Results 141-160 of 527 for speaker:Mary Wallace
- Schools Building Projects. (27 Nov 2007)
Mary Wallace: I assure Deputy Neville that there is nothing in the response about funds being diverted. I do not know from where this information has come; it may be a rumour. I thank Deputies Cregan and Neville for raising the issue and for giving me the opportunity of outlining to the House the Department's position regarding the provision of a new primary school at Kilfinane, County Limerick. It is...
- Poultry Industry. (6 Feb 2008)
Mary Wallace: I regret the announced job losses and hope those affected will find alternative employment. The firm's decision is part of a rationalisation programme to secure the future of the company in the face of market changes and intense competition from overseas producers. This will see the firm move to a seasonal production cycle supplying the peak Easter and Christmas markets, although it will...
- Schools Building Projects. (6 Feb 2008)
Mary Wallace: It was announced in November 2006 and it is now February 2008.
- Schools Building Projects. (6 Feb 2008)
Mary Wallace: That is just a year and two months.
- Schools Building Projects. (6 Feb 2008)
Mary Wallace: I apologise for interrupting the Deputy, but I want to clarify that 29 November 2006 was just a year and two months ago. I shall endeavour to clarify where we have come from as regards this project. I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity of outlining to the House the position of the Department of Education and Science regarding the provision of new premises for the school in...
- Seanad: Forestry Issues: Statements (20 Feb 2008)
Mary Wallace: I welcome the opportunity to make a statement to Seanad Ãireann on forestry, for which I have special responsibility in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I intend to briefly highlight for the information of Members the importance of forestry to farmers, the economy and the environment in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on global warming. I will...
- Seanad: Forestry Issues: Statements (20 Feb 2008)
Mary Wallace: I thank Senators for their contributions. The use of statements by the Upper House of the Oireachtas provides an opportunity to outline the contribution of forestry and the reasons it is vital to sustain the industry in the future by encouraging new planting now. All Senators outlined the importance of forestry and the new planting story. Some made suggestions on what we should do. If I...
- Millennium Projects. (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Wallace: The people's millennium forests project was a flagship millennium project sponsored by the National Millennium Committee and Allied Irish Bank and managed by Coillte in association with Woodlands of Ireland. This was the largest ever project directed at the expansion and enhancement of Ireland's native woodlands and resulted in the establishment and conservation of 1,500 acres of native...
- Millennium Projects. (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Wallace: To clarify again, the total area involved is close to 570 hectares or 1,420 acres of woodland. A total of 1.2 million trees were planted in the name of 1.2 million households nationwide, each of which received a certificate identifying the location of its tree. It is difficult even to count the trees in the Phoenix Park and consequently the Department has not sent out staff to count the...
- Millennium Projects. (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Wallace: I hope that in 100 years' time, those who are alive will be able to go to the woodlands in question. The plan was that future generations would be able to so do. The Deputy raised concerns as to whether the woodlands were there and whether monitoring was in place. I reassure the Deputy that a project monitoring board is in place, which meets in May or June each year. It met in May 2007...
- Alternative Farm Enterprises. (21 Feb 2008)
Mary Wallace: Energy crops are defined under Article 88 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 as crops supplied essentially for the production of the following energy products â products considered bio-fuels; and electric and thermal energy produced from biomass. Under the single payment scheme, in order for an applicant to draw down full payment in respect of the payment entitlements held, he or she...
- Afforestation Programme. (8 Apr 2008)
Mary Wallace: I am fully aware of the opportunities presented by the emerging wood energy sector. Wood biomass is one of the most versatile of renewable energy sources and has the potential to play a major role in the supply of Ireland's energy in future. Solid biomass, mainly wood, is already the largest source of renewable energy in Ireland, accounting for 57% of Ireland's total renewable energy...
- Afforestation Programme. (8 Apr 2008)
Mary Wallace: Over the past couple of years, we have provided many incentives and much encouragement to farmers not already growing forestry to participate in the growing of forestry. That is one of the main reasons we introduced FEPS. We considered that many farmers involved in REPS would plant forestry except that the REPS payment was so attractive. FEPs looks to balance that position and we have...
- Afforestation Programme. (8 Apr 2008)
Mary Wallace: The amount of â¬7,604 referred to by the Deputy is probably the planting grant. If a person goes to plant a forest, the cost is covered. On top of this the person receives an annual premium of â¬573 per hectare and an additional â¬200 per hectare for FEPS. I agree with the Deputy on growing forestry as it is important for people to maintain and thin them. If we do not do so, we will not...
- World Trade Organisation Negotiations: Motion (17 Apr 2008)
Mary Wallace: I support the amendment proposed by my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Coughlan. Having listened attentively to the debate, I have heard nothing that leads me to support the motion tabled by Fine Gael. The original motion asks Deputies to note the "failure of the Government to have non-trade issues debated in the context of the World Trade Organisation...
- e-Government Services: Motion (29 Apr 2008)
Mary Wallace: The successes of e-Government in this country have been well recognised and this is acknowledged by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Indeed, some of our e-Government services are recognised as world-leading. At the start of this decade, the Government, recognising the opportunities presented by newer technology, particularly Internet technologies, mandated all Government organisations...
- Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (20 May 2008)
Mary Wallace: The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Obesity Levels: Obesity Levels (20 May 2008)
Mary Wallace: The Government has agreed to the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) which will facilitate intersectoral collaboration on the prevention of chronic diseases. It is intended that measures to tackle obesity and to promote good health will be advanced through the IDG. My Department will be publishing our first National Nutrition Policy later this year. Recommendations will...
- Written Answers — Sponsorship of Sporting Events: Sponsorship of Sporting Events (22 May 2008)
Mary Wallace: In April of this year the Government decided to establish a Working Group to consider how the commitment in the Programme for Government is to be delivered. This Working Group will be established by my Department following consultation with other relevant Government Departments. On the basis of existing voluntary codes of practice, the Irish alcohol industry may not sponsor any sporting...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 May 2008)
Mary Wallace: Responsibility for the enforcement of labelling and traceability legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and its official agents, which includes the Health Service Executive and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Between 2005 and 2007 the Health Service Executive (HSE) reported to the FSAI that, in the course of its inspection programme, 3,683...