Results 5,321-5,340 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: I am firmly of the view that there is great potential for development of local and regional food economies, which is why I have established a regional food fora initiative involving my Department, Bord Bia and the other food development agencies. The first forum was held in Donegal in late 2005 on the theme of Market Focus for small food enterprises. Speakers shared experiences on regional...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: A revised Farm Waste Management Scheme was launched by my Department on 24 March 2006 as part of the arrangements to enable farmers meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates Directive. The principal changes to the Scheme include: (a) an increase in the standard grant-rate from 40% to 60%, with 70% being available in the four Zone C counties; (b) an extension of the Scheme for the...

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

Mary Coughlan: The only incident where animal feed containing illegal genetically modified organisms was imported into this country was the 2,500 tonne consignment of maize gluten from the USA in May 2005 which contained the non authorised genetically modified maize line called Bt10. Having received prior notification of its importation from the importers officials of my Department were able to supervise...

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

Mary Coughlan: In the case of on-farm investments, grants are available to eligible farmers under my Department's Farm Waste Management Scheme, Dairy Hygiene Scheme, Alternative Enterprises Scheme, Pig Welfare Scheme and Pilot Waste Processing Facilities Scheme. REPS 3 closed to new applications on 13 October 2006 to allow all applications on hand to be processed before the end of the year. It is proposed...

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

Mary Coughlan: Stringent traceability systems are implemented by my Department in relation to animal products produced in Ireland. The enforcement of all food labelling regulations has been centralised in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and any cases of non-compliance are brought to the attention of that Agency. The enforcement of these regulations is carried out through a number service...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Maintaining Ireland's acknowledged high status in relation to animal health is of critical importance given the economic and social significance of agriculture to the country. In this connection my Department has a number of disease prevention, eradication and surveillance schemes in place to ensure that this high health status is protected and maintained. EU approved programmes for the...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Since December 2003, highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been reported in 61 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Pacific and the Near East. In the same period, human cases of avian influenza have been reported in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam and, most recently, in South Korea (source OIE 27/11/06). The overall total of...

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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named is not the registered herdowner in this case. The registered herdowner applied in her own name for the 2006 Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme in May 2006. However an application was submitted to my Department and processed on 11th October 2005 to transfer the herdnumber to the joint names of the existing herdowner and the person named. Subsequently a...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together. There are currently 925 applications for afforestation grant aid being processed by the Forest Service of my Department. Of these, 109 applications — including the two specifically referred to by the Deputy — are in respect of areas proposed as Special Protection Areas for the Hen Harrier. The Hen Harrier is a protected species and...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named was successful under the New Entrant measure of the Single Payment Scheme. The person named also made an application to transfer in entitlements under the Private Contract Clause measure (purchase) of the Single Payment Scheme. This application will be processed as soon as information, requested recently, is provided to my Department. As previously indicated to the Deputy...

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

Mary Coughlan: An application for the Transfer of Entitlements to the person named under the Single Payment Scheme was submitted on the 12th of May 2006. This application has now been fully processed and payment in respect of 82.47 transferred entitlements will issue shortly.

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

Mary Coughlan: The second person named submitted an application under the Single Payment Scheme on 5th May 2005 and payment relating to that application issued on 01 December 2005. An application to transfer 18.2 additional entitlements by Private Contract clause was subsequently submitted. This is currently being processed and the balance of the 2005 payment will issue shortly. An application for the...

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

Mary Coughlan: The position is that an application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 26th April 2006. As part of the control procedures, the application was randomly selected for a Satellite Inspection. The results of the Satellite Inspection appeared to indicate that the total area found was less than the area claimed by the person named....

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 219 together. A number of meetings involving officials from my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Belfast have taken place to co-ordinate arrangements in relation to the import of cattle from Northern Ireland following the decision at EU level to lift the BSE ban on exports from the United Kingdom from 3 May 2006. I...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 to 224, inclusive, 229 and 232 together. Earlier this year I published the Agrivision 2015 Action Plan which sets out my vision for an agri-food sector that is competitive, consumer-focussed, which contributes to a vibrant rural economy, society and environment and which also exploits opportunities in non-food areas. The Action Plan sets out 167 actions...

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 — Sugar Beet Sector: Sugar Beet Sector (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: A key element in the sugar reform package, agreed by the Council of Ministers in November 2005, is a four-year restructuring scheme for the sugar industry. Under this scheme, sugar processors who are prepared to renounce sugar quota and dismantle the associated production facilities may apply for restructuring aid. The objective of the scheme is to take out up to 6 million tonnes of sugar...

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

Mary Coughlan: Following is the information requested by the Deputy. Single Farm Payments Advance payments under the Single Farm Payments commenced on the 16 October last. To date €568.58 million has been paid to 93% of applicants. Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas commenced on 21 September last. To date €246.6 million has been paid to 91% of applicants. On Farm...

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

Mary Coughlan: Quality home-produced turkeys have been a significant feature of the Christmas trade for decades. There is a strong consumer preference for home-grown turkeys. Retailers recognize this and emphasise Irish origin in their promotional material. I expect there will be an adequate supply of home produced turkeys over the coming weeks for the Christmas market. Imports are also a feature of the...