Results 2,161-2,180 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Following an evaluation of staff numbers for the Drumshanbo office an accommodation brief was sent to the Office of Public Works in July last. It is envisaged the new office will accommodate 45 staff when completed.

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The following table sets out theinformation requested for 2001 to 2004. Corresponding figures for 2005 are not yet available. Year Number of Reactor Animals Number with Visible Lesions Number of Cattle Slaughtered at Export Plants Number of Animals Found with Lesions 2004 22,967 5,374 1,724,792 2,298 2003 28,002 7,392 1,762,495 2,499 2002 28,930 8,563 1,674,788 2,511...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I recently announced a number of enhancements to the voluntary national genotype programme, NGP. These enhancements, which came into effect on 1 September and will continue until 18 November, are designed to encourage greater participation in the voluntary NGP and, particularly, to encourage the genotyping of rams in advance of the introduction of a compulsory breeding programme. As the...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 889 and 894 together. I recently announced the outline of a proposed revised farm waste management scheme to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the nitrates directive. Under the proposed scheme, grant aid will be available for animal housing and slurry storage facilities at 70% in the four Zone C counties, that is, Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: While the person named applied on six animals under the 2003 suckler cow premium scheme four of those animals were ineligible and, under clause 40(b)(iii) of the terms and conditions of the 2003 scheme, a 100% penalty was applied. Furthermore, as in excess of 50% of the animals applied on were rejected, a fine was applied in accordance with clause 40(b)(iv) of the terms and conditions of that...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under EU regulations, extensification premia for 2003 and 2004 may be paid only where the stocking density of a holding does not exceed 1.80 livestock units per hectare. Since the stocking density of the holding in this case amounted to 2.5598 livestock units per hectare for 2003 and 2.9283 livestock units per hectare for 2004, the person named is not eligible for premium for those years.

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have no statutory responsibility for the protection of feral goats nor do I have a statutory basis on which I could introduce legislation for the protection of these animals.

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that 18,475 scheme inspections were carried out in Ireland under the 2004 direct payment regime. The details at county level which have been requested are being prepared and will be sent directly to the Deputy. Under the new single payment scheme the number of farmers to be inspected annually will be less than 10,000.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The EU Council regulation covering the current early retirement scheme will expire in December 2006. Take-up has fallen short of expectations and an expenditure review of the scheme carried out in my Department in 2004 raised a number of questions about it. The Council regulation on rural development for the period from 2007 to 2013 again includes provision for member states to operate early...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The European Commission authorised on 31 August 2005 the importation, processing and placing on the market of the genetically modified oilseed rape — known as GT73 — for use in animal feed or for industrial purposes. The GM product is not approved for cultivation or food use. This approval, which was in accordance with the authorisation procedures set out in EU Directive 2001/18/EC, came...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: A penalty has been imposed on the persons named because they had not carried out certain undertakings in their REPS plan in respect of the farmyard. They have appealed the penalty to the agriculture appeals office, which is statutorily independent of my Department, and the office will notify them in due course of the outcome of their appeal.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Appeals require individual examination and are dealt with in the order in which they are received. This appeal was received in the agriculture appeals office on 26 August 2005 and was assigned to an appeals officer on 5 September 2005. The appeals officer has been in contact with the appellant to arrange an oral hearing which will take place shortly. It is not expected that there will be...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: There has been no delay in this case. The application was lodged in late July this year, processing has been completed and payment has issued.

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The recently announced enhancements to the national genotype programme apply only to those sheep genotyped between 1 September 2005 and 18 November 2005. The enhancements include the payment of a flat rate of compensation in respect of any ram which, when tested, is found to be in one of those categories which are susceptible or highly susceptible to scrapie, provided that such rams are...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The application by the person named for the early retirement scheme was incomplete at the time of application, and it remains incomplete. Evidence that his farming transferee and the transferee's father were farming as separate enterprises with separate herd numbers and handling facilities was never furnished. This deficiency in his application was communicated to him on several occasions but...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Following my Department's decision in 2003 to discontinue the policy of slaughtering affected animals, with consequent compensation payment, a strategic review of the optimal approach to tackling the disease was initiated in consultation with relevant interests. The testing and culling of animals infected with Johne's disease has been found, both at home and internationally, to be ineffective...

Written Answers — Commonage Division: Commonage Division (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Claimants on the Glenahiry commonage have been in dispute over a number of years. Until the dispute is settled, claimants can ask my Department to remove the commonage area concerned from their area aid applications, thus allowing payment for the remainder of their land to be processed. My Department's legal division has been in contact with various solicitors acting for various farmers...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has been advised that a penalty may be imposed as a result of an inspection. In keeping with normal practice, he was asked for his comments on the issue prior to a final decision being made. Those comments have been received in my Department and are being considered. The person named will be notified directly of the decision within a week and, if the penalty is imposed, he...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named applied for premium on ten animals under the 2004 suckler cow premium scheme. Payments amounting to €1,318.00 and €878.67 issued on 19 October 2004 and 21 April 2005 respectively. These represent payment in full in respect of 9.8 animals being the number of quota rights on record for the person named. The person named also applied under the 2004 extensification premium...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Given the medical evidence submitted, it has been decided that no penalties will be applied in this instance and that the application of the person named will be processed with a view to payment at an early date.