course.
- Food Safety Standards. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including meat and meat extracts, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under harmonised legislation, a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the member states to ensure animal products are produced to...
- Food Safety Standards. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: With the co-operation of the Department of Health and Children, it is hoped the necessary amendment to the Health Act 1970 can be progressed as quickly as possible. All Members know legislation does not come to the floor of the House as speedily as we would like. It is important that we get this legislation right. If there should be any delay in bringing forward the amendment to the 1970 Act,...
- Food Safety Standards. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: The Food and Veterinary Office implements these standards on behalf of the EU throughout the member states. These standards are implemented strictly.
- Food Safety Standards. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: Advance notice of inspections is not given. I will revert to the Deputy on the imposition of sanctions, their dates and locations.
- Food Safety Standards. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: That matter has been subject to discussions between farmers' organisations, in particular the IFA, meat factories and the Minister.
- Pesticide Control. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 33 and 46 together. The House will be aware that it is an offence, punishable at the discretion of the courts by imprisonment for a term of six months or a fine not exceeding â¬3,000, or both, to import, place on the market or use a plant protection product which has not been registered. The regulatory system is designed to ensure a high level of protection...
- Pesticide Control. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: While a representative association of companies in the sector alleged that certain products had been imported illegally, investigations to date have produced no evidence to support the claim. I emphasise, however, that investigations continue in parallel with the normal inspections programme. The Department's pesticide control service is very vigilant in implementing the regulations and...
- Pesticide Control. (25 May 2005)
Brendan Smith: I am.
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...