Results 13,821-13,840 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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. Throughout the discussions on the action programme, the European Commission took a firm position on the minimum storage capacity required for pig producers. It also insisted that such storage facilities must be put in place at the earliest...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The requirements relating to the storage of organic fertilisers are set out in the nitrates action programme submitted to the Commission on 29 July 2005. I expect the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to publish for public consultation shortly draft regulations to give effect to the provisions of the action programme.

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

Mary Coughlan: Only processing plants applying the highest standards in relation to veterinary controls equivalent to those applicable in the EU, particularly in terms of legislation, hygiene conditions, animal health status, veterinary medicines controls, residues programmes, zoonoses controls and other food law will be issued with an EU approval number by my Department, and as such are the only processing...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: 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. I am aware of the views that have been expressed about the possible impact of the draft regulations on competition in the supply of veterinary medicines, in particular, from...

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

Mary Coughlan: My Department carried out a comprehensive expenditure review of the early retirement scheme in 2004. Under the scheme, joint management applications involving married couples and partners cannot be retrospectively treated as joint ownership applications unless new evidence emerges which shows that they were wrongly classified in the first place.

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

Mary Coughlan: There are approximately 300 deer farms in Ireland with an estimated population of nearly 50,000 animals. The structure of deer farming has altered over the past ten years. While the number of units has decreased from some 450 in 1994, the average enterprise has increased in scale with resulting growth in the farmed deer population in the past ten years. Although there are fewer enterprises...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Notwithstanding the fact that my Department is involved in the major undertaking of implementing the new single payment scheme, the current system of payments to the farming community is operated in both an effective and efficient manner and conforms with the obligations outlined in the protocol on direct payments to farmers, as negotiated with the farming organisations.

Written Answers — Crop Production: Crop Production (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The results of the 2005 census of potato production will not be available until later this year. The area of potatoes grown fluctuated between 13,173 hectares in 2000 and 13,725 hectares in 2003. In 2004 the area fell by 8% to 12,604 hectares. Despite the reduced area, exceptionally high yields resulted in over-supply and depressed prices to producers. As 2004 was the second successive year...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Agreement was reached in Geneva in August 2004 on a framework setting out the structure and general content of the new World Trade Organisation, WTO, agreement. I am satisfied that the framework agreement secured the benefits to Irish farmers of the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy and represented a satisfactory outcome from Ireland's point of view. The detailed...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The total area applied for under the energy crops scheme in 2005 is 1,390 hectares, while the total area for non-food crops grown on set-aside land is 875 hectares. Following the introduction of the single payment scheme, the production of crops for energy purposes will, in common with all agricultural production in future, be demand-driven. Farmers will only produce crops for bioenergy if...

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

Mary Coughlan: Promotion and marketing of Irish beef, lamb, pigmeat and chicken comes under the remit of Bord Bia. The key element of its strategy in the catering industry is to promote beef, lamb, pigmeat and chicken through its Féile Bia programme. This is a voluntary programme for hotels, restaurants, pubs and workplaces that was developed by Bord Bia in conjunction with the Restaurants Association of...

Written Answers — Animal Carcase Disposal: Animal Carcase Disposal (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: All animals acquired under the purchase for destruction scheme operated by my Department in 2001 were rendered and the resultant meat and bone meal and tallow incinerated. Hides from these animals were processed at tanneries in Ireland. All disposal activities were controlled strictly in accordance with the relevant EU regulations.

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

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 412 together. The marketing of Irish meats is carried out by the industry with support from my Department and Bord Bia. Bord Bia has specific responsibility for the promotion of Irish beef, lamb and pigmeat. That organisation is engaged in a wide range of activities to promote these meats on both foreign and domestic markets. In 2005, these activities...

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

Mary Coughlan: My Department operates a full traceability system for cattle, sheep and pigs. It is also a requirement under the new European food safety legislation, which came into effect at the beginning of this year, that all food businesses must have a traceability system in place. This new legislation places the responsibility for compliance with food safety legislation on the all food business...

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

Mary Coughlan: There is some legislation governing the labelling of meat and meat products. The general labelling regulations covering, among other points, all food sold in Ireland require that the information be given clearly, accurately and in a language understood by the consumer. This legislation comes within the remit of the Department of Health and Children. My Department is responsible for policy in...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named, having been notified that the circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure or exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003, submitted an appeal to the single payment appeals committee. Following a full examination of the circumstances outlined in the appeal, the single payment appeals committee made a...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Details of supports available to farmers from my Department are contained in my Department's publication Schemes and Services, which is available from my Department's offices and on the 2005 publications page of its website at www.agriculture.gov.ie. I have arranged for a copy of the current edition to be sent to the Deputy.

Estimates for Public Services 2005. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I move the following Supplementary Estimate: Vote 31 — Agriculture and Food (Supplementary). That a supplementary sum not exceeding €1,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on 31 December 2005 for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Agriculture and Food, including certain services administered by that...

Bovine Diseases. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Sixteen animals born after 1997 have been diagnosed with BSE, of which four were born in 1998, seven in 1999, three in 2000 and two in 2001. A further ten cases were confirmed in animals born in 1997 but a number of these were born before the full range of control measures was in place. The Department carries out an investigation into each of the comparatively small number of cases of animals...

Bovine Diseases. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I appreciate the Deputy's particular concern on this issue. We are doing everything we can to ascertain if there are particular issues as to why this occurs. However, I have been advised that there will always be sporadic incidents and that is reflected in the UK also.