Results 1,821-1,840 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 68 and 89 together. Under the EU sugar regime, each member state has a quota for manufactured sugar. There is no quota for sugar beet nor is there a quota at farm level. The EU regulations stipulate that the quota must be made available to the sugar manufacturing enterprises in the member state. Accordingly, in Ireland the entire sugar quota is processed...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 75 together. I am always prepared to facilitate trade in live sheep which, of course, must take place in accordance with EU rules governing such intra-Community trade. Trade in sheep between member states of the European Union is subject to the provisions of, inter alia, Council Directive 2003/50/EC which amends Council Directive 91/68/EEC, as regards...

Written Answers — Safety on Farms: Safety on Farms (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Health and Safety Authority is the State authority charged with overall responsibility for the promotion and enforcement of workplace health and safety. The authority has a proactive inspection and enforcement programme, Programme of Work 2005, which focuses on high risk sectors, including agriculture, and aims to achieve an improvement in farm safety and an increase in the percentage of...

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

Mary Coughlan: While I am aware of the final results of the farm scale evaluation trials carried out in Britain, which compared genetically modified winter oil seed rape against its conventional counterpart, I have not yet studied these results in detail. The interdepartmental/inter-agency working group, established to draw up a national strategy and best practices for the coexistence of GM crops with...

Written Answers — Cost of Farm Inputs: Cost of Farm Inputs (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Central Statistics Office measures the changes in agricultural inputs in the agricultural input price index, which it issues on a monthly basis. The costs of all agricultural inputs as measured by this index increased by 3.5% in the 12 months to February 2005, the latest figure available. Two of the major factors in the 3.5% increase to February 2005 were the rise of 15.1% in the cost of...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The review and appraisal of Ireland's forestry development strategy undertaken by Peter Bacon and Associates is a key element of a review of the sector. The proposals in the review are being considered in conjunction with the draft EU regulation on rural development policy, which proposes reductions in EU financial support for forestry. The Bacon report reaffirmed the need for an approved...

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 — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In reply to a similar question on 4 May, I indicated that the proposed redefinition of disadvantaged areas is one element of an EU Commission proposal on support for rural development in the 2007-2013 period. The proposed redefinition responds to the European Court of Auditors' criticism, endorsed by the European Parliament, of the current system. The suggested new methodology would be based...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The European directives to be implemented by my Department are set out in the table.

Written Answers — Fur Farming: Fur Farming (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Fur farming is a legitimate farming activity in this country and is permitted in most member states of the EU. It is, of course, subject to general and specific legislative requirements. At a general level, the welfare and protection of farmed animals is subject to the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984 and the European Communities (Protection of Animals kept for Farming...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department located 50 additional staff in Portlaoise as an initial step in decentralisation and to deal with work arising under the new single payment scheme. This brought the total number of staff in the office to over 200. Currently, work for another 60 staff is being transferred to Portlaoise and is being undertaken in the main by staff in that office who are being freed up as a result...

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

Mary Coughlan: 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 that appropriate measures be taken to alleviate the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: European Council Regulation 1782/2003 governing the single payment scheme provides that each member state must set up a national reserve using between 1% and 3% of every individual farmer's entitlements. A single payment advisory group comprising representatives from the farming organisations, Teagasc and officials from my Department was set up to advise on the national reserve. Based on that...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The rate of pension payable under the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming is the maximum amount provided for by the EU Council regulation under which the scheme was introduced. The regulation does not provide for indexation of payments. My Department's proposals for the current early retirement scheme, which commenced on 27 November 2000 and is one of the measures in the CAP rural...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has been aware, from an early stage in the negotiations leading to the introduction of the single payment scheme, of the possible implications for retired farmers who had leased their holdings. In so far as it has proved possible in the context of the EU regulations governing the single payment scheme and following lengthy discussions with the European Commission, provision has...

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

Mary Coughlan: I will decide shortly on the use of modulated funds and will then seek the necessary EU approval. In 2006, the use of such funds is confined to the measures in the CAP rural development plan — agri-environment, early retirement, compensatory allowances and forestry — and the new initiatives introduced as part of the CAP mid-term review — food quality, animal welfare, farm advisory...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I discussed the WTO agriculture negotiations and Irish concerns relating thereto at a bilateral meeting with the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development on 20 December 2004. The Council of Agriculture Ministers, which reviews the situation on a regular basis, discussed the developments in the negotiations at its meetings on 14 March and 26 April 2005, both of which I attended.

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 — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, was established under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988. Its function under the Act is to provide research, training and advisory services for the agri-food sector. Teagasc is governed by an 11 member authority. The chairman and five ordinary members are appointed by the Minister and the remaining five members are...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The agreement on the mid-term review of Agenda 2000 reached at the Council of Agricultural Ministers on 26 June 2003 provided a financial envelope to each member state. The envelope of money granted to each member state under the EU regulations represents the average number of animals paid under the livestock premia schemes and the area paid under the arable aid scheme during the three year...