Results 10,741-10,760 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: I wish to inform the Deputy that notifications to trial genetically modified organisms are made to the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with Part B of EU Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of GMOs into the environment but not for entry to the food chain. Responsibility for making a decision on these application is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency as...

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 92 and 105 together. I am strongly committed to the development of the organic sector in Ireland. While the sector in Ireland is still small by European standards, it is growing. The total area in conversion or with full organic status rose by nearly 5,000 hectares to over 35,000 hectares in 2005, an increase of some 15% on 2004. That figure has...

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

Mary Coughlan: Further to my replies to Parliamentary Question Nos 377 of 27 June 2006 and 156 of 17 October, the investigation referred to remains ongoing. It is a very comprehensive investigation and, as I have indicated previously, my Department will, in the event of sufficient evidence being established, endeavour to pursue a prosecution. As I have advised the Deputy previously, given the nature and...

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 50, 75, 77 and 118 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...

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

Mary Coughlan: The regulations governing the provision of country of origin information on beef in the catering sector were introduced by the Minister for Health and Children. Responsibility for enforcement of the regulations is with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). Officials of my Department have had extensive discussions with the Department of Health and Children and the FSAI during the...

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 98 together. The Sheep Industry Development Strategy Group issued its report in June 2006. This is a comprehensive study of the sheep industry which sets out a Development Plan for the industry contained in 37 recommendations. I decided that the best way to implement these recommendations was to set up an implementation body comprised of...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 84 and 94 together. Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 designates certain bovine tissues as specified risk material (SRM) and lays down rules for its removal as a public health protection measure in the context of BSE controls. In its opinion of 28 April 2005 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that a scientific basis existed to review the age...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Food Agency Co-operation Council met on 20 occasions since its inception in 2000. During 2004 and 2005 priority was given instead to meetings of the food development agencies directly concerned with the food programme components of the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Two such meetings took place in 2004, one in 2005 and one in 2006 to assess progress on the Plan in preparation for...

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

Mary Coughlan: I am aware that there are local concerns about the possibility of the proposed landfill contaminating the water supply used by horticultural producers in the area and I understand that the issue has been the subject of submissions to the Environmental Protection Agency, which is currently examining the waste licence application. It is of course vital that horticultural activity anywhere in...

Written Answers — State Aid: State Aid (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I can confirm that my Department was represented at a meeting of the EU Working Group and Advisory Committee on State Aids which took place on 25 October to discuss the proposed Community Guidelines for State Aid in the Agriculture Sector, 2007-2013. Prior to the meeting, I, together with several of my EU Ministerial colleagues, had strongly opposed many of the original proposals brought...

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 51 together. The implementation of the Nitrates Directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Following a process of consultation with the farming organizations and other stakeholders, the Minister, Deputy Roche, made the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Consumer Liaison Panel was established in January 2002 to strengthen communication between consumers and my Department. A consumer-focused approach is vital to the future of a progressive multi-functional agrifood industry, encompassing not alone the basic function of food production but food safety, food quality, environmental and animal welfare issues. The Consumer Liaison Panel is a...

Written Answers — Agricultural Processing Sectors: Agricultural Processing Sectors (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 82, 88 and 120 together. In keeping with commitments given in the agri-Vision 2015 Action Plan, I have in recent months announced investment packages totalling €150 million to support the development of the dairy, beef and sheep meat processing sectors. €100 million is for the dairy sector while €50 million is being provided for the beef and sheep...

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 — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has developed comprehensive contingency arrangements to deal with any case of avian influenza in wild birds or any outbreak in poultry. These arrangements are kept under constant review with a view to updating them to take account of new developments that arise. I have recently signed new Regulations which provide the most up-to-date legislative basis for actions to be taken...

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

Mary Coughlan: The pesticide residue monitoring programme conducted by my Department on behalf of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), is reviewed and agreed on an annual basis with the FSAI. The risk-based programme thus developed involved the analysis of some 1,350 samples of agricultural produce in each of the years 2005 and 2006 for up to 150 different pesticide compounds. In 2005 some 10...

Written Answers — Health Issues: Health Issues (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 74 together. Obesity is, I believe, an immensely important issue for the future health of our society and demands a multifaceted response as indicated in the Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity which made recommendations for cross sectoral actions in areas including education, social and community, health, food supply and the physical...

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 58 and 61 together. I am currently participating in a high level Ministerial Taskforce on Bioenergy, which has been established by Government to prepare a plan to develop Ireland's bioenergy resources to 2020. The Ministerial Team is currently working on a National Bio-energy Action plan to establish targets to promote greater use of biomass and...

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

Mary Coughlan: Apple production, with 46 growers at the last census in 2002, represents a small but important sector within our horticultural industry. My Department has contributed to the support of those growers through its grant aid schemes under the National Development Plan. The NDP Scheme of Investment Aid for the Commercial Horticulture Sector has supported apple producers with aid for on-farm...

Written Answers — Rural Development: Rural Development (29 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Draft Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 which was recently published by my Department, grant aid for farm grain storage and ancillary facilities is included under the sub-measure in the Farm Investment category of the programme. The Programme remains to be cleared by the EU Commission and must also fulfill EU State aid criteria.