Results 14,501-14,520 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: The number of herdowners who have entitlements established under the single payment scheme is 136,983.

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

Mary Coughlan: My Department does not have this information.

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

Mary Coughlan: Details of the number of participants who joined the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming, which closed to new applicants on 31 December 1999, and the current scheme introduced in November 2000, in each year since their inception, are set out in the following table. Year ended Number 31 December 1994 1,962 31 December 1995 2,198 31 December 1996 1,795 31 December 1997...

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

Mary Coughlan: Intensive negotiations concluded in August 2004 in agreement on a framework setting out the general outline and content of a new WTO agreement. The detailed implementation of this framework is the subject of ongoing negotiation at technical and political level and are likely to conclude at the next ministerial conference in Hong Kong in December 2005. The main elements of the framework...

Written Answers — Sheep Imports: Sheep Imports (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Imports of sheep for slaughter at export plants in this jurisdiction amounted to 357,939 head in the last 12 months, or approximately 11% of slaughterings at all export plants. All these originated in Northern Ireland. Small numbers are also imported for breeding purposes from various countries.

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

Mary Coughlan: There are a number of pieces of legislation governing the labelling of meat and meat products. The general labelling regulations covering among other things 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...

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

Mary Coughlan: The prices received by producers and obtained in retail establishments are determined by the process of negotiation within the marketplace. The level of supply of a certain product, the degree of competitiveness within a sector and the level of consumer demand will all influence the final price received by the producer. Similarly, the prices received by retail outlets are dependent on a range...

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

Mary Coughlan: The prepared consumer foods sector plays a significant role in the economy with annual output of €2.6 billion, exports of €1.3 billion and direct employment of 16,000. The sector is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of the Irish food industry, with growth at about 10% per annum. The prepared consumer foods sector is comprised of almost 200 companies out of a total of 700 food...

Written Answers — Potato Sector: Potato Sector (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Preliminary indications are that potato plantings in 2005 will be slightly down on the 2004 figure of 12,600 hectares. Planting of the 2005 potato crop is ongoing. The annual national potato census takes place during the summer and results for 2005 will be published later in the year. The main varieties grown in 2004 were Rooster, which represented 54% of main crop production area, Kerr's...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The following table summarises the estimated quantities of pig meat, in carcass weight equivalent, produced, imported, consumed and exported in 2004. It indicates that imports are the equivalent of 29% of national production. Tonnes Production 206,000 Imports 59,000 Consumption 146,000 Exports 119,000

Written Answers — Pet Food: Pet Food (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Importation of meat and bonemeal or such products for any purpose to do with the farm animal and human food chain is prohibited. Under Community rules the importation of such products which have already been incorporated within pet foods and which are destined for meat eating animals is provided for subject to certain conditions. Data supplied by the Central Statistics Office indicate that...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 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 2004, 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 with...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 370 and 374 together. Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including meat and meat extracts, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under harmonised legislation a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the member...

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

Mary Coughlan: In recent years, the focus of the Irish beef and sheepmeat industry has been to broaden and expand its market reach at EU retail level. For beef this has meant shifting its orientation away from international commodity markets and into the higher priced internal EU marketplace. Effective promotion by Bord Bia and marketing by the industry has ensured a presence for top quality Irish beef and...

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

Mary Coughlan: The general labelling regulations covering all food sold in Ireland require that the information be given clearly, accurately and in a language understood by the consumer. European Directive 2000/13/EC on the labelling of foodstuffs requires prepackaged foodstuffs to carry information on the source or place of origin only where its absence might mislead the consumer to a material degree on...

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

Mary Coughlan: Payments under the 2004 arable aid scheme commenced on 16 November in line with the protocol commitments. Up to 99.4% of applicants have received their payments amounting to more than €130 million. Payments under the four on-farm investment schemes, the farm waste management scheme, dairy hygiene scheme, installation aid scheme and alternative enterprises scheme, are up to date and in...

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

Mary Coughlan: A total of 2,635 applications have been received under the current early retirement scheme since its introduction in November 2000. Of these 81 are being processed. In the 12 months from 1 May 2004 to 30 April 2005, a total of 309 applications were approved and eight rejected.

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

Mary Coughlan: The deer population in Ireland stands at nearly 50,000 animals on some 300 units, producing almost 800 tonnes of venison annually. Deer numbers have increased by 10% since 1994. About 70% of production is exported to markets in Denmark, the UK and US. Fallow deer is exported to Denmark while red deer is supplied to the supermarket chains in Ireland and the UK and also to restaurants at home...

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The future development of the Irish dairy industry will depend on a number of factors including how it responds to the mid-term reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, how it reacts to the obligations imposed by the World Trade Organisation and how it avails of the increased marketing opportunities presented in the enlarged European Union and the wider global economy. The new intervention...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The first case of BSE in Ireland was diagnosed in 1989. In 1990 EU legislation was introduced which banned the feeding of meat and bonemeal to ruminant animals. These measures were significantly strengthened in the intervening years in the light of new information relating to the disease and the possible implications for human health. In 2001 all proteins derived from mammals was prohibited...