Results 2,001-2,020 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Livestock Industry: Livestock Industry (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The following tables show the figures published by the CSO for the last five years for which statistics are available: Beef & Veal. Year Meat Supplies (000 tonnes) Meat Products for Domestic Use (000 tonnes) Meat Products for Domestic Use as a % of Meat Supplies 1998 605 67 11 1999 651 64 10 2000 588 62 11 2001 594 66 11 2002 556 69 12 Pigmeat. Year Meat...

Written Answers — Research and Development: Research and Development (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Over the past five years, my Department has allocated budget provisions totalling approximately €84.8 million for various research and development activities. This includes a total provision of €39.8 million for the food institutional research measure, FIRM. The details are as follows: R & D FIRM â'¬ million â'¬ million 2005 23.1 11 2004 17.57 6.74...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In Sustaining Progress 2003, it was agreed that improvements would be made to the grants available under the farm waste management scheme and this commitment was achieved by the introduction of a revised scheme in January 2004. Consideration of any further amendments to the farm waste management scheme, including the extension of the scheme to farmers with less than 20 income units, must...

Written Answers — Milk Prices: Milk Prices (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 444 and 452 together. The price of milk paid to dairy farmers is a commercial matter between milk producers and milk purchasers and I have no direct role in this area. Milk prices are influenced by a number of factors, both internal and external. These include the structure of our domestic dairy operations, the prices paid in international markets for dairy...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, Ireland implemented the single payment scheme in January 2005. The special beef premium scheme, along with the slaughter premium scheme, were the only schemes where the deadline for receipt of applications was 31 December 2004. This meant that as many farmers as possible submitted their applications in late December 2004 in order that they could benefit from the...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned applied to my Department to renew a lease of land and milk quota with his existing lessee. Outstanding issues have now been resolved and confirmation of the lease renewal will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Animal Transport: Animal Transport (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is still considering the detailed arrangements and requirements for application of the new EU regulations for the transport of animals. To date, a series of meetings have taken place with the representative organisations for farmers, livestock marts and exporters of live animals to inform them of the principal changes arising from the new legislation. This process of information...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, there has been ongoing contact between my Department and the Commission on the overshoot of the special beef premium national quota. A detailed written submission has also been made to the Commission on the issue. A meeting between my officials and officials of DG Agri of the European Commission took place last week. At that meeting my officials presented very strong...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Council of Agriculture Ministers agreed, at its meeting in Luxembourg on 20 June 2005, a new framework for rural development for the period 2007-13. The agreement provides for the maintenance of the existing arrangements for the less favoured areas until 2010. In the meantime, the Commission will present a report and proposals to the Council concerning the future payment system and...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has been aware, from an early stage in the negotiations leading to the introduction of the single payment scheme, of the possible implications for retired farmers who had leased their holdings. In so far as it has proved possible in the context of the EU regulations governing the single payment scheme, and following lengthy discussions with the European Commission, provision has...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 456 together. The EU preliminary draft budget for 2006 in respect of milk and milk products is currently under negotiation and I have signalled my disquiet on the level of funding proposed for the sector. I am anxious the dairy sector is provided with sufficient resources to ensure adequate support in meeting both internal and external market...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Agreement was reached in August 2004 on a framework which sets out the overall outline and structure of the next World Trade Organisation agreement. The detailed implementation of the framework agreement is the subject of on-going negotiation at technical and political level with the aim of concluding an agreement at the WTO ministerial conference in December 2005. I am satisfied that the...

Written Answers — Livestock Industry: Livestock Industry (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Commission Regulation 1215/2003 sets down the EU requirements with regard to mechanical classification. In addition, national legislation was adopted in Ireland in 2004 which further details the requirements for its operation, including the type and level of penalty for any infringements. In Ireland, two levels of inspection concerning the operation of the mechanical classification system are...

Written Answers — Livestock Industry: Livestock Industry (21 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Automated beef carcass classification machines were approved for use in Ireland on the basis of a certification test conducted in 2003 in accordance with the provisions of EU Regulation 1215/2003 that set out the technical standards required of the machines. Prior to its official use in any member state, a classification machine, which effectively carries out various measurements of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has not to date submitted an application requesting the transfer of single payment entitlements following the gift of lands from his father. An official from my Department has contacted the person named and advised him of the application procedure. Following receipt and processing of his completed application form, he will be notified of the outcome and details of his...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare Bodies: Animal Welfare Bodies (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The position as regards my Department is that its statutory responsibility relates to the welfare and protection of farmed animals. My Department has, nonetheless, in recent years made ex gratia payments to a number of appropriate bodies involved in the actual delivery of animal care and welfare services throughout the country. The funding available to any individual organisation is dependent...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named above submitted four applications under the 2004 special beef premium scheme, in respect of a total of 15 animals. The first application, in respect of five animals, was received on 30 March 2004; the second application, in respect of two animals; was received on 29 July 2004; the third application, in respect of 3 animals, was received on 1 December 2004; and the fourth...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Two reactors have been identified on the farm of the person named. One of the animals referred to was a TB reactor, discovered in 2002. The person named has been informed in writing that no compensation will be paid by my Department with regard to this animal. The case is currently the subject of legal proceedings issued by the person named and it would therefore be inappropriate for me to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Payment will issue within the next ten days.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (22 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The review referred to by the Deputy has not been completed yet.