Results 10,721-10,740 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has certain statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of farmed animals under the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984 and the European Communities (Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes) Regulations, 2000. In addition there is specific legislation in relation to pigs, calves and laying hens. Welfare matters are dealt with generally...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland's application for a derogation under the Nitrates Directive was approved at a meeting of the EU Nitrates Committee on 13 November. The draft Commission Decision on the matter is now going through a routine scrutiny process, and I expect the formal Decision granting the derogation to be finalized by Christmas. My Department will be publishing full information and guidelines for...

Written Answers — Social Partnership Agreements: Social Partnership Agreements (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The new social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, is the most ambitious and complex yet. To allow for long-term policies to be put in place, Towards 2016 has a unique ten-year framework. The shared overall goal of Towards 2016 is to realise its objectives by enhancing the complementary relationship between social and economic prosperity and by developing a vibrant, knowledge-based economy...

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 24 together. My objective on an on-going basis is to ensure that all EU Regulations are drafted in simple and clear terms, that they provide for the appropriate levels of controls in relation to public health, animal health and public finances and that they do not confer excessive administrative or bureaucratic burdens on farmers, the public or my...

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: A national programme setting out the detailed arrangements for operating the new regime in Ireland is being prepared and will be sent to the EU Commission before the end of this year. This should be approved by the Commission in mid 2007. National legislation to give effect to the programme will be required towards the end of 2007. It is intended to write to every egg producer in late...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Most of the schemes operated by my Department are demand-led measures on which expenditure in any one year is difficult to predict. It is very important that adequate provision is made for such schemes in the annual Estimates. For 2006, the gross provision for the Department was €1.516b, and it is estimated that approximately 94% of this allocation will be spent. While it is not possible...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is fully committed to ensuring that consumers can have full confidence in the organic food they buy. For that reason my Department assigned extra resources to the Organic Unit earlier this year and we are now systematically inspecting retail outlets, including supermarkets, shops and farmers markets, checking to ensure that all product identified as organic has been produced...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 113 together. The new Rural Development Programme for the period 2007-2013 includes a number of proposed new measures to make investment in forestry more attractive than ever. These include support for investment in recreation as well as wood energy initiatives. In terms of the Afforestation Scheme, we will continue to provide 100% planting grants....

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The current situation is that organic farmers in REPS with holdings of 3 hectares or more qualify for a supplementary organic payment of €181 per hectare on the first 55 hectares, and €30 per hectare over 55 hectares during the in-conversion period. The equivalent rates when full organic status is attained are €91 and €15 per hectare respectively. Organic farmers also qualify for...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Government recognise that the development of Ireland's Bio-energy potential, requires a fully cohesive approach across Government Departments, State Agencies and all relevant stakeholders. Accordingly, in July 2006, a Ministerial Taskforce on Bioenergy was established under the chairmanship of Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, TD in which seven...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The current position is that the EU milk quota regime was extended to 2015 as part of the Luxembourg Agreement on the reform of the CAP. The Commission may bring forward proposals on the future of milk quotas as part of the 2008 'Health Check', which may require a Council decision. I will keep the position under review and will evaluate any proposals that may be made by the Commission with...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am satisfied that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), as it is constituted at present following the major reforms agreed in 2003, provides a sound basis for the continued sustainable development of the agri-food sector in Ireland and throughout the EU. The European model of agriculture, which is enshrined in the CAP, is based on maintaining competitive, multifunctional and sustainable...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Following is the information requested by the Deputy. BSE The incidence of BSE in Ireland has been declining steadily from a high of 333 cases in 2002 to 182 in 2003, 126 in 2004 and 69 last year. So far this year, 36 cases been confirmed, thus indicating that the downward trend of the past number of years is continuing. In addition, the age profile of cases is increasing with most of the...

Written Answers — Milk Testing: Milk Testing (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department already conducts regular checks on the results of butter fat testing carried out by milk processors. It also checks the calibration of the instruments used in milk processing establishments for measuring the fat and protein levels in milk collected from producers. My Department also monitors the instrument used in measuring somatic cell levels in milk delivered to processors....

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Payments are currently being made under two Schemes of Early Retirement from Farming. I recently announced substantial increases in the maximum pension rates payable under both Schemes to take effect from 1 November 2006. I have decided to increase the maximum pension rate payable under the 1994–99 Scheme from €12,075 to €14,075 and the maximum pension rate payable under the current...

Written Answers — Veterinary Service: Veterinary Service (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware, given veterinary practices are primarily commercial entities, that their locations are driven by commercial realities and as such I do not have a direct involvement in the issue referred to by the Deputy. However, insofar as official regulation impacts on this area of activity, I can point to a number of measures which will alleviate difficulties which may arise in...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: While I have not seen any official report on this issue I do note that the report referred to refers to Spanish farmers abandoning organic cultivation because they are finding traces of GMOs in their produce. I am confident that the proposed new legislation on organic production, combined with national coexistence measures, will provide sufficient safeguards to enable organic production to...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 67, 103, 107, 202 and 227 together. I am aware of the interest at farm level in growing energy crops as a feedstock for bioenergy purposes. Under CAP reform, farmers now have the freedom to focus more clearly on exploiting new farming opportunities, including agricultural production for non-food use. The development of this sector is an opportunity for...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has received the following number of requests for records under the Freedom of Information Acts. The outcome of these requests is as indicated in the tablebelow: Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 to date Total requests received 363 318 290 212 209 Granted 98 120 119 75 77 Part Granted 108 58 86 49 49 Refused 64 59 42 52 32 Transferred 1 5 2 0 2 Withdrawn 53 33 9 4 5 Invalid...

Written Answers — Milk Supply: Milk Supply (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department does not compile statistics on the somatic cell count in the national milk supply. The European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2005 (S. I. No. 910 of 2005) provide that milk going for the production of liquid milk or dairy products for human consumption must have a somatic cell level not exceeding 400,000 per ml. based on a geometric average over a period of...