Results 2,221-2,240 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Animal Cruelty: Animal Cruelty (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I would like to set out the background to this incident. The case involved the slaughter on-farm by the herdowner of some 4,000 pigs over a five day period following the discovery by Department veterinary inspectors of quantities of Carbadox on the farm and an admission by the herdowner that he had spread the substance on the floors of pig pens. The movement of any animals from this herd,...
- Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I met the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Fisher Boel, in Ireland last June to discuss the Commission proposals on the reform of the sugar regime, the overshoot of the special beef premium and the management of the dairy market. As regards sugar, I emphasised my total opposition to the Commission proposals, which had been published just prior to the Commissioner's...
- Written Answers — Animal Health Strategy: Animal Health Strategy (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I am fully committed to the development of an all-Ireland animal health strategy, the ultimate objective of which should be the free movement of animals on the island and the development of agreed policies to control animal disease and to facilitate trade. There is already a long history of co-operation between the Administrations North and South on animal health issues. The Administrations...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The European directives to be implemented by my Department are set out in the following schedule, which has been circulated. Council Directive 2004/117/EC is in the final stages of implementation and is expected to be finalised by the end of the month. In all other cases, I intend to have the directives implemented by the due date. Schedule Directives to be implemented by Department of...
- Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council which took place on 19 September. On that occasion, the sugar reform proposals did not feature on the Council agenda. I expressed my serious concerns about the proposals when I met with Commissioner Fischer Boel on her visit to Ireland in June, and again at the Council of Agriculture Ministers in...
- Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The horticulture sector is a very dynamic one that has grown to be a significant entity within the overall agricultural industry. Farmgate production is now close to â¬300 million with retail sales of â¬650 million. Demand for processed and semi-prepared produce has increased dramatically over the last number of years and is expected to continue. The horticulture sector is also very labour...
- Written Answers — Sugar Quota: Sugar Quota (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Under the EU sugar regime, each member state has a quota for manufactured sugar. There is no quota for sugar beet. The EU regulations stipulate that the quota must be made available to the sugar manufacturing enterprises in the member state. Accordingly, in Ireland the entire sugar quota is processed by Irish Sugar Limited, which is the only sugar manufacturer in this country. Irish Sugar...
- Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Agreement was reached in Geneva in August 2004 on a framework setting out the structure and general content of the new World Trade Organisation, WTO, agreement. The detailed implementation of this framework has been the subject of ongoing negotiation at technical and political level and the aim is to conclude an agreement at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005. I am...
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has overall responsibility for energy policy and is primarily responsible for the promotion and development of renewable energy, including biofuels. Nonetheless, the development of the biofuels industry is a cross-sectoral issue impinging on several policy areas, for example those related to environment and fiscal policy as well as...
- Written Answers — Land Prices: Land Prices (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Low levels of land mobility have been a long-term feature of Irish farming. The number of land parcels placed on the market annually is relatively small, and Ireland's strong economic growth has increased demand for all forms of land. Average agricultural land prices for 2004 were â¬16,156 per hectare, an increase of 12% on 2003. While there was an exceptionally high increase of 25% in the...
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I am very pleased with the level of demand for REPS since the introduction of REPS 3 last year. During the summer we broke the previous record for participation and we now have over 47,000 farmers in the scheme. Total spending on REPS amounted to â¬208 million in 2004. Expenditure this year, with three months still to go, has already almost matched that. I am hopeful that we will have close...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Applications for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve were received from over 17,500 farmers. Processing of these applications is continuing and the intention is to make allocations to successful applicants by 1 December next. This will allow any allocations to be reflected in the single payment scheme payment which is scheduled to commence on 1...
- Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: As I have indicated previously, I regard the Commission's proposals for reform of the sugar regime as unacceptable and have made this clear directly to the Commissioner and in the Council of Ministers. The production of ethanol from sugar beet is a possible alternative outlet for farmers but, as matters stand, Irish Sugar Limited has arrangements in place to process the full Irish sugar quota...
- Written Answers — Sugar Quota: Sugar Quota (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Under the EU sugar regime, each member state has a quota for manufactured sugar. There is no quota for sugar beet. The EU regulations stipulate that the quota must be made available to the sugar manufacturing enterprises in the member state. Accordingly, in Ireland the entire sugar quota is processed by Irish Sugar Limited, which is the only sugar manufacturer in this country. Irish Sugar...
- Written Answers — Animal Health Strategy: Animal Health Strategy (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I am fully committed to the development of an all-Ireland animal health strategy, the ultimate objective of which should be the free movement of animals on the island and the development of agreed policies to control animal disease and to facilitate trade. There is already a long history of co-operation between the Administrations North and South on animal health issues. The Administrations...
- Written Answers — Farming Practices: Farming Practices (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I expect to introduce shortly an amendment to the relevant national legislation to allow for the spreading on non-pasture land of digestate produced by composting and biogas plants using animal by-products in their inputs. These arrangements are being introduced primarily in the context of EU legislation that allows the digestate produced in such plants to be spread on non-pasture land. In...
- Written Answers — Veterinary Medicines: Veterinary Medicines (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140, 155, 162, 177, 185 and 199 together. The draft regulations on veterinary medicines which were circulated by my Department in August for consultation are designed to give effect to EU Directive 2004/28 and to reform aspects of the existing national regime. My Department has received written submissions from most of the main stakeholders and has also...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Bord Bia promotes the Irish food and drink industry in an increasingly competitive global food market. Competition in the market is becoming even more intense with greater trade liberalisation, competition from low cost countries and increasing concentration at retail level. Allied to this consumer requirements are changing with more emphasis being placed on health, convenience and...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Significant progress is being made on implementing the Government's decision on the decentralisation of my Department. The decentralisation programme includes the relocation of the Department's headquarters to Portlaoise, transfer of the local office in Cork city to Fermoy and the rationalisation of the Department's five Munster laboratories to Macroom. Practically all the Department's Dublin...
- Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: There were 126 cases of BSE confirmed in 2004 compared with 182 in 2003 and 333 in 2002. To date in 2005 there have been 50 cases which represents a decrease of 47% on the number of cases â 96 â discovered in the same period in 2004. The majority of the confirmed cases were in animals born prior to the introduction of the additional controls in 1996 and 1997. The age profile of BSE cases...