Results 2,641-2,660 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Obesity Levels: Obesity Levels (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Food Dude programme launched in October, and which will be run in 120 primary schools over three years, addresses one of the two recommendations to my Department in the report, namely, that "the Department of Agriculture and Food together with the Department of Health and Children should promote the implementation of evidence-based healthy eating interventions." The programme, funded...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An interdepartmental working group was established within my Department in August 2003 to develop proposals for a national strategy and best practices to ensure the coexistence 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 programme included an appraisal of...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Smuggling: Cross-Border Smuggling (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: A number of measures are in place to deter illegal cross-Border traffic in cattle. In Ireland, cattle do not have any legitimacy unless they are tagged with official tags, registered on the central CMMS database and accompanied by official cattle identification documents — cattle passports. The processes of tag supply, passport issue and registration on the central database are subject to a...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Live exports continue to be an important outlet for our cattle providing an essential element of competition with the beef trade. Live exports to date in 2005 stand at approximately 148,000 head against 99,000 for the same period last year. This represents an increase of almost 50%. Live exports in 2004 were, however, sluggish and our exports this year are more in line with our traditional...

Written Answers — Beef Imports: Beef Imports (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The principle underlying the harmonised EU regulations on imports is that animal products imported from third countries must meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, member states. To be an approved third country, it must: be entered on to a listing of approved countries following a proposal by the Commission and agreed by the standing...

Written Answers — National Reserve Allocations: National Reserve Allocations (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 160 together. The position is that over the past year a number of meetings of the single payment advisory committee, comprising representatives of my Department, the farming organisations and Teagasc, were held to discuss the rules governing the allocation of entitlements from the national reserve. Two recent meetings of the committee assessed progress...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The forestry sector provides a high value input to the national economy and makes a significant contribution to the economic well being of rural communities. The forestry sector contributes €698 million annually to the economy. While it is difficult to provide economic values for the non-timber benefits of Irish forests, the 2004 Bacon review estimated an annual value in the region of...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 162 together. I am always prepared to facilitate trade in live sheep which is governed by EU rules governing intra-Community trade. Trade in sheep between member states of the European Union is subject to the provisions of Council Directive 91/68/EEC, as amended, as regards reinforced controls on the movement of sheep and goats. These controls provide...

Written Answers — EU Sugar Regime: EU Sugar Regime (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I maintained my firm opposition to the Commission's proposals when I addressed last month's meeting of the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg. I emphasised that the price cuts proposed are too severe, the reforms should be based on a longer lead-in time for the EBA and we should await the outcome of the WTO meeting in Hong Kong before seeking to agree a more equitable and balanced outcome. I...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The biggest single competitive challenge to the liquid milk market here is the growing penetration of liquid milk imports from Northern Ireland through increased reliance on own brand sales by supermarkets and symbol groups. This type of trade is an integral part of commercial activity on the EU internal market. Increased productivity, improved scale and a more competitive configuration are...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 144 together. The Irish 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...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 428 together. The proposal for the introduction of further modulation of direct payments is one of a series of proposals which was put forward by the Commission with a view to facilitating agreement on the next financial perspective for the period 2007- 2013. The negotiations broke down at the European Council in June and the UK Presidency is aiming to...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (15 Nov 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 10-11,000 hectares. Obviously I would have liked to have seen more 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...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 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. At the end of July, his Department formally submitted Ireland's national action programme under the directive to the European Commission. The next step is for the Minister to make regulations to give legal effect to the action programme. My...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: National Organic Week ran from 7 to 13 November. It was undertaken by Bord Bia on behalf of my Department. The objective was to raise consumer awareness of organic food, what it is, its benefits, where and how it is produced and where to buy it. A key message on organic food that the National Organic Week attempted to put across was that it involves an alternative method of food production...

Written Answers — Animal Health: Animal Health (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: There is already a long history of co-operation between the administrations North and South on animal health issues. The administrations have traditionally shared information at local and national levels on disease control and surveillance issues and have worked together to combat illegal movements of animals and animal products. The foot and mouth disease emergency of 2001 is a testament to...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (15 Nov 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. I have provided a detailed response to the report. Regrettably, there are a number of the committee's recommendations that I have not been able to accept. They are precluded by elements of the EU...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Work on drafting the Animal Health Bill is proceeding in my Department. There is still a significant body of preparatory work to be completed and it is not possible at this stage to indicate a date for publication.

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The incidence of brucellosis has been falling progressively since 1998: for example, the number of laboratory positives has fallen from 6,417 in 1998 to 664 in 2004. The total number of animals slaughtered under the eradication programme fell from 29,778 to 6,195 during the same period. There has been a further improvement in the situation in 2005 compared with 2003 and 2004. In the period to...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The percentage of agricultural land under organic production in Ireland currently stands at just under 0.7%. The original timescale for a target of 3% of the land area in organic production by 2006 has been extended to 2010, on the advice of the national steering group. To attract additional numbers into the organic sector, my Department provides substantial financial support through REPS and...