Results 4,481-4,500 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Export Subsidies: Export Subsidies (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Framework agreement for the current WTO round which was concluded in Geneva in August 2004 commits member countries, including the EU, to negotiate detailed rules, including an end-date, for the parallel elimination of all forms of export subsidies and for the introduction of disciplines on export measures with equivalent effect. The Framework agreement covers export refunds, export...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Proposals for amendments to the Nitrates Regulations, along with the scientific arguments to justify the changes, were forwarded to the European Commission by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 18 May. There have since been discussions and other contacts between officials of the two Departments, Teagasc representatives and the European Commission. The proposals...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The revised Farm Waste Management Scheme has been publicised widely. In addition my Department has participated at a number of information meetings arranged by the farm bodies around the country. My Department has also arranged a number of seminars at various locations for private/Teagasc planners involved in the Scheme. Scheme documents are available in each local Agricultural, Environment...

Written Answers — Animal Remedies Regulations: Animal Remedies Regulations (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, the EU Directive 2004/28, which was transposed into law through the 2005 Animal Remedies Regulations, provided that veterinary medicines for food producing animals may only be supplied on the basis of a veterinary prescription, unless exempted from this requirement under criteria to be drawn up at EU level before 1 January 2007. However, I decided to avail of another...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 70 and 146 together. The enforcement of food labelling regulations is centralised in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) who ensure that the appropriate controls are carried out by the relevant official agencies. The official agencies include the Health Service Executive, my Department, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 98, 119 and 144 together. Regulations for the purpose of beef labelling in the restaurant and catering sectors have now been made by the Minister for Health and Children, making the provision of country of origin information on beef in these sectors mandatory. These Regulations, entitled Health (Country of Origin of Beef) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 307 of...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Demand under the afforestation scheme has been less than anticipated this year. However, my Department has issued substantial numbers of approvals already and it is still possible that afforestation levels can be held at, or close to, 2005 levels. However last estimates at present are that planting levels will be around 8,000 hectares for the year. I would like to remind farmers of the...

Written Answers — Fruit and Vegetable Sector: Fruit and Vegetable Sector (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has provided substantial grants for both the ware potato and seed potato sectors in recent years. In 2005 grant aid amounting to €0.56m was paid to the industry of which €458,000 was paid to ware growers and €98,000 to the seed growers. The funding available for the seed potato sector in 2006 is €1.5m. These funds are made available through the National Development Plan...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am supportive of initiatives to promote food on all-island basis where this is of mutual benefit and leads to closer economic co-operation. An Bord Bia, as part of its statutory role in promoting the development of Ireland's food and drink industry works in close co-operation with its counterpart in Northern Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland (INI). Joint promotions and events have been...

Written Answers — Forestry Industry: Forestry Industry (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware that the premium paid to forest planters has not been increased since 2000. The premium levels are under review at present.

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The areas of bio-energy and agri-environment are of particular interest due to the environmental advantages of biofuels, the increasing cost of fossil fuels, the opportunity farmers now have to explore alternative farm enterprises and the current requirements on farmers to farm in an environmentally friendly way. In view of this the call for proposals under the Research Stimulus Fund...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 75, 91, 95, 100 and 141 together. The current negotiations on a new WTO Agreement, which cover a broad trade liberalisation agenda, have been under way since they were launched in Doha in November 2001. Significant progress towards concluding an agreement has been made in the Framework Agreement which was reached in August 2004 and at the Ministerial...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government made Regulations in December 2005 giving legal effect to Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme. The Regulations came into effect on 1 February 2006, but the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government then announced a brief de facto deferral of the implementation of Part 3 of the Regulations dealing with nutrient...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I recently announced the introduction of a new Scheme, the Scheme of Investment Aid for Demonstration On-Farm Waste Processing Facilities, which will provide grant-aid for up to ten projects throughout the country which will demonstrate the advantages of new technologies, such as fluidized bed combustion or treatment plants comprising of anaerobic or aerobic digestion, for the processing of...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Under the provisions of The European Communities (Equine Stud-Book and Competition) Regulations 2004, SI 399 of 2004, I am empowered to grant approval to a person, an international association or organisation for the purposes of maintaining a stud-book subject to compliance with the requirements of the relevant legislation in force. Weatherbys Ireland GSB Limited is the organisation approved...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 85, 89, 104, 120 and 393 together. The compensation package negotiated in the context of reform of the EU sugar regime is worth over €310m to Irish stakeholders. There are three elements to the compensation package, which is governed by Council Regulations adopted on 20 February 2006. The first element is the compensation to beet growers of up to 64% of...

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The baseline study on the prevalence of Salmonella in flocks of laying hens, which is the subject of the recent EFSA preliminary report, was conducted in all EU countries during the year from October 2004 to September 2005. The study consisted of an extensive sampling and testing programme. In Ireland's case the testing of samples was conducted in my Department's Central Veterinary Research...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: In March I announced my intention to move to a more open market system for transferring milk quotas, which will come into effect on 1st April 2007. My Department and I are progressing with the ongoing consultation process on the detailed arrangements to give effect to my decision. This has comprised of meetings with the relevant farm organisations and with representatives of the...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Regarding the labelling of beef, this is governed by comprehensive EU regulations which were introduced in 2000 and are underpinned by a full national animal identification and traceability system. These compulsory labelling regulations require all operators and organisations marketing beef within the Community to provide information on the label to enable the beef to be traced back to the...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The WTO Consultative Group was established to enable interested groups and organisations to review and discuss current developments in the ongoing negotiations and to offer material, advice and expertise to my Department in the process of policy formulation. The Group met last on 4 April 2006. The agenda for the last two meetings provided for a comprehensive update on the state of play in the...