Results 4,901-4,920 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165, 174, 182 and 216 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 (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am glad to say that regulations were introduced in June 2006 (operational from 3 July) to extend 'country of origin' information requirements on beef at retail level to the catering sector. The enabling legislation passed by the Oireachtas in March of this year, under which these regulations were made, also facilitates the extension of country of origin labelling to all meats. However,...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167, 190, 206 and 217 together. In the recently published Green Paper on a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland, the Government made a firm commitment to promote the renewable energy sector in Ireland. Overall responsibility in this area rests with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, who is leading a cross-Departmental,...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food published its report on the Early Retirement Schemes in February 2005. The report dealt with a range of issues and I responded to it in detail in September 2005. As I explained in this response, certain of the Committee's recommendations are precluded by the EU Regulations under which the current Scheme and its predecessor are operated....

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland's action programme under the Nitrates Directive was given legal effect by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006, which were signed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 18 July, 2006. Consideration of Ireland's proposals for a derogation to allow certain farmers to operate, under appropriate...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Climate change has serious implications not just for agriculture but for all sectors of the economy. The Government is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol and the National Climate Change Strategy published in 2000 sets the framework for Ireland to achieve its targets under the protocol, that is, to limit greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: While the organic sector in Ireland is small by European standards, it is growing. The total area in conversion or with full organic status rose by nearly 5,000 hectares to 35,266 hectares in 2005, an increase of some 15% on 2004. That figure has increased further to 36,412 hectares this year. This represents 0.8% of the total utilisable agricultural area. The National Steering Group for...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: REPS has delivered benefits in agricultural, environmental and socio-economic terms. This is evidenced in more efficient management practices, increased biodiversity and reductions in fertilizer usage and increased viability on family farms. Almost €2 billion has been paid directly to farmers since REPS was introduced in 1994 of which approximately €1.22 billion was paid in the 2000 to...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have just recently received the final report of the World Trade Organisation Disputes Panel on the claims by the US, Argentina and Canada that the de facto moratorium on the approval of genetically modified products within the EU constituted an economic barrier to trade. The report was distributed to the public on 29 September last and is now available on...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 180 together. EU Directive 2004/28, which was transposed into Irish law last November, included a provision that all veterinary medicines for food producing animals should 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. My Department was...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The ban on the advertising of prescription only medicines derives from EU Directive 2004/28 and has been transposed into Irish law via the Animal Remedies Regulations 2005. My Department has written to all relevant companies in the veterinary medicines sector in Ireland drawing their attention to the advertising ban and to the penalties for which they are liable for failure to comply with...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The management of carbon credits is in the first instance, the responsibility of the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Government will use carbon credits for the sole purpose of achieving compliance with Ireland's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to limit its greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above 1990 levels. Under the EU burden sharing arrangements Ireland will...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The overall national strategy for dealing with TB includes a comprehensive range of measures, including the mandatory annual testing of all cattle in the national herd, the early removal of reactors, a wildlife programme, the use of the gamma interferon test as an adjunct to the tuberculin test in problem herds and the depopulation of infected herds in some cases. In addition, my Department...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department participated in a number of interdepartmental committees lead by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on the development of bioenergy prior to the publication of the Green Paper 'Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland'. My Department was subsequently in frequent contact with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in...

Written Answers — Milk Prices: Milk Prices (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: While the price of milk paid to dairy farmers is a commercial matter between milk producers and milk purchasers for which I have no direct responsibility, I am aware that market prices have been reducing in recent months. Prices paid to milk producers are determined by a combination of the international market for dairy products, the product mix and the efficiency of the processor as well as...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 189 and 211 together. In July of this year I launched a dairy processing sector investment package amounting to some €300 million over the next three years. The investment includes some €100 million of Government grant assistance. The objective of the Dairy Processing Investment Fund is to support Capital Investment related to the processing of dairy...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Regulations giving legal effect to the action programme under the Nitrates Directive came into effect on 1 February, 2006. Following de facto deferral of certain elements of these Regulations to allow for the submission of revised scientific advice by Teagasc, new amended Regulations entitled the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The implementation of the Nitrates Action Plan is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The regulations to give legal effect to the action plan were signed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 18 July, 2006 and replaced regulations introduced in December, 2005. The Department of the Environment,...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Food Agency Co-operation Council met on 20 occasions between 2000 and 2003 to promote co-operation between the State Agencies involved in the food industry. Since 2004 the food development agencies directly concerned with the National Development Plan 2000-2006 have met periodically to assess progress under the Plan. Two meetings were held in 2004 and one each in 2005 and 2006 while my...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have no plans at present to commission any further evaluations on the economic implications of the use of genetically modified organisms other than the study carried out by Teagasc earlier this year. He will recall that Teagasc, at my request, carried out an evaluation of the possible national economic implications for the Agri-Food industry from the use of...