Results 14,521-14,540 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (4 May 2005)

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

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

Mary Coughlan: The year 2005 marks one of the most significant developments in the recent history of Irish farming as policy shifts from production supports to the decoupled single payment scheme. The new Common Agricultural Policy regime will allow Irish cereal farmers greater freedom to farm, giving many producers the opportunity to tailor their enterprises to meet consumer and market demand and to...

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I regard short-term plans as those to be completed by year end, medium term strategies as those encompassed by the Department's three year statement of strategy and longer term plans as those relating to the issues set out in the Agri-Vision Report 2015. I have recently approved a new statement of strategy for the Department of Agriculture and Food for 2005 to 2007, which is expected to be...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has been informed that his application for consideration in respect of the new entrant measure of the single payment scheme has been withdrawn at his own request. The named person can apply to have the entitlements transferred to him by submitting a private contract application form and a copy of the lease agreement providing for the transfer of the entitlements together with...

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 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 with...

EU Directives. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As it is not within my competence to carry out an assessment of ground water, I suggest the Deputy table a question to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the matter.

EU Directives. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I agree. We are cognisant of the water framework directive as is reflected in our work on the nitrates directive which takes into consideration the implications of the framework directive. It would be preferable to deal with both directives simultaneously rather than revisiting them at a later date. With regard to the derogation I am confident and hopeful that we will achieve a favourable...

EU Directives. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: We must be positive on the basis that a derogation is tremendously important to the farming community and there will be serious issues if we are not in a position to secure it. The Commission is not happy with the way things have been done and it wants a nitrates action plan agreed that should be rolled out as quickly as possible. I cannot pre-empt the view of the Commission on the derogation...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The EU Commission's proposal for the post-2006 rural development framework provides for the reclassification of disadvantaged areas. It responds to the European Court of Auditors criticism, endorsed by the European Parliament, concerning the system. The suggested new methodology will be based on natural conditions, notably soil and climatic factors. The socio-economic criteria, taken into...

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I agree with the Deputy that this is an important area. I expected Deputy Crawford to jump up and thank the Minister and the Minister of State for including Monaghan.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: It is terrible to be successful on occasion on this side of the House. I know the Ceann Comhairle is above politics but he would welcome that. Deputy Breen is correct. A considerable portion of his constituency in County Clare lies in a disadvantaged area. This is a politically sensitive issue. We are currently in quite difficult negotiations on the issue. A number of my colleagues will...

Farm Waste Management. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is aware of the consultations in progress with the EU Commission regarding the implementation in Ireland of the nitrates directive. He is also aware of the substantial increases in grants for farm waste management introduced last year. Sustaining Progress allowed for improvements to be made to the grants available under the farm waste management scheme and this commitment was...

Farm Waste Management. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I agree the four counties with the 22-week requirement have a problem. In counties Monaghan and Cavan there are the additional issues of pigs and poultry. I have had an opportunity, with the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, to meet the Border regional authority, the producers and the national representatives. I have a major concern about this. I agree there is a special case to be...

Farm Waste Management. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I cannot give an indication at present about grant aid. This is a matter of negotiation between me, the Department of Finance and the social partners. There is a particularly special case to be made for those who have a 22-week requirement. Equally, there is a case to be made for intensive commercial producers, particularly dairy producers in the south, who also have a problem, although not...

Farm Waste Management. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: We will examine a practical way of dealing with this issue and we will also examine alternative methodologies as well as the normal ones under the farm waste management scheme.

Land Prices. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Low levels of land mobility have been a long-term feature of Irish farming. The substantial increase in land prices in recent years and the relatively small acreage that is placed on the market annually demonstrate that this situation has not changed. Agricultural land prices have increased by almost 300% from €4,967 per hectare in 1993 to €14,379 per hectare in 2003, the latest figure...

Land Prices. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: This has been an issue of considerable debate over the past few years. Macra na Feirme has been anxious to increase installation aid. It is an issue for review and consideration. I am concerned about the early retirement scheme. It is part of the rural development package and we have to see how much money will be made available for the next tranche of EU funding. However, we are trying to...

Land Prices. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: On the issue of leasing and social welfare, it is better for a person to lease his or her land than to have it set down as a capital assessment. Even though the capital value was changed in last year's budget, it is always worth confirming that a leasing agreement is better from a non-contributory pension point of view.

Land Prices. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Over the next few years, particularly when people begin to retire, they will get a contributory pension. I remember the Deputy raised this issue previously when I was in the Department of Social and Family Affairs and it did create some angst. The issue of leasing, particularly intra-family leasing, and changes from leasing agreements into partnership agreements appear to cause some bother....

Land Prices. (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I do not agree and I will not get into that argument.