Results 15,041-15,060 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Beef Imports. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I would not get too big a head. I do not know if the Commission reads our reports.
- Beef Imports. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: My mind would have been more focused on this issue, particularly in the poultry sector, than the minds of some of the men in this House over the years. I am supporting our poultry sector. Some people may be surprised that consumers are not aware that in the majority of cases, the poultry they eat, particularly the majority of chicken breasts, do not come from this country.
- Beef Imports. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: It is coming through the EU, assisted by the trains. Our fresh produce is good. I was prepared to introduce a statutory instrument when I came to this Department and I had been advised by the Attorney General that it must be supported by primary legislation. I found that it was going to take me some time to get back to the House with primary legislation and on that basis I am being...
- Beef Imports. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I appreciate that but it is not really my responsibility. The Food Standards Authority of Ireland, FSAI, comes under the Department of Health and Children because traceability is a food safety and public health issue. We must tackle the labelling issue in many ways. To be able to see what is on the label would be a start. People must also understand what is on the label, which is what Deputy...
- Beef Imports. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I would like to see an increase in organic capacity and to see the price issue addressed, as no doubt would Deputy Sargent. The issue of labelling will be considered in the context of changes made. A labelling group made a number of recommendations which have now been addressed but there are still opportunities and a need for reorientation. Perhaps even the organic producers should consider a...
- Animal Diseases. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy has received a by-election representation.
- Animal Diseases. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Nothing can be done because it is a diagnostic problem.
- Animal Diseases. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The farmer involved has been in touch with the Department on a number of occasions. While there is an issue, the diagnostic procedure is the difficulty. The Department does not buy cattle.
- Animal Diseases. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy should wake up.
- Grant Payments. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The modulated funds become available for use in 2006. I will decide on their use and seek the necessary EU approval in the coming months. My Department is finalising its examination of the relevant options. As part of that examination there has been a widespread public consultation and discussions with stakeholders. The use of modulated funds in 2006 is limited to certain measures. The...
- Grant Payments. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I am delighted that the discussion with the IFA made the front page of the Irish Farmers' Journal. Perhaps if that discussion had been on the record, the story would not have been published. There has been significant consultation and I received more than 60 submissions. One of the difficulties is the funds are available only for one year, 2006, before they become part of the rural...
- Food Industry. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The National Development Plan 2000-2006 contains an indicative funding allocation of â¬358 million to the food industry for a range of measures covering capital investment, research, technology and innovation, marketing and promotion and human resources. A total of more than â¬72 million has been awarded to date in respect of the capital investment scheme administered jointly by my...
- Common Agricultural Policy. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 83 together. My Department implemented The force majeure procedure for the single farm payment scheme in accordance with the provisions of Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. Eligible applicants under this measure can have their entitlements based on an average of one or two years during the reference period â 2000, 2001 and 2002 â...
- Common Agricultural Policy. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: No political interference there, Deputy.
- Common Agricultural Policy. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I evaluated that because it is something I heard from my own back bench colleagues. The Deputy is talking about a 22% success rate overall. The number of cases received at the time was 15,288, nearly all of which have been processed. The number of successful applicants was 3,331. When independent appeals took place, 10% were found in favour of the applicant. A number of issues arise. The...
- Common Agricultural Policy. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: That is a different issue because it is does not concern entitlement. The Deputy is talking about access to a specific installation aid which supports young farmers who want to get into farming. It is like the case of somebody who took up the farm retirement scheme but now wants to go back to farming. There may be issues with regard to having the opportunity to participate in education. The...
- Common Agricultural Policy. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: I was being facetious when I spoke earlier, although some people will chance their arm like anybody else. There are people who have particular reasons for not applying, including widows and so on, and it may be considered within the force majeure process, perhaps under the national reserve. I am trying not to go beyond the 3% threshold because that means that whoever gets their entitlements...
- Common Agricultural Policy. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: Hardship issues are not considered within the European Commission or the Union. We try to facilitate hardship issues as best we can. As much medical information as possible must be put forward and it must be such that the person is not physically in a position to carry out a farming enterprise within the reference year. That is the problem. Someone could break a leg but still be able to farm....
- EU Directives. (2 Mar 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. Ireland submitted an action programme for further implementation of the directive to the European Commission on 22 October 2004. The Commission conveyed its view, by way of a letter of formal notice under Article 228 of the European Union Treaty...
- EU Directives. (2 Mar 2005)
Mary Coughlan: The Brosnan proposals which were agreed by all of the stakeholders have not been accepted by the Commission. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and his officials, in addition to my officials, went to Brussels where we had discussions with the Commission on the basis of the Brosnan proposals. However the Commission is still adamant that it will not accept the...