Results 6,441-6,460 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Payments under the 2007 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 21 September, with payments issuing to all applicants whose applications were clear on that date. Payments continue to issue as individual cases are confirmed eligible for payment. Payment in full issued to the person named on 28 September, in the amount of €4,456.75. There was no delay in making the payment in question to...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An amount of €3.2 million was made available in 2006 for animal welfare activities in my Department. These activities included, for example, measures to deal with compromised on-farm animal welfare, research, the payment of ex-gratia monies to assist organisations involved in the direct delivery of animal welfare services as well as costs associated with the implementation of the Control of...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The principal test used in the TB programme is the Single Intradermal Comparative Test (skin test) as specified in Council Directive 64/432 EEC. There is no confirmatory test and thus no provision in legislation for such a test. Indeed, Article 17 of the Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of the State and General Provisions) Order 1989, (S.I. No. 308 of 1989), as amended, provides that, where...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The issues referred to are now regulated under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1226/2002 which replaced Annex B to Directive 64/432/EEC in its entirety and thus superseded any previous amendments to that Annex, including those provided for in Council Directive 80/219/EEC. The conduct of the intradermal comparative test is governed by Directive 64/432/EEC, the Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: As indicated in my reply to Questions 39881/06 and 39882/06 on 23 November 2006, the holding relating to the herdnumber referred was restricted in October 2005 because of the repeated failure of the herdowner to have the herd tested for TB and Brucellosis as required by EU and national legislation. The herd was eventually tested on 3 January 2007 for Brucellosis and on 6 January 2007 for...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's inspection checklist on cross-compliance is an internal checklist for use by Department Inspectors and it is not a document for completion by the farmer. This checklist has been reviewed as part of the full review my Department carried out on the inspection arrangements for the Single Payment Scheme with a view to simplification of the arrangements (including paperwork) where...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Last week, the Council of Agriculture Ministers reached political agreement on an amendment to the current restructuring aid Regulation, one effect of which is to increase the allocation to the Irish beet growers to €52.8m. The allocation to the processor would also increase but the final allocation for the processor depends on the outcome of the legal proceedings instituted by the processor.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The co-operation that can take place within the Agriculture sector was laid down in the Good Friday Agreement. The areas specifically identified were animal and plant health. Subsequently the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) agreed that there should be formal co-operation in the following sectors of agriculture: the development of an All-Island Animal Health Strategy for control of...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (2 Oct 2007)

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. Primary legislation was enacted by the Oireachtas last year, which extended the compulsory country of origin labelling requirement for beef to the catering sector. The information which must be given on the label includes the registered number of the slaughterhouse or...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The first case in the recent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak was confirmed on 3rd August and, in response, I introduced an immediate ban on the importation from Britain of susceptible animals and products, including fresh meat, raw milk and other products. Within a couple of days the European Commission adopted a Commission Decision which banned the export from Britain of those animals...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Single Payment Scheme, farmers who lose lands that they had rented in and farmed during the reference years 2000-2002 may apply to consolidate their single payment entitlements onto their remaining eligible lands, provided they continue to farm at least 50% of the land they farmed in the reference years. In 2006, the person named did not continue to farm at least 50% of the lands...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: In reply to the Deputy, the following is the position: An Bord Bia Date of establishment: 1994 Number of Board members including Chairman: 15 Year Staff Expenditure (million) 1997 67.5 £20.52 1998 67.5 £18.48 1999 67.5 £22.06 2000 64.5 â'¬23.11 2001 78.5 â'¬25.40 2002 79.25 â'¬26.16 2003 79.25 â'¬25.26 2004 89.25 â'¬25.22 2005 88.25 â'¬29.88 2006 91.25...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An Bord Glas was merged with An Bord Bia on 1 July 2004. All of the 11 staff, functions and annual budget of €2.63m were transferred to An Bord Bia on that date.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Since the 1 July last, I have made two appointments to the board of Teagasc and one to COFORD.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Farm Improvement Scheme was launched by my Department on 12 July 2007 and provides grant-aid for inter alia, animal housing, slurry storage facilities and investments in relation to dairy hygiene. Approvals to commence work are now being issued to farmers who have submitted completed applications for grant-aid under the Scheme, including farmers in County Limerick.

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I am satisfied that the risk of crop contamination arising from the importation of genetically modified food products is minimal and probably non existent.

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The area devoted to energy crops has increased to meet the growing demand for biomass feedstocks. The area of oilseed rape, which is used to produce liquid biofuel, increased from 5,000 hectares in 2006 to 7,500 hectares in 2007. In addition, almost 800 hectares of willow and miscanthus were planted in 2007 following the introduction of establishment grants under the new Bioenergy Scheme....

Written Answers — Food Exports: Food Exports (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Our exports of agri-food products have grown steadily in recent years to reach record levels of over €8bn in 2006. These exports are now increasingly concentrated in the high-value EU market. Our future success will to some extent be determined by the level of competition on our main markets and this will be affected by any new WTO deal. However, our ability to compete will also be...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Government's decision, the percentage of the EU restructuring aid to be reserved for beet growers and machinery contractors was set at 32.38% (€47.1m). Of this 27.50% (€40m of the €47.1m) was for beet growers and the balance for machinery contractors. The balance of the aid (€98m) was allocated to Greencore. The High Court ruled, in effect, that these percentages would...