Results 7,861-7,880 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. I have no plans to reopen the Scheme to further applications prior to the review in 2008 of Towards 2016 as provided for in that agreement. The revised Farm...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, I announced recently that the 2 per cent quota increase for the 2008/2009 milk quota year, which was agreed last month by the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers, will be allocated to all milk producers active on 1 April 2008. I took this decision after considering submissions from a number of organisations, including that representing development farmers. I believe...

Written Answers — Noxious Weeds: Noxious Weeds (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There were no prosecutions taken under the Noxious Weeds Act 1936 by my Department in 2007. However, over the past two years my Department has conducted public awareness campaigns for the control of noxious weeds. The campaigns were directed at landowners and users of land — mainly farmers, Local Authorities and developers. Campaigns consisted of the circulation of posters for display in...

Written Answers — Noxious Weeds: Noxious Weeds (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: In 2006, 2007 and again this year my Department has conducted public awareness campaigns for the control of noxious weeds. The campaigns were directed at landowners and users of land — mainly farmers, Local Authorities and developers. Campaigns consisted of the circulation of posters for display in all DAFF, Teagasc and local Authority offices countrywide, as well as in agricultural...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The purpose of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 is to allow certain specified infrastructure projects to seek planning permission (under the Planning and Development Act 2000) directly from An Bord Pleanala rather than from a local authority. Afforestation and other forestry are, with certain limited exceptions, exempt from the Planning and Development Act,...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 109 together. The situation in Northern Ireland and the information available to me and my Department is essentially as I outlined to the House on 21st February. I would point out, however, that the events in Northern Ireland did not constitute an outbreak of bluetongue, as defined in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 – the bluetongue...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: A Scheme of Investment Aid for Demonstration On-Farm Waste Processing Facilities was introduced by my Department in June 2006 under the aegis of the 2000-2006 National Development Plan. In 2007, grant-aid was made available under the Scheme for the development of ten on-farm anaerobic digestion facilities. As the grant-aid is payable only on completion of the work concerned, none of the...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The allocation of milk quota to new entrants and small producers has been a feature of the milk quota system for a number of years. Preferential access to milk quota from a specially created priority pool was available under the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme until 2006, and the same priority pool arrangement is a feature of the new Milk Quota Trading Scheme. Indeed, the quantities of quota...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: 12,675 applications were received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007. These applications are currently being processed up to the level of funding made available for the Scheme under the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. Where approvals are issued by my Department to commence work under the Scheme, grant payments will be made to the...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: To promote the increased production and use of biofuels, the Commission is proposing that biofuels make up 10% of EU transport fuel by 2020. This has led to concerns that the demand for biofuels is compromising food production and driving up the price of food. While it its true that cereal and rapeseed prices reached record levels in 2007, this was due only in part to the increased interest...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (8 Apr 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Farm Improvement Scheme was launched by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79 million as agreed under the Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. I indicated, at the time of its launch, that the Scheme would be terminated when this financial ceiling had been reached and this was also specifically provided for in the terms and conditions of the Scheme. 12,675 applications were...

Written Answers — Potato Industry: Potato Industry (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Bord Bia conducted consumer research recently on potato consumption trends and highlights the carbohydrate competition that exists in the market. Increasingly, consumers are looking for convenience, consistent eating quality, ease of preparation and quality assurance in terms of their purchasing choices. The potato industry has to consider these issues and must aim to provide what the...

Written Answers — Sheep Industry: Sheep Industry (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The sheep sector is an important part of the overall agri-food sector and its future depends on its ability to meet the needs of the market. The Malone Report set the blueprint for the sector's future development and an implementation group was established to oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report. Most of the recommendations contained in the report fall to...

Written Answers — Irish Life Tables: Irish Life Tables (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Irish Life Tables are calculated and published at least 2 years after each census year. For example, Irish Life Tables 14 were published in 2004, 2 years after the 2002 census. The Central Statistics Office intends to publish Irish Life Tables 15 in 2008, 2 years after the 2006 census. Irish Life Tables are calculated based on population data from the census, and 3 years mortality data...

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The dunes at Burrow Road, Sutton, Co. Dublin are owned by Fingal County Council and responsibility for their maintenance and development is a matter for the Local Authority in the first instance. It should be noted that in line with a recent Government decision, responsibility for Coastal Protection and Coastal Flooding will become the responsibility of the Department of Environment, Heritage...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: On 4 February my Department issued a licence under section 3(3) of the Foreshore Act to Shell E&P Ireland Ltd to carry out site investigation works at Broadhaven Bay, Portacloy Bay, Sruwaddacon Bay and the estuary adjacent to Curraunboy, Co. Mayo. The licence which is for site investigation works only was issued in accordance with normal procedures for assessing such applications. These...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has in recent times, developed a number of key initiatives that provide for a significant reduction in the level of correspondence, communications, reports generated both internally and in dealing with its clients. My Department has in recent years provided extensive internet facilities providing both information and transaction based services resulting in improved customer...

Written Answers — Seafood Industry: Seafood Industry (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I am assuming the Deputy is not referring to the Cawley Report which was launched back in January 2007, but to the Rising Tide report. The Rising Tide is a comprehensive report on the review of the bottom culture mussel industry which was carried out during 2007 and which was undertaken at the request of the industry. The finished report is currently with me and I am in the process of...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The end-2008 deadline for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a strict condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. I have no plans to approach the EU Commission to alter the terms of the state aid approval.