Results 2,861-2,880 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: That figure is much more since the Senator stood up to speak.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: There are reasons for this.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Department officials have been on the telephone every day of the week.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: There was a letter.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Senator should ensure that the duck is registered.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: That was a typographical error in the script. The Senator will see from the Official Report that I said it is not acceptable that concessions in agriculture should be a precondition for movement elsewhere.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: That is incorrect.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I thank the Senators for their participation in this debate. As always with agriculture we have strayed from the point, but it was all done in earnest. On the WTO, all parties are supportive of not going beyond the Council mandate that sets the parameters within which we work. I reiterate that we have gone as far as we can go in the green box on domestic support. We have agreed to phase out...

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: If there is to be free trade — and there are issues about free market access and bottoming out prices — there are winners and losers. If others refuse to import Brazilian beef, why should we? Why can we not export to the US, Japan and North Korea? Our farmers are prepared to be competitive and ensure quality and standards but they must have a balanced approach. That is needed in the WTO talks.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am not being facetious but there is a naive view about the sugar deal. We had to reform the sugar sector because of the WTO talks before us and because we lost the WTO panel. I agree that this is where supporting less-developed countries becomes difficult and complex. The ACP countries asked us as a Council not to change the price. We have not seen the full outcome of the Everything but...

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The opportunity is still there for those in the beet sector to remain for a two-year period. I negotiated the best deal I could get in the face of adversity.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I will do all I can to support alternative ways to sustain agriculture, which were discussed today. With regard to the reform of the CAP, we have changed to become very much focused on market, consumer and quality. That is how the agricultural sector will survive. We must deal with issues such as substantial transformation, and I agree with Senator O'Toole's comments on this issue. I thank...

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Those who did not receive payment were contacted by the Department over the weekend and during the week.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am not wrong as the work was paid for.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: With respect, the Senator should have had a perfect application.

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Some issues exist but they are not insurmountable, and they can be dealt with. We will do our utmost to ensure the remaining necessary funding for farmers will be dealt with as quickly as possible. Agriculture is a priority for me and all my colleagues within my parliamentary party and the Government. Agriculture is a necessity for the economic development of this country, be it the agrifood...

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to see import substitution in the vegetable market, for instance, in which we are involved. An onion growing initiative was launched last Friday in north County Dublin, as we invest in import substitution in the horticultural sector and organic food. The consumer will ultimately determine how agriculture develops. The consumer expects quality, standards and safety. This does not...

Sugar Beet Industry. (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The recent agreement reached by EU Ministers at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council about the reform of the EU sugar regime was the culmination of a protracted and difficult negotiating process. The outcome represents the best deal that could have been achieved for Irish beet growers in the circumstances. It represents a considerable improvement on the Commission's initial proposals, which...

Sugar Beet Industry. (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The reform of the EU sugar regime is still in its early stages, as I have said. We are awaiting the final official legal text from the European Union. Growers will be able to participate in the sugar regime over the next two years. That will be a matter for growers and for Irish Sugar Limited. I would like to respond to Deputy Naughten's suggestion that I rejected a proposal to allow growers...

EU Directives. (8 Dec 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 was formally submitted to the European Commission in July, and regulations giving legal effect to it are being finalised following a consultation process. Ireland is also proceeding with the case for a...