Results 741-760 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Energy Costs: Energy Costs (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware that the increase in the price of natural gas is placing significant pressure on tomato growers. As almost 30% of the total cost of growing a heated glasshouse crop is comprised of energy costs, any increase in the price of gas must have an impact on production costs in the protected crops sector. Arising out of this concern, the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, met the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Ireland submitted an action programme for further implementation of the directive to the European Commission on 22 October 2004. In parallel with this, Ireland also submitted a derogation proposal on 11 November 2004 setting out a scientific...

Written Answers — Horticulture Industry: Horticulture Industry (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The changing environment in which the horticulture industry operates creates important challenges and opportunities which need to be carefully considered and addressed in order to maximise the potential of the sector. There is a range of issues critical to the expansion of the sector and among the most important are market opportunities, the competitiveness of the sector, consolidation of the...

Written Answers — Agenda 2000: Agenda 2000 (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The agreement on the mid-term review of Agenda 2000 reached at the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 26 June 2003 was balanced and it addressed Ireland's principal objectives. Among these objectives was the preservation of the financial benefits achieved under the Agenda 2000 agreement and the establishment of a policy framework that will allow farmers and the agri-sector the flexibility to...

Written Answers — Farming Supports: Farming Supports (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am keenly aware of the need to make available appropriate supports for small farmers. In this regard, as the Deputy is no doubt aware, small farmers benefit from all of the supports administered by my Department. One of the areas where this is possible is the rural environment protection scheme or REPS. The latest version of the scheme was introduced in June 2004. In addition to an average...

Written Answers — Horticulture Industry: Horticulture Industry (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department supports glasshouse growers on an ongoing basis through the grant aid scheme for capital investment under the national development plan. Last year an amount of just over €1 million was paid to glasshouse growers to upgrade their facilities. This included both glasshouses and glasshouse equipment such as heating systems and energy reduction installations. Earlier this week, my...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The implementation of the nitrates directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Ireland submitted an action programme for further implementation of the directive to the European Commission on 22 October 2004. In parallel with the submission of the action programme, Ireland also submitted a derogation proposal on 11 November...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: EU regulations provide for a detailed labelling system for beef to be applied at retail sale which is over and above the general labelling provisions and includes country of origin designation. However, this requirement does not apply at restaurant and catering sector level and it is my intention to proceed with a legal requirement that country of origin must be displayed in respect of beef...

Written Answers — Teagasc Services: Teagasc Services (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, was established under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988. Its function under the Act is to provide research, training and advisory services for the agri-food sector. Teagasc is governed by an 11 member authority. The chairman and five ordinary members are appointed by the Minister and the remaining five members are...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The rate of pension payable under the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming is the maximum amount provided for by the EU Council regulation under which the scheme was introduced. The regulation does not provide for indexation of payments. My Department's proposals for the current early retirement scheme, which commenced on 27 November 2000 and is one of the measures in the CAP rural...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland exported nearly 125,000 live cattle last year to various destinations in Europe and also to the Lebanon compared with 220,000 in 2003. The principal destinations in Europe were Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. The reduced numbers in 2004 can be attributed to buoyant prices for cattle on the home market and a strong export market in beef. In addition, the focus of...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The hygiene package and the food and feed regulation were adopted during 2004. These measures bring together, update and consolidate EU food and feed legislation. They cover all food business operators throughout the food chain from farmer to retailer and the controls involved are operated by a number of Departments and official agencies in Ireland. The legislation comes into force from 1...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy may be aware an inter-departmental-interagency working group was established within my Department in October 2003 for the purposes of identifying and evaluating the issues and implications for crop production in Ireland that would arise from the cultivation of GM crops; and developing proposals for a national strategy and best practices to ensure the co-existence of GM crops...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department acted in an efficient and effective manner in dealing with the determination that bone spicules were present in a consignment of maize gluten imported into this country last November. Officials within my Department were guided by the provisions of the contingency plan and a standard operating procedure for dealing with such cases. While I cannot guarantee that such incidents...

Written Answers — Departmental Estimates: Departmental Estimates (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The reduced allocation in 2005 compared with 2004 for food safety, animal health and welfare and plant heath reflects primarily the reduced incidence of animal diseases such as BSE, bovine TB and brucellosis, and the phasing out of subsidies for the rendering of meat and bone meal. Within the same budget heading, there are increased provisions for veterinary research and testing, the national...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Measures have already been taken to address the specific situation of farmers in the Shannon callows with lands designated under the birds or habitats directives. Farmers in this area who wish to join REPS but believe that the REPS payments do not fully offset any income loss arising from the restrictions placed on their farming activities because of designation under the directives, may now...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under Article 40 of European Council Regulation 1782/2003, farmers who were under agri-environmental commitments during the reference years 2000 to 2002 are entitled to have a year or years not affected by their agri-environmental commitments used to calculate their entitlements. However, under European Commission Regulation 795/2004 setting out the detailed rules governing the single payment...

Written Answers — Modulation Funds: Modulation Funds (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The modulated funds become available for use in 2006. I will decide on their use and seek the necessary EU approval in the coming months. My Department is finalising its examination of the relevant options. As part of that examination, there has been widespread public consultation and discussions with stakeholders. The use of modulated funds in 2006 is limited to certain measures. The...

Written Answers — Teagasc Services: Teagasc Services (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, was established under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988. Its function under the Act is to provide research, training and advisory services for the agrifood sector. Teagasc is governed by an 11-member authority. The chairman and five ordinary members are appointed by the Minister and the remaining five...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: At present a minimum of 20 income units from farming is required in the case of applications for grants under the farm investment schemes. The European Commission has repeatedly opposed any relaxation of this minimum income provision despite several approaches by my Department on the matter. The conditions of the farm waste management scheme are currently under consideration.