Results 2,281-2,300 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am strongly committed to the development of the organic sector in Ireland. My Department already provides incentives to encourage organic farming, which are substantial in proportion to the size of the sector. Through the rural environment protection scheme, REPS, almost €4 million was paid directly to organic farmers in 2004. Since REPS began in 1994, it has delivered some €31 million...

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 kilogrammes per hectare per annum laid down in the nitrates directive. The proposal was designed to allow farmers to operate under...

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

Mary Coughlan: I am aware of the results of the farm scale evaluation trials, published by the United Kingdom Royal Society, on a study carried out in Britain that compared genetically modified winter oilseed rape against its conventional counterpart. I am sure this information will feed into any future amendments that will be made by the EU in respect of the approval of oilseed rape for cultivation within...

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

Mary Coughlan: My Department opened an office in Wicklow town in 2001, the purpose of which was to improve the level of service provided to farmers in the east Wicklow area. A superintending veterinary inspector based in my Department's Tallaght office has responsibility for the operation of the Wicklow veterinary office. There are two veterinary inspectors covering the east Wicklow area, one of whom is...

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

Mary Coughlan: The agreement on the mid-term review of Agenda 2000 reached at the Council of Agricultural Ministers on 26 June 2003 was a balanced one, which addressed Ireland's principal objectives. Among these objectives were the preservation of the financial benefits achieved under the Agenda 2000 agreement and the establishment of a policy framework that will allow farmers and the agri-sector the...

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

Mary Coughlan: The joint committee's examination of the early retirement scheme provided a welcome opportunity to air a wide range of issues and this in itself has been helpful in clarifying the position. Earlier this month I provided a detailed response to the report. Regrettably, there are a number of the committee's recommendations I have not been able to accept. They are precluded by elements of the EU...

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

Mary Coughlan: The agreement on the mid-term review of Agenda 2000, reached at the Council of Agricultural Ministers on 26 June 2003, provided a financial envelope to each member state. This envelope represented the average value of livestock and arable aid premia paid in the member state during the three-year reference period 2000-02 calculated at 2002 rates of payment. The outcome, which will reshape the...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Although proportionally, the organic sector is still extremely small, the Irish organic market has witnessed strong growth levels in recent years to reach an estimated €38 million at retail level in 2003. The indications are that an annual growth rate of approximately 10% should be achievable in the Irish organic food market in the medium term. I am strongly committed to the organic sector...

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: 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 any allocations to be reflected in the single payment scheme payment which is scheduled to commence on 1...

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

Mary Coughlan: Live exports continue to be an important outlet for our cattle providing an essential element of competition within the beef trade. Live exports to date are 52% up on the same period last year. Live exports in 2004 were sluggish however, and our exports this year are more in line with the more traditional export levels of 2003. The information on main destinations has been forwarded to the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is continuing to draft an Animal Health Bill. I am not in a position, at this stage, to say when the Bill will be published.

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

Mary Coughlan: Ireland has a dynamic prepared consumer foods sector, which plays a significant role in the Irish economy with output of €2.6 billion and exports of €1.3 billion. Approximately 16,000 people are directly employed in 180 companies in the sector, which now accounts for 12% of food exports. The food development agencies work closely with companies to assist them to develop, commercialise and...

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

Mary Coughlan: The amount of beef exported to Russia in the past five years and to date is as follows: Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 (end July) Tonnes 11,000 43,000 83,000 76,000 47,000 10,000 The same period has seen a substantial increase in beef exports to EU markets. In 2001, we exported 72,000 tonnes to the continental EU and only two retailers stocked Irish beef. By last year,...

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

Mary Coughlan: The introduction of the single payment scheme this December and the consequential ending of a number of headage and premium schemes will reduce my Department's requirement for staff. While the final net impact cannot be stated exactly at this stage, it is estimated that my Department will be able to operate with approximately 400 less staff than authorised numbers. The redeployment of staff...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The designation of land under EU birds and habitats directives is a function of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The question of compensation for farmers in the Shannon Callows area is a matter, in the first instance, for that Department, and I understand discussions with the farming bodies have been taking place for some time and were continuing up to recent...

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

Mary Coughlan: An important part of the reform of the CAP leading to the introduction of the single payment scheme is the creation of an effective link between EU support for agriculture and measures aimed at protecting the environment and improving the countryside as well as achieving high standards in food safety and in animal health and welfare. Farmers receiving direct aid under the single payment...

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

Mary Coughlan: I presume the Deputy is referring to a High Court ruling last April by Mr. Justice Kelly stating that there was a deficiency in powers quoted by an authorized officer of this Department when impounding a consignment of imported feed material in which traces of bone spicules were detected. My Department has since amended the legislation to strengthen the powers of the authorised officers.

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 217, inclusive, together. My Department has given considerable attention to food labelling as I regard it of importance that consumers are provided with full information on foodstuffs. In this regard, my Department has pursued assiduously the implementation of the recommendations of the food labelling group. Nineteen of the 21 recommendations, many of...

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

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve under category C which caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, sold their quota into the milk quota restructuring scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under livestock premiums or arable aid...