Results 9,621-9,640 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Live exports continue to be an important outlet for our weanling trade and for overall beef sector. My Department is, consequently, closely involved with Bord Bia in the promotion of the live weanling trade. Activities undertaken include: Showcase events for Irish weanlings involving exporters, importers, feedlot owners and media; Promotional support to the trade including trade advertising...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has been particularly proactive in providing information and advice to the farming community and the veterinary profession in relation to Bluetongue. Earlier in the summer my Department sent an information leaflet to every farmer and veterinary practitioner in the country providing information on the disease, including the clinical signs with which farmers and veterinarians...

Written Answers — Beef Imports: Beef Imports (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: All consignments of beef coming from third countries must first be landed at a EU approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) and there undergo documentary, identity and physical checks that are prescribed under harmonised EU rules. In Ireland BIPs approved for the processing direct imports into this country of animal products are located at Dublin Port and Shannon Airport. The Food and Veterinary...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme to the person named was submitted on the 20th February 2007. During processing of the Transfer application it was necessary for an official of my Department to seek clarification on certain matters relating to the application. The requested information was received and the application is...

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. A pre-approval inspection will be carried out on the applicant's premises as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware of the current difficulties for pig producers arising from the escalation of feed prices in recent months. While I appreciate the need for increased pigmeat prices to compensate for higher input costs, I do not have a role in price setting. I am glad to see, however, that Irish producer prices increased by around 7% in the last few weeks while prices throughout the EU are in line...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: With regard to the Single Payment Scheme, I approached Commissioner Fischer Boel earlier this year, seeking her agreement to have payments made with effect from 16 October, rather than 1 December as is provided for in the relevant EU regulations. While the Commissioner indicated that she could not agree to this request at the time, she did make it clear in her written response that she agreed...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The proposals for an Animal Welfare, Recording and Breeding Scheme for Suckler Herds were originally submitted to the European Commission in December 2006 as part of the Draft Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP). Following consultations with the Commission services on the details of this scheme, certain modifications were made and a revised application for state aid approval was...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The compensation package negotiated in the context of the reform of the EU sugar regime comprises three elements worth in excess of €310m to Ireland. The first element is the compensation for the reduction in the minimum price of beet, which has been incorporated into the Single Payment Scheme since last year. It is worth approximately €123 million to Irish beet growers over seven years....

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland is banned from exporting live cattle to most countries outside of the European Union. This is because of the worldwide ban on live animals and beef products from Ireland and other EU member states following the BSE crisis in the EU in late 2000. There had been a good trade in live animals to the Lebanon in recent years but it has declined due to commercial reasons. With the abolition...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: There is a good trade in the export of live sheep to Northern Ireland and Great Britain but there has been no such trade to continental Europe for many years. Trade in that direction has been in the form of chilled lamb carcases and value-added cuts for which there is strong demand. Irish sheepmeat exports account for about two thirds of total sheepmeat production, the balance being consumed...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Agricultural Environment and Structures office in North Tipperary has a full complement of staff. Staffing levels there compare favourably with the levels in neighbouring offices. The staffing levels in the local AES offices of my Department are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that the necessary staffing resources are in place in order to ensure delivery of the Scheme concerned.

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: All fishing boat licences issued by the Registrar General of Fishing Boats since 31st January 2006, are issued under the Ministerial direction of the Sea Fishing Boat Licensing Policy — Policy Directive 1/2006. This policy directive clearly states that in relation to the ring-fencing of the scallop fleet within the specific segment and the polyvalent segment of the fleet. "The ring-fenced...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The appeal in question has been heard and notification has been sent to the applicant. The Department is considering the outcome with regard to issues arising, including from a legal perspective and will notify the applicant of any implications as early as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that the person named applied to transfer single payment entitlements by sale on 5th May 2006. During processing of the Transfer application it was found that the entitlements concerned were not yet registered in the name of the person named. It was necessary for the person named to apply to have the entitlements in question transferred to him by inheritance and that...

Written Answers — Beef Imports: Beef Imports (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: 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), to monitor their compliance in third countries it has...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: On the particular GM point at the Agriculture Council this week, I neither supported nor rejected the proposed approval of the products in question. I am engaged in discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on how best the commitment in the Programme for Government can be effected while taking into account the views of all interested parties and the sectors most directly affected.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has no record of having received an application for aid from the person concerned under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme applicable to farmers set-up in farming for the first time between 2007-2013 or the preceding equivalent scheme.

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (26 Sep 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.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Parlour feeders were not eligible for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme which closed for new applications at the end of 2006. They are, however, eligible for grant-aid under the new Farm Improvement Scheme which was introduced by my Department on 12 July 2007.