Results 14,221-14,240 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Following intensive negotiations, agreement was reached in Geneva in August 2004 on a framework setting out the general outline and content of the new World Trade Organisation, WTO, agreement. The detailed implementation of this framework is the subject of ongoing negotiation at technical and political level, with the aim of concluding at the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: By the deadline for the receipt of single payment application forms on 16 May my Department estimates that applicants under this scheme had submitted some 142,000 applications. I initiated a major publicity campaign at national and local level to make farmers aware of the deadline for the receipt of applications. In addition, to facilitate farmers in the completion and submission of their...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The issues here relate to the forestry elements contained in the draft rural development regulation 2007-2013, first published by the European Commission in July 2004 and which is the subject of ongoing negotiations in the Council of Ministers. Throughout the negotiations so far, the Irish position on the draft regulation in general, including on the specific aspects related to forestry, has...

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

Mary Coughlan: The Food Agency Co-operation Council was established in 2000 under the aegis of my Department to promote the fullest practical co-operation between the State agencies involved in the food industry, in the interests of the optimum development of the industry. The council has an independent chairman, Mr. Padraic White. The inaugural meeting of the council took place in March 2000 and it has met...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I received the report of the Oireachtas joint committee formally on 7 April. I have asked my officials to consider the recommendations contained in the report, having due regard to the terms and conditions both of the early retirement scheme and of the European Commission regulations under which both the current and previous schemes were introduced.

Written Answers — Plant Protection Products: Plant Protection Products (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy will be aware that it is an offence, punishable at the discretion of the courts by imprisonment for a term of six months, or a fine not exceeding €3,000 or both, to import, place on the market or use a plant protection product that has not been registered. The regulatory system is designed to ensure a high level of protection for man, animals and the environment. Products...

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

Mary Coughlan: As I stated in my recent reply of 4 May, Bord Bia has undertaken an independent strategic review of its future direction and I anticipate that a report will be submitted to me shortly. Bord Bia is widely acknowledged as an effective market development and promotion agency for the Irish food industry. It is close to the market as initiatives such as Marketplace Ireland 2004 demonstrate. I...

Written Answers — Farming Population: Farming Population (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The most recent figures available from the CSO show that there were 77,900 full-time farmers — as defined by the CSO — in 2003, a drop of 20,400 since 1997. Over the same period the number of part-time farmers increased by 7,900 to 57,200. The agri vision 2015 committee indicated in its report that the trend to part-time farming — using a somewhat different definition than the CSO —...

Written Answers — Milk Prices: Milk Prices (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have made the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development fully aware of the impact that changes in market management supports and export refunds play in the overall development of the EU dairy industry and, in particular, their impact on the Irish dairy industry. Milk price is determined by a number of factors including the international market for dairy products, the type...

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

Mary Coughlan: Avian influenza is a serious, highly contagious viral disease of poultry, which can also spread to other animals and occasionally to human beings. EU legislation to control avian influenza is laid down in Directive 92/40/EEC. In brief, this directive requires that all suspected cases of avian influenza must be investigated and appropriate measures taken in case of confirmation of highly...

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

Mary Coughlan: Beef imports into the European Union from third countries must have been sourced, first, in countries and, second, in premises, that are 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...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is not aware of any general disruption to farming caused by the weather in recent months, nor has it been made aware of any particular localised weather related difficulties.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I received the report of the Oireachtas joint committee formally on 7 April. I have asked my officials to consider the recommendations contained in the report, having due regard to the terms and conditions both of the early retirement scheme itself and of the European Commission regulations under which both the current and previous schemes were introduced.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: It is a requirement of the EU regulations under which both the current and previous early retirement schemes are implemented that the early retirement pension can only be paid as a supplement to any national retirement pension that the participant and their spouse or partner in a joint management arrangement receive. This means that the value of any such national retirement pension, which...

Written Answers — Organic Sector: Organic Sector (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The organic sector is already well represented in social partnership. Many of the organisations represented on the national steering group for the organic sector are full participants in the partnership process. I do not propose, therefore, to seek the inclusion of the organic farming bodies in the process at this juncture.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted 12 applications under the 2004 special beef premium scheme, in respect of 174 animals, of which 163 are payable. The 60% advance payments in the amount of €11,424.60 issued on dates between 19 October 2004 and 28 January 2005. Following computer validation, it was found that four animals had previously been paid or claimed the premium, three animals were...

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 to 2013 period. The proposed redefinition responds to the European Court of Auditors' criticism, endorsed by the European Parliament, about the current system. The suggested new methodology would be...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I received the committee's report formally on 7 April and my officials are currently examining it. This report arises from an investigation by the committee of a complaint by a group representing retired farmers. My Department provided the committee with a comprehensive formal written response to the complaint and also attended a meeting of the committee in July 2003 to answer questions from...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted three applications under the 2004 special beef premium scheme, in respect of a total of 179 animals. The first application in respect of ten animals was received on 30 April 2004; the second application in respect of 74 animals was received on 16 December 2004; and the third application in respect of 95 animals was received on 31 December 2004. The 60% advance...

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

Mary Coughlan: My Department is currently engaged in drafting legislation to transpose EU Directive 2004/28 which is the new framework legislation governing the veterinary medicines regime across Europe. The deadline for transposition is 30 October 2005. The EU legislation includes a general provision that all veterinary medicines for food producing animals should be brought under veterinary prescription...