Results 1,161-1,180 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (22 Mar 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. The nitrates action programme submitted to the Commission in October last emerged from a consultation process with stakeholders, including the farming organisations, and the recommendations of independent adviser, Mr. Denis Brosnan. Mr. Brosnan...

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under the decentralisation programme, a single laboratory complex will be located in Macroom to cater for the Munster region. Early in 2004, my Department reviewed its laboratory services for the southern region and the local office service for Cork in the context of the decentralisation programme and the Government decision to allocate land at Model Farm Road in Cork for the affordable...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am responsible for the performance of the functions of my Department in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. Some of my functions as Minister for Agriculture and Food are delegated to my two Ministers of State under the Agriculture and Food (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2004 as implemented in SI 778 of 2004 and SI 779 of 2004....

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As successor to the Irish Land Commission, my Department does not have responsibility for the maintenance, repair or restoration of river banks, embankments or other works to prevent flooding. While responsibility for such works normally rests with the property owner, the Irish Land Commission retained a portion of the purchase money due to former owners of certain estates acquired by the...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The amount paid out by my Department on car mileage expenses and the corresponding total mileage recorded in the year 2004 is set out in the following table. Car mileage expenses â'¬9,894,408.04 Total miles claimed 11,215,973

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named applied to become a member of the scrapie monitored flock scheme on 22 March 2003. Following his application, a veterinary inspector visited him and recommended the inclusion of his flock in the scheme. The inspector explained that membership of the scrapie monitored flock scheme required compliance with certain conditions. The person named did not comply with the conditions...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have one special adviser assigned to my office. His appointment, by way of contract, is in accordance with the provisions of section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. As a special adviser, he is not part of the line management structure in my Department, but reports directly to me.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to draw to the attention of the House my proposal to insert a reference to the word "approved" in the general definitions contained in section 2 of the Bill. This is purely a textual amendment which arises directly as a consequence of the amendment I propose to insert in section 56 to deal with practice by trainee veterinary practitioners and trainee veterinary nurses. The insertion in...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Perhaps the Senator should go to the Dáil now to discuss fox farming as it was being discussed there this afternoon. This is a totally different situation as the other is governed by an EU regulation. I acknowledge that Senators are sincere in their views. The definition of "emergency" is being inserted into the legislation to cater for practical situations which I am aware can arise when it...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Several Members raised this issue on Second Stage. Senator McCarthy referred to the definition used in the Bill under which the Veterinary Council of Ireland is enabled to make documents available at a reasonable price, if any. The council is already enabled to waive a charge for a document which it publishes. The need for the amendment, therefore, does not arise because that flexibility has...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I know this issue was discussed by the Senators and Veterinary Ireland. It is correct to state that it refers to the 1931 Act. On a day-to-day basis, the term used is "vets" as opposed to "veterinary surgeons". The common use of the word will never change. However, those in the profession now do more than surgery on a day-to-day basis. It is felt that the term "veterinary practitioner" would...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The UK is reviewing its legislation.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Perhaps the UK will follow our terminology. There is also the American term "veterinarian" but we do not need to go down that road.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: We have verification from the Attorney General's office that the provision as drafted is clear in the legal terminology and will allow the council, when setting new fees, to rescind the 1997 order. The council will no longer return to the Minister to set fees.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: While I could be vindictive, which I have no intention of being, in assigning additional functions to the Veterinary Council of Ireland, the drafting of the provision is designed to avoid this by ensuring that, unless dictated by EU obligations, such additional functions must be connected with its functions as defined in section 13. I cannot involve myself in any extraneous diktats to the...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: No other Minister would do so.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am delighted to see the conversion of the Members of the House when it comes to vets. We have had a long discussion about the matter and I have met numerous representative bodies. My original proposal for the composition of the council was to broaden the membership of the Veterinary Council to reflect interests such as education, consumers, animal welfare and food safety as well as...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I do not agree that this provision is severely restrictive. There is nothing to say that a chairperson of the donkey sanctuary who is not a veterinary practitioner would be discommoded in this matter. We are not against veterinary practitioners being on the veterinary council. However, this provision adds to the wealth of the council by stipulating that one member should come from a different...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under section 16(1), the Minister has considerable scope in making appointments to the council. For example, under subsection (a), the appointee who is registered or is eligible to be registered under Part 4 may be a veterinary practitioner. Subsection (b) provides that there must be two appointees who are not eligible to be registered but at least one of whom avails of veterinary services in...

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I appreciate Senator Henry's point but I am doing my best in this regard. The Senator argues that I am being over-prescriptive in setting out what the Minister can do. Members have argued for a more prescriptive approach on previous occasions so it may be a case of swings and roundabouts. The provision in subsection (c) is wide in that all veterinary practitioners are involved in the welfare...