Results 4,501-4,520 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: 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 relation to pigs, calves and laying hens and to the...

Written Answers — Food Health Promotion: Food Health Promotion (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am very aware of the need to promote sensible and healthy eating habits among our young people. Not alone do health, diet and nutrition impact on societal well-being, mental health and life expectancy, it pervades into every area of our economy, from lost work days to increased healthcare costs. The case for targeting the dietary habits of young people in their formative years is...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that under the current Disadvantaged Areas Compensatory Allowance Scheme over 100,000 farmers qualify for payments totalling some €233million annually. The current payment levels are as follows: More Severely Handicapped (lowland) €88.88 per hectare up to 45 hectares. Less Severely Handicapped (lowland) €76.18 per hectare up to 45 hectares. Mountain type land €101.58...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The 'Report of the Interdepartmental Group on Modern Biotechnology' published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in October 2000 established the Irish Government's positive but precautionary position on biotechnology. This position was based on the potential that biotechnology offers in the fields of medicine, health, agriculture, etc., while at the same time recognising...

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 — Animal Health Policy: Animal Health Policy (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 142 together. 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. During...

Written Answers — Farmers' Markets: Farmers' Markets (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: While there is no formal register of Farmers' markets in Ireland, An Bord Bia, which operates under the aegis of my Department, works closely with other State and local agencies to exploit the growing opportunities for farmers' markets. In co-operation with Invest Northern Ireland, the Board has published a comprehensive information guide on the operation of farmers' markets and the Bord Bia...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The number of applicants in respect of the current Installation Aid Scheme for the past five years is set out in the table below. Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Total Applications 754 934 833 826 795 4,142 Every encouragement is being given to young farmers to participate in the Scheme.

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The next meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 18th July under the Finnish Presidency. I do not expect that the agenda for the meeting will be available until 4th Julynext.

Written Answers — Subsidy Payments: Subsidy Payments (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware that reference was made by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in a recent speech to the possibility that a ceiling would be introduced on the amount of subsidies a single landowner could receive. No proposals have been made by the Commission to this effect and I have no further details of the Commissioner's intention to submit such a proposal to the Council of...

Written Answers — Farm Incomes: Farm Incomes (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Dairy farmers' incomes are made up of a combination of the market price paid for milk and direct income support. 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 variety of factors including the structure of the dairy operation at producer and processor level, the...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The herd owner, his private veterinary practitioners, representatives from my Department and a number of other agencies attended the meeting which was held on 2 June 2006. At that meeting which was chaired by a representative of the Veterinary Faculty of UCD a number of action points were agreed in relation to further environmental, ecological and epidemiological work as well as animal health...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Report of the Inter Departmental/Agency Committee on Disposal Options for Meat and Bone Meal (MBM) was submitted to Government on 9 December 2003. The Report is available on the Department's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie under 2003 Publications. The Committee members were Tom Moran (Chairman), Kevin Cassidy, Noel Dinneny, Michael Gunn and David Lynch (Department of Agriculture and...

Written Answers — Energy Crops Scheme: Energy Crops Scheme (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: While Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 provides, inter alia, for the payment of Aid for Energy Crops, at a rate of €45.00 per hectare on arable land, in respect of products considered as biofuels, Article 92 of that Regulation provides for a review of the Energy Crops Scheme. The Commission is required to submit a report to the Council by 31 December 2006, on the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Nitrates Action Programme: Nitrates Action Programme (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. Those Regulations were finalised in consultation with my Department and in conjunction with Teagasc, following an extensive consultation process involving all stakeholders. The Regulations came into effect on 1 February 2006, but the...

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 149 and 369 together. A comprehensive range of incentives and supports is available to encourage the planting of forests in Ireland. Under the current Forestry Grant and Premium Scheme, grants are available to cover 100% of planting costs, as well as a 20 year tax-free premium for farmers (15 years for non-farmers) of up to €500 per hectare, depending...

Written Answers — Beef Imports: Beef Imports (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department does not capture the level of detail of data requested by the Deputy. This information is contained on health certificates that accompany all imported consignments and are retained at Border Inspection Post (BIP) of entry into the EU. In accordance with EU legislation consignments of animal products being imported from third countries must be notified in advance to the EU...

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 143 together. The Irish dairy industry continues to contribute very substantially to the national economy, with an annual output value of some €2.3 billion. In 2005 Irish dairy exports performed exceptionally well totalling €2 billion, despite downward adjustments to EU market supports brought about by the implementation of the Mid Term reform of...

Written Answers — Meat Imports: Meat Imports (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for the collection of statistics in relation to imports of meat other than beef, pork and chicken. The following tables, compiled from data supplied by that Office, set out the details in relation to imports of meat (not including meat products) requested by the Deputy. In relation to the tables the following should be noted: 1. In certain...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that the Single Payment Scheme is applicable to farmers who farmed during the three-year reference period 2000-2002, who drew down livestock or Arable Aid premia in at least one of those years and who continued to farm in 2005. Special provisions were made for farmers (including young farmers) who entered farming for the first time in either 2001 or 2002. Their Single Payment...