Results 9,061-9,080 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (22 Nov 2007)

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. The European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006 were made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government following a comprehensive consultation period involving input from...

Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 124 together. Conditions for trade in animal products with third countries follow the principles established under agreements of World Trade Organisation and the International Organisation for Animal Health. The European Commission is mandated to negotiate these on behalf of the European Community and, through its Food and Veterinary Office (FVO),...

Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 125 and 126 together. I have already publicly welcomed the publication of the latest FVO report by the EU Commission. The report should be very helpful in the overall process of ensuring equivalence. As I indicated at the time of the publication of the report my Department has requested the EU authorities to arrange for a discussion of this report at...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease was confirmed by the Cypriot authorities on the 5th November. According to the most recent information, presented to a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health in Brussels on the 20th November, foot-and-mouth disease in Cyprus has been confirmed on the basis of serological tests in six sheep flocks and clinical signs in one...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 15 May 2007. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing these Schemes, the application was selected for and was the subject of a ground-eligibility and a cross-compliance inspection involving animal identification and registration, which was...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 will be processed by my Department up to the level of funding available for the Scheme. A decision will therefore be taken on this application having regard to the level of funding available for the Scheme.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: A review of the Standard Costings used to calculate the grant paid to the person concerned under the Farm Waste Management Scheme has already been carried out within my Department and the amount of grant paid has been found to be correct.

Written Answers — Quarantine Stations: Quarantine Stations (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: At present, there is one national quarantine station for dogs and cats which is located in Swords, Co. Dublin. All animals bound for rabies quarantine must enter the country at Dublin Airport and be accompanied under strict conditions to the quarantine station. I am arranging for a review of the current arrangements. Once the EU Pet Passport system was introduced in 2004 the need for rabies...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme was submitted on 15 May 2007 requesting a transfer of 26.56 standard entitlements from the first person named to the second person named by way of gift. As essential elements of the application form were omitted, the form was returned to the persons named for completion. In addition, as the herd number had...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The contract for the Department's new Local Office in Drumshanbo was placed by the Office of Public Works recently. The offices are expected to be ready for occupation early in 2009. The District Veterinary Office and the Agricultural Environment Structures Office comprising some 40 staff will be deployed there.

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I believe that there are and will be major benefits for producers and consumers arising out of the on-going implementation of the reformed CAP. As part of the 2003 reforms the introduction of the full decoupling of direct payments under the Single Payment Scheme ensures that farmers now have the 'freedom to farm' and that the CAP is geared towards the demands of the market and consumers. The...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I appreciate the concern at the current problems in the pig sector and I will continue to pursue appropriate solutions. At both EU and national level, measures are being taken to alleviate the difficulties. The EU Council of Agriculture Ministers has, in response to the pressures on the international cereal and feed markets, agreed to suspend the obligation to set 10% of arable land aside....

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: All tree species grant-aided by my Department under the forestry grant schemes achieve high levels of carbon-sequestration. The potential of different tree species to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere depends mainly on their rate of growth. Some conifer species grow rapidly and will begin to sequester considerable amounts of carbon early in their life. Other species, including...

Written Answers — Sectoral Development: Sectoral Development (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: There are a number of strategic plans operated by my Department which have the overall objective of developing and enhancing the capacity and competitiveness of the agriculture, food, forestry and fishing sectors. These include the Agri Vision 2015 Action Plan, the relevant commitments in Towards 2016, the National Development Plan and the Rural Development Programme for the 2007-2103 period,...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Irish rendering industry produced 152,000 tonnes of meat and bone-meal (MBM) in 2006. The use or disposal of this material is strictly controlled under Regulation (EC) No. 1774 of 2002. No MBM is currently being imported. The bulk of MBM produced continues to be disposed of by way of export for incineration. Approximately 127,000 tonnes was exported during 2006. Of the remainder,...

Written Answers — Bio-Fuel Crops: Bio-Fuel Crops (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The areas grown under bio-fuels over the past five years are as follows: 2003: 116.63 hectares; 2004: 754.66 hectares; 2005: 2,500.49 hectares; 2006: 4,289.99 hectares; 2007: 7,489.49 hectares. The future outlook depends on a number of factors, not least profitability at farm level. In the short-term, the soaring world demand for grain is likely to lead to an increase in the area devoted to...

Written Answers — Fish Stocks: Fish Stocks (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: There can be any number of causes for over fishing, but most are either directly or indirectly a result the over capacity of the Irish and European fleet as a whole. With fish stocks declining, leading to reduced quotas, a significant imbalance exists between the available fish resources and the catching capacity of the fleets. Essentially current quota allocations are below economic...

Written Answers — Fish Stocks: Fish Stocks (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I have set out as follows data for all official landings of Irish vessels in the period 1997 to 2006. The 2006 landings of 267,817* tonnes are 11% below the 1997 landings. This reduction in total landings is primarily driven by decline in landings of the main small pelagic species: horse mackerel, mackerel and herring. The decline in landings for those species is due to reduced abundance,...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (22 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The 2003 Reforms of the CAP with the introduction of the full decoupling of direct payments under the Single Payment Scheme ensures that farmers now have the 'freedom to farm' and that the CAP is geared towards the demands of the market and consumers. The Single Payment Scheme is linked to food safety, animal welfare and environmental standards, and consumers are guaranteed a supply of safe...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (22 Nov 2007)

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....