Results 3,401-3,420 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: I am entitled to tell the truth in this House and the Deputy's assertion is not true. Regarding REPS plans, similar to Part 3, things remain as they are. Therefore those in REPS are not working illegally.
- Alternative Energy Projects. (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The EC biofuels directive sets indicative targets for member states of 2% market penetration for biofuels by end 2005. The targets in the directive are indicative and not mandatory. Ireland is starting from a very low current production base and the 2% target therefore represents a considerable challenge. The objective of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, who has...
- Alternative Energy Projects. (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: There is a considerable amount of information and the new Minister of State will move on that agenda item fairly soon once she gets her feet on the ground, so to speak. A good deal of work has been done already on this initiative in the Department, with a specific proposal to drive it forward quickly. One of the issues is that farmers will regard â¬45 per hectare as a nonsense. That is the...
- Alternative Energy Projects. (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: That is another factually incorrect statement from the Deputy. We have a very good working relationship. The Minister of State, Deputy Browne, met the energy people last week and there has been continued workââ
- Alternative Energy Projects. (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The Minister of State had a designated role in this issue. I work in consultation with my Ministers, whom I trust and who are more than capable of delivering the service. I worked to support them in this initiative. At the time, the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, was anxious to progress it quickly. We have done so. The demand was a difficulty but the excise duty issue has been dealt with...
- Alternative Energy Projects. (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: On the last question, those specific issues are a matter for the Minister with responsibility for energy, Deputy Noel Dempsey. However, we have a good working relationship and I have indicated on a number of occasions that any support we can give, in whatever way, will be forthcoming. The farming organisations have expressed an interest in alternative energies. One of the candidates was very...
- Alternative Energy Projects. (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: I am aware of that. I will get a ministerial bicycle.
- Food Labelling. (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: That involves research.
- Food Labelling. (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: That is old information. That is not to take away from the seriousness of the issue.
- Food Labelling. (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: That is not what he said.
- Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The notification made by BASF to trial genetically modified potatoes at Summerhill, County Meath was made to the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. This application is in accordance with Part B of EU Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of GMOs into the environment but not for entry to the food chain. Responsibility for making a decision on the application is a matter for the...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: As part of the arrangements to enable farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates directive, I have sought EU state aid approval for a revised farm waste management scheme which shall include the removal of any minimum income requirements from farming from the scheme so that all small farmers can participate in the scheme. Under the current scheme, farmers must have a minimum of...
- Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: Johne's disease is widespread in the cattle population in most of the EU member states and, indeed, worldwide. Until 1992, strict import conditions ensured that Johne's disease was relatively rare in Ireland. However, since 1993, the increase in the number of cattle imported in the aftermath of the single market contributed to a significant increase in the numbers of reported cases of the...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The designation of land under the EU birds and habitats directives is a function of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The question of compensation for farmers in the Shannon Callows area is a matter, in the first instance, for that Department, and I understand that discussions on the matter with the farming bodies have been going on for some time and are still...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 Feb 2006)
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. Following difficult and intense negotiations with the European Commission, the Minister, Deputy Roche, made regulations on 11 December 2005 giving legal effect to Ireland's national action programme under the nitrates directive. The need for the...
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: A comprehensive range of incentives and supports is available from my Department to encourage the planting of forestry. Grants are available under the forestry grant and premium scheme which cover 100% of planting costs, so it costs landowners nothing to invest in forestry. In addition, under the current scheme farmers are entitled to a 20 year premium â 15 years for non-farmers â of up...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: I am satisfied that the EU is not excessively dependent on imports of food and that there is no reason for concern regarding security of supply either at the present time or for the foreseeable future. The EU is a major trading bloc and, as such, is both a major exporter and importer of food. It is self sufficient in many commodities and is a significant exporter of surplus production to...
- Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: Teagasc has an ongoing programme of research that investigates the potential risks and benefits associated with the growing of GM crops in Ireland including, inter alia, the economic implications. Preliminary research completed by it to date does indicate that the cultivation of certain crops with certain modifications may provide a financial incentive to the Irish farmer. To establish...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 Feb 2006)
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. The Minister, Deputy Roche, has recently made regulations giving legal effect to Ireland's national action programme under the directive. There has been much comment and speculation in recent days and weeks about the effect of the nitrates...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Feb 2006)
Mary Coughlan: One of my main objectives since assuming office as Minister for Agriculture and Food was to ensure the implementation of the decoupled single payment scheme â the most significant change to agricultural support since our accession to the European Community. This huge task was successfully implemented when over â¬1 billion in single payments issued to 118,500 farmers last December meeting...