Results 4,941-4,960 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Animal Identification Scheme: Animal Identification Scheme (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: Under Council Regulation (EC) No. 21/2004, which established a harmonized system of identification for sheep, obligatory electronic sheep identification is to be introduced throughout the EU from the 1st of January 2008. This date is, however, subject to further Council discussions and amendment if necessary. Ireland is fully participating in all working groups on electronic identification...
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: A new forestry programme will be brought forward as part of the Rural Development Plan for the period 2007 to 2013. The detail of the new Plan and its forestry component is being finalised and it will be made available for public consultation shortly.
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The regulations governing the provision of country of origin information on beef in the catering sector were introduced by the Minister for Health and Children. Responsibility for enforcement of the regulations is with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Officials of my Department have had extensive discussions with the Department of Health and Children and the FSAI during the drafting of...
- 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 — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: We already have EU Regulations which provide for the labelling of unprocessed poultrymeat at retail level. The information which these regulations require on the label includes the registered number of the slaughterhouse or cutting plant and, where imported from a Third Country, an indication of country of origin. These regulations do not apply to poultry products that are processed in any...
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 468 and 469 together. The proposed guidelines for felling to protect the freshwater pearl mussel will not be subject to a Regulatory Impact Analysis. Regulatory Impact Analysis is a tool used to assess the likely effects of a proposed new regulation or regulatory change and implies a focus on the regulatory framework, i.e. primary and secondary regulation....
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The transposition of the Water Framework Directive is the responsibility of the Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The hydrological impacts, and the use of herbicides and pesticides associated with all sectoral activities, are currently being addressed by separate working groups reporting to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The...
- Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: I am not aware of any occurrence in my Department of a Civil Servant seeking to obtain an Order from the Courts to enforce their contractual rights. However, given the large number of staff in my Department, to confirm this would require an examination of a large number of files of serving, retired and deceased staff going back over a period of nearly twenty years. If the Deputy requires...
- Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The price paid to milk suppliers is a commercial decision between the supplier and purchaser over which I have no influence. Milk prices paid to producers have reduced over the past few months arising from the new policy framework where market forces are the key drivers of dairy product prices. Greater efficiency and economies of scale at both producer and processors levels are key to...
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The forestry promotion campaign, "Forests for a Bright Future", a joint initiative by the Irish Forest Industry Chain (IFIC) and my Department, is ongoing. The purpose of the campaign is to highlight the multifunctional benefits of forestry and the advantages to the farmer and the wider community, and thereby promote planting. To date regional launches have taken place in Cavan, Ennis,...
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: As policy in respect of wind energy is the responsibility of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I have not had any discussions with the farming organisations on this issue. However, the farming organisations, and others have an opportunity during the public consultation on the Green Paper, Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland, to input into the policy...
- Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the recent study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. The study, which concentrated mostly on the situation in the United Kingdom, indicates that, in the UK, badgers are implicated in transmitting Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (TB), to cattle. This...
- Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: My Department's Veterinary Laboratory Service involvement in this investigation commenced with a field visit to the farm by laboratory staff on 17 July 2006 â the day on which the Laboratory Service was first made aware of the problem by the farmer's private veterinary practitioner (PVP). A further visit to the farm was made by Laboratory staff together with Monaghan County Council...
- Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: The following table sets out details of the export of live cattle for each of the last 5 years and for the nine months to the end of September 2006. 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Jan-Sept 2006 100,457 148,094 221,093 130,347 185,267 198,344 Live exports continue to be an important outlet for our cattle, providing an essential element of competition with the beef trade. Following an increase of...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: Under the National Development Plan (NDP) 2000-2006 significant funding has been provided for a full range of support measures to enhance the development of the food industry. These cover capital investment, research and development, marketing and promotion and human resource development. Up to the end of June 2006, over â¬270 million has been allocated under the food related initiatives...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: Consideration of Ireland's proposals for a derogation to allow certain farmers to operate, under appropriate conditions and controls, up to a level of 250kg of organic nitrogen per hectare per annum is at an advanced stage. Officials from my Department and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government made a presentation regarding our derogation proposals to the EU Nitrates...
- Written Answers — Land Exchange: Land Exchange (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988 and day-to-day operational matters are the responsibility of the company. The exchange of land is a matter of an operational nature for Coillte. I have, however, requested Coillte to contact the person concerned directly in relation to this issue.
- Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: In the case of food imported from an EU source it must come from an approved establishment and be accompanied to its destination with a commercial document or a health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the Member State of origin. In the case of importation from third countries it must originate in a country approved by the EU for trade in such...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Coughlan: All beef sold or served in the retail or catering sector is now required by law to carry an indication of country of origin. There are EU Regulations which provide for the labelling of unprocessed poultry meat at retail level. The information which these regulations require on the label includes the registered number of the slaughterhouse or cutting plant and, where imported from a Third...
- Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (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...