Results 2,561-2,580 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware of the report and of the concerns raised with regard to potential risks associated with crop spraying. The report, commissioned in June 2004, was published on 22 September. The report reflects public concerns brought to the attention of the Royal Commission, recognises the lack of evidence of causality and recommends that risk assessment techniques and methodologies be reviewed and...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In the autumn of 2003, my Department, together with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, set up a technical working group to determine whether earth-lined stores, out-wintering pads and constructed wetlands or reed beds should have a place in agricultural practice. The working group has taken expert advice from a variety of researchers and other sources and has...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2005 single payment scheme, SPS, was received from the person named on 16 May 2005. My Department wrote to him on 11 October 2005, requesting that maps he omitted to include with the SPS application be provided. Following receipt of these maps on 17 October 2005, an eligibility issue was identified regarding one of the parcels claimed. My Department wrote to the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named should write directly to the accounts division of my Department at Farnham Street, Cavan, where the request will be processed without delay.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In 2002, the person named applied for additional milk quota under the 32 million litre scheme in the animal disease category. Applicants in this category were required to prove that more than 10% of the dairy herd was lost due to certain diseases in 1978, 1979 or 1980 and that milk deliveries in any of the years 1978, 1979 or 1980 were higher than the sum of the initial 1984 quota allocation...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have made eight appointments to one of the State boards under the aegis of my Department. The appointees were chosen for their knowledge and experience of the area concerned which is in accordance with the statutory criteria for such appointments. The appointees were not asked to declare whether they had a disability.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Allocations of milk quota from the national reserve are granted on the basis of recommendations from the milk quota appeals tribunal. The tribunal examines and makes recommendations on applications for additional quota from individual producers. The person named has applied to the tribunal in the current 2005-06 quota year and an acknowledgement letter has issued to him confirming receipt of...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Department conducts a detailed programme of audits across its range of activities and programmes. The programme is drawn up annually on the basis of a range of criteria including the level of expenditure and the related risk assessment. My Department has also had an IT audit function in place since 2001, which focuses exclusively on the IT function. The specific subscription service...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has been engaged in delivering an unprecedented programme of ICT transformation. As part of this transformation, it has delivered large-scale ICT systems that are extremely successful and deliver excellent value to the Department, its customers and its stakeholders. Access to the best international research and advice is a critical component in the successful management of such...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has a range of large operational activities that depend critically on information and communications technology, ICT. This is an integral part of our service delivery and provides the level of operational efficiency, customer service and control appropriate to management of schemes worth some €3 billion. In this context it is important the ICT management keep fully abreast of...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department subscribes to the services of the company to which the Deputy refers, which is a globally recognised provider of research and business intelligence in the area of ICT. It is not associated with any software or hardware vendor, and the advice of the company is regarded as totally independent. This is of significant value since it is hard to get truly independent, unbiased...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Although several companies offer research and advisory services, the company in question has a worldwide reputation as the leading independent adviser in the industry. It is a globally recognised provider of research and business intelligence in the area of ICT. It is not associated with any software or hardware vendor, and its advice is regarded as totally independent. The company referred...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for consideration of force majeure or exceptional circumstances in respect of his entitlements under the scheme. The circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure or exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. The person named appealed that decision to the single payment appeals...

Written Answers — Land Annuities: Land Annuities (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Information notices describing the new land annuity capital discounted buy-out scheme will shortly be published in the farming and national press. These notices will set out the terms of the buy-out scheme, as provided in the Land Act 2005. I also intend to write to each farmer entitled to participate in the buy-out scheme, providing them with full details of the scheme and their entitlements...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The proposal for the introduction of further modulation of direct payments is one of a series of proposals which was put forward by the Commission with a view to facilitating agreement on the next financial perspective for 2007-13. The negotiations broke down at the European Council in June and the UK Presidency aims to conclude an agreement next month. The Irish position in the negotiations,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The application from the person named was received in my Department on 31 August last. The application was referred for a full plan and on farm inspection due to discrepancies between the area declared for area aid and the REPS area. Following this inspection an amended plan was required and was received in my Department on 4 November. The amended plan is now being processed and if in order...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve under category B which caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, invested in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under livestock premia and-or arable aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the disadvantages areas scheme-single payment scheme was received from the person named on 5 May 2005. A payment for the amount of €4,126.60 in respect of the 2005 disadvantaged area scheme was lodged to the bank account of the person named on 23 September 2005.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The detailed information requested by the Deputy, covering a period of a decade, will require an extensive retrospective data retrieval and assessment exercise in my Department. The information will be sent to the Deputy once it has been compiled.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2005 single payment scheme — disadvantaged areas scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2005. Payment in respect of the disadvantaged areas scheme issued to the person named on 4 November 2005.