Results 13,141-13,160 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The flock to which the Deputy refers had a confirmed outbreak of mycoplasma gallisepticum. This is not an uncommon condition in poultry and does not generally have implications for human health. The flock in question was slaughtered due to the particular circumstances involved and at the request of the flock owner. No compensation is payable for this condition but the Department has paid for...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The person named lodged an application for Inheritance under the single payment scheme. This application has been successfully processed and payment will issue as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Statutory responsibility for the monitoring of the Ward Union Hunt rests with my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government under the provisions of the Wildlife Act 1976. I understand that a veterinary surgeon engaged by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government monitors the welfare of deer hunted by the hunt club. I am advised that the...
- Written Answers — Agricultural Production: Agricultural Production (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Agricultural output, at basic prices, reached its highest ever level in 2004 and there is a similar situation for food industry output in 2003, the latest years for which CSO statistics are available. The future direction of the whole agri-food sector will be the subject of a new plan of action, which I will launch in early 2006. That plan will be informed by the detailed analysis of the...
- Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Beef production is extremely valuable to the Irish economy with a â¬1.4 billion export value representing almost 25% of total Irish agri-food exports. In 2004, Ireland produced 560,000 tonnes of beef and exported 495,000 tonnes. Almost 90% of these exports went to EU markets with this trend continuing in 2005. The outlook for 2006 is for Irish beef production to increase by 5%, contrasting...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The development of new markets for Irish food produce is primarily the responsibility of the food industry itself. Having said that, my Department, in co-operation with the statutory food promotion agency, Bord Bia, will continue to assist the industry to identify markets for Irish agricultural and food produce in the EU and internationally, to build on existing markets in terms of extending...
- Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: It will be a matter for beet growers and Irish Sugar Limited to make decisions about sugar beet growing in light of the reformed sugar regime, on which political agreement was reached by the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 24 November 2005. The main features of the reform agreement are as follows: a lower reduction in the support price of sugar than originally proposed â 36% instead of...
- Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The recent agreement by the Council of Agriculture Ministers in relation to reform of the EU sugar regime was the culmination of a protracted and difficult negotiating process. The outcome, in my view, represents the best possible deal that could have been achieved for Irish beet growers in the circumstances and is a considerable improvement on the Commission's initial proposals of last June....
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Exports of Irish dairy products amounted to â¬1.86 billion last year, representing some 24% of total Irish food and drink exports. This was an increase of some 6% over the previous year. With increasing global demand for dairy products forecast by the OECD of up to 2% per annum the future prospects for Irish dairy products on world markets remain positive. The consistency with which the...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including meat and meat extracts, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under harmonised legislation, a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the member states to ensure that animal products are produced to...
- Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The Department of Agriculture and Food takes a robust attitude to the prevention of the introduction of animal diseases into Ireland, as exemplified by the range of measures being taken to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into the country. The Department has put in place a specific range of measures, including EU and national measures, aimed at minimising any risk of avian...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The application of the person in question has been fully processed for payment under the single farm payment scheme. This payment will issue to the person shortly.
- Sugar Beet Industry. (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The recent agreement reached by EU Ministers at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council about the reform of the EU sugar regime was the culmination of a protracted and difficult negotiating process. The outcome represents the best deal that could have been achieved for Irish beet growers in the circumstances. It represents a considerable improvement on the Commission's initial proposals, which...
- Sugar Beet Industry. (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The reform of the EU sugar regime is still in its early stages, as I have said. We are awaiting the final official legal text from the European Union. Growers will be able to participate in the sugar regime over the next two years. That will be a matter for growers and for Irish Sugar Limited. I would like to respond to Deputy Naughten's suggestion that I rejected a proposal to allow growers...
- EU Directives. (8 Dec 2005)
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. Ireland's national action programme was formally submitted to the European Commission in July, and regulations giving legal effect to it are being finalised following a consultation process. Ireland is also proceeding with the case for a...
- EU Directives. (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: There has been confusion in regard to the precedent of the Netherlands' rules and regulations on fertiliser standards, for which the purposes of the nitrates directive and the standards operating in that country have a proper legal basis in the Netherlands. They are not merely recommendations or guidelines. I understand from my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local...
- EU Directives. (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: With regard to the letter from Teagasc to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government it recommended the nutrient application standards should be used as guidance tables only and not included in legislation. It is not an option. The Minister has spoken to the director of Teagasc on this matter and clarification has been sought and received. On the issue of REPS, it is...
- Beef Exports. (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: As a member of the EU and the World Trade Organisation, WTO, Ireland is in a position to avail of opportunities for trade that are essential for the development of our open economy. Membership of these organisations also brings reciprocal trade obligations. The principle is that imported animal products meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between,...
- Beef Exports. (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I wholeheartedly agree on the issue of labelling. Our colleagues in the Seanad are involved in drafting legislation that will hopefully be introduced in this House at the beginning of the next term so we can introduce law on the issue of labelling. We all agree on the necessity of labelling. The FVO carried out a number of audits and inspections between 2001 and 2004 on production and export...
- Beef Imports. (8 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: While imports of beef into Ireland in 2004 amounted to 22,881 tonnes, beef exports of almost 500,000 tonnes were made from Ireland to worldwide destinations. Accordingly, Ireland supports a system that facilitates orderly trade while taking account of animal health. The operation of harmonised EU legislation governing animal health, production and trade in animal products such as meat, takes...