Results 5,921-5,940 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The proposal by the Commission for a Framework Directive is intended to establish a common strategy across all Member States for the protection and sustainable use of soil. Its aims include the integration of soil concerns into other policies, preservation of soil functions within the context of sustainable use, prevention of threats to soil and mitigation of their effects, and restoration of...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The enforcement of all food labelling regulations is centralised in the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). This work is carried out through a number of service contracts between the FSAI and other Government Department and Agencies including my own Department. The Department of Health & Children is responsible for general food labelling regulations, the Department of Communications,...
- Written Answers — Veterinary Medicines: Veterinary Medicines (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 37, 91 and 92 together. The legislation governing the approval and distribution of veterinary medicines provides for a range of approved sales outlets for different categories of medicines viz. licensed merchants, pharmacies and veterinary practitioners and these are located throughout the country. As regards availability of veterinary practitioners, the...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 60 together. My Department is fully committed to ensuring that consumers can have full confidence in the organic food they buy. For that reason my Department assigned extra resources to the Organic Unit last year and we are now systematically inspecting retail outlets, including supermarkets, shops and farmers markets, checking to ensure that all...
- Written Answers — Agricultural Prices: Agricultural Prices (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The Central Statistics Office measures the changes in agricultural prices and inputs. The agricultural output price index was 4.9% higher in 2006 than in 2005, while the input price index increased by 4.3% over the same period. This equates to a positive change of +0.6% for farmers. The increase in the annual output price index for 2006 was largely due to increased prices for cattle and...
- Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The vegetable sector is a very important sector of the horticultural industry which is capable of further substantial growth and development. The value of farm gate output of the fresh vegetables sector in 2006 is estimated at â¬80m of which outdoor field vegetables were valued at approximately â¬60m. While there has been a consolidation of grower numbers over the last number of years,...
- Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 260 together. The rules governing the production and use of GM crops within the Community are set down in EU legislation that has been jointly adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. This legislation is binding on all Member States and does not provide for the declaration of a GM free country or region. There are, however, options...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 50 together. 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...
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: 48,580 applications were received by my Department under the Farm Waste Management Scheme by the closing date of end-December 2006. This figure includes incomplete applications (e.g. missing the required drawings) and those for which planning permission has either not yet been applied for or is still awaited. Farmers and their advisers have until end-March 2007 to submit the required...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Bord Bia has operated an extensive Small Business Programme since 1996. The range of measures it has provided includes information services, market research and marketing competency development, promotion of the speciality sector for sales growth and the positioning of Ireland â the Food Island through trade fairs, co-ordination of buyer visits, hosting specialist foods including...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 Mar 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 — Farm Inspection Scheme: Farm Inspection Scheme (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 57, 74 and 100 together. My Department is in regular contact with the European Commission with a view to simplification of Single Payment Scheme requirements with particular reference to the arrangements for cross-compliance inspections. I have also raised the matter on a number of occasions with Commissioner Fischer Boel. In this connection the European...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: My Department's Agri Vision 2015 Plan of Action and the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013 identify the necessary actions to build a knowledge-based, competitive, innovative and consumer focused agri-food sector. Investment in Research and Development is at the forefront of these strategy documents and funding in this area has been a priority for my Department...
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: 48,580 applications were received by my Department under the Farm Waste Management Scheme by the closing date of end-December 2006. This figure includes incomplete applications (e.g. missing the required drawings) and those for which planning permission has either not yet been applied for or is still awaited. Farmers and their advisers have until end-March 2007 to submit the required...
- Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The current Milk Quota regime was extended to 2014/15 as part of the 2003 Luxembourg Agreement on the reform of the CAP. A review by the EU Commission is scheduled for 2008/09, and any proposals submitted by the Commission will be considered by the Council of Ministers at that time. Commissioner Fischer Boel has already stated her preference for the abolition of quotas in 2015, and a number...
- Written Answers — Animal Cruelty: Animal Cruelty (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The position in this case is that the pigs in question were being transported from a farm in Kerry to Northern Ireland for slaughter when a bridge collapsed under the lorry being used for the transportation. When the lorry was recovered, the situation was assessed by officers from the local DVO. Casualties were unloaded at the farm of origin and the rest of the pigs were deemed to be fit to...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I am supportive of initiatives to promote food on all-island basis where this is of mutual benefit and leads to closer economic co-operation. The development of an all-island animal health policy is a necessary prerequisite to the establishment of an all-island food label. The development of the animal health policy is being actively pursued in the context of North/South cooperation. In...
- Written Answers — Equine Sector: Equine Sector (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: My Department is actively following up on the requirement that equines be identified in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities (Equine Stud-Book and Competition) Regulations, SI 399 of 2004. The Department has written to the managers of some of the principal marts reminding them of the provisions of the European Communities (Equine Stud-book and Competition) Regulations...
- Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The compensation package negotiated in the context of the reform of the EU sugar regime is worth in excess of â¬310m to Ireland. It comprises three elements. The first element is the sugar beet compensation which has been incorporated into the Single Payment Scheme with effect from 2006. It will be worth approximately â¬123 million to Irish beet growers over seven years. The second...
- Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (8 Mar 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The Regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme provide that Member States shall set up a system of advising farmers on land and farm management to be know as the farm advisory system. The system is to be operated by one or more designated authorities or by private bodies. The advisory activity must cover at least the Statutory Management Requirements and Good Agricultural and...