Results 4,581-4,600 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Deer Farming: Deer Farming (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: Official data on deer farming is available from the Census of Agriculture which is carried out by the Central Statistics Office roughly every ten years. The first and so far only Census of Agriculture that included deer was in June 2000. This stated that there were farmed deer on 266 farms. Teagasc has estimated that the number of farms involved in deer production peaked in the mid 1990s at...
- Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: My Department accords a high priority to maintaining Ireland's high status in relation to animal health and welfare in the context of protecting consumers and in view of the economic and social importance of agriculture to the country. It remains essential that we anticipate wherever possible and maintain the capability of dealing effectively with any threats in this area, from wherever they...
- Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The position is that a total of 17,597 applications were received for consideration under the Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances measure of the Single Payment Scheme. The number of successful applications under this measure is 4,417. The number of applications, which were deemed unsuccessful, is 13,111. Processing of the remaining 69 applications is continuing and formal letters setting...
- Written Answers — Fruit and Vegetable Sector: Fruit and Vegetable Sector (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The farm-gate production value of the fruit and vegetable sector continues to expand and is now estimated at â¬220 million. The key issue which has impacted on the development of the fruit and vegetable industry as a whole in recent years is the increased concentration at retail level with the consequent significant change in the supply chain. My Department, recognising the marketing...
- Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: One of my main objectives since assuming office as Minister for Agriculture and Food was to ensure the efficient implementation of the decoupled Single Payment Scheme â the most significant change to agricultural support since our accession to the European Community. This huge task was successfully implemented when over â¬1 billion in Single Payments issued to 118,500 farmers last...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: 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 Resources, the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs and the...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The general food labelling legislation, as set out in the EU Directive 2000/13/EC and implemented in this country by the European Communities (Labelling, Presentation and Advertising of Foodstuffs) 2003 regulations (S.I. 483/2002), requires that the labelling of foodstuffs must not mislead the consumer as to various properties of the food, including origin. Therefore there is a legal...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The Irish beef industry is worth â¬1.3 billion in foreign earnings to the national economy annually. Ireland produced 524,000 tonnes of beef in 2005, exporting 487,000 tonnes, which represents 93% of our production. Ireland is the number one exporter of beef into Europe where there is a widening gap between consumption and production resulting in an EU import requirement of an estimated...
- Written Answers — Meat Imports: Meat Imports (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: 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 as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under harmonized legislation a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the Member States to ensure that animal products are produced to standards that guarantee the...
- Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: Data supplied by the Central Statistics Office indicates that the total quantity of pet food imported into this country from January to December 2005 was 53,727 tonnes. Importers of pet foods are required to register with my Department and give at least 24 hours notice of intention to import. In the case of pet food originating from an EU source it must come from an approved establishment and...
- Written Answers — Pigmeat Industry: Pigmeat Industry (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The following table summarises the estimated quantities of pigmeat produced, imported, consumed and exported in 2005 (product weight equivalent). It indicates that imports are the equivalent of 50% of national production. tonnes Production 147,000 Imports 74,000 Consumption 104,000 Exports 114,000
- Written Answers — Fruit and Vegetable Sector: Fruit and Vegetable Sector (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The CSO estimated that the area of potatoes grown in 2005 was 12,200 hectares. All indications are that the area will be lower in 2006. Official CSO figures for 2006 plantings will not be available until much later in the year. The main varieties are Rooster, Kerr's Pinks and British Queens, which account for almost 70% of the area planted. Other important varieties include Lady Claire,...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: Pre-cooked, frozen or oven ready products may all be classified under the heading prepared consumer foods. The Irish prepared consumer foods sector is currently the fastest growing food sub sector with annual sales of â¬2.3 billion of which over 50% is exported, primarily to the UK. The sub-sector currently employs 14,500 in 280 companies. The prepared food sector is currently experiencing...
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: In 2000 there were 44,802 participants in the first rural environment protection scheme. All contracts in that scheme are now concluded. There are currently 48,087 participants in REPS. As of 31 May 2006, there were 1,400 cases in which repayments were due.
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: A range of actions have already been undertaken by my Department in implementing the recommendations of the food labelling group which examined in detail the complex area of food labelling. One of the more important recommendations which has been implemented was the centralisation of overall responsibility for the enforcement of food labelling legislation in the Food Safety Authority of...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: Total output of the food industry is valued at â¬15 billion, of which exports account for â¬7 billion. Ireland is an open economy and I fully believe that the future of Irish food producers and the industry lies in access to all markets, at home and abroad, and an emphasis by all players on competitiveness, innovation and understanding of market trends. My strategy and that of the State...
- Written Answers — Deer Farming: Deer Farming (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: Figures available from 2002 show the number of deer slaughtered in export-approved plants as follows: Year No. of head slaughtered 2002 1,759 2003 1,278 2004 1,079 2005 957 These figures do not include a significant number of animals now being sent to Northern Ireland. The Central Statistics Office does not publish data on the level of domestic consumption or exports of...
- Written Answers — Agricultural Development: Agricultural Development (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: A combination of factors such as the reformed CAP, increasing trade liberalisation and rapidly evolving markets means that efficiency and innovation based on sound scientific knowledge will be essential for the future development of Irish agriculture and food. The Lisbon Agenda identified research as a key driver of economic growth in the EU and this has also been highlighted in the...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The sheep industry strategy group established in December 2005 under the chairmanship of Mr. John Malone, former Secretary General of my Department, reported on 1 June 2006. Its report covers all aspects of the sector, including production, pricing, product development and promotion for different markets and consumer preferences. All sectors were represented in the group including the...
- Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (27 Jun 2006)
Mary Coughlan: An application under the Single Payment Scheme-Disadvantaged Area Compensatory Allowance Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2005. The application was randomly selected for an on-the-spot cross compliance inspection. During the course of the inspection it was found that the movement of two animals was not notified to the cattle movement monitoring system and that 19 animals...