Results 3,481-3,500 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: A formal application seeking EU state aid approval for the revised farm waste management scheme was submitted by my Department to the European Commission on 30 September last. The application has been the subject of ongoing negotiations between the Commission and my Department in the intervening period and I recently had a meeting with Commissioner Fischer Boel at which I stressed the...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: As part of the financial arrangements to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates directive, I have sought EU approval for the introduction of a pilot waste processing facilities scheme to support the demonstration of new technologies, such as anaerobic and aerobic digestion, for the treatment of livestock manures. The scheme envisages the granting of financial support...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The incidence of brucellosis has been falling progressively in recent years. For example, the number of laboratory positives has fallen from 6,417 in 1998 to 228 in 2005. The total number of animals slaughtered under the eradication programme fell from 29,778 to 2,375 during the same period. There has been a further improvement in the position in 2005 compared with 2003 and 2004. The number...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The food industry must be developed at all levels as CAP now focuses on the market. This is the reason I have established a new initiative involving the holding of regional food fora to promote local and regional food economies, complemented by research and other activities. The first regional food forum was organised by my Department and Bord Bia with the other food development agencies in...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Irish beef sector in 2005 was characterised by stability, consistency and high prices. Beef prices in all categories are up 6% on average for 2005, having reached a six year high in 2004. Irish beef production reached 524,000 tonnes in 2005, a drop of 2% on 2004 levels. Of this, 487,000 tonnes, representing 93% of our production, was exported with an export value to the Irish economy of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application under the single payment scheme on 11 May 2005. The herd owner also applied to have her entitlements consolidated under the 2005 single payment consolidation measure. Her application has been processed and payment will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: As there is no record of the receipt of an application form from the person named under the 2005 single payment scheme, an official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named in an attempt to clarify matters.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application under the single payment scheme on 13 May 2005 and also applied to have his entitlements consolidated under the scheme. The EU provisions governing the consolidation of entitlements provide that an applicant must declare a number of eligible hectares amounting to 50% or more of the entitlements granted to him. The person named has established 121.46...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The EU regulations governing the single payment scheme make specific provision for farmers who were obliged, because of agri-environmental undertakings such as REPS and commonage framework plans, to reduce their stock numbers. Such farmers are entitled to apply to my Department to have their single payment entitlements calculated on the period before they de-stocked. It is noted that the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application on 29 October 2004 for consideration of his circumstances under the second tranche of the force majeure-exceptional circumstances measure of the single payment scheme. Having assessed the application, the single payment entitlements unit informed the person named that the circumstances outlined did not fulfil the force majeure criteria laid down in...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Department of Agriculture and Food is in ongoing contact with the Land Registry Office to resolve this problem, which relates to a mapping query. My officials understand that the problem with the map for this vesting will be resolved in the near future.

Written Answers — Animal Identification Scheme: Animal Identification Scheme (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The enhancements to the national genotyping programme, NGP, to which the Deputy refers, were aimed at encouraging greater participation in the programme. These enhancements were introduced following discussions between officials of my Department and representatives of the pedigree and non-pedigree breeders. It was always intended, and it was made clear before their introduction, that the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the single payment scheme was received from the person named on 16 May 2005. An application to consolidate his entitlements was also submitted by the herd owner. During processing of the consolidation application, it was necessary for a Department of Agriculture and Food official to make direct contact with the person named to seek clarification of certain matters...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application on 6 February 2004 for consideration of her circumstances under the force majeure-exceptional circumstances measure of the single payment scheme. Having assessed the application, the single payment entitlements unit informed the person named that her application could not be accepted as she did not fulfil the force majeure criteria laid down in...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The legislative basis for the controls on the import and uses of animal by-products, including meat and bone meal, is Regulation EC 1774/2002. I am satisfied that the controls in that legislation are effectively implemented here.

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including meat and meat products, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under harmonised legislation a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the member states to ensure that animal products are produced to...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Irish beef sector in 2005 was characterised by stable market conditions and satisfactory prices. Some 487,000 tonnes of Irish beef, representing 93% of our production, was exported in 2005 with an export value to the Irish economy of more than €1.3 billion or almost 20% of Irish food and drink exports. As a result of effective promotion and marketing to date, 192,000 tonnes or almost...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together. The Minister for Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources is primarily responsible for the promotion and development of renewable energy, including biofuels. Nonetheless, the development of the biofuels sector is a matter that impinges on several other policy areas, including agriculture, transport and taxation, and involves...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Irish dairy sector has enjoyed much success on international and EU markets in recent years and performed solidly in 2005. Overall, exports of Irish dairy products and ingredients amounted to €1.82 billion, as Irish exporters responded to strong market demand worldwide. Despite considerable policy changes at EU level export performance has been very resilient in recent years. We are now...

Written Answers — Agriculture Policy: Agriculture Policy (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The statement of strategy for my Department, which covers the period 2005 to 2007, sets out over 50 strategies that my Department is pursuing to help develop a sustainable, competitive, consumer-focused agri-food sector. The outcome of this work is presented in my Department's annual report. The annual report for the year 2005 is currently being compiled. The agri-vision 2015 committee,...