Results 8,161-8,180 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (10 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: 28 positions have been filled from the Assistant Agricultural Inspector Panel. 14 applicants withdrew from the panel.

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Tá lúcháir orm a bheith anseo agus a bheith páirteach sa díospóireacht tábhachtach seo. The Lisbon treaty or the reform treaty as it is known, is the latest revision of the EU treaties. The stated purpose of it is "to enhance the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the Union" — a Union that originated in 1950, long before I was born, when the then French Foreign Minister, Robert...

Written Answers — National Biodiversity Plan: National Biodiversity Plan (9 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is currently co-ordinating the preparation of a new National Biodiversity Plan, which will cover the period 2008-2012. My Department is represented on the Inter-Departmental Steering Group dealing with the matter. When the Plan is agreed and published, any actions appropriate to my Department will be implemented.

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (9 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Licensing Authority for Sea Fishing Boats requires that a Sea-Fishing Boat requires a licence under EU and National law in respect of boats engaged in commercial fishing activities where such activities include, at any time; dredging for wild mussel seed/spat; having on board fishing gear as specified in Table 3 of Annex 1 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 26/2004 of 30 December 2003 as...

Written Answers — Import Tariffs: Import Tariffs (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The level of tariff reduction commitments to be applied in the next WTO Round are still the subject of the ongoing negotiations. These tariff reduction commitments are only one of a significant number of outstanding issues in these negotiations. The Chair of the WTO Agriculture Committee issued his latest draft agriculture modalities paper in February 2008. This paper outlines the...

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: 12,675 applications were received by my Department under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007. A county-by-county breakdown of these applications is as follows:— County Number of Applications Carlow 176 Cavan 675 Clare 510 Cork 1,863 Donegal 931 Dublin 29 Galway 850 Kerry 875 Kildare 133 Kilkenny 519 Laois 336 Leitrim 375 Limerick 368...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) through its service contracts with my Department, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the National Consumer Agency....

Written Answers — Aquaculture Industry: Aquaculture Industry (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: In December 2006 the Government and Industry both welcomed the launch of the strategy for a restructured, sustainable and profitable Irish seafood industry for the period 2007 to 2013. More commonly known as the Cawley Report, it set out the strategy and recommendations which are now very much Government policy and which have my full and wholehearted support. A very important part of this...

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Farm Improvement Scheme was launched by my Department in July 2007. The funding for the Scheme was agreed under the Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, as part of an overall programme of investment in the agri-food sector. A total of €350 million was provided for farm waste and other on-farm investment measures, of which €79 million was provided for the Farm Improvement Scheme. I...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: It is difficult to be definitive on the question of adequacy of meat supplies in the long-term as there are many variables at play in addition to feed costs. The variables include population growth, consumer tastes, climate change and land use. These will influence both supply and demand. For the medium-term, however, the FAPRI outlook for EU and Irish agriculture, published in October 2007,...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: In 2007 Brazil exported some 360,000 tonnes to the EU. The current position is that less than 100 farms are approved to export to the EU. It is not possible for us to assess the % of exports that these farms constitute but it is widely accepted as being very small. A formal economic analysis has not been carried out nor would it be feasible. The sector has performed well over recent months...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: A clear disparity does not exist between Irish and EU pigmeat prices and Irish pigmeat prices have been both above and below the EU average over recent months. The EU pigmeat sector as a whole has been experiencing difficulties. For my part, I have taken significant action to help alleviate the problem. I have worked with my EU Ministerial colleagues to put in place measures aimed at...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware of the requirement to publish details of EU payments to farmers. Council Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 and its implementing regulations, require my Department, as the EU paying agency, to publish on its web site, commencing this year, certain details of beneficiaries of schemes funded or co-funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Rural...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I am fully committed to ensuring that consumers can have full confidence in the organic food they buy. For that reason my Department has assigned additional resources to the Organic Unit and they are now systematically inspecting retail outlets, including supermarkets, shops and farmers markets, checking to ensure that all product identified as organic has been produced fully in accordance...

Written Answers — Price Inflation: Price Inflation (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Changes in food prices are primarily a function of market forces operating at international, EU and national levels. Consistently strong economic growth in developing countries is the main driver of changing world food demand towards high-value agricultural products and processed foods. Slow-growing supply, low stocks, and supply shocks at a time of increasing demand for feed, food and fuel...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The arrangements for REPS 4 are derived from a new Commission Regulation which reflects the Commission's objective of integrating and harmonising the operation of the various farm payment schemes — including the Single Payment Scheme, REPS and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. For REPS 4, this means that applications to join the Scheme must be submitted by 15 May each year. Payments will...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The achievement of the 3% target calls for action by all sectors, not just agriculture. I believe that farmers are already playing their part in addressing this challenge and my Department is, and will continue to be, fully supportive of their efforts. In particular, we will continue funding various schemes which contribute to the reduction and removal of greenhouse gases, as well as...

Written Answers — Obesity Levels: Obesity Levels (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As I have said in responses to Questions in this House in the past, obesity is, I believe, an immensely important issue for the future health of our society and demands a multi-faceted response as indicated in the Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity which made recommendations for cross sectoral actions in areas including education, social and community, health, food supply and the...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: 48,580 applications were received by the closing date of end-2006 under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced in March 2006 in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates Directive. Over 40,100 approvals have now issued to farmers to commence work under the Scheme. Grant payments will be made to the applicants concerned when it has been determined...

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department did not receive any communications from the Agriculture Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly during the past year.