Results 11,761-11,780 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: All hill sheep farmers in REPS are paid in accordance with their REPS contracts. The REP scheme Terms and Conditions provide that REPS farmers must comply fully with Commonage Framework Plan requirements and consequently no further REPS payments are due for destocking. The question of additional benefits for actions over and above the requirements of the Commonage Framework Plans is a matter...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Sector: Sugar Beet Sector (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The restructuring aid is subject to the submission by the processor of a detailed restructuring plan for the industry, following consultations with the beet growers. The reform agreement provides that at least 10% of the restructuring aid shall be reserved for sugar beet growers and machinery contractors. That percentage may be increased by Member States after consultation of interested...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payments Scheme National Reserve under category C. Category C caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, sold the milk quota into the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia/or Arable...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The application by the person concerned for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme is currently being processed within my Department. A pre-approval visit was carried out by an officer of my Department on 17 May 2006 and written approval to proceed with the works should issue to the applicant shortly. It is a fundamental requirement of the Scheme that aid will not be granted where...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Categories B & D. Category B caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during...

Written Answers — Farmers' Markets: Farmers' Markets (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Casual Trading Act 1995 gives local authorities responsibility in matters of market rights. Section 7 of the Act provided for a 10 year time-frame within which market rights could be revived, even if these had not been used for some time. Some have been exercised recently. I do believe that farmers markets represent an important route to market and a real growth opportunity for farmers...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The implementation of the Nitrates Directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In December, the Minister made Regulations giving legal effect to Ireland's National Action Programme under the Nitrates Directive. These Regulations were finalised following difficult negotiations between the European Commission and officials of...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Following receipt of the required EU approval, the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme was launched by my Department on 24 March 2006. Application forms, together with the accompanying terms and conditions, are available from the local Agricultural Environment and Structures (AES) offices of my Department and are also available on my Department's web-site. The principal changes to the Scheme...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There is no TB-vaccine licensed anywhere in the world for use in a food producing animal and therefore there is no possibility of introducing a bovine vaccination programme for TB. Indeed, the position is that vaccine trials in the past demonstrated that vaccination did not prevent disease. Apart from the foregoing, cattle vaccinated against TB could not be traded because they would be unable...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The compensation package negotiated in the context of reform of the EU sugar regime is worth over €310m to Irish stakeholders. There are three elements to the compensation package. The first element is the compensation to beet growers of up to 64% of the reduction in the minimum price for beet. This compensation, which will be incorporated in the existing Single Payment Scheme and will be...

Written Answers — Farm Management: Farm Management (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is aware of this recently published research that was carried out in the UK and its findings are being evaluated. It should be noted that this study rates to a small number of farms and therefore some caution is required in relation to the findings. My Department is currently considering running a similar study in Ireland. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department operates a...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (18 May 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 the 1st April 2007. My Department and I have made solid progress in the continuing consultation process on the detailed arrangements to give effect to my decision. This comprised of meetings with the relevant farm organisations and with representatives of the...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The only circumstances in which exotic birds may be legally imported from Third Countries is as pet birds accompanying their owners who are permanently changing their residence. This is an EU-wide provision and relates only to importations of individual consignments of five or fewer birds. The conditions under which such importations are permitted are very stringent and include quarantine,...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The designation of land under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives is a function of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The question of compensation for farmers in the Shannon Callows area is a matter, in the first instance, for that Department, and I understand that discussions on the matter with the farming bodies have been going on for some time and are still...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is referring to the proposed Willow for Energy scheme and the Biomass Harvesting scheme. Both proposals are being closely examined in consultation with the Department of Finance and I hope to have a decision very soon. State Air approval will be required for the EU Commission for both schemes and my Department has already had informal discussions with the Commission with a view to...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: 'Substantial transformation' is a procedure used in normal business operations to allow operators to declare goods as being manufactured in the country where considerable processing has taken place. I am very concerned that this practice might be used to mislead consumers as to the origin of the product. I have raised this issue directly with the Commission on a number of occasions and indeed...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Following a number of successful years for the Irish dairy industry on international and EU markets, 2006 is proving to be more challenging for the industry. The butter market, in particular, is under severe pressure on both the EU and international markets. Exports of dairy products, except cheese, are considerably lower than in 2005, with EU butter exports currently 35% less than the...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The compensation package negotiated in the context of reform of the EU sugar regime is worth over €310m to Irish stakeholders. There are three elements to the compensation package. The first element is the compensation to beet growers of up to 64% of the reduction in the minimum price for beet. This compensation, which will be incorporated in the existing Single Payment Scheme and will be...

Written Answers — Animal Remedies Regulations: Animal Remedies Regulations (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 56 together. The Animal Remedies Regulations 2005 (SI 734/2005), which transpose EU Directive 2004/28, were signed into effect by me on 17 November 2005. On the outstanding issue in regard to bringing all medicines for food producing animals under veterinary prescription control, my Department made a submission to the Commission on 17 March with a view...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (18 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Primary responsibility for the welfare of animals lies with the owner or keeper of such animals. The owner/keeper is obliged to take all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of animals under their care and to ensure that such animals are not caused any unnecessary pain, suffering or injury. The position as regards this Department is that its statutory responsibility relates to the welfare...