Results 8,181-8,200 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: The position in relation to Ireland's quotas is that they are national assets and as such they are treated as public resources. This long held policy was endorsed by the Seafood Industry Strategy Review Group, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Noel Cawley, Dr. Cawley, in his report, notes the widespread opposition of the fishing sector in general to the introduction of any system of individual...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 103 and 110 together. The negotiations on the next WTO Round have entered another intensive phase as efforts continue to reach a full and final agreement by the end of 2008. There is no doubt that the outcome of these negotiations will represent a significant challenge for EU and Irish agriculture. The 2003 Reform of the CAP was undertaken with this...

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

Mary Coughlan: My Department's responsibilities extend to animal and plant health and it works closely with the Department of Health & Children and the Health Services Executive in relation to any such diseases that may have potential implications for human health, for example in relation to avian 'flu. I am acutely conscious of the threats of various animal disease outbreaks and my Department continually...

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

Mary Coughlan: There is an increasing awareness developing that food security cannot be taken for granted in a world where demand is rising rapidly and is expected to double by 2050. There is also a greater recognition of the key role that agriculture plays in managing scarce water and soil resources, and of the contribution it can make to renewable energy. All these trends in societal expectations...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997, as amended, governs the granting, renewal, amendment or revocation of aquaculture licences. For the purposes of the Act "aquaculture" means "the culture or farming of any species of fish, aquatic invertebrate animal of whatever habitat or aquatic plant, or any aquatic form of food suitable for the nutrition of fish". It is open to any individual or legal...

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

Mary Coughlan: Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. I have no plans to reopen the Scheme to further applications prior to the review in 2008 of Towards 2016 as provided for in that agreement. The revised Farm...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, I announced recently that the 2 per cent quota increase for the 2008/2009 milk quota year, which was agreed last month by the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers, will be allocated to all milk producers active on 1 April 2008. I took this decision after considering submissions from a number of organisations, including that representing development farmers. I believe...

Written Answers — Noxious Weeds: Noxious Weeds (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There were no prosecutions taken under the Noxious Weeds Act 1936 by my Department in 2007. However, over the past two years my Department has conducted public awareness campaigns for the control of noxious weeds. The campaigns were directed at landowners and users of land — mainly farmers, Local Authorities and developers. Campaigns consisted of the circulation of posters for display in...

Written Answers — Noxious Weeds: Noxious Weeds (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: In 2006, 2007 and again this year my Department has conducted public awareness campaigns for the control of noxious weeds. The campaigns were directed at landowners and users of land — mainly farmers, Local Authorities and developers. Campaigns consisted of the circulation of posters for display in all DAFF, Teagasc and local Authority offices countrywide, as well as in agricultural...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The purpose of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 is to allow certain specified infrastructure projects to seek planning permission (under the Planning and Development Act 2000) directly from An Bord Pleanala rather than from a local authority. Afforestation and other forestry are, with certain limited exceptions, exempt from the Planning and Development Act,...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 109 together. The situation in Northern Ireland and the information available to me and my Department is essentially as I outlined to the House on 21st February. I would point out, however, that the events in Northern Ireland did not constitute an outbreak of bluetongue, as defined in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 – the bluetongue...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: A Scheme of Investment Aid for Demonstration On-Farm Waste Processing Facilities was introduced by my Department in June 2006 under the aegis of the 2000-2006 National Development Plan. In 2007, grant-aid was made available under the Scheme for the development of ten on-farm anaerobic digestion facilities. As the grant-aid is payable only on completion of the work concerned, none of the...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The allocation of milk quota to new entrants and small producers has been a feature of the milk quota system for a number of years. Preferential access to milk quota from a specially created priority pool was available under the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme until 2006, and the same priority pool arrangement is a feature of the new Milk Quota Trading Scheme. Indeed, the quantities of quota...

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

Mary Coughlan: 12,675 applications were received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007. These applications are currently being processed up to the level of funding made available for the Scheme under the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. Where approvals are issued by my Department to commence work under the Scheme, grant payments will be made to the...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: To promote the increased production and use of biofuels, the Commission is proposing that biofuels make up 10% of EU transport fuel by 2020. This has led to concerns that the demand for biofuels is compromising food production and driving up the price of food. While it its true that cereal and rapeseed prices reached record levels in 2007, this was due only in part to the increased interest...

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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Apr 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Farm Improvement Scheme was launched by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79 million as agreed under the Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. I indicated, at the time of its launch, that the Scheme would be terminated when this financial ceiling had been reached and this was also specifically provided for in the terms and conditions of the Scheme. 12,675 applications were...

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

Mary Coughlan: Bord Bia conducted consumer research recently on potato consumption trends and highlights the carbohydrate competition that exists in the market. Increasingly, consumers are looking for convenience, consistent eating quality, ease of preparation and quality assurance in terms of their purchasing choices. The potato industry has to consider these issues and must aim to provide what the...

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

Mary Coughlan: The sheep sector is an important part of the overall agri-food sector and its future depends on its ability to meet the needs of the market. The Malone Report set the blueprint for the sector's future development and an implementation group was established to oversee the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report. Most of the recommendations contained in the report fall to...