Results 5,301-5,320 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Animal Identification Scheme: Animal Identification Scheme (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: A short list of the tenders that were submitted to my Department for the supply of bovine animal identification tags was compiled following an evaluation of the completeness of the documentation to establish that each tender complied with all the conditions and requirements specified in the Invitation to Tender. The selection criteria did not change during the tendering process. Each tender...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Firstly I wish to inform the Deputy that the issue of placing a moratorium on genetically modified field trials is not a matter for my Department but that of my colleague the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am in no doubt but that any trials on GMOs in Ireland must be managed to ensure that the Green image which is associated with Ireland and its importance in the...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The pesticide residue monitoring programme conducted by my Department on behalf of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), is reviewed and agreed annually with the FSAI. The risk-based programme thus developed involved the analysis of some 1,350 samples of agricultural produce, including 10 of mushrooms, in 2005/2006 for up to 150 different pesticides. The programme will be further...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Government has provided a fund of €100 million to assist the investment of some €300 million in total in the dairy processing sector over the next three years. The objective of the Dairy Processing Investment Fund is to support capital investment related to the processing of dairy products. The high level of grant assistance will stimulate the necessary private sector investment to...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The responsibility for implementation of the Health (Country of Origin of Beef) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 307 of 2006) lies with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). There are over 44,000 food businesses in Ireland of which 29,000 are in the service sector. This includes restaurants, hotels and pubs. During the preparation of the regulations my Department had extensive discussions with...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (29 Nov 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 — Animal Health Policy: Animal Health Policy (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There is 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 the Foot and Mouth emergency of 2001 the co-operation and...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (29 Nov 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. You 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...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (29 Nov 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 — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The EU Commission presented proposals on the 22nd of November dealing with the banning of trade in cat and dog fur and the import and export of these products. In general I welcome the Commission's decision to propose legislation in this area but of course the detailed provisions will have to be discussed in the various EU fora in the period ahead.

Written Answers — Horticulture Industry: Horticulture Industry (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The main fruit imports from outside the EU are bananas and the main imports from other EU Member States are apples and pears. The main vegetable imports from both outside the EU and from other Member States are onions, shallots, garlic and leeks. Total imports of fruit and vegetables were valued at €671m in 2005 and our exports in the same period were valued at €241.4m. My Department has...

Written Answers — Agrifood Industry: Agrifood Industry (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Research and Development are central to the future well being of the agri-food sector and I am committed to building the Knowledge Economy in the Agri-Food sector. The important role of the sector is recognised in the Government Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 and Research and Development is also central to the strategy outlined in the Agri-Vision Action Plan,...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Nitrates Regulations are themselves unavoidably complex. Considerable efforts were made in the explanatory booklet to put the requirements of the Regulations in clear and straightforward terms. There are no plans to review the booklet, which has already issued to 140,000 farmers. My officials, along with Teagasc staff, are currently holding public meetings for farmers all over the...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Payments are currently being made under two Schemes of Early Retirement from Farming. I recently announced substantial increases in the maximum pension rates payable under both Schemes to take effect from 1 November 2006. I have decided to increase the maximum pension rate payable under the 1994–99 Scheme from €12,075 to €14,075 and the maximum pension rate payable under the current...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: 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 the CAP. After a number of successful years, 2006 has...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Department of Agriculture and Food, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms covering such issues as eligibility under the Scheme, compliance with EU legislation in the areas of the environment, food safety, animal health and welfare and plant health and ensuring that the farm is maintained in good...

Written Answers — Water Meters: Water Meters (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has had no formal discussions with the Department for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the installation of water meters on farms. However, my Department has included the installation of water retention equipment on farms as an eligible investment under the proposed new Farm Improvement Scheme which will be introduced next year as part of the 2007-2013 Rural...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: As I have indicted to this House on previous occasions EU legislation on the cultivation of GM crops does not provide for the declaration of a GM free country or region. This legislation has been adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers and is binding on all Member States. There are, however, options available to restrict the growing of GM crops within regions of a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: As indicated in an earlier reply regarding payments due to the person named, the Single Payment Scheme has replaced the old livestock schemes, including the Extensification Premium Scheme. An application under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 5 May 2006. The 50% advance payment issued to the person named on 16 October 2006. The balancing payments are due...

Written Answers — Avian Flu: Avian Flu (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: A total of 110 applications were submitted to my Department by the 29 September deadline under the compensation measures introduced for poultry producers due to the fall-off in consumption arising from concerns in regard to avian influenza. My Department is processing the claims, including conducting on-site inspections, and will pay those that are eligible as soon as possible. The industry...