Results 3,821-3,840 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There were 35,114 farmers active in milk production during the 1997-98 milk quota year and this had declined to 22,386 active producers during the 2005-06 milk quota year. I expect there will a further decline by 2015 but the number active at that time will depend on developments in the dairy sector at national and international levels. It will also be influenced by economic factors as well...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The incidence of BSE in Ireland is in decline. The number of cases peaked in 2002 at 333, following the introduction of mass surveillance at slaughter plants and knackeries in 2001. Almost 700,000 animals per annum are tested in Ireland under this surveillance regime. Despite this the numbers of animals confirmed with the disease fell to 182 in 2003, 126 in 2004 and 69 in 2005. To date in...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to inform the Deputy that the recent notification made by BASF to trial genetically modified potatoes at Summerhill, County Meath, was made to the Environmental Protection Agency. This notification 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...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (29 Mar 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 — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: While there are no formal proposals by the Commission along the lines suggested, I understand policy debate did take place at the March meeting of the Council of Environment Ministers concerning, inter alia, procedures used by the European Food Safety Authority for risk assessment in the context of decision-making on the approval of new GMOs. There was a call from a number of member states,...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The prospects for planting in 2006 are largely dependent on farmer-demand. A most attractive package for forestry, including 100% planting grants and guaranteed tax-free premiums for 20 years for farmers, is in place. The concessions won in CAP reform, allowing farmers to plant up to 50% of their land and still draw down the full single payment on the rest, represents a significant increase...

Written Answers — Foodstuffs Provision: Foodstuffs Provision (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: In 2003, the most recent year for which fully comparable EUROSTAT statistics are available, the EU was more than self-sufficient in terms of foodstuffs for the 15 member states. In the case of cereals, the EU was 114% self-sufficient; the only exception below 100% self-sufficiency for individual cereal commodities was rice. For all forms of meat, the EU was 106% self-sufficient; the only...

Written Answers — Export Refunds: Export Refunds (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 129 together. Irish beef exports in 2005 stood at 487,000 tonnes. All of these exports went to the UK and continental Europe except for 35,000 tonnes that went to third countries, mainly Russia. While the beef industry has become in recent years less reliant on third countries these markets are important for specific cuts at particular times of the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I have outlined previously the various measures put in place by my Department to assist farmers in meeting their obligations under the nitrates directive. The Sustaining Progress agreement included a number of commitments related to the nitrates directive and these have all been delivered in the form of improvements to the farm waste management scheme and the dairy hygiene scheme and...

Written Answers — Sugar Industry: Sugar Industry (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 224 together. Following the introduction of the single payment scheme last year, farmers now have the freedom to choose whatever farming enterprise is most appropriate to their circumstances. Under the agreement on reform of the EU sugar regime, the single payment scheme is being extended to cover sugar beet. The sugar reform agreement also provides for...

Written Answers — Horticulture Industry: Horticulture Industry (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: With a farm output value of over €270 million, retail sales of around €750 million and with approximately 10,000 people employed across the production and supply chain, the horticulture sector is one of the most dynamic sectors of the agrifood industry. Since I came into office, I have recognised the potential of this sector for further growth and development and, accordingly, I have...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: In December, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government made regulations giving legal effect to Ireland's national action programme under the nitrates directive. These regulations were finalised following difficult negotiations between the European Commission and officials of the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Agriculture and Food. In...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Funding for research into the control of varroa in honey bees has been the main element of my Department's apiculture programme. From 2002 to 2004, a total of €138,800 was provided to Teagasc towards the development of integrated biological control methods under Irish conditions. Approval has been given for expenditure of a further €225,000 during the three-year period from 2005 to 2007...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I remain very concerned about the level of safety on our farms. I fully support the work of the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, the statutory body established under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989, which works in partnership with the agriculture and forestry sectors to improve health and safety in farm and forestry workplaces. I particularly welcomed the farm safety project...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 230 together. Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal and fish origin, including and fish 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: As part of the arrangements to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates directive, I have announced my intention to introduce a scheme to support the demonstration of new technologies in reducing the volume of livestock manures or their nutrient content. Under the proposed scheme, financial support will be provided for up to ten projects throughout the State for the...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am still considering certain aspects of the joint committee's report on the early retirement scheme and I expect to be in a position to make announcements in due course. A number of the committee's recommendations are, as I explained in my detailed response to the report, precluded by the EU regulations under which the current scheme and its predecessor are operated.

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The agenda items to which the Deputy refers relate to discussions at the standing committee on the food chain and animal health, SCOFCAH, on the updated information on the foot and mouth disease situation, particularly in South America, provided by the representative of DG SANCO. As is normal practice at meetings of this nature, Ireland was represented at both meetings by officials from the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (29 Mar 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am satisfied that the range of scientific expertise already available within Teagasc and the structures within that organisation are sufficient to provide advice of a very high quality. The revised advice on the nitrates regulations recently supplied by Teagasc, representing the work of a group of experts in a range of disciplines, is comprehensive and draws on a large body of research....

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (29 Mar 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. In December, the Minister made regulations giving legal effect to Ireland's national action programme under the nitrates directive. These regulations were finalised following difficult negotiations between the European Commission and officials of...