Results 5,621-5,640 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: As Minister I hold a Special Share in Greencore plc. That share has the same monetary value as any other share in the company but has conditions attached which prevent the company from engaging in a number of activities without the prior written consent of the Minister. In summary, the Special Share prevents the disposal of the controlling interest in Irish Sugar Ltd, or the sale, transfer...
- Written Answers — Animal Health Policy: Animal Health Policy (6 Feb 2007)
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 — Food Agency Co-Operation Council: Food Agency Co-Operation Council (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The Food Agency Co-operation Council (FACC) 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...
- Written Answers — Animal Welfare Bodies: Animal Welfare Bodies (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: My Department has certain statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of farmed animals under the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984, and the European Communities (Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes) Regulations 2006 (SI 705 of 2006). In addition there is specific legislation in relation to pigs, calves and laying hens. Welfare matters are...
- Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The issuing of waste licence applications is the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency. I am satisfied that the EPA will work within its remit to ensure that the application is assessed in accordance with all the regulatory procedures governing such applications.
- Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I am currently in the process of considering submissions received from the general public on the recommendations contained in the Interdepartmental Working Group Report on Coexistence of GM crops and non GM crops in Ireland. I hope to be in a position to bring forward proposed measures for coexistence in the near future following consideration of these submissions and an evaluation of...
- Written Answers — Agrifood Industry: Agrifood Industry (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 184 together. Research and Development are central to the future well being of the agri-food sector and I am committed to ensuring that the sector remains part of the Knowledge Economy. In line with the national "Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation 2006-2013" and my Department's Agri-Vision 2015 Plan of Action, the National Development Plan...
- Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The current situation is that organic farmers in REPS with holdings of 3 hectares or more qualify for a supplementary organic payment of â¬181 per hectare on the first 55 hectares, and â¬30 per hectare over 55 hectares during the in-conversion period. The equivalent rates when full organic status is attained are â¬91 and â¬15 per hectare respectively. Organic farmers also qualify for...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006 were made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in July 2006. In order to inform and assist farmers with the Regulations, my own Department produced an Explanatory Handbook for farmers setting out in clear terms their obligations under the Regulations. This Handbook,...
- Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The overall national strategy for the eradication of TB provides for a comprehensive range of measures, including the mandatory annual testing for all cattle in the national herd, the early removal of reactors, a wildlife programme involving the targeted removal of badgers where they are implicated in a TB outbreak, the use of the gamma interferon test in problem herds, as an adjunct to the...
- Written Answers — Rural Development: Rural Development (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 which was published by my Department, grant aid for farm storage is included under the sub-measure in the Farm Investment category of the programme. The Programme is awaiting clearance by the EU Commission and must also fulfil the EU State aid criteria.
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The technical specifications for farm buildings operated by my Department for the purposes of the Farm Waste Management Scheme require the installation of adequate arrangements for the separation of clean and dirty water as part of the conditions of any new investment. This would include rainwater. In addition, I extended the terms of that Scheme in March 2006 to include the provision of...
- Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The EU restructuring aid for the sugar industry is available for specified stakeholders, namely sugar processors, beet growers and specialized beet machinery contractors. In accordance with the EU regulations, the Government in July 2006 made certain decisions concerning implementation of the restructuring aid, in particular the percentage to be reserved for beet growers and contractors....
- Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Procedures for transmitting the results of the recently concluded first Milk Quota Trading Scheme rests with the Co-ops themselves who will be in communication with buyers and sellers during the course of this week. My Department provided the Co-ops with full details of the results for each Co-op last Friday. The quota purchased will not be available for use by the purchaser until the new...
- Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I am aware of the serious concerns of these poultry producers from my meeting with them last November. There is no scope under EU Common Market Regulations to give financial support or aid to these producers. Many commercial broiler producers, however, who were under contract to Castlemahon have taken the opportunity since the closure of adapting their premises to free-range poultry...
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Last year, I took advantage of the Commission's transitional rules to make special provision for REPS 2 contracts expiring up to 30 November 2006 to be extended for a further year. However this option is no longer available to me. The EU Regulations governing REPS 2 and REPS 3 expired on 31 December 2006. It is now legally impossible to approve or extend contracts under either of those...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006 contain a number of requirements in relation to record keeping. Much of this information, such as stock numbers and farmed area, is already maintained by farmers on their herd registers or contained in their declarations for the Single Payment Scheme. To assist farmers in complying with their...
- Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 193 together. I am fully committed to reducing unnecessary bureaucracy in the administration of the CAP and one of my priorities is to pursue simplification of procedures at farm level. The adoption by Ireland of full decoupling under the Single Payment Scheme, thereby replacing six EU subsidy schemes each with complex application, qualification and...
- Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I decided to increase the maximum in the 1994â99 Scheme from â¬12,075 to â¬14,075 per annum and the maximum in the 2000-2006 Scheme from â¬13,515 to â¬15,000 per annum with effect from 1st November 2006. These increases formed part of the undertakings in the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016. They will add some â¬33 million to the cost of the Schemes over the time they have...
- Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I announced the results of the first Milk Quota Trading Scheme last Wednesday 31st January 2007. Before I announce details of the second scheme, my officials have invited the main farm organisations and ICOS to a series of meetings later this week to consider these results and review the operation of the first scheme.