Results 1,521-1,540 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Grant Payments. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: People in my county used to be envious of Deputy Crawford's county when it came to intensive farming. I agree there are serious issues in the pig and poultry sectors. We have met everyone involved, including local authority officials, public representatives and the farming organisations, and we are working together on a partnership basis to address these issues. The Minister of State, Deputy...

Grant Payments. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: We are all listening. Mushroom producers have been through a difficult time in recent years. While the number of producers has reduced, the output is still good. We are anxious to maintain and develop the industry. We have provided support and investment and Bord Bia has done a great deal of work to promote the industry. Deputy Naughten wants commercial farmers to be looked after while Deputy...

Grant Payments. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Teagasc has plenty of money. A more modern approach to farming must be taken and this can be reflected in many ways. The smaller farmer could be as adept as the larger farmer at adopting the new approach. The Department's role in providing support will be examined. We will also examine the way in which the role of Teagasc will change because farming has changed. The three Ministers will...

EU Directives. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Additional aid to farmers to enable them to complete investment work required to comply with the provisions of the EU nitrates directive has been provided for under the farm waste management scheme. Under Sustaining Progress in 2003, it was agreed that improvements would be made to the grants available under the scheme and this commitment was achieved by the introduction of a revised scheme...

EU Directives. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I meet representatives of the farming organisations ad infinitum. I was seriously considering building a flat for a number of them because I see them two or three times a week. Negotiations are ongoing. I instructed my Department and Teagasc to evaluate the current needs and to examine new earthen banks, wintering pads and so on. That work has been done and we have engaged in a great deal of...

EU Directives. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Deputy Crawford is correct and this issue has been raised by the cross-Border group and pig farmers. Another practical issue is that there are many part-time farmers and it is easier for them to spread artificial manure on a Saturday as opposed to meeting another farmer to acquire organic manure. Teagasc and farmers state that organic manure is better than bags of bought fertiliser. We have...

EU Directives. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: We are examining that issue and other measures such as reducing water content, change of feed and methodologies of farming. The bottom line is that we sent our people abroad to investigate and learn as much as possible from what is happening in other countries to address this matter. In Denmark, there are spread lands, but there are still difficulties.

Alternative Farm Enterprises. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: We do not have much support.

Farm Household Incomes. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In February 2005 the Central Statistics Office reported a 3% increase in aggregate farm income for 2004. It calculated that the value of the cattle, sheep and pig sectors increased by approximately 8.3%, 6.1% and6.2%, respectively. From an income perspective, the livestock sector had a reasonably positive year, with the dairy sector experiencing steady milk output and prices. These...

Farm Household Incomes. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I agree with Deputy Upton. As she is aware, the review carried out by former Deputy Alan Dukes indicates the number of farmers involved. That number is detailed in the reply to another parliamentary question, but I cannot locate it. There is a change in profile of farmers. Many of them are involved in part-time farming and it is difficult to get young people to enter farming on a full-time...

Farm Household Incomes. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I will toss back that low ball to the Deputy and also send him a curved one. The reason many people have left farming is that there are better opportunities available due to the good economic climate that has been supported and progressed by this side of the House.

Farm Household Incomes. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: They could do three jobs if they could get away with it. It is a little like ourselves, except we get the same salary. On the other available initiatives, Teagasc has provided me with the results of some work on earthen banks. It is now preparing guidelines for me. In the next fortnight it will complete some more work with regard to alternative ways of wintering out cattle. That will be made...

Farm Household Incomes. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Ballinamore is closed. It is for sale. The cattle have been slaughtered and I would rather not hear any more about Ballinamore. I say to people in the local communities and the county councils that Teagasc is favourably disposed to facilitating any community initiative people wish to progress. Much of the work that took place in Ballinamore has been transferred to Ballyhaise, which is just...

Written Answers — Food Agency Co-operation Council: Food Agency Co-operation Council (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Food Agency Co-operation Council was established in 2000 under the aegis of my Department to promote the fullest practical co-operation between the State agencies involved in the food industry, in the interests of the optimum development of the industry. The council has an independent chairman, Mr. Padraic White. The inaugural meeting of the council took place in March 2000 and it has met...

Written Answers — Single Farm Payment: Single Farm Payment (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under the new single payment scheme farmers receiving direct aid are required to respect the various statutory management requirements set down in EU legislation on the environment, food safety, animal health, and welfare, and plant health and to maintain the farm in good agricultural and environmental condition, GAEC. There will also be an obligation on the member state to ensure that there...

Written Answers — Farm Safety: Farm Safety (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I remain very concerned about the level of safety on our farms and I support wholeheartedly the Programme of Work 2005 of the Health and Safety Authority which is the State authority charged with overall responsibility for promotion and enforcement of workplace health and safety. The authority has a proactive inspection and enforcement programme which focuses on high risk sectors, including...

Written Answers — Ministerial Visit: Ministerial Visit (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 61 and 100 together. I visited the United States over the period 9 to 16 April. This was my first visit to the US as Minister for Agriculture and Food and had as its overall objective the consolidation and further development of political, investment and trade links between Ireland and the US in the sphere of agriculture, with particular emphasis on food,...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The potato industry makes an important contribution to the rural and national economy. The farm gate value of the sector is estimated at €85 million in 2004 which represents a fall on the previous year due mainly to lower prices and a reduction in fresh potato consumption. Since taking up office in the Department of Agriculture and Food, I have become very conscious of the need to bring the...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is obviously referring to a draft document prepared by the Commission for a meeting of the college of Commissioners, held last March, to review the current state of the European GMO legislative framework. It should be noted that following that meeting, the Commission confirmed its full confidence in the existing regulatory system and did not consider it necessary to call on the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 78 together. Promotion and development of renewable energy in Ireland are matters in the first instance for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. My Department is represented on the bioenergy strategy group established by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural resources to consider policy options and support...