Results 4,621-4,640 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payments Scheme National Reserve under category C. Category C caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, sold the milk quota into the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia/or Arable...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The above named first applied for the transfer of entitlements by way of Inheritance. He was informed in December 2005 that his application was successful, and the entitlements were transferred into his name. He later applied to transfer out those entitlements by Private Contract Clause on a lease basis. The lease agreement that was required before the application could be processed was...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware that the premium paid to forest owners has not been increased since 2000. These premium levels are under review at present.

Written Answers — Women in Agriculture: Women in Agriculture (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Report of the Advisory Committee on the Role of Women in Agriculture was published in September 2000 and contained 36 recommendations in total, covering a very broad range of policy and operational areas relating to women in rural communities generally. Notwithstanding that many of the Advisory Committee's recommendations were outside the remit of my Department all of the recommendations...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: While our primary objective is to consolidate market penetration within the EU for high quality and value-added products, it is also important to expand industry access to commercially attractive third country markets. In relation to beef, and in line with that policy, there has been a very considerable shift in our trade towards the EU market which now takes 92 % of our overall exports,...

Written Answers — On-Farm Investment Schemes: On-Farm Investment Schemes (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Government has a series of taxation measures in place to encourage all forms of on-farm investment. (1) Young trained farmers are eligible for 100% stamp duty relief on transfers of agricultural land and buildings to them; (2) No stamp duty relief is payable where there is no difference in the marketable value of land being exchanged between two farmers for the purpose of consolidating...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I firmly believe that the customer is entitled to full information on the food they purchase. I am glad to say that only yesterday, new extended beef labelling rules came into operation in Ireland that require hotels, restaurants, pubs providing food and effectively all catering establishments and food service outlets to give information on the country of origin of the beef they serve. This...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The organic sector in Ireland remains small by European standards but 2005 saw increases both in the production base and in the numbers of organic operators registered with the Department. The total area in conversion or with full organic status rose by nearly 5,000 hectares to 35,266 hectares in 2005, which was an increase of some 15%, and the number of organic operators went from 1,004 to...

Written Answers — EU Proposals: EU Proposals (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am fully committed to reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and to simplification of procedures. The adoption by Ireland of full decoupling, replacing six EU subsidy schemes in the context of the implementation of the single payment scheme, demonstrates in a very tangible manner the extent of this commitment. I have also, on a continuous basis, applied the benefits of IT, wherever possible, in...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that the possible extension of Ireland's Disadvantaged Areas was raised with the European Commission in 2003 and in early 2004. The Commission cautioned however, that a formal request for an extension of the disadvantaged areas could lead to Ireland being asked for justification as to whether or not all if its existing areas classified as Disadvantaged continue to meet the...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The rate of pension payable under the 1994 Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming is the maximum provided for by EU Council Regulation (EEC) 2079/92 under which the Scheme was introduced. There is no provision in the Regulation for increases in the rate of pension by indexation or otherwise. The maximum rate of pension payable under the Scheme, currently €12,075 per annum, is the maximum...

Written Answers — Wildlife Conservation: Wildlife Conservation (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The hen harrier is a protected species and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government has identified a number of areas around the country, which are important for its survival. The European Commission have expressed the gravest concern at any further planting within these areas until it is possible to fully access the impact of forestry on the species. In order to do that it...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Department of Finance's Capital Envelope Agreement, the total provision for my Department's capital spending for the period 2006 to 2010 is €1,301.8 million, details as follows: € million 2006 231.8 2007 240 2008 255 2009 295 2010 280 Approximately 95% of these capital allocations will fund the various demand led grant schemes which are available to...

Written Answers — Meat Imports: Meat Imports (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for collection of statistics in relation to import and export of meat. The following tables compiled from data supplied by that office sets out the amounts of non-EU meat imported directly into Ireland as well as total meat exports to all countries for the periods in question. Data relating to quantities of meat of non-EU origin included in...

Written Answers — Information Technology: Information Technology (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 to 533, inclusive, together. My Department's procurement of IT is carried out in accordance with EU procurement legislation and national guidelines. These promote open and fair competition in the area of public procurement, and this is in the best interest of both suppliers of IT products and services, including our indigenous suppliers, and consumers of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payments Scheme National Reserve under category C. Category C caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, sold the milk quota into the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia/or Arable...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The requisite certificate of entitlement to transfer milk quota was issued by my Department to the person concerned on the 13th of June, 2006, the same day on which his application was received.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payments Scheme National Reserve under Category B and Category C. Category B caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named, following which the necessary arrangements for the administrative transfer of the entitlements, established by the parents of the person named, have been completed. Full payment under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme will issue to the person named in the coming days. In reply to an earlier Parliamentary Question, I...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Following an inspection it was discovered that lime had not been spread as required, and a penalty of 10% was applied. Following an unsuccessful local appeal, the person named was advised in June 2006 of his right to make a further appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office.