Results 7,621-7,640 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Arrangements have been made for the transfer of a Technical Agricultural Officer from another region to the Wicklow office and for assistance to be given by Supervisory Agricultural Officers from neighbouring counties.
- Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Whilst my Department currently holds responsibility for Coastal Flooding matters, it does not however, have the primary responsibility for flood hazard mapping generally, which comes within the ambit of the Office of Public Works (OPW). I am therefore not in a position to provide the information requested by the Deputy. It should be noted that in line with a recent Government decision,...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The An Bord Bia Acts, 1994 to 2004 provide for the appointment by me, as Minister, of a chairman and 14 ordinary members of the Board. The Acts further provide that one ordinary member be appointed on the nomination of organisations representative of consumers; one ordinary member be appointed on the nomination of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and that not fewer than two...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: COFORD is a non-statutory agency under the aegis of my Department. COFORD's remit is to fund and co-ordinate research and development projects with the aim of developing the forestry industry through technical innovation and good silvicultural practice. The term of office of the previous COFORD Council recently concluded. A new Chairman has since been appointed to the Council and a new...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The Board of the Irish National Stud is comprised of seven Directors, including the Chairman. All appointments to the Board are made by me, in my capacity as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
- Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The Veterinary Council of Ireland was established on 1 January 2006 under the Veterinary Practice Act 2005. The Council has 19 members, all of which are appointed by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. However, fifteen of these appointments are made, as prescribed by Section 16 of the Act, on the basis of nominations as follows: 2 persons nominated by the National University of...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The Board of the National Milk Agency comprises thirteen members, consisting of five producer, four processor, two consumer, one distributor and one retailer representatives, all nominated by their respective industry organizations. My role is to approve formally these nominees. In addition, the legislation provides that the Minister nominates the Chairman of the Agency. The current...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 25 April 2007. The application was fully processed and payment in full issued in respect of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme on 19 September 2007. In relation of the Single Payment Scheme, the advance payment issued on 16 October 2007 and the balancing payment issued on 3...
- Written Answers — : (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I had further discussions with Commissioner Fischer Boel in Brussels on Monday last about the difficulties with the European Commission in relation to the established practice of paying REPS 2 and REPS 3 participants at the beginning of each contract year. I am very glad to say that I obtained the Commissioner's agreement that Ireland can continue to receive REPS payment claims and make...
- Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is responsible for the implementation of EU Regulations concerning the marketing and labelling of GM foods in Ireland. The FSAI routinely surveys the food in Ireland to ensure that only EU authorised and appropriately labelled GM foods are placed on the market. The report of the latest survey by the FSAI is on their web-site.
- Written Answers — Lamb Imports: Lamb Imports (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The Central Statistics Office is responsible for the collection of statistics in relation to imports of meat and meat products. The table below is compiled from data supplied by that Office and the following should be noted. Information on imports for 2007 is available for the period up to September 2007. In certain cases the record of import may include the re-import of Irish products that...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (21 Feb 2008)
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 Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency....
- Written Answers — Agricultural Statistics: Agricultural Statistics (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: According to official CSO figures, the total area of potatoes grown in the country in the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 was: 2005 â 11, 800 hectares 2006 â 12,100 hectares 2007 â 12,300 hectares While the estimate for the 2007 potato acreage is provisional, it appears the potato area has increased by 500 hectares between 2005 and 2007.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The concept of Force Majeure / exceptional circumstances is a long established principle and is defined in EU regulations as including, for example: the death of the farmer; long-term incapacity of the farmer; a severe natural disaster gravely affecting the holding's agricultural land; the accidental destruction of livestock buildings on the holding; an epizootic affecting part or all of the...
- Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, substantial funding of circa â¬50 million has been earmarked to assist producers of fruit and vegetables to upgrade or develop new production facilities. The scheme of investment aid for the commercial horticulture sector will assist capital investment on farms to promote the specialisation and diversification of on-farm activities, improve the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I would regard short term plans as those to be completed by year end and medium term strategies as those encompassed by the Department's three year Statement of Strategy. Longer term plans which impact on the development of the agri-food and fishing sectors are contained in departmental policy documents such as the AgriVision 2015 Action Plan, 'Steering a New Course'- the Seafood Strategy,...
- Written Answers — Cereal Sector: Cereal Sector (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Production of cereals in Ireland has averaged about 2 million tonnes in recent years, with fluctuations in production being mainly attributable to weather conditions. The following are production figures over the past six years: 2002 â 1.964 million tonnes 2003 â 2.147 million tonnes 2004 â 2.501 million tonnes 2005 â 1.938 million tonnes 2006 â 2.083 million tonnes 2007 â...
- Written Answers — Biofuel Crops: Biofuel Crops (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: There were 2,500 hectares used for the production of bio-energy crops in 2005, 4,289 hectares in 2006 and 7,749 hectares in 2007. In 2007, I introduced a new National Energy Premium of â¬80 per hectare and a new Bio-Energy Scheme to assist the development of the production of energy crops in Ireland. The â¬80 National payment supplements the EU Premium of â¬45 per hectare. The buoyant...
- Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Plans for the development of the agri-food sector are set out in the AgriVision 2015 Action Plan and in the Programme for Government, the National Development Plan and The Rural Development Programme, The Agri-Vision 2015 Action Plan sets out a comprehensive range of actions with the objective of developing an agri-food industry that attains optimal levels of efficiency, competitiveness and...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (21 Feb 2008)
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 Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency....