Results 2,261-2,280 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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. Ireland's national action programme under the nitrates directive was formally submitted to the European Commission by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 29 July 2005. The next step is for the Minister for the...

Written Answers — Timber Imports: Timber Imports (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland fully supports the commitment made by the European Union at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, to form an EU action plan for forest law enforcement, governance and trade, FLEGT, in order to combat the importation of illegally felled timber into the European Union. Illegal logging is a major contributor to environmental damage in developing countries and is closely...

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

Mary Coughlan: I have made it clear that the Commission's proposals for reform of the EU sugar regime, which were published on 22 June, are unacceptable in their present form. 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 farmers for the price cut. A voluntary restructuring...

Written Answers — Sugar Industry: Sugar Industry (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 Ltd. which is the only sugar manufacturer in this country. Irish Sugar Ltd....

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Progress has been reasonably satisfactory this year to date and I expect planting levels to be about the same as last year, in the region of 11,000 hectares. I would like more to have been planted but I accept that farmers have had to consider their options with the introduction of the new single payment regime, the nitrates situation and the revised REP scheme. I hope that, as the new...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Scientific Study on Children's Diet was co-funded by my Department and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and was the first study to benchmark dietary intakes of a nationally representative sample of Irish children. The work was carried out by researchers in Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork who surveyed 600 children aged between five and 12 years from primary schools...

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

Mary Coughlan: The incidence of brucellosis has fallen very significantly since 1998 with the number of laboratory positives falling from 6,417 in 1998 to 664 in 2004. This represents a 90% reduction in disease levels in that period. The total number of animals slaughtered per annum under the eradication programme fell from 29,778 to 6,195 during the same period. Further progress has been made this year. Up...

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

Mary Coughlan: The number of sheep exported live from Ireland in recent years has increased from approximately 35,000 head in 2003 to 58,000 head in 2004, with a figure of 65,000 head having been exported to date in 2005. This compares to a total of 3.25 million sheep slaughtered at approved export plants in 2004. The export trade in live sheep consists in the main of animals destined for slaughter in...

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

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy may be aware, an interdepartmental-interagency working group was established within my Department in October 2003 to develop proposals for a national strategy and best practices to ensure the co-existence of GM crops with conventional and organic farming. I have just recently received the report of the group and I am in the process of examining it. While part of the group's work...

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

Mary Coughlan: Beef production is extremely valuable to the economy with a €1.4 billion export value representing almost 25% of total Irish agri-food exports. Most of our beef exports to date, this year, have been to the high value UK and EU markets. EU consumption is predicted to again outstrip production in 2005 with a resulting import gap of an estimated 280,000 tonnes for the year. This will provide...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I welcome the positive outcome of the agreement on the forestry element of the new Rural Development Regulation 2007-2013. Following intensive negotiations, which concluded on 20 June 2005, Ireland secured a most satisfactory outcome, in spite of a bleak starting position. The original draft regulation proposed a maximum 40% establishment grant for new afforestation projects as opposed to the...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Applications for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve were received from more than 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 allocations to be reflected in the single payment scheme payment which is scheduled to commence on 1...

Written Answers — Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I welcome the publication of the report of the national task force on obesity and I acknowledge the need for a long-term sustained commitment from relevant Departments, agencies and food industry stakeholders to tackle the obesity crisis. My Department is fully committed to engaging in this process and it made a comprehensive submission to the task force setting out the Department's role and...

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

Mary Coughlan: My Department has maintained a vigilant approach to the risk of an outbreak of avian influenza in poultry following confirmation of the existence of a high pathogenic strain in Russia and Kazakhstan in August. In particular it has been active in reviewing all aspects of our contingency arrangements and several measures have been introduced to improve our preparedness to deal with any suspect...

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

Mary Coughlan: To assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates action programme, I have announced details of a proposed revised farm waste management scheme for which EU approval is now being sought. I hope early approval of the scheme will be forthcoming so that it can be introduced next January. Subject to the required EU approval, the scheme will introduce a standard grant rate of 60%,...

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 209 together. The dairy industry continues to contribute very substantially to the national economy, with an output value of some €2.3 billion and exports of €1.86 billion last year. This year exports are again performing very well despite adjustments to market management supports brought about by the implementation of the Luxembourg Agreement on...

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The price of gas oil, which includes agricultural diesel, as measured by the Central Statistics Office wholesale price index shows that gas oil increased by 11.1% in 2004 and by 22% to the end of August of this year. The CSO data shows that the price of gas oil increased by 30.2% in the 12 months from August 2004 to August 2005. The CSO agricultural price index indicates that the cost of...

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

Mary Coughlan: Traceability and labelling of Irish farm produce is an area accorded priority by my Department. Sophisticated traceability systems for cattle, sheep and pigs have been developed and implemented in recent years. In addition the labelling of foodstuffs was examined by a food labelling group and the main recommendations of that group have been implemented, in particular the centralisation of...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 197 and 200 together. To assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates action programme, I have announced details of a proposed revised farm waste management scheme for which EU approval is now being sought. I hope early approval of the scheme will be forthcoming so that it can be introduced next January. Subject to the required EU...

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

Mary Coughlan: Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, was established under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988. Its function under the Act is to provide research, training and advisory services for the agri-food sector. Teagasc is governed by an 11 member authority. The chairman and five ordinary members are appointed by the Minister and the remaining five members are...