Results 2,241-2,260 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Beef imports into the European Union from third countries must have been sourced, first, in countries and, second, in premises currently listed and approved by the European Commission and which are subject to veterinary audits by the EU's Food and Veterinary Office. In addition, such imports are subject to checks laid down in the harmonised rules prescribed at European level, and must be...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: By the closing date of 16 May 2005 for the single payment scheme, my Department had received almost 149,000 applications. It will be appreciated that as all farmers who wished to activate their entitlements and-or claim payment under the scheme were obliged to submit an application form, the number of forms submitted includes an element of double-counting. For example, where a farmer who had...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 171 together. I am anxious to facilitate trade in live sheep, which has to take place in accordance with EU rules governing such intra-Community trade. Trade in sheep between member states of the European Union is subject to the provisions of, inter alia, Council Directive 2003/50/EC, which amends Council Directive 91/68/EEC regarding reinforced...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The EU regulation covering the current early retirement scheme will expire in December 2006. Take-up has fallen far short of expectations, and an expenditure review of the scheme carried out by my Department in 2004 raised a number of questions about it. The Council regulation on rural development for the period 2007 to 2013 again includes provision for member states to operate early...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 182 together. For 2006, I have decided that the modulated funds should be used on a once-off payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme. This requires EU approval and is under current consideration by the EU Commission. My decision reflects the importance of the disadvantaged areas scheme in ensuring continued agricultural land use in the less...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Pending agreement at EU level on labelling thresholds for GM seeds, a voluntary agreement exists among most of the member states which prohibits the importation of GM seeds. This agreement, which Ireland is party to, is underpinned by a requirement that each consignment of imported seed of what are deemed to be at risk crop varieties must be accompanied by a certificate from a reputable...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware of both the confirmation of BSE in an animal born in Wales in 2002 and the reports of BSE being transmitted in an experimental sheep flock in the UK. There are no particular implications for Ireland as a result of either incident. To date there have been 16 cases of BSE confirmed in this country in animals born after 1998, the most recent born of which had a registered date of...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I discussed the WTO agriculture negotiations and Irish concerns in relation thereto at a bilateral meeting with the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development on 23 June 2005. The Council of Agriculture Ministers, which reviews the situation on a regular basis, discussed the developments in the negotiations at its meetings on 18 July 2005 and 19 September 2005, both of which I...

Written Answers — Pesticide Control: Pesticide Control (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has overall responsibility for matters within the competence of the Environment Council. The proposals being developed by the Commission on sustainable use of plant protection products follow from the Sixth Environmental Action Programme and are being developed following detailed consultation with interested...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As provided in the National Development Plan 2000-2006, the main objectives of the food institutional research measure, FIRM, are to provide a base of information and expertise in generic technologies that supports innovation and product development in the food industry, and assists consumer protection by ensuring that product development is underpinned by attention to food safety and...

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under the CAP, decoupling arrangements for direct payments, farmers can for the first time in many decades, now focus more clearly on the market-related element of their incomes, confident that the single payment will provide an assured income stream. This will create a significant incentive towards quality production with producer-processor relationships the key. In such a context there will...

Written Answers — Farm Accidents: Farm Accidents (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 159 together. I am very concerned about the level of safety on our farms and I support wholeheartedly the work of the Health and Safety Authority which is the State authority charged with overall responsibility for promotion of workplace health and safety. The authority has a proactive inspection and enforcement programme which focuses on high risk...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In October 2004, Ireland submitted proposals for a derogation from the general organic nitrogen limit of 170 kg per hectare per annum laid down in the nitrates directive. The proposal was designed to allow farmers to operate, under appropriate...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: While Ireland has a greater percentage of younger farmers less than 35 years of age at 11%, compared to the EU average of 8%, the Government, in recognition of the importance of attracting young farmers into agriculture, has put in place a range of incentives as follows. Regarding installation aid, under the installation aid scheme operated by my Department, a grant of €9,523 is available...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I take every opportunity available to me to promote Irish lamb. Bord Bia, which has specific responsibility in this regard, carries out regular campaigns at home and abroad. This year these included a promotion of new season lamb on the Irish market which commenced on 16 May and extended to the end of June. Bord Bia also undertook a campaign on the important French market over the summer...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: There has been excellent progress in establishing farmers markets and over 85 farmers' markets are operating in 22 locations throughout the country. These markets encourage local produce, assist start-ups of new businesses and create local employment and their growth reflects changing consumer preferences for fresh locally produced foods. They give producers an opportunity to meet and sell...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos 163, 189 and 211 together. Promotion and development of renewable energy, including biofuels, in Ireland are matters in the first instance for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. As matters stand, Irish Sugar Limited has arrangements in place to process the full Irish sugar quota at its Mallow plant, which has been upgraded for that...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The 2004 annual report detailed progress in relation to my Department's goal and strategies contained in its fourth statement of strategy, published in 2003, as well as complying with legal requirements to report on the operation of the Land Acts and the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997. The report provides comprehensive information on the activities of my Department in 2004, and some of...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Food Agency Co-operation Council has met on 20 occasions since its inception in 2000. The council did not meet in 2004 as a number of factors contributed to the difficulties in rescheduling meetings that year. The council has played a significant role in increasing co-operation between the State agencies involved in the food industry and has led to a number of memorandums of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Since January 2005, under the Department's active surveillance programme, some 17,900 sheep were rapid tested for scrapie at meat factories and knackeries. This programme, together with the reporting of suspect animals, led to the identification of 18 new flocks with the disease. For sheep which are depopulated, compensation payable includes live valuation of the breeding animals and payment...