Results 1,801-1,820 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Disability Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: This relates to the duty of the assessment officer to facilitate communication, participation and dialogue in the assessment process. The provision requires the assessment officer to endeavour to ensure that such participation takes place. The proposed amendment would oblige the assessment officer to ensure this sort of involvement by the applicant and effectively leave the officer...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am conscious of the need to manage in an orderly way the redeployment of the 400 staff being released between now and January 2006 and a number of steps have been taken in this regard. In early 2004, following discussions with the unions and staff associations, my Department adopted a policy of recruiting only temporary staff to fill vacancies, where possible and appropriate. As a result,...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The report of the national task force on obesity is to be welcomed and I congratulate John Treacy and his team on their professional approach to their task. Obesity is an immensely important issue for the future health of our society. It demands a multi-faceted response, including a proactive approach by the food industry. As the report bears out, there is no single or simple solution to...

Written Answers — Farm Input Costs: Farm Input Costs (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The cost of fuel and energy, driven by international oil prices, is an issue for all parts of the economy, including the agriculture sector. The CSO wholesale price index fell by 2.3% in the 12 months to March 2005 but within this auto diesel costs increased by 18.6% and gas oil increased by 35.5%. These changes in fuel prices have contributed to recent increases in the consumer price index....

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The priority for the Irish food industry must be the development of innovative high quality food products meeting the highest standards of traceability and food safety. The industry's traditional reliance on commodity exports has reduced in the past decade as a prepared consumer foods industry has been developed with EU and national assistance. The National Development Plan 2000-2006 includes...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Teagasc has an ongoing programme of research that is investigating the potential risks and benefits associated with the growing of GM crops in Ireland including, inter alia, the economic implications. Preliminary research completed to date indicates that the cultivation of certain crops with certain modifications may provide a financial incentive to the individual Irish farmer. While strands...

Written Answers — Departmental Shareholdings: Departmental Shareholdings (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As Minister I hold a special share in Greencore plc. That share has the same monetary value as any other share in the company but has conditions attached which prevent the company from engaging in a number of activities without the prior written consent of the Minister. In summary, the special share prevents the disposal of the controlling interest in Irish Sugar Ltd. or a certain percentage...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In general, the rate of on-farm inspection required for cross compliance under the single payment scheme is 1% of those farmers to whom the relevant statutory management requirement or good agricultural and environmental conditions apply. However at least 5% of producers must be inspected under the animal identification and registration requirements, as this level is prescribed under the...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: There were two separate incidents, in the four week period from 18 October to 11 November 2004, in which traces of terrestrial animal bone were found in samples of imported feed material. The affected feed material and associated compound feed was subsequently impounded, recalled, where necessary, and detained by my Department. The first incident refers to two consignments of sugar beet pulp,...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: A specific comprehensive traceability and labelling system is in place for beef at retail level. It is also in place for beef up to the point of entry to the restaurant and catering sector. However, labelling is not obligatory at the point of consumption in the restaurant. With the joint aims of protecting consumer interests and to ensure that the consumer is properly informed as to the...

Written Answers — Export Credit Refunds: Export Credit Refunds (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The framework agreement for the next WTO round which was concluded in Geneva in August 2004 commits member countries to agree detailed rules, including an end date, for the parallel elimination of all forms of export subsides and for the introduction of disciplines on all export measures with equivalent effect. This agreement covers export refunds, export credits, the trade distorting...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have recently introduced the European Communities (Authorisation, Placing on the Market, Use and Control of Plant Protection Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2005, S.I. No. 224 of 2005. Those regulations were introduced following a review of the existing legislation and served to streamline arrangements for the authorisation of plant protection products for minor uses. I expect, on...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 May 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. In October last, Ireland submitted an action programme to the European Commission for further implementation of the nitrates directive. In December, the Commission conveyed its view that the action programme was not complete and did not comply...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Production: Sugar Beet Production (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The EU Commission outlined its initial ideas for reform of the EU sugar regime in a communication to the Council and the European Parliament last July. The communication was the subject of technical discussions at Council working group level in Brussels and there was a policy debate at the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in November. The European Commission's initial ideas for reform...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Producers who chose to farm extensively during the reference years were entitled to apply for extensification premium. This premium was in addition to any premia received in respect of the special beef and suckler cow premium schemes. Producers who received the extensification premium during the reference years will continue to have this premium reflected in their single payment entitlements....

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: MRSA, or methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, is an antibiotic resistant bacterium, the presence of which in humans was noted over 35 years ago and which has been a feature of antibiotic resistance in human therapy since. During the last two years, the presence of the bacterium has been noted in dogs and horses. It is thought that the route of infection has been from pet owners and...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The food labelling group, which was established in July 2002, presented its report in December 2002. Notwithstanding that food labelling is a particularly complicated and broad based area, substantial progress has been made to date in the implementation of the recommendations of the report. Nineteen of the 21 recommendations, many of which were beyond the remit of my Department and some of...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 66 and 85 together. I am seeking a solution to the problem of the special beef premium overshoot and will continue to do so with the European Commissioner. I have already raised the issue with the Commissioner on a number of occasions. My Department has also forwarded a detailed submission to the European Commission dealing with this matter. I am urging...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Following the coming into force, on 21 April, of the EU Commission Decision 2005/317/EC on emergency measures regarding the non-authorised genetically modified organism "Bt10" in maize products, my Department has introduced a requirement that all imports of maize gluten feed and distillers dried grains originating from the USA be accompanied by an original analytical certificate to...

Written Answers — Land Reclassification: Land Reclassification (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The designation of land under the EU birds and habitats directives is a function of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The question of compensation for farmers in the Shannon callows area is a matter, in the first instance, for that Department and I understand that discussions on the matter with the farming bodies have been going on for some time and are not yet...