Results 9,601-9,620 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The co-operation that can take place within the Agriculture sector was laid down in the Good Friday Agreement. The areas specifically identified were animal and plant health. Subsequently the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) agreed that there should be formal co-operation in the following sectors of agriculture: the development of an All-Island Animal Health Strategy for control of...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: All beef sold or served in the retail or catering sector is now required by law to carry an indication of country of origin. Primary legislation was enacted by the Oireachtas last year, which extended the compulsory country of origin labelling requirement for beef to the catering sector. The information which must be given on the label includes the registered number of the slaughterhouse or...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The first case in the recent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak was confirmed on 3rd August and, in response, I introduced an immediate ban on the importation from Britain of susceptible animals and products, including fresh meat, raw milk and other products. Within a couple of days the European Commission adopted a Commission Decision which banned the export from Britain of those animals...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Single Payment Scheme, farmers who lose lands that they had rented in and farmed during the reference years 2000-2002 may apply to consolidate their single payment entitlements onto their remaining eligible lands, provided they continue to farm at least 50% of the land they farmed in the reference years. In 2006, the person named did not continue to farm at least 50% of the lands...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: In reply to the Deputy, the following is the position: An Bord Bia Date of establishment: 1994 Number of Board members including Chairman: 15 Year Staff Expenditure (million) 1997 67.5 £20.52 1998 67.5 £18.48 1999 67.5 £22.06 2000 64.5 â'¬23.11 2001 78.5 â'¬25.40 2002 79.25 â'¬26.16 2003 79.25 â'¬25.26 2004 89.25 â'¬25.22 2005 88.25 â'¬29.88 2006 91.25...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An Bord Glas was merged with An Bord Bia on 1 July 2004. All of the 11 staff, functions and annual budget of €2.63m were transferred to An Bord Bia on that date.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Since the 1 July last, I have made two appointments to the board of Teagasc and one to COFORD.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Farm Improvement Scheme was launched by my Department on 12 July 2007 and provides grant-aid for inter alia, animal housing, slurry storage facilities and investments in relation to dairy hygiene. Approvals to commence work are now being issued to farmers who have submitted completed applications for grant-aid under the Scheme, including farmers in County Limerick.

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (2 Oct 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 Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Health Services Executive, the Local Authorities and the...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I am satisfied that the risk of crop contamination arising from the importation of genetically modified food products is minimal and probably non existent.

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The area devoted to energy crops has increased to meet the growing demand for biomass feedstocks. The area of oilseed rape, which is used to produce liquid biofuel, increased from 5,000 hectares in 2006 to 7,500 hectares in 2007. In addition, almost 800 hectares of willow and miscanthus were planted in 2007 following the introduction of establishment grants under the new Bioenergy Scheme....

Written Answers — Food Exports: Food Exports (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Our exports of agri-food products have grown steadily in recent years to reach record levels of over €8bn in 2006. These exports are now increasingly concentrated in the high-value EU market. Our future success will to some extent be determined by the level of competition on our main markets and this will be affected by any new WTO deal. However, our ability to compete will also be...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Government's decision, the percentage of the EU restructuring aid to be reserved for beet growers and machinery contractors was set at 32.38% (€47.1m). Of this 27.50% (€40m of the €47.1m) was for beet growers and the balance for machinery contractors. The balance of the aid (€98m) was allocated to Greencore. The High Court ruled, in effect, that these percentages would...

Written Answers — Sugar Industry: Sugar Industry (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Prior to the introduction of the temporary scheme for the restructuring of the sugar industry in the Community, sugar beet was grown for sugar processing in all but four Member States, namely Cyprus, Estonia, Luxembourg, and Malta. In the first two years of the restructuring scheme, which involves quota renunciation and closure of the associated processing facilities, restructuring...

Written Answers — Food Imports: Food Imports (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377, 378 and 382 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...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department and I have been particularly proactive in taking measures designed to minimise the risk of the introduction to Ireland of either Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) or Bluetongue. With regard to the threat of FMD, I introduced an immediate ban on the importation to Ireland from Great Britain of live susceptible animals, fresh meat, raw milk and other products from such animals as soon...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The 2003 CAP reforms have been very positive for Irish agriculture. They have provided farmers with certainty about income support levels through the Single Farm Payment, while freeing them to increase their income from the market by responding to consumer demands. My main concern, now, is to ensure that there is a period of stability to allow farmers to implement the changes necessitated...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland is a food trading country. The industry serves 80 million customers throughout Europe and the world. This Government's vision for success is focused on the objective of ensuring that the Irish agri-food sector compares to the best in the EU and in the world in terms of knowledge base, competitiveness, innovation and marketing. My own approach and commitment to the future is based...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's offices in Maynooth are temporary and the staff there will be relocating to the Department's facilities in Backweston next year. The move to Backweston is not part of the decentralisation process and vacancies arising there are currently being filled by redeployment of my Department's existing staff.

Written Answers — Decommissioning of Fishing Vessels: Decommissioning of Fishing Vessels (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The determination in question has given rise to some legal and other issues which are being considered in full by this Department. Once this process has been completed the applicant will be notified as a matter of priority.