Results 8,401-8,420 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (26 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has accounts with a number of taxi companies. I have been informed that approximately 10% of taxis in each company are wheelchair accessible. The amount spent on taxis by my Department since 2003 is set out in the table below. These figures comprise payments to both the firms with whom my Department has accounts and taxis used by officials in my Department as part of normal work...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The persons named were granted a herd number by my Department on 12 October 2001. According to my Department's records, the persons named submitted no applications under the Livestock Premia Schemes or the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme in respect of the 2001 or 2002 scheme years. An application was lodged under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) on 3 September 2002. My Department...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (26 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The forestry programme of the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 provides for the introduction of a number of new schemes that will encourage and support Irish forestry. State Aid approval for the afforestation schemes, including an agro-forestry scheme, was received from the European Commission on 13 September 2007. I have already introduced the new Afforestation Scheme and the new...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (26 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Irish rendering industry produced 151,000 tonnes of meat and bone-meal (MBM) in 2007. The use or disposal of this material is strictly controlled under Regulation (EC) No. 1774 of 2002 and the bulk of MBM produced continues to be disposed of by way of export for incineration. My policy is to encourage alternative uses of MBM in Ireland and I am aware of proposals to use MBM in the...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (26 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Irish rendering industry produced 151,000 tonnes of MBM in 2007. The use or disposal of this material is strictly controlled under Regulation (EC) No. 1774 of 2002 and the bulk of MBM produced continues to be disposed of by way of export for incineration. My policy is to encourage alternative uses of MBM in Ireland. In excess of 20,000 tonnes of MBM was used in cement manufacture during...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (26 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The food business operator in this matter is currently approved for a number of activities under the European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations, 2005 (S.I. No. 910 of 2005). An application was received in my Department, on 8th February 2008, for approval in respect of additional activity. My Department sought additional information, which is required in order to evaluate the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The outstanding payment in respect of the 2007 Single Payment Scheme issued to the person named on 21 January 2008 following the completion of the processing of an application to transfer payment entitlements. No further monies are due to the applicant under this Scheme.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The total money spent on the Primary School Building Programme in 2007 was €398.555m. No funds were left over from the original budget and indeed an additional €92.555m was spent in excess of the original provision for the year. The breakdown of this expenditure is contained in the document below. The total spend figure of €398.555m is inclusive of an adjustment amounting to €27.1m...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (21 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Several Government Departments have responsibility for aspects of GM Policy, these are: Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government which has responsibility for the deliberate release for GM's into the environment including for crop cultivation. Department of Health and Children which has responsibility for GM food safety and consumer protection. Department of Enterprise Trade...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Farmers' Charter 2005-2007 set out the various deadlines for processing of applications and the issuing of payments to farmers under the schemes operated by my Department. My Department makes every effort to meet such deadlines. However, I accept that, in the case of applications under the Farm Waste and Farm Improvement Schemes, these deadlines in some instances have not been met in...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (21 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 16 together. I welcome any proposal to establish biofuel production facilities in Ireland, which would provide a new market outlet for Irish farmers to supply feedstock raw materials for conversion into biofuel. In this context, I did meet recently, at their request with the promoters of a bio-refinery project, which they intend to locate at a suitable...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (21 Feb 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 Sheep Industry Development Strategy Group, which reported in 2006, included representatives from all interested parties including the relevant state bodies and my Department. The Group's report set out a series of recommendations covering areas such...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (21 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The food and drink sector plays a vital role in the Irish economy contributing 8.6% of GDP and exports of over €8 billion in 2006. It is the largest indigenous industry both in terms of manufacturing and consumer spend and I am committed to both protecting and indeed developing this key industry. The sector is important not only in the overall economic context but also for sustaining...

Written Answers — Pig Sector: Pig Sector (21 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: 70% of pig production costs relate to feed and high feed costs are having an adverse effect on the pig sector. The price of cereals from the 2007 harvest in Ireland was up at least 50% compared to 2006. The price of imported feed materials was up by as much as 80% and those for compound feedingstuffs are running 30% higher. World prices for feed materials are being driven upwards by a number...

Written Answers — School Fruit Scheme: School Fruit Scheme (21 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: At its meeting on 12 June 2007, the Council of Agriculture Ministers invited the Commission to come forward with a proposal for a school fruit scheme as soon as possible based on an impact assessment of the benefits, practicability and administrative costs involved. On 18 December 2007 the Commission launched a public consultation procedure and that process will continue until the end of...

Written Answers — Fur Farming: Fur Farming (21 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Fur farming is a legitimate farming activity in this country. Under the Musk Rats Act, 1933 (Application to Mink) Order 1965, the keeping of mink is prohibited except under licence, obtained from my Department. Licences are issued under this legislation only if the applicant, following an inspection, is found to be compliant with a number of key conditions. Licensed fur farms are also...

Written Answers — Crop Losses: Crop Losses (21 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Since the brown rot outbreak was found on Irish produced potatoes in September 2007 my Department officials have implemented the contingency plan for brown rot outbreak and has worked tirelessly to control and eradicate this dangerous bacterial disease. Disease prevention notices have been served on growers where the disease has been confirmed and this results in limiting the movement of...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (21 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy may be aware, I have been lobbying the EU for some time to agree to a milk quota increase in order to allow milk producers to respond to the positive signals on the dairy market. I was in contact with a number of my counterparts in the weeks leading up to last September's Council of Agriculture Ministers to build support for just such an increase, as it had been clear for some...

Written Answers — Animal Feed: Animal Feed (21 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I am not aware of any specific requirements being placed on small animal feed merchants, other than those required of any small business enterprise, that could be considered burdensome red tape. The Deputy may be referring to the EU requirement under the EU Feed Hygiene Regulations on all operators to register as Feed Business Operators in 2006. The Regulations also require my Department to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Feb 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The 18 member Agri-Vision 2015 Committee was established in January 2004. The purpose of the committee was to review the strategy and recommendations in the Agri Food 2010 Report in the context of developments, both external and internal, since that report was completed. While the review itself was broad ranging, it focused on a number of particular issues including the enlargement of the EU,...