Results 13,181-13,200 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The organic sector is governed by Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91, as amended. The only food that may be labelled organic is food produced in accordance with the EU regulation and, in some instances, with additional standards for Ireland set down in the European Communities (Organic Farming) Regulations 2004. Under these regulations, a person who falsely labelled a product as organic...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The following table shows the breakdown of the numbers in my private and constituency office. Grade Number of Posts Salary Scale Special Adviser 1 â¬57,630 ââ¬71,859 Assistant Principal Officer scale + 10% allowance Private Secretary 1 â¬40,543 ââ¬51,463 â Higher Executive Officer scale + â¬18,015 allowance Personal Assistant 1 â¬43,000...
- Written Answers — School Milk Scheme: School Milk Scheme (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together. In 2004, 2,360 schools around the country participated in the school milk scheme. The following table lists the school on a county basis. County Number of Schools Cork 386 Clare 44 Kerry 60 Limerick 84 Tipperary 104 Waterford 66 Galway 179 Sligo 52 Roscommon 39 Mayo 139 Leitrim 16 Cavan 41 Donegal...
- Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: In 2004, a total of â¬1,975.01 was paid by my Department to Laois County Council in respect of water rates for my Department's offices in Portlaoise.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Originally, the person named had a single payment of â¬1,522.03 and 7.1 entitlements established for him during the reference period 2000 to 2002. However, since he was destocked in 1999 under the agri-environmental measures, his entitlements were subsequently based on the years prior to destocking which would have been more beneficial to him. Accordingly, the person named was notified that...
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The Senator should ensure that the duck is registered.
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: That was a typographical error in the script. The Senator will see from the Official Report that I said it is not acceptable that concessions in agriculture should be a precondition for movement elsewhere.
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: That is incorrect.
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I thank the Senators for their participation in this debate. As always with agriculture we have strayed from the point, but it was all done in earnest. On the WTO, all parties are supportive of not going beyond the Council mandate that sets the parameters within which we work. I reiterate that we have gone as far as we can go in the green box on domestic support. We have agreed to phase out...
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: If there is to be free trade â and there are issues about free market access and bottoming out prices â there are winners and losers. If others refuse to import Brazilian beef, why should we? Why can we not export to the US, Japan and North Korea? Our farmers are prepared to be competitive and ensure quality and standards but they must have a balanced approach. That is needed in the WTO talks.
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I am not being facetious but there is a naive view about the sugar deal. We had to reform the sugar sector because of the WTO talks before us and because we lost the WTO panel. I agree that this is where supporting less-developed countries becomes difficult and complex. The ACP countries asked us as a Council not to change the price. We have not seen the full outcome of the Everything but...
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The opportunity is still there for those in the beet sector to remain for a two-year period. I negotiated the best deal I could get in the face of adversity.
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I will do all I can to support alternative ways to sustain agriculture, which were discussed today. With regard to the reform of the CAP, we have changed to become very much focused on market, consumer and quality. That is how the agricultural sector will survive. We must deal with issues such as substantial transformation, and I agree with Senator O'Toole's comments on this issue. I thank...
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Those who did not receive payment were contacted by the Department over the weekend and during the week.
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I am not wrong as the work was paid for.
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: With respect, the Senator should have had a perfect application.
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Some issues exist but they are not insurmountable, and they can be dealt with. We will do our utmost to ensure the remaining necessary funding for farmers will be dealt with as quickly as possible. Agriculture is a priority for me and all my colleagues within my parliamentary party and the Government. Agriculture is a necessity for the economic development of this country, be it the agrifood...
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I wish to see import substitution in the vegetable market, for instance, in which we are involved. An onion growing initiative was launched last Friday in north County Dublin, as we invest in import substitution in the horticultural sector and organic food. The consumer will ultimately determine how agriculture develops. The consumer expects quality, standards and safety. This does not...
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: There was a letter.
- Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I have noticed an increase in security since my last visit to the Seanad. I thought the Members of this House were all kept in the highest regard. I welcome this opportunity to address the House on the WTO negotiations on agriculture. Agriculture continues to make an important economic and social contribution to Irish society, and the outcome of negotiation of the new WTO agreement on...