Results 4,261-4,280 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The EU Council Regulation covering the current Early Retirement Scheme will expire in December 2006. The Council Regulation on Rural Development for the period from 2007 to 2013 includes provision for member States to operate several schemes, including an Early Retirement Scheme, and lays down the maximum pension which may be paid under any such Early Retirement Scheme. No decisions have yet...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Report of the Organic Development Committee in 2002 recommended a national label for Irish organic food. The National Steering Group took up this recommendation for the Development of the Organic Sector. After some consideration, they concluded that the idea of a single national label for organic produce should be put on hold for now. There is not yet a consensus among stakeholders about...

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 — Food Safety: Food Safety (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Under the service contract between my Department and the FSAI an annual monitoring programme for the control of pesticide residues in food is agreed. As part of the 2005 programme two samples of Mexican scallions/spring onions were analysed for residues of 148 different pesticides, including DDT. No DDT residue was detected in the samples analysed and the samples were fully compliant with...

Written Answers — Farm Safety: Farm Safety (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I welcome the publication last week of the Annual Report 2005 of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) which is the State Agency responsible for the promotion and enforcement of workplace health and safety in Ireland. Agriculture and forestry is one of a number of key sectors dealt with in the Report. I particularly support the Strategic Alliance referred to in the Report between the HSA and...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The production and utilisation of agricultural products for energy purposes can only be sustained in the longer term if biofuels generate a more favourable return than traditional market outlets. I am confident that the extension in the last Budget of excise relief of €205m which, when fully operational, will support the use and production of 163 million litres of biofuels annually, will...

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 — Farm Costs: Farm Costs (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The cost of fuel and energy, driven by rising international prices, is an issue for all parts of the economy including the agricultural sector. The most recent data from the CSO Wholesale Price Index shows that the price of energy products rose by 10.9% in the twelve months to March 2006 with electricity rising by 7.1%, auto diesel by 11.4% and gas oil by 18.9%. According to the Output, Input...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: "Substantial transformation" is a procedure used in normal business operations to allow operators to declare goods as being manufactured in the country where considerable processing has taken place. I am very concerned that this practice might be used to mislead consumers as to the origin of the product. I have raised this issue directly with the Commission on a number of occasions and indeed...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Following receipt of the required EU approval, the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme was launched by my Department on 24 March 2006. Application forms, together with the accompanying terms and conditions, are available from the local Agricultural Environment and Structures (AES) offices of my Department and are also available on my Department's website. The principal changes to the Scheme...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There is already a long history of co-operation between the administrations North and South on animal health issues. The administrations have traditionally shared information at local and national levels on disease control and surveillance issues and have worked together to combat illegal movements of animals and animal products. The foot-and-mouth emergency of 2001 is a testament to the...

Written Answers — Farmers' Markets: Farmers' Markets (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Casual Trading Act 1995 gives local authorities responsibility in matters of market rights. Section 7 of the Act provided for a 10 year time-frame within which market rights could be revived, even if these had not been used for some time. Some have been exercised recently. I do believe that farmers markets represent an important route to market and a real growth opportunity for farmers...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The freshwater pearl mussel is protected under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Wildlife Acts (1976, amended in 2000). This species is currently in decline throughout Europe with sedimentation and nutrient enrichment contributing significantly to this decline. My Department has established a Steering Group comprising representatives of the Forest Service, National Parks and Wildlife...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 to 169, inclusive, together. It is not my intention to include a review of Coillte in the present review of forestry legislation. Coillte Teoranta was established as a private company by virtue of the Forestry Act, 1988 and while it is expected to conduct its business in a cost effective and efficient manner, it is also obliged to have due regard to the...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: This matter is still under review but my Department expects to be in a position to conclude its examination of the issue in the near future.

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Mr. Brendan Smith T.D. Minister of State, was given special responsibility for Food and Horticulture and additional responsibilities for the following work areas: ∙Development of the Food Industry ∙Monitoring of the Food Industry under the National Development Plan ∙Local Slaughter Houses ∙Livestock Breeding ∙Horticulture/Plant Health/Organic Production / Animal Feedingstuffs...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has no record of receiving an application for aid under the Installation Aid Scheme from the person concerned.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The position with regard to appointments to the boards of statutory or State bodies under the aegis of my Department and other Ministerial appointments is as shown in the tables. An Bord Bia Name Date of Appointment Ms Angela Kennedy Chairman 2 February 2005 Noel Cawley Ordinary member 9 July 2003 Bríd Rodgers Ordinary member 31 December 2003 Dan Browne...

Written Answers — Animal Health: Animal Health (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There is already a long history of co-operation between the administrations North and South on animal health issues. The administrations have traditionally shared information at local and national levels on disease control and surveillance issues and have worked together to combat illegal movements of animals and animal products. The foot-and-mouth emergency of 2001 is a testament to the...

Written Answers — Farm Incomes: Farm Incomes (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Dairy farmers' incomes are made up of the market price paid for milk and direct income support and are influenced by the level of scale and efficiency of individual farm enterprises. The price of milk paid to dairy farmers is a commercial matter between milk producers and milk purchasers and I have no direct role in this area. Milk prices are influenced by a number of factors both internal...