Results 2,941-2,960 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Primary responsibility for the welfare of animals rests with the owner or keeper of the animals. The owners-keepers are obliged to take all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of animals under their care and to ensure that such animals are not caused any unnecessary pain, suffering or injury. To the extent that it can my Department seeks to ensure that optimum animal welfare standards...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have outlined in detail to the House on a number of occasions the circumstances surrounding this unusual case. I wish to restate the key aspects. First, the actions by my Department at the time were designed to protect public health by ensuring that animals treated with a prohibited substance did not enter the food chain. Second, my Department obviously wanted to see the animals disposed of...

Written Answers — EU Directives: 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. Regulations giving legal effect to the programme are being finalised following a consultation process. Ireland is also proceeding with the case for a...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined below. Consultants. Year Number Annual Cost â'¬ 2003 17 809,604.14 2004 19 515,056.28 2005 10 96,165.00 Special Advisers. (a) Ministerial Adviser. Year Number Annual Total Cost â'¬ 10 July 2002-18 October 2004 1 42,005 (2002) 29 October 2004 to date. 1 12,392 (2004) (b) Press Adviser. 30...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (8 Dec 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 170,000 per head against 114,000 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...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The need for a focus on innovation and specifically on research and development as key drivers of creativity and growth within an economy is recognised at both EU and national level. At the Lisbon Summit in March 2000, EU leaders agreed that the European Union should aim to become the world's most competitive economy by 2010 and to raise spending on research and development to 3% of GDP by...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware that genetically modified cotton is grown extensively in many countries, particularly in the US, India and China, and is widely used in the clothing industry. I am also aware that the enzyme chymosin, extracted from a GM organism, has for many years been used in the manufacture of cheese and that many GM micro nutrients, such as riboflavin, are used in food and feed. Trade in all...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I received approval from the EU Commission, under State aid, to make certain additional payments to flockowners who had their flocks depopulated as a result of scrapie from December 2001 to 15 April 2003. On 21 November 2005, notifications of these payments for year four, along with application forms, issued to the flockowners concerned. My Department will process applications received with a...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 87 together. 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 the programme are being finalised following a consultation...

Written Answers — Milk Yield: Milk Yield (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The main reason Ireland's milk yield and composition varies from that of other EU countries is due to the different dairy production systems in operation. In Ireland, the majority of cow herds are spring calving and cows are fed on a grass based diet, which has proven to be the most cost efficient and profitable system under Irish conditions. In most other European countries, the majority of...

Written Answers — Animal Levies: Animal Levies (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An Bord Bia is statutorily obliged under the Bord Bia Acts to charge a levy on cattle, sheep and pigs at slaughter and at export. The proceeds of the levies are used by An Bord Bia to fund promotional activities for the sector concerned. The rates of the statutory levies are €1.90, €0.25 and €0.25 on bovines, sheep and pigs respectively. These rates have not been increased since they...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under the rules governing the Single Market, it is not possible to restrict imports on grounds other than health and safety or to require retailers to source products from production within a certain radius. These rules apply equally in all member states and have worked to our advantage in that our food and drink exports account for €7 billion in exports, far outweighing product sourced...

Written Answers — Gardening Initiatives: Gardening Initiatives (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Public interest in all aspects of gardening is widening all the time and the annual value of the Irish amenity and gardening market is estimated to be worth as much as €450 million. Any initiatives to encourage greater gardening activity and increased consumption of fruit and vegetables are welcome, on the basis of their contribution to good physical and mental health as well as on the...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (8 Dec 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 has been helpful in clarifying the position. I have provided a detailed response to the report. Regrettably, there are a number of committee recommendations that I have not been able to accept. They are precluded by elements of the EU regulations under which...

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Veterinary practices are primarily commercial entities and their locations are driven by commercial realities. However, insofar as State involvement is concerned, a number of recent measures will alleviate difficulties which may arise in certain parts of the country. Under the new Veterinary Practice Act, which will come into effect on 1 January 2006, provision is made to enable the...

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The figures mentioned come from an agri-aware leaflet which speculates that the latest round of WTO proposals could lead to a 35% reduction in farm family income. The WTO negotiations are not yet complete. It is now generally accepted that the ministerial conference in Hong Kong will not produce a final agreement and that further negotiations will be required in 2006. My overall objective for...

Written Answers — Agricultural Exports: Agricultural Exports (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The supply and availability of transport for the carriage of exports of livestock and food produce is a commercial matter not within the remit of my Department. However, I understand that there is sufficient capacity on routes and services other than those of Irish Ferries to obviate any threat to the export of stock or food produce at this time.

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The development of new markets for Irish food produce is primarily the responsibility of the food industry. However, my Department, in co-operation with the statutory food promotion agency Bord Bia, will continue to assist the industry to identify markets for Irish agricultural and food produce in the EU and internationally, to build on existing markets by extending the value-added component,...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department examines and assesses the impact of all policy proposals emerging at EU level and the wider international context for their impact on agriculture and the rural economy. The agri-vision 2015 report also identified the rapidly changing nature of Irish agriculture and the issues facing the agriculture and food industries in the future including the need for market driven production...

Written Answers — Animal and Plant Diseases: Animal and Plant Diseases (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Coughlan: All live commercial animals imported into Ireland from either an EU member state or a third country must be accompanied by an official health certificate from the competent authority of the exporting country confirming that the animals have undergone all appropriate tests and have not come from an area affected by any animal disease. Veterinary inspection checks operate at all of Ireland's...