Results 4,241-4,260 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The general food labelling legislation comes within the remit of the Department of Health & Children. My Department has responsibility for specific labelling regulations such as the labelling of beef. It is governed by comprehensive EU regulations that were introduced in 2000 and is underpinned by a full national cattle identification and traceability system. However, these labelling...
- Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 80 together. My Department has certain statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of farmed animals. The legislation governing this is the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984 and the European Communities (Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes) Regulations, 2000. In addition there is specific legislation in...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The implementation of the Nitrates Directive is a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The European Court of Justice delivered a judgment in March 2004 that Ireland was non-compliant with the Nitrates Directive by reason mainly of failing to establish and implement an Action Programme to protect waters against pollution by farming. The establishment of...
- Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: I travelled to the United States on a food business development visit from 28th April to 7th May organised by Enterprise Ireland. I was accompanied from Ireland by the Secretary General of my Department, my Departmental Private Secretary, the Executive Director of Enterprise Ireland and the Manager of the Food and Consumer Division of Enterprise Ireland. In the US I was joined by the Senior...
- Written Answers — Beef Imports: Beef Imports (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: As a member of the EU and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ireland is in a position to avail of opportunities for trade that are essential for the development of our open economy. Membership of these organizations also brings reciprocal trade obligations. All such imports must come from third countries or areas of third countries that have been approved by the EU authorities for export to...
- Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The Irish dairy industry continues to contribute very substantially to the national economy, with an annual output value of some â¬2.3 billion. Last year Irish dairy exports performed exceptionally well totalling â¬2 billion, despite downward adjustments to EU market supports brought about by the implementation of the Luxembourg Agreement on the reform of the CAP. A loss of competitiveness...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (18 May 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...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The regional and speciality food sector is worth approximately â¬475 million in Ireland and is growing at an annual rate of 10%. This expanding sector accounts for over 300 small food enterprises, distributed throughout the country, and producing a diverse range of products including farmhouse dairy, meat, fish, horticulture, confectionery, bakery and prepared foods. International research...
- Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: In 2003 my Department established an interdepartmental/interagency Working Group to identify the issues and implications for Ireland of the cultivation of GM crops and to develop proposals for a national strategy and best practices. The Working Group completed its work in December last and a public consultation process has just been completed. I am in the process of considering the...
- Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: My Department has been aware for some time that, following the death of five cows on a farm in South Wales, tests revealed that two of the cows tested positive for anthrax. I am satisfied that the measures employed by the Welsh authorities in relation to the disposal of the cattle and the fact that no cattle had been sent from the farm in question for the food chain for almost 12 months...
- Written Answers — Animal Cruelty: Animal Cruelty (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 98 together. I have outlined in detail to the House on a number of occasions and most recently on 29 March 2006, the circumstances surrounding this unusual case. In view of the fact that the matter is sub judice and is in fact scheduled to come before the Courts on 29 May, I do not propose to comment any further on the case at this stage.
- Written Answers — Importation of Bees: Importation of Bees (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The importation of bees into Ireland is prohibited under the Bees (Regulation of Import) Order 1980, except under licence issued by the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Such licences, may be subject to conditions relating to origin, place of export and import, and disposal. No licences have been issued recently. In accordance with EU legislation, imports of bees may be authorized from third...
- Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The European model of agriculture, which is enshrined in the Common Agricultural Policy, is based on maintaining competitive, multifunctional and sustainable farming dispersed throughout the Union while one of the core principles of the CAP is to assure the availability of supply. The EU ensures the highest standards of hygiene and traceability throughout the food chain through a range of...
- Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The overall national strategy for the eradication of TB provides for a comprehensive range of measures, including the mandatory annual testing for all cattle in the national herd, the early removal of reactors, a wildlife programme involving the targeted removal of badgers where they are implicated in a TB outbreak, the use of the gamma Interferon test in problem herds as an adjunct to the...
- Written Answers — Trade in Horses: Trade in Horses (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The minimum value rules referred to by the Deputy, which are implemented in the UK are supplementary to European rules, which govern the trade in horses between Member States and prescribe the health conditions and certification to be applied to such animals. My Department implements EU laws regarding the trade of horses between Member States and I have no plans, at present, of going beyond...
- Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The adjudication of applications for field trials of GM crops is a function assigned to the Environmental Protection Agency, as the competent authority for the purposes of Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms; which is transposed into Irish law by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2003. The...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (18 May 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...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (18 May 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...
- Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (18 May 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 2005, a total of â¬195,996 was provided to Teagasc towards the development of integrated biological control methods under Irish conditions. Expenditure of a further â¬150,000 has been approved for 2006 and 2007 for this research programme. The...
- Written Answers — Importation of Birds: Importation of Birds (18 May 2006)
Mary Coughlan: On Friday 14th April 2006, a consignment of hobby birds was imported through Rosslare Port to a registered importer. The consignment in question originated in another Member State (the Netherlands) and, accordingly, is subject to intra-community trade rules, which does not include a quarantine requirement. Consignments of this nature must comply with the requirements of a General...