Results 2,441-2,460 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under the provisions of the EU Council Regulation No. 1258/99 on the financing of the Common Agricultural Policy and Commission Regulation No. 1663/95, since 1995 the European Commission only finances expenditure that is made by paying agencies accredited by member states. As part of the accreditation process, the regulations require that the annual accounts of the CAP paying agencies in...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Farmers who have been approved to carry out works under the current farm waste management scheme and who have not commenced such works may apply to the Department for the cancellation of such approvals and make a renewed application under the revised farm waste management scheme when it is introduced. However, such work must not commence until approval has been issued by my Department under...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Government is committed to achieving a balanced agreement between the various elements of the WTO negotiations, which are expected to reach a conclusion at the ministerial conference in Hong Kong in December. In so far as agriculture is concerned, the over-riding objective is to ensure that the terms of the final agreement can be accommodated without the need for further reform of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the disadvantaged areas scheme was received from the person named on 16 May 2005. Following computer validation, the application of the person named was randomly selected for, and was the subject of, a ground cross compliance inspection. During the course of the inspection it was discovered that a land parcel, which was claimed as forage only, also contained forestry....

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has appropriate structures in place to deal with the veterinary dimension of the avian influenza threat and is, of course, also in ongoing liaison with the Department of Health and Children. My Department has already put in place an early warning system, with the co-operation of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the National Association of Regional Game Councils and...

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (19 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Export refunds were paid in the period from 1 May 2002 to 30 September 2005 in respect of the export of approximately 1,000 tonnes of beef to Egypt. Trade was significantly affected by the special and onerous conditions attached to the export regime by the Egyptian authorities in the period in question. These involved considerable additional costs for the traders with regard to testing,...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease: Bovine Disease (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The European Commission introduces safeguard measures limiting or banning the export of animal products from third countries where the conditions of an animal disease outbreak could seriously affect production and trade in animal products in the EU. In the application of such measures the Community applies the regionalisation principle that can allow trade to continue from non-affected...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: A schedule of the main payments made by my Department to local authorities in 2004 for the supply of water and refuse collection services is attached. A total of €1,870,479.99 was paid by my Department to local authorities in 2004 in respect of the operation of the Control of Horses Act, the school milk scheme and the neighbourhood scheme. There are no vets employed by local authorities who...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has been in contact with the father of the named person to clarify the position on applications under the disadvantaged areas and single payment scheme. The herd number has been transferred in this case and it is, therefore, necessary to carry out adjustments in respect of the applications under both schemes. It will be necessary for the named person's father to complete the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted applications under the force majeure and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme and following processing was deemed successful under both measures. The amended position, 6.08 entitlements, total value €8,940.54 net, was outlined to the person named by telephone and in writing on 11 May 2005. The person named has also applied under the category C of the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Consequent on the recent reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, a number of headage and premium schemes are being terminated by my Department. This reduces my Department's requirement for staff. In particular, there will be a reduction of approximately 100 in staffing levels in Michael Davitt House. The Garda Síochána is establishing the Garda information service centre, GISC, in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted applications for consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme. The person named was notified that his new entrant application was rejected as he established no entitlements during the reference period 2000-2002. The inheritance application was accepted on 16 May 2005 and the entitlements gifted with lands to...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: No penalty will be applied for under-declaration of land under the single payment scheme unless a full parcel of land has been omitted. Even then, if the area of the parcel omitted is less than 3% of the total area declared, no penalty will be applied. Where the area of the land parcels under-declared amounts to between 3% and 20% of the total area declared, a penalty of 1% will be applied to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has submitted an application requesting consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme. Following processing, her applications under both measures were eligible. However, the new entrant measure was more financially beneficial and, as a result, the years 2000 and 2001 were excluded from the calculation of her single...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The document entitled Guidelines for the Engagement of Consultants in the Civil Service, issued by the Department of Finance in 1999 provides instructions to all Departments in the engagement of consultants. They outline national and EU contract procedures and, furthermore, set out guidelines for establishing the need to engage consultants, describe the selection process and provide...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: During the period December 2001 to April 2003, a total of 135 flocks were depopulated under the scrapie programme and restocking was not permitted for a period of two years. Flock owners received compensation for the capital value of the sheep and for income loss for that period. In addition, those who restocked in the third year are to receive compensation for income loss for that year. A...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named was not in receipt of either livestock premia or arable aid payments during the 2000 to 2002 reference period and has not established entitlements under the single payment scheme.

Written Answers — Noxious Weeds Act: Noxious Weeds Act (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Noxious Weeds Act 1936 provides for the control of the spread of the following six noxious weeds: thistle, ragwort and dock — 1937 order; common barbery — 1958 order; male wild hop plant — 1965 order; wild oat — 1973 order. Under this Act, it is an offence not to prevent the spread of weeds scheduled as noxious weeds under the Act. The owner, occupier, user or manager of lands on...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Woodlands of Ireland is a partnership involving those with an interest in conserving Ireland's native woodlands. The project is funded jointly by the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Heritage Council. The objectives of the project are to develop strategies aimed at securing the sustainable management of Ireland's...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The native woodland scheme was established in 2001 to provide support to landowners to protect and enhance existing native woodlands and to establish new native woodlands using close-to-nature silivicultural practices. The scheme is funded under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, supported by the European Union. Expenditure under the scheme to date is €1,204,936.70. I am arranging to...