Results 6,481-6,500 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Grain Storage. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The National Development Plan 2007-2013 provides for continued financial support for, in particular, on-farm investments. The farm improvement scheme, which was introduced by the Department on 12 July 2007, provides grant aid to farmers for the installation of grain bins and silos at a grant rate of 40% up to a maximum eligible investment ceiling of â¬120,000. These items were not...
- Grain Storage. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: We are under pressure because there was such enthusiasm for the old farm waste management scheme. We must make progress as soon as possible because the end of 2008 is the closing date. We have adopted a fast-track approach for a number of the items of interest to farmers. Over the past ten days there has been a huge increase in the number of applications and grants sanctioned. We are...
- Common Agricultural Policy. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I do not accept that the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy has had a negative impact on the industry. On the contrary, I believe that there are and will be major benefits for producers and consumers arising out of the ongoing implementation of the reformed CAP and the wide range of measures envisaged under the national development plan. As part of the 2003 reforms of the common...
- Common Agricultural Policy. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I do not accept it. We can deal with the negative when it comes to farming and agriculture but agriculture is still the bedrock of this country.
- Common Agricultural Policy. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: That is an inappropriate remark.
- Common Agricultural Policy. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Look at the dairy industry. Last year, Deputy Crawford was roaring at me that it had been decimated and people were leaving in their droves. What is the situation now?
- Common Agricultural Policy. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I reformed the quota allocation system and now there is an invigorated industry that wants to drive on. That is what we should do instead of putting agriculture down.
- Common Agricultural Policy. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: That is not to say there will not be difficulties but I have invested a huge amount in the national development plan to drive the industry forward and prepare it for the next reform, giving it the necessary tools to compete.
- Common Agricultural Policy. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Beating him around the head.
- Common Agricultural Policy. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy should get a star for that.
- Common Agricultural Policy. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is right. I am concerned that we support the diversification that is taking place within the European Union, particularly here in Ireland, when it comes to discussions at WTO level. I have expressed and will continue to express grave concerns about the impact of an unbalanced agreement and have pursued this vigorously. The Deputy is right that an unbalanced agreement would have...
- Animal Diseases. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The first case of bluetongue ever to be recorded in Britain was confirmed on Saturday, 22 September on a farm near Ipswich in Suffolk. Since then several further cases have been detected on a number of other premises in England. The strain has been confirmed as serotype 8, the same strain as has been circulating in northern Europe since August 2006. On 28 September, the Department of the...
- Animal Diseases. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Under the programme for Government we will introduce a separate division to establish Bio-Security Ireland and we will proceed on that basis. The Deputy is right in saying that over the next few years there will be considerably more new diseases, but expertise is being provided to deal with them. Accordingly, in due course, we will have to equip ourselves on a scientific basis, in...
- Animal Diseases. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is correct that the synergies North and South have been beneficial and an all-island approach is the most appropriate way to go. I will meet my Northern Executive colleague in the next two or three weeks. Meanwhile, senior officials have been meeting on this matter in preparation for an all-island animal health approach, which is the best way forward. There is a vaccine for type...
- Animal Diseases. (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I do not anticipate legislation.
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I am aware of this issue, which dates back to 2004. A report by the European Environment Agency claimed that 84% of planting since 1990 had taken place on peats. That figure was based on satellite imagery and did not correspond in any way to the information available to my Department at the time, which showed that the actual level of afforestation on peats was between 26% and 43.5%, since...
- Written Answers — Use of Pesticides: Use of Pesticides (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The EU Commission has proposed a Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The Strategy includes a number of initiatives to reduce the impact of sprays. The Commission has also proposed a framework Directive on the sustainable use of pesticides. The aim of this proposal is to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment. The current...
- Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The first case of foot-and-mouth disease in the present outbreak in Britain was confirmed on 3rd August in Surrey. Since then a total of eight cases have been confirmed in two separate clusters. The first cluster involved two cases around the village of Normandy and the second involved six cases to date centred on the village of Egham. To date the outbreak has remained confined to Surrey....
- Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: My Department and I have been particularly proactive in taking measures designed to minimise the risk of the introduction to Ireland of either Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) or Bluetongue and I am satisfied that the measures in place are appropriate given the current level of risk of an outbreak of either disease in this country. With regard to the threat of FMD, I introduced an immediate ban...
- Written Answers — Suckler Cow Quota: Suckler Cow Quota (3 Oct 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The suckler herd plays a major role in the social and economic well-being of rural areas and in particular areas of natural disadvantage. There is a need to improve animal welfare standards and generally to improve the quality of the national beef herd. With this in mind, I announced an Animal Welfare and Recording Scheme for Suckler Herds aimed at encouraging suckler farmers to adopt certain...