Results 14,181-14,200 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: A specific comprehensive traceability and labelling system is in place for beef at retail level. It is also in place for beef up to the point of entry to the restaurant and catering sector. However, labelling is not obligatory at the point of consumption in the restaurant. With the joint aims of protecting consumer interests and to ensure that the consumer is properly informed as to the...

Written Answers — Export Credit Refunds: Export Credit Refunds (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The framework agreement for the next WTO round which was concluded in Geneva in August 2004 commits member countries to agree detailed rules, including an end date, for the parallel elimination of all forms of export subsides and for the introduction of disciplines on all export measures with equivalent effect. This agreement covers export refunds, export credits, the trade distorting...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have recently introduced the European Communities (Authorisation, Placing on the Market, Use and Control of Plant Protection Products) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2005, S.I. No. 224 of 2005. Those regulations were introduced following a review of the existing legislation and served to streamline arrangements for the authorisation of plant protection products for minor uses. I expect, on...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 May 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 last, Ireland submitted an action programme to the European Commission for further implementation of the nitrates directive. In December, the Commission conveyed its view that the action programme was not complete and did not comply...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Production: Sugar Beet Production (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The EU Commission outlined its initial ideas for reform of the EU sugar regime in a communication to the Council and the European Parliament last July. The communication was the subject of technical discussions at Council working group level in Brussels and there was a policy debate at the Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in November. The European Commission's initial ideas for reform...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Producers who chose to farm extensively during the reference years were entitled to apply for extensification premium. This premium was in addition to any premia received in respect of the special beef and suckler cow premium schemes. Producers who received the extensification premium during the reference years will continue to have this premium reflected in their single payment entitlements....

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: MRSA, or methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, is an antibiotic resistant bacterium, the presence of which in humans was noted over 35 years ago and which has been a feature of antibiotic resistance in human therapy since. During the last two years, the presence of the bacterium has been noted in dogs and horses. It is thought that the route of infection has been from pet owners and...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The food labelling group, which was established in July 2002, presented its report in December 2002. Notwithstanding that food labelling is a particularly complicated and broad based area, substantial progress has been made to date in the implementation of the recommendations of the report. Nineteen of the 21 recommendations, many of which were beyond the remit of my Department and some of...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 66 and 85 together. I am seeking a solution to the problem of the special beef premium overshoot and will continue to do so with the European Commissioner. I have already raised the issue with the Commissioner on a number of occasions. My Department has also forwarded a detailed submission to the European Commission dealing with this matter. I am urging...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Following the coming into force, on 21 April, of the EU Commission Decision 2005/317/EC on emergency measures regarding the non-authorised genetically modified organism "Bt10" in maize products, my Department has introduced a requirement that all imports of maize gluten feed and distillers dried grains originating from the USA be accompanied by an original analytical certificate to...

Written Answers — Land Reclassification: Land Reclassification (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The designation of land under the EU birds and habitats directives is a function of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The question of compensation for farmers in the Shannon callows area is a matter, in the first instance, for that Department and I understand that discussions on the matter with the farming bodies have been going on for some time and are not yet...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Production: Sugar Beet Production (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 68 and 89 together. Under the EU sugar regime, each member state has a quota for manufactured sugar. There is no quota for sugar beet nor is there a quota at farm level. 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...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 75 together. I am always prepared to facilitate trade in live sheep which, of course, must 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, as regards...

Written Answers — Safety on Farms: Safety on Farms (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Health and Safety Authority is the State authority charged with overall responsibility for the promotion and enforcement of workplace health and safety. The authority has a proactive inspection and enforcement programme, Programme of Work 2005, which focuses on high risk sectors, including agriculture, and aims to achieve an improvement in farm safety and an increase in the percentage of...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: While I am aware of the final results of the farm scale evaluation trials carried out in Britain, which compared genetically modified winter oil seed rape against its conventional counterpart, I have not yet studied these results in detail. The interdepartmental/inter-agency working group, established to draw up a national strategy and best practices for the coexistence of GM crops with...

Written Answers — Cost of Farm Inputs: Cost of Farm Inputs (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Central Statistics Office measures the changes in agricultural inputs in the agricultural input price index, which it issues on a monthly basis. The costs of all agricultural inputs as measured by this index increased by 3.5% in the 12 months to February 2005, the latest figure available. Two of the major factors in the 3.5% increase to February 2005 were the rise of 15.1% in the cost of...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The review and appraisal of Ireland's forestry development strategy undertaken by Peter Bacon and Associates is a key element of a review of the sector. The proposals in the review are being considered in conjunction with the draft EU regulation on rural development policy, which proposes reductions in EU financial support for forestry. The Bacon report reaffirmed the need for an approved...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Teagasc has an ongoing programme of research that is investigating the potential risks and benefits associated with the growing of GM crops in Ireland including, inter alia, the economic implications. Preliminary research completed to date indicates that the cultivation of certain crops with certain modifications may provide a financial incentive to the individual Irish farmer. While strands...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In reply to a similar question on 4 May, I indicated that the proposed redefinition of disadvantaged areas is one element of an EU Commission proposal on support for rural development in the 2007-2013 period. The proposed redefinition responds to the European Court of Auditors' criticism, endorsed by the European Parliament, of the current system. The suggested new methodology would be based...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The European directives to be implemented by my Department are set out in the table.