Results 9,421-9,440 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Opposition leaders are not present to hear what the Deputy has to say.

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I am delighted that the Deputy has been elevated to a new position.

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: There appears to be selective amnesia in the minds of Members opposite.

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Go raibh maith agat a Cheann Comhairle. I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt le mo chomhghleacaithe, na Teachtaí Johnny Brady agus Séamus Kirk. I propose the motion be amended as follows: To delete all words after "Dail Eireann" and substitute the following: "noting the economic, social and environmental importance of the agri-food industry, acknowledges the Government's...

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I have a copy here if the Deputy wishes to see it. We have successfully led the sector through many changes and challenges. Our vision for success, as articulated in the AgriVision 2015 Action Plan, is focused on ensuring that our agri-food sector compares to the best of our competitors especially on the EU market. This same vision is clearly reflected in the partnership agreement Towards...

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Farmers embraced this change ——

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Farmers embraced this change because it would allow them to produce for the market rather than having to concentrate on the requirements of a plethora of premia schemes. Perhaps the Deputy does not wish to hear about what the Government is doing in this area. A vital first step in implementing the new CAP was to provide farmers with confidence in the new system.

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Farmers needed to be assured that their single payment would be delivered in good time. Perhaps I could outline what Fine Gael did when it was in Government. Let us talk about the debacle of reducing our national herd to less than half a million when——

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Let us talk about the swan songs of the Fine Gael Government.

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: A vital first step in the implementation of the new CAP was to provide farmers with confidence in the new system.

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Farmers needed to be assured that their single farm payment would be delivered in good time.

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: This placed a huge onus on my Department and my Department delivered the goods. Not only has payment to more than 90% of applicants been made in December of each year but both last year and this year, I managed to get agreement at EU level for an early 50% part payment under the scheme from 16 October. Again, my Department was able to deliver on the earlier targets and last year more than...

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: This was the first building block in constructing continued success for the sector in the new era——

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I am interested in the sector and its future.

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: ——where income support is decoupled from production. This only represents the start. Many more building blocks are being put in place to ensure we achieve our ambitious objectives for the sector. The €8.7 billion agri-food package the Government is making available to the industry under the national development plan represents another significant part of the Government's response to...

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: ——to the tune of €3 billion over the period to 2013 and for the first time the National Exchequer funding, at €1.6 billion, is more than the EU contribution. That demonstrates our commitment to agriculture. Also, for the first time, I made REPS available to the more intensive farmers, particularly those in the dairy sector. I know that many of these farmers will welcome the chance...

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The regulatory controls on food safety operate on an EU-wide basis and member states cannot take a unilateral approach to these controls. In Ireland, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, has overall responsibility for food safety although my Department operates many of the necessary controls under service contract to that body. At EU level, the European Commission and more...

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I spoke to the Commissioner again yesterday on this matter. He assured me the Commission will not hesitate to take the appropriate protection measures if a product, imported from a third country represents a risk for the health of EC consumers, livestock or plants. In September 2006, a senior Commission official visiting the Houses of Oireachtas gave a similar assurance to Members. I have...

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Subsequently, a detailed response and assessment of the position was issued by the Commission. The Commission confirmed its intention that a further Food and Veterinary Office, FVO, mission will take place in Brazil next month. A Cheann Comhairle, if Opposition Members continue to interrupt, I will have to ask them for more time.

Agrifood Industry: Motion (23 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I have asked that the Commission reassess the authorisation of exports from Brazil in the light of the outcome of these missions. Any deficiencies already highlighted must be properly and promptly addressed. The other important issue with imports of meat from third counties is that such meat should be clearly identified as such so that consumers have full knowledge of its origin before...