Results 13,781-13,800 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy may be aware, an interdepartmental-interagency working group was established within my Department in October 2003 to develop proposals for a national strategy and best practices to ensure the co-existence of GM crops with conventional and organic farming. I have just recently received the report of the group and I am in the process of examining it. While part of the group's work...
- Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Beef production is extremely valuable to the economy with a â¬1.4 billion export value representing almost 25% of total Irish agri-food exports. Most of our beef exports to date, this year, have been to the high value UK and EU markets. EU consumption is predicted to again outstrip production in 2005 with a resulting import gap of an estimated 280,000 tonnes for the year. This will provide...
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I welcome the positive outcome of the agreement on the forestry element of the new Rural Development Regulation 2007-2013. Following intensive negotiations, which concluded on 20 June 2005, Ireland secured a most satisfactory outcome, in spite of a bleak starting position. The original draft regulation proposed a maximum 40% establishment grant for new afforestation projects as opposed to the...
- Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Applications for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve were received from more than 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 allocations to be reflected in the single payment scheme payment which is scheduled to commence on 1...
- Written Answers — Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I welcome the publication of the report of the national task force on obesity and I acknowledge the need for a long-term sustained commitment from relevant Departments, agencies and food industry stakeholders to tackle the obesity crisis. My Department is fully committed to engaging in this process and it made a comprehensive submission to the task force setting out the Department's role and...
- Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: My Department has maintained a vigilant approach to the risk of an outbreak of avian influenza in poultry following confirmation of the existence of a high pathogenic strain in Russia and Kazakhstan in August. In particular it has been active in reviewing all aspects of our contingency arrangements and several measures have been introduced to improve our preparedness to deal with any suspect...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: To assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates action programme, I have announced details of a proposed revised farm waste management scheme for which EU approval is now being sought. I hope early approval of the scheme will be forthcoming so that it can be introduced next January. Subject to the required EU approval, the scheme will introduce a standard grant rate of 60%,...
- Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 209 together. The dairy industry continues to contribute very substantially to the national economy, with an output value of some â¬2.3 billion and exports of â¬1.86 billion last year. This year exports are again performing very well despite adjustments to market management supports brought about by the implementation of the Luxembourg Agreement on...
- Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The price of gas oil, which includes agricultural diesel, as measured by the Central Statistics Office wholesale price index shows that gas oil increased by 11.1% in 2004 and by 22% to the end of August of this year. The CSO data shows that the price of gas oil increased by 30.2% in the 12 months from August 2004 to August 2005. The CSO agricultural price index indicates that the cost of...
- Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Traceability and labelling of Irish farm produce is an area accorded priority by my Department. Sophisticated traceability systems for cattle, sheep and pigs have been developed and implemented in recent years. In addition the labelling of foodstuffs was examined by a food labelling group and the main recommendations of that group have been implemented, in particular the centralisation of...
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 197 and 200 together. To assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates action programme, I have announced details of a proposed revised farm waste management scheme for which EU approval is now being sought. I hope early approval of the scheme will be forthcoming so that it can be introduced next January. Subject to the required EU...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, was established under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988. Its function under the Act is to provide research, training and advisory services for the agri-food sector. Teagasc is governed by an 11 member authority. The chairman and five ordinary members are appointed by the Minister and the remaining five members are...
- Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I am strongly committed to the development of the organic sector in Ireland. My Department already provides incentives to encourage organic farming, which are substantial in proportion to the size of the sector. Through the rural environment protection scheme, REPS, almost â¬4 million was paid directly to organic farmers in 2004. Since REPS began in 1994, it has delivered some â¬31 million...
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Oct 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. In October 2004, Ireland submitted proposals for a derogation from the general organic nitrogen limit of 170 kilogrammes per hectare per annum laid down in the nitrates directive. The proposal was designed to allow farmers to operate under...
- Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I am aware of the results of the farm scale evaluation trials, published by the United Kingdom Royal Society, on a study carried out in Britain that compared genetically modified winter oilseed rape against its conventional counterpart. I am sure this information will feed into any future amendments that will be made by the EU in respect of the approval of oilseed rape for cultivation within...
- Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: My Department opened an office in Wicklow town in 2001, the purpose of which was to improve the level of service provided to farmers in the east Wicklow area. A superintending veterinary inspector based in my Department's Tallaght office has responsibility for the operation of the Wicklow veterinary office. There are two veterinary inspectors covering the east Wicklow area, one of whom is...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The agreement on the mid-term review of Agenda 2000 reached at the Council of Agricultural Ministers on 26 June 2003 was a balanced one, which addressed Ireland's principal objectives. Among these objectives were the preservation of the financial benefits achieved under the Agenda 2000 agreement and the establishment of a policy framework that will allow farmers and the agri-sector the...
- Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The joint committee's examination of the early retirement scheme provided a welcome opportunity to air a wide range of issues and this in itself has been helpful in clarifying the position. Earlier this month I provided a detailed response to the report. Regrettably, there are a number of the committee's recommendations I have not been able to accept. They are precluded by elements of the EU...
- Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The agreement on the mid-term review of Agenda 2000, reached at the Council of Agricultural Ministers on 26 June 2003, provided a financial envelope to each member state. This envelope represented the average value of livestock and arable aid premia paid in the member state during the three-year reference period 2000-02 calculated at 2002 rates of payment. The outcome, which will reshape the...
- Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (4 Oct 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Although proportionally, the organic sector is still extremely small, the Irish organic market has witnessed strong growth levels in recent years to reach an estimated â¬38 million at retail level in 2003. The indications are that an annual growth rate of approximately 10% should be achievable in the Irish organic food market in the medium term. I am strongly committed to the organic sector...