Results 5,881-5,900 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: This might be our last time for parliamentary questions. It is a good time to provide a round-up and show our position on agriculture, food and forestry. We are on this side at present——

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: ——and, hopefully, we will continue to be.

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: On the issue of inspections, I have indicated that we are involved in a period of consultation with the farming organisations. I have appointed Dr. Cawley to oversee that. It is working well in preparation for the 2007 inspections. Once that has been completed and the outcomes of the European discussions are available, then we will revise the document and can proceed from there. It is my...

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: All I would say about soiled water is that this was raised in the House before Christmas. People are acutely aware of the definitions. It has been made available within the statutory instrument and at the information meetings. Therefore, there is no difficulty on what are the definitions of soiled water or slurry.

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: They have been informed. What Deputy Naughten is trying to say to me is that——

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: ——people in Teagasc and in the private sector do not read the farming news in the newspapers.

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: That has been made available in a press release in December last.

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Deputy Naughten is factually incorrect. A press release was made available in which people were informed of exactly what has happened.

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: It then went to Teagasc and the relevant authorities. The decision has been made.

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: It is all there. Perhaps Deputy Naughten does not want to know about it.

Milk Quota. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The first milk quota trading scheme ran successfully in January and resulted in 120 million litres of quota being offered for sale, with 73 million litres traded. The second stage of the scheme has a closing date for applications of 9 March 2007 and the exchange will be run in April. The trading scheme, which has replaced the restructuring scheme for the 2007-08 quota year, allows milk...

Milk Quota. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: It is not a mess. The differential ranges from 11 cent and 24 cent per litre under the new scheme. One of the criticisms has always been that the Department interferes too much in the commerciality of farming. This proposal will address that issue. All the farming organisations were party to the review and they were more than happy with the outcome. Now that farmers are aware of the table...

Milk Quota. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Ring-fencing will continue as part of Government policy. That has benefited the west and north west and it has permitted farmers to scale up and become competitive. We must move on in this sector because it is hugely important. We need to change and to afford farmers the opportunity to scale up. Perhaps the Deputy wanted to forget about our priority, which is young farmers. They must...

Farm Inspection Scheme. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: He or she does not have to read a thing. It is about time Deputy Crawford listened to people on this side of the House.

Genetically Modified Organisms. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: It is in the dock for so doing.

Milk Quota. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The first milk quota trading scheme ran successfully in January and resulted in 120 million litres of quota being offered for sale, with 73 million litres traded. The second stage of the scheme has a closing date of 9 March and the exchange will be run in April. The trading scheme which has replaced the restructuring scheme from the 2007 to 2008 quota year allows milk producers the...

Milk Quota. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: That is fine, as Members already know the answer.

Milk Quota. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Before this, the price of milk was 12c a litre. I am trying to introduce market orientation to the trading of milk. I consider that ring-fencing is still a good policy initiative. I have reviewed the milk quota system in its entirety and believe ring-fencing should remain. However, I have often stated publically that in preparing for the 2008 review of quotas people's opinions must be...

Milk Quota. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I reassure the Deputy that ring fencing will remain. Those who sell expect a relatively good price and those who purchase do not want to spend an independent fortune on quota to expand. This is where the balance and permutations lie. If people wish to sell or buy quota at too little or high a price, they will be out of the system. Now they have the information available to them and...

Fur Farming. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I assume the report referred to by the Deputy is that which my Department undertook to provide in response to issues raised at the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council, FAWAC. FAWAC includes representatives from farm organisations, animal welfare groups, the veterinary profession, animal transporters and others with an interest in animal welfare. The council provides a forum in which...