Results 3,381-3,400 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: On the derogation, a meeting of the nitrates committee will be held in March. It is unlikely, however, that discussions on a derogation for Ireland will take place on the basis that current discussions on the suspended Part 3 have not concluded. On the scientific evidence provided, Teagasc provides this evidence to my Department and, in particular, the Department of the Environment, Heritage...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: No.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Yes.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: If the science stands up and the Commission agrees, the tables will be changed. If the Commission does not agree to changes, we will be powerless to proceed. The scientific evidence will be made available on Monday, whereupon it will be evaluated by the two Departments which will, with Teagasc, negotiate with the Commission on that basis.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: We will not table a proposal for a derogation in March because it is not considered beneficial to do so.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Yes, we expect to have secured a derogation in the summer. This will depend, however, on whether we can include the matter on the agenda of the next nitrates committee meeting. We will do our utmost to ensure it comes up for discussion.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The derogation must be dealt with as quickly as possible. We are determined to ensure this is the case and I am positive as regards our chances of success.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The role of Teagasc is to provide integrated research, advisory and training services for the agriculture and food industry. It is a matter for Teagasc to determine the most effective means of providing advice on the requirements of the nitrates regulations as they apply to individual holdings. I expect, however, that such advice would be delivered primarily via this existing network....

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Stocking density and nutrient management are matters of concern. Concerns about the disposal of organic fertiliser have arisen in particular sectors, notably the extensive dairy, pig and poultry sectors. The Deputy is correct that farmers will need to work with Teagasc and private advisers to address these concerns and deal with nutrient management. On local authority waste, the use of...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Deputy Catherine Murphy is correct that concerns have arisen in her constituency, which includes substantial areas of tillage. I seek to provide support for those who have these concerns, including by attempting to ensure they are properly informed, which is unfortunately not the case. We will work with farmers to address their concerns. This is the reason we introduced the farm waste...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: For the past three months, I have been saying precisely what the Deputy has been saying, which is that adequate spread lands are available. The concerns of customers of the pig and poultry sector need to be alleviated, which can be done only in the context of a working relationship, which unfortunately does not exist. However, we try to provide the greatest amount of information possible to...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: This is based on ongoing research between Teagasc and UCD. We are also considering reliable nutrient management and animal manures. We are considering emissions from land spreading of cattle slurry, cattle wintering facilities and greenhouse gas emissions from beef production systems. All these matters are very important, into which ongoing research is being carried out. The Deputy is right...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I agree they do not have the spread lands, which is one of the issues that people were prepared——

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The customer will be the beneficiary. Most pig farmers are not involved in tillage, which is why we need to consider practical steps such as diet. Much work has been done by the dietary experts. Much work has been done on centrifuges and separation. If people are prepared to work with me it may be possible to find other solutions for particular areas in order to transport slurry from one...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: We will need to wait to see what the board agrees on Monday regarding the proposal that has been made. Teagasc made the results of the last scientific research available to the public. I assume that once it has been agreed and dealt with, there is no reason it cannot be made available. However, I would need to wait and could not give the Deputy a definitive answer. My assumption is that, as...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: We have been talking for a long time. As a medical practitioner, I am sure the Deputy would agree that if he neglected something for 13 years he would be in some trouble. This is where we are and this is the problem. While we can blame whomever we want, ultimately that is the issue. Contrary to what has been said, the advice from Teagasc is the scientific advice to be made available to the...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Let us be careful.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am not misleading the House, that is the Deputy's job.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Regarding REPS, as has been indicated to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food and to so many people on many occasions — the matter was covered in an article in last week's Farming Independent supplement to the Irish Independent— the 121 threshold is rarely if ever reached by REPS farmers, who usually do not exceed 84.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: No, they are not.