Results 11,541-11,560 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The 'Report of the Interdepartmental Group on Modern Biotechnology' published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in October 2000 established the Irish Government's positive but precautionary position on biotechnology. This position was based on the potential that biotechnology offers in the fields of medicine, health, agriculture, etc., while at the same time recognising...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Directorate General for Health & Consumer Protection asked Member States to submit any observations it has on food labelling as part of its overall examination of the current food labelling legislation. The document outlining Ireland's concerns was submitted to DG Sanco by the Department of Health & Children which has overall responsibility for general food labelling legislation.

Written Answers — Horticulture Industry: Horticulture Industry (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The farm-gate production value of the horticulture sector continues to expand and is now estimated at €300 million. The key issue which has impacted on the development of the horticulture industry as a whole in recent years is the increased concentration at retail level with the consequent significant change in the supply chain. My Department, recognising the marketing advantages and...

Written Answers — Farm Consolidation: Farm Consolidation (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Developing scale and efficiency is an important component to having a commercial full-time farming sector. The Government has a number of incentives in place that encourage greater levels of land mobility and farm consolidation. These include: An Early Retirement Scheme pension of up to €13,515 for a period of up to 10 years on farms transferred by gift, sale or lease. An installation aid...

Written Answers — Animal Remedies Regulations: Animal Remedies Regulations (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that veterinary practices are primarily commercial entities and their locations are driven by commercial realities. However, in so far as State involvement is concerned, I can point to a number of recent measures which will alleviate difficulties which may arise in certain parts of the country. Under the new Veterinary Practice Act 2005, effective from 1 January 2006,...

Written Answers — Forestry Industry: Forestry Industry (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The forestry sector provides a high value input to the national economy, and makes a significant contribution to the economic well being of rural communities. Recent economic data reveals that forestry's contribution to the economy is 0.3% of GDP. While it is difficult to provide economic values for the non-timber benefits of Irish forests, the 2004 Bacon Review estimated an annual value in...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Live exports continue to be an important outlet for our cattle, providing an essential element of competition with the beef trade. Following a near 40% increase in such exports in 2005, the strong upward trend has continued in 2006. The live trade to the EU remains strong with 138,000 head exported to date in 2006 against 89,000 for the same period last year, an increase of about 55%. Within...

Written Answers — National Genotyping Programme: National Genotyping Programme (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The enhancements introduced under the National Genotyping Programme in 2005 only applied to sheep genotyped between 1 September 2005 and 18 November 2005. The enhancements included the payment of a flat rate of compensation in respect of any ram which, when tested, was found to be in one of the categories which are susceptible or highly susceptible to scrapie, provided that such rams were...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Standard Costings used for the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme are currently under review. Revised costings will be introduced following completion of that review.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: With regard to rainwater, the technical specifications for farm buildings operated by my Department for the purposes of the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme require the installation of adequate arrangements for the separation of clean and dirty water as part of the conditions of any new investment. In addition, I have added the installation of guttering on existing buildings as a further...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: In March I announced my intention to move to a more open market system for transferring milk quotas, which will come into effect on 1st April 2007. It must be borne in mind that over the last five years on average less than 4% of the total milk quota changed hands each year under the existing restructuring scheme. My Department and I are progressing with the ongoing consultation process on...

Written Answers — Sheepmeat Industry: Sheepmeat Industry (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that I welcomed the recent publication of this report which sets out positive recommendations for the future development of the sheep sector. It is now very important that all the stakeholders work together to ensure that the required decisions and actions are taken to guarantee the future viability of the sector. I am now in the process of setting up an agreed...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The report of the Joint Committee covered a range of issues and I responded to it in detail. As I explained in my response, a number of the Committee's recommendations are precluded by the EU Regulations under which the current Scheme and its predecessor are operated. I saw some merit in certain other aspects of the Committee's report, specifically those relating to income limits and the...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named had 6.73 entitlements with a gross value of €1,759.35. She successfully applied under the Inheritance measure of the Single Payment Scheme and received a further 3.36 entitlements with a gross value of €1,024.87. When combined this gave the applicant 10.09 entitlements with a gross value of €2,784.22. When the appropriate deductions for National Reserve, Linear...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: At the start of 2006, the number of growers producing mushrooms in Ireland was estimated at 130, compared to 500 growers in 2000. Although the number of growers has reduced considerably and continues to do so, there has been an increase in scale of individual producers and, accordingly, mushroom output has remained relatively stable over the period. In 2005 mushroom output is estimated at...

Written Answers — Farm Household Statistics: Farm Household Statistics (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The CSO Farm Structure Survey provides regional estimates and Table 1 and 2 below show figures for the Mid-West and South East regions in June 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2003 (the latest year currently available). The Mid-West region comprises counties Tipperary N.R., Clare, Limerick County and Limerick County Borough. The...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy is not recorded by my Department or by the Central Statistics Office. My Department has figures on the number of young trained farmers who received "Installation Aid" under the Scheme for Installation Aid. These are as follows for the years 1990 to 2005. Year Number of Beneficiaries 1990 496 1991 405 1992 386 1993 409 1994 403 1995...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 374, 385 and 402 together. Following the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme last year, farmers now have the freedom to choose whatever farming enterprise is most appropriate to their circumstances. Under the agreement on reform of the EU sugar regime, the Single Payment Scheme is being extended to cover sugar beet compensation. This will be worth...

Written Answers — Cereal Sector: Cereal Sector (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 375, 383 and 386 together. Ireland is a surplus producer of malt with exports in the region of 50,000 tonnes. Following the closure of the Banagher plant last September, Minch Malt Ltd., which is part of the Greencore Malting Group, decided to consolidate operations at the bigger Athy plant, to solidify the domestic market. I understand that Greencore invested...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (27 Jun 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person submitted a Private Contract Clause application to transfer in entitlements under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme. The application has been successful, and it is expected that payment will issue this week. The persons named also submitted an application to the National Reserve under category B. Category B caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, made an...