Results 12,641-12,660 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Irish beef sector in 2005 was characterised by stable market conditions and satisfactory prices. Some 487,000 tonnes of Irish beef, representing 93% of our production, was exported in 2005 with an export value to the Irish economy of more than €1.3 billion or almost 20% of Irish food and drink exports. As a result of effective promotion and marketing to date, 192,000 tonnes or almost...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together. The Minister for Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources is primarily responsible for the promotion and development of renewable energy, including biofuels. Nonetheless, the development of the biofuels sector is a matter that impinges on several other policy areas, including agriculture, transport and taxation, and involves...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Irish dairy sector has enjoyed much success on international and EU markets in recent years and performed solidly in 2005. Overall, exports of Irish dairy products and ingredients amounted to €1.82 billion, as Irish exporters responded to strong market demand worldwide. Despite considerable policy changes at EU level export performance has been very resilient in recent years. We are now...

Written Answers — Agriculture Policy: Agriculture Policy (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The statement of strategy for my Department, which covers the period 2005 to 2007, sets out over 50 strategies that my Department is pursuing to help develop a sustainable, competitive, consumer-focused agri-food sector. The outcome of this work is presented in my Department's annual report. The annual report for the year 2005 is currently being compiled. The agri-vision 2015 committee,...

Written Answers — Agriculture Policy: Agriculture Policy (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland faces a wide variety of competitors on EU and world markets for the range of products we export. The ability to compete on agricultural markets is the based on a number of factors. These include the scale of production, exchange rates, price and the degree of competition within a particular market. The liberalisation of agriculture has made the marketplace for an export-orientated...

Written Answers — Agriculture Policy: Agriculture Policy (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am satisfied that the most recent CAP reforms allied to the agreement in December last on the financial perspective for the period 2007 to 2013 will provide for a stable and sustainable agricultural sector in the years ahead. The outcome to the negotiations on the financial perspective represented a satisfactory outcome on policy for agriculture and rural development from Ireland's point of...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 Feb 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. The Minister, Deputy Roche, has recently made regulations giving legal effect to Ireland's national action programme under the directive. The Government is committed to giving the farming community all the practical help necessary. Following from...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 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. The Minister has recently made regulations giving legal effect to Ireland's national action programme under the directive. The fact the Minister made the regulations enabled Ireland to begin the formal process of seeking approval for a derogation...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: On the derogation, a meeting of the nitrates committee will be held in March. It is unlikely, however, that discussions on a derogation for Ireland will take place on the basis that current discussions on the suspended Part 3 have not concluded. On the scientific evidence provided, Teagasc provides this evidence to my Department and, in particular, the Department of the Environment, Heritage...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: No.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Yes.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: If the science stands up and the Commission agrees, the tables will be changed. If the Commission does not agree to changes, we will be powerless to proceed. The scientific evidence will be made available on Monday, whereupon it will be evaluated by the two Departments which will, with Teagasc, negotiate with the Commission on that basis.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: We will not table a proposal for a derogation in March because it is not considered beneficial to do so.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Yes, we expect to have secured a derogation in the summer. This will depend, however, on whether we can include the matter on the agenda of the next nitrates committee meeting. We will do our utmost to ensure it comes up for discussion.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The derogation must be dealt with as quickly as possible. We are determined to ensure this is the case and I am positive as regards our chances of success.

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The role of Teagasc is to provide integrated research, advisory and training services for the agriculture and food industry. It is a matter for Teagasc to determine the most effective means of providing advice on the requirements of the nitrates regulations as they apply to individual holdings. I expect, however, that such advice would be delivered primarily via this existing network....

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Stocking density and nutrient management are matters of concern. Concerns about the disposal of organic fertiliser have arisen in particular sectors, notably the extensive dairy, pig and poultry sectors. The Deputy is correct that farmers will need to work with Teagasc and private advisers to address these concerns and deal with nutrient management. On local authority waste, the use of...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Deputy Catherine Murphy is correct that concerns have arisen in her constituency, which includes substantial areas of tillage. I seek to provide support for those who have these concerns, including by attempting to ensure they are properly informed, which is unfortunately not the case. We will work with farmers to address their concerns. This is the reason we introduced the farm waste...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: For the past three months, I have been saying precisely what the Deputy has been saying, which is that adequate spread lands are available. The concerns of customers of the pig and poultry sector need to be alleviated, which can be done only in the context of a working relationship, which unfortunately does not exist. However, we try to provide the greatest amount of information possible to...

EU Directives. (16 Feb 2006)

Mary Coughlan: This is based on ongoing research between Teagasc and UCD. We are also considering reliable nutrient management and animal manures. We are considering emissions from land spreading of cattle slurry, cattle wintering facilities and greenhouse gas emissions from beef production systems. All these matters are very important, into which ongoing research is being carried out. The Deputy is right...