Results 15,341-15,360 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department acted in an efficient and effective manner in dealing with the determination that bone spicules were present in a consignment of maize gluten imported into this country last November. Officials within my Department were guided by the provisions of the contingency plan and a standard operating procedure for dealing with such cases. While I cannot guarantee that such incidents...

Written Answers — Departmental Estimates: Departmental Estimates (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The reduced allocation in 2005 compared with 2004 for food safety, animal health and welfare and plant heath reflects primarily the reduced incidence of animal diseases such as BSE, bovine TB and brucellosis, and the phasing out of subsidies for the rendering of meat and bone meal. Within the same budget heading, there are increased provisions for veterinary research and testing, the national...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Measures have already been taken to address the specific situation of farmers in the Shannon callows with lands designated under the birds or habitats directives. Farmers in this area who wish to join REPS but believe that the REPS payments do not fully offset any income loss arising from the restrictions placed on their farming activities because of designation under the directives, may now...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under Article 40 of European Council Regulation 1782/2003, farmers who were under agri-environmental commitments during the reference years 2000 to 2002 are entitled to have a year or years not affected by their agri-environmental commitments used to calculate their entitlements. However, under European Commission Regulation 795/2004 setting out the detailed rules governing the single payment...

Written Answers — Modulation Funds: Modulation Funds (27 Jan 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 widespread public consultation and discussions with stakeholders. The use of modulated funds in 2006 is limited to certain measures. The...

Written Answers — Teagasc Services: Teagasc Services (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, was established under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988. Its function under the Act is to provide research, training and advisory services for the agrifood sector. Teagasc is governed by an 11-member authority. The chairman and five ordinary members are appointed by the Minister and the remaining five...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: At present a minimum of 20 income units from farming is required in the case of applications for grants under the farm investment schemes. The European Commission has repeatedly opposed any relaxation of this minimum income provision despite several approaches by my Department on the matter. The conditions of the farm waste management scheme are currently under consideration.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I refer the Deputy to the reply today to Question No. 133 by Deputy Seymour Crawford. The co-ordination of the farm waste management scheme is under consideration. As and from 13 September 2004, my Department has introduced revised standard costings, which reflect increased costs including that of steel in respect of all approvals issued under the farm waste management scheme.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The number of credit cards issued for official use within my Department is 124. These cards are issued to Ministers and officials and are for official purposes. All costs are offset against the officer's travel and subsistence entitlements or, having been duly approved, against the Department's official entertainment budget. The accounts pertaining to Ministers and senior MAC level officials...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named lodged an application for consideration under the Inheritance measure of the single payment scheme. Following initial processing of the application the person named has been requested to submit additional documentation to substantiate his application. On receipt of this information a decision on the application will issue to the person named.

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Applications to the 2005 single payment national reserve are being prepared for processing. In the processing of applications, priority, from a timing point of view, will be given to applications from farmers who may qualify for additional single payment entitlements from the national reserve as distinct from farmers who may qualify for a top-up on existing entitlements. Farmers in the former...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for consideration under the 'new entrant' and 'inheritance' measures of the single payment scheme. That application has been fully processed and the person named has been successful in respect of both measures. However, in this case the 'new entrant' measure is the financially more beneficial to the person named. A letter advising him that the year...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has submitted documentation to indicate that she wishes to be considered under the inheritance measure of the single payment scheme. However, no application form was submitted with this documentation. My Department has been in contact with the person named and has advised her to complete the necessary form. A blank application form and addressed return envelope have been...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy. : Common Agricultural Policy. (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The mid-term review of the Agenda 2000 agreement has changed the nature of EU support for dairying. Under the reformed CAP, market supports for dairy products are being reduced and direct payments to dairy farmers in the form of the dairy premium have been introduced. This new policy framework will demand a more market-oriented approach by the dairy sector as market supports are reduced over...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Figures for imports are not maintained centrally or in a manner to reply to the first two parts of the Deputy's question. The movement of animals from one member state to another is governed by Community legislation. This legislation requires that animals moved from one member state to another are accompanied by a health certificate which is endorsed by an official veterinarian authorised by...

Written Answers — Cereal Sector: Cereal Sector (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under the reformed CAP, Irish cereal farmers will have the cushion of the single farm payment decoupled from production as and from 1 January 2005. Farmers will be able to concentrate on supplying markets, focussing on minimising production costs and maximising their incomes. Improved efficiency of production at farm level will be important to maintain incomes and to ensure that the volume of...

Written Answers — Farm Numbers: Farm Numbers (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The most recent figures produced by the Central Statistics Office show that there were 136,500 farms in 2002. This reflects a decline rate of 1.7% per annum since 1995. If this rate of decline continues over the next five years it would result in approximately 119,000 farms in 2010. However, projections done for the Agri Vision 2015 Committee take account of the impact of decoupling and...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's mission is to lead the sustainable development of a competitive, consumer-focused agri-food sector and to contribute to a vibrant rural economy and society. To that end, the National Development Plan 2000-2006 has set out a detailed strategy for the development of the food industry. The food research, marketing, human resources and investment measures in the plan are...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Various measures are in place to prevent the introduction and spread of animal disease into Ireland. This involves the application of EU rules in relation to imports of animals and animal products, the administration of animal disease control measures including registration and identification of animals and herds, the investigation and control of suspected outbreaks of notifiable animal...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: 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 states to ensure that animal products are produced to...