Results 2,681-2,700 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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 — Food Industry: Food Industry (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Food Agency Co-operation Council 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 re-scheduling meetings that year. The food development agencies directly concerned with the food programme components of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 did, however, meet with my Department in 2004 and 2005 to...

Written Answers — Biocidal Products Register: Biocidal Products Register (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The biocides register is now being finalised and will be published on the Department of Agriculture and Food website during the first quarter of 2006.

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

Mary Coughlan: I have already 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...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The main legislation covering the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs is European Council Directive 2000/13/EC. The responsibility for this legislation and food labelling in general rests with the Minister for Health and Children. Within my own area of responsibility, there are a number of pieces of legislation on the labelling of specific products ranging from beef, poultry...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Irish beef industry is worth €1.4 billion in foreign earnings to the national economy annually. Ireland produced 560,000 tonnes of beef in 2004, exporting 495,000 tonnes with domestic consumption at 86,000 tonnes. We are the number one exporter of beef into Europe where there is a widening gap between consumption and production resulting in an EU import requirement of an estimated...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has given considerable attention to food labelling as I regard it of great importance that consumers are provided with full information on foodstuffs. Food labelling is a complex area where account has to be taken of EU legislation and the single market. In this context, a food labelling group was established in 2002 to the detailed issues involved. Since then, my Department has...

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

Mary Coughlan: I welcome the outcome of the meeting held in Geneva last week to discuss the issues of avian influenza and human pandemic and, in particular, the identification of the components of a global action plan to control avian 'flu in animals and, at the same time, to limit the threat of a human 'flu pandemic. Last week's meeting brought together more than 600 delegates from more than 100 countries...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The proposed EU rural development funding for 2007 to 2013 will form part of the overall EU budget or financial perspective for the same period. Decisions on the overall amount and its allocation will be taken in that context. The new rural development regulation No. 1698/2005 that was adopted in September confirms this situation. The rural development regulation provides that the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: EU Directive 2005/34/EC, which amends Commission Directive 91/414, was transposed under SI 553/2005 and signed by me on 2 August 2005. The European Commission has been notified and has received copies of the instrument. These regulations give effect to the inclusion of etoxazole and tepraloxydim as active substances.

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has given considerable attention to food labelling as I regard it of great importance that consumers are provided with full information on foodstuffs. Food labelling is a complex area where account has to be taken of EU legislation and the Single Market. In this context a food labelling group was established in 2002 to deal with the detailed issues involved. Since then my...

Written Answers — EU Negotiations: EU Negotiations (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The policy issues for which I have direct responsibility are dealt with in the Council of Agriculture Ministers rather than the European Council for which the Department of the Taoiseach has primary responsibility. In the normal course of negotiating on proposals brought forward by the Commission, I adopt negotiating strategies and tactics which I believe are most suited to achieving the best...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 433 together. My Department sought and was granted an exemption from one of the provisions of Council Directive 2003/50/EC amending Directive 91/68/EEC as regards reinforcement of controls on movements of ovine and caprine animals. These controls provide as a minimum requirement, that breeding and fattening sheep must be certified as having been...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Currently there are 709 Department of Agriculture and Food staff in Agriculture House, Kildare Street, broken down by grade as follows: Grade Des. Total Agricultural Inspector 17 Administrative Officer 9 Area Superintendent 3 Asst Agricultural Insp Agric 7 Asst Principal 50 Asst Prncp Snr Sys Analyst 12 Asst Secretary 8 Chief Insp/Agr Inspectorate 1 Chief Veterinary Officer 1...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned has been deemed ineligible for grant aid under the installation aid scheme as his application was received outside the time limits laid down in the scheme. The applicant has been advised of his right to appeal the decision concerned to the agriculture appeals office.

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

Mary Coughlan: Regarding the number of hectares of land placed under grant-aided afforestation from 1995 to 2004, the total area is 146,734 hectares or 362,579.71 acres. These figures can be broken down as follows: Year 2004 9,734ha (24,052.71 acres) 2003 9,097ha (22,478 acres) 2002 15,054ha (37,198.43 acres) 2001 15,464ha (38,211.54 acres) 2000 15,695ha (38,782.35 acres) 1999...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has been notified that the circumstances outlined in his single payment scheme application for consideration of force majeure-exceptional circumstances satisfy the criteria laid down under Article 40 Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. The person named was notified on 14 March 2005 that years 2000 and 2001 would be excluded and the year 2000 would be utilised for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Details relating to grant programmes which are available from my Department are contained in my Department's publication, Schemes and Services, which is available from my Department's offices and on the 2005 Publications page of its website, www.agriculture.gov.ie. I have arranged for a copy of the current edition to be sent to the Deputy. Reference is made in this publication to grant...

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

Mary Coughlan: The position is that my Department has statutory responsibility in relation to welfare and protection of farmed animals. The Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984 and the European Communities (Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes) Regulations 2000 is the legislation that applies in this area. In addition, the welfare of calves and pigs is subject to the European...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The rules for planners in REPS 1 and 2 provided for three warnings to be given where plans were found to be deficient, to be followed by suspension if there was a fourth incident; for more serious deficiencies there was provision for immediate suspension. In the course of REPS 1, one private planner — that is, a planner not employed by Teagasc — was recommended for suspension; under REPS...