Results 13,741-13,760 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has overall responsibility for energy policy and is primarily responsible for the promotion and development of renewable energy, including biofuels. Nonetheless, the development of the biofuels industry is a cross-sectoral issue impinging on several policy areas, for example those related to environment and fiscal policy as well as...

Written Answers — Land Prices: Land Prices (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Low levels of land mobility have been a long-term feature of Irish farming. The number of land parcels placed on the market annually is relatively small, and Ireland's strong economic growth has increased demand for all forms of land. Average agricultural land prices for 2004 were €16,156 per hectare, an increase of 12% on 2003. While there was an exceptionally high increase of 25% in the...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am very pleased with the level of demand for REPS since the introduction of REPS 3 last year. During the summer we broke the previous record for participation and we now have over 47,000 farmers in the scheme. Total spending on REPS amounted to €208 million in 2004. Expenditure this year, with three months still to go, has already almost matched that. I am hopeful that we will have close...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Applications for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve were received from over 17,500 farmers. Processing of these applications is continuing and the intention is to make allocations to successful applicants by 1 December next. This will allow any allocations to be reflected in the single payment scheme payment which is scheduled to commence on 1...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As I have indicated previously, I regard the Commission's proposals for reform of the sugar regime as unacceptable and have made this clear directly to the Commissioner and in the Council of Ministers. The production of ethanol from sugar beet is a possible alternative outlet for farmers but, as matters stand, Irish Sugar Limited has arrangements in place to process the full Irish sugar quota...

Written Answers — Sugar Quota: Sugar Quota (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under the EU sugar regime, each member state has a quota for manufactured sugar. There is no quota for sugar beet. The EU regulations stipulate that the quota must be made available to the sugar manufacturing enterprises in the member state. Accordingly, in Ireland the entire sugar quota is processed by Irish Sugar Limited, which is the only sugar manufacturer in this country. Irish Sugar...

Written Answers — Animal Health Strategy: Animal Health Strategy (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am fully committed to the development of an all-Ireland animal health strategy, the ultimate objective of which should be the free movement of animals on the island and the development of agreed policies to control animal disease and to facilitate trade. There is already a long history of co-operation between the Administrations North and South on animal health issues. The Administrations...

Written Answers — Farming Practices: Farming Practices (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I expect to introduce shortly an amendment to the relevant national legislation to allow for the spreading on non-pasture land of digestate produced by composting and biogas plants using animal by-products in their inputs. These arrangements are being introduced primarily in the context of EU legislation that allows the digestate produced in such plants to be spread on non-pasture land. In...

Written Answers — Veterinary Medicines: Veterinary Medicines (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140, 155, 162, 177, 185 and 199 together. The draft regulations on veterinary medicines which were circulated by my Department in August for consultation are designed to give effect to EU Directive 2004/28 and to reform aspects of the existing national regime. My Department has received written submissions from most of the main stakeholders and has also...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Bord Bia promotes the Irish food and drink industry in an increasingly competitive global food market. Competition in the market is becoming even more intense with greater trade liberalisation, competition from low cost countries and increasing concentration at retail level. Allied to this consumer requirements are changing with more emphasis being placed on health, convenience and...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Significant progress is being made on implementing the Government's decision on the decentralisation of my Department. The decentralisation programme includes the relocation of the Department's headquarters to Portlaoise, transfer of the local office in Cork city to Fermoy and the rationalisation of the Department's five Munster laboratories to Macroom. Practically all the Department's Dublin...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: There were 126 cases of BSE confirmed in 2004 compared with 182 in 2003 and 333 in 2002. To date in 2005 there have been 50 cases which represents a decrease of 47% on the number of cases — 96 — discovered in the same period in 2004. The majority of the confirmed cases were in animals born prior to the introduction of the additional controls in 1996 and 1997. The age profile of BSE cases...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Beef imports into the European Union from third countries must have been sourced, first, in countries and, second, in premises currently listed and approved by the European Commission and which are subject to veterinary audits by the EU's Food and Veterinary Office. In addition, such imports are subject to checks laid down in the harmonised rules prescribed at European level, and must be...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: By the closing date of 16 May 2005 for the single payment scheme, my Department had received almost 149,000 applications. It will be appreciated that as all farmers who wished to activate their entitlements and-or claim payment under the scheme were obliged to submit an application form, the number of forms submitted includes an element of double-counting. For example, where a farmer who had...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 171 together. I am anxious to facilitate trade in live sheep, which has to take place in accordance with EU rules governing such intra-Community trade. Trade in sheep between member states of the European Union is subject to the provisions of, inter alia, Council Directive 2003/50/EC, which amends Council Directive 91/68/EEC regarding reinforced...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The EU regulation covering the current early retirement scheme will expire in December 2006. Take-up has fallen far short of expectations, and an expenditure review of the scheme carried out by my Department in 2004 raised a number of questions about it. The Council regulation on rural development for the period 2007 to 2013 again includes provision for member states to operate early...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 182 together. For 2006, I have decided that the modulated funds should be used on a once-off payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme. This requires EU approval and is under current consideration by the EU Commission. My decision reflects the importance of the disadvantaged areas scheme in ensuring continued agricultural land use in the less...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Pending agreement at EU level on labelling thresholds for GM seeds, a voluntary agreement exists among most of the member states which prohibits the importation of GM seeds. This agreement, which Ireland is party to, is underpinned by a requirement that each consignment of imported seed of what are deemed to be at risk crop varieties must be accompanied by a certificate from a reputable...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware of both the confirmation of BSE in an animal born in Wales in 2002 and the reports of BSE being transmitted in an experimental sheep flock in the UK. There are no particular implications for Ireland as a result of either incident. To date there have been 16 cases of BSE confirmed in this country in animals born after 1998, the most recent born of which had a registered date of...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I discussed the WTO agriculture negotiations and Irish concerns in relation thereto at a bilateral meeting with the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development on 23 June 2005. The Council of Agriculture Ministers, which reviews the situation on a regular basis, discussed the developments in the negotiations at its meetings on 18 July 2005 and 19 September 2005, both of which I...