Results 11,141-11,160 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have just recently received the final report of the World Trade Organisation Disputes Panel on the claims by the US, Argentina and Canada that the de facto moratorium on the approval of genetically modified products within the EU constituted an economic barrier to trade. The report was distributed to the public on 29 September last and is now available on...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 180 together. EU Directive 2004/28, which was transposed into Irish law last November, included a provision that all veterinary medicines for food producing animals should only be supplied on the basis of a veterinary prescription, unless exempted from this requirement under criteria to be drawn up at EU level before 1 January 2007. My Department was...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The ban on the advertising of prescription only medicines derives from EU Directive 2004/28 and has been transposed into Irish law via the Animal Remedies Regulations 2005. My Department has written to all relevant companies in the veterinary medicines sector in Ireland drawing their attention to the advertising ban and to the penalties for which they are liable for failure to comply with...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The management of carbon credits is in the first instance, the responsibility of the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Government will use carbon credits for the sole purpose of achieving compliance with Ireland's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to limit its greenhouse gas emissions to 13% above 1990 levels. Under the EU burden sharing arrangements Ireland will...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The overall national strategy for dealing with TB includes a comprehensive range of measures, including the mandatory annual testing of all cattle in the national herd, the early removal of reactors, a wildlife programme, the use of the gamma interferon test as an adjunct to the tuberculin test in problem herds and the depopulation of infected herds in some cases. In addition, my Department...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department participated in a number of interdepartmental committees lead by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on the development of bioenergy prior to the publication of the Green Paper 'Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland'. My Department was subsequently in frequent contact with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in...

Written Answers — Milk Prices: Milk Prices (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: While the price of milk paid to dairy farmers is a commercial matter between milk producers and milk purchasers for which I have no direct responsibility, I am aware that market prices have been reducing in recent months. Prices paid to milk producers are determined by a combination of the international market for dairy products, the product mix and the efficiency of the processor as well as...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 189 and 211 together. In July of this year I launched a dairy processing sector investment package amounting to some €300 million over the next three years. The investment includes some €100 million of Government grant assistance. The objective of the Dairy Processing Investment Fund is to support Capital Investment related to the processing of dairy...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Regulations giving legal effect to the action programme under the Nitrates Directive came into effect on 1 February, 2006. Following de facto deferral of certain elements of these Regulations to allow for the submission of revised scientific advice by Teagasc, new amended Regulations entitled the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The implementation of the Nitrates Action Plan is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The regulations to give legal effect to the action plan were signed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 18 July, 2006 and replaced regulations introduced in December, 2005. The Department of the Environment,...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Food Agency Co-operation Council met on 20 occasions between 2000 and 2003 to promote co-operation between the State Agencies involved in the food industry. Since 2004 the food development agencies directly concerned with the National Development Plan 2000-2006 have met periodically to assess progress under the Plan. Two meetings were held in 2004 and one each in 2005 and 2006 while my...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I wish to inform the Deputy that I have no plans at present to commission any further evaluations on the economic implications of the use of genetically modified organisms other than the study carried out by Teagasc earlier this year. He will recall that Teagasc, at my request, carried out an evaluation of the possible national economic implications for the Agri-Food industry from the use of...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Statistics on the comparative positions of member States in relation to the diseases, etc. referred to are not available. My Department is in ongoing discussion with the relevant interests in industry, veterinary sector and other interested parties in relation to establishing a herd health initiative which would involve the development of a national integrated approach to non-regulated...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: At the meeting of the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health SCOFCAH on 6 October 2006 the Commission informed the Committee that the provisions of Regulation 96/23 on measures to monitor certain substances and residues in live animals and animal products are not in line with the basic principles of the Control Regulation (882/2004). The matter has been under consideration...

Written Answers — Milk Tests: Milk Tests (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 214 together. 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...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland's national policy on GMOs was officially set out in the October 2000 Report of the Interdepartmental Group on Modern Biotechnology which was endorsed by the Government. The overall conclusion of this report was summarised as 'a positive acceptance of the potential benefits of biotechnology tempered by a precautionary approach to the potential risks — and to ensure that as far as is...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (17 Oct 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 any new developments that arise. To that end, we are conscious of and particularly vigilant during the autumn/winter migratory season, during...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's policy is to make all payments due to farmers on an accurate and timely basis. The record in this regard is excellent and the statistics in the most recent Annual Report (2005), show that the vast majority of payments to farmers, well over 90% for many schemes, were made in accordance with the targets laid down in the Charter of Rights for Farmers. In the exercise of its...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's role in the implementation of the Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity relates to the recommendations directed to my Department viz. The Department of Agriculture and Food together with the Department of Health and Children should promote the implementation of evidence-based healthy eating interventions, and The Department of Agriculture and Food should review policies...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There are currently 112 vehicles approved by my Department to transport live animals. The vehicles comply with the provisions of Council Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport as transposed by the European Communities (Protection of Animals during Transport) Regulations 2006 — SI No. 267 of 2006. All dogs, including commercial dogs, going to other EU Member...