Results 4,681-4,700 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2005 Single Farm Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2005. Under EU legislation, in order to draw down his or her full Single Payment, an applicant must declare an eligible hectare to accompany each entitlement. In this case 42.98 entitlements had been established during the reference period with a unit value of €205.55 giving a gross amount...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: An application from the person named was received in my Department on 12 May 2006 and is currently being examined. As soon as this examination has been completed the person named will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Budgetary allocations were made through my Department's Revised Estimates for 2006 for the following public bodies: Organisation Expenditure Details 2006 Estimate Total Amount €000 Teagasc Grant-in-Aid for General Expenses — training courses under the National Development Programme 2000/06 134,028 An Bord Bia Grant-in-Aid for General Expenses 22,403 Council...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There are five non-executive chairpersons of State bodies under the remit of my Department affected by the increase.

Written Answers — : (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The task forces listed below have been set up on issues relating to my Department. 1. Government Taskforce on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) During the 2001 outbreak, a Government Task Force was established at an early stage to address the question of inter-Department/inter-agency coordination. The Task Force was chaired by An Taoiseach or, in his absence, by the Minister for Agriculture and...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: All hill sheep farmers in REPS are paid in accordance with their REPS contracts. The REP Scheme Terms and Conditions provide that REPS farmers must comply fully with Commonage Framework Plan requirements and consequently no further REPS payments are due for destocking. The question of additional benefits for actions over and above the requirements of the Commonage Framework Plans is a matter...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The following table sets out details of the export of live cattle for the last 5 years. The live export trade is an important competitive element in the livestock and meat trade and as such has my full support as an integral part of the sector. Destination 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Belgium 0 0 2,263 1,496 1,268 France 1,030 221 84 340 4,724 Great Britain 0 1,993...

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Teagasc National Farm Survey shows that on 78% of farm holdings the farmer and/or spouse have some source of off-farm income be it from employment, pensions or social assistance. This is not the same as saying that 80 per cent of farm holdings are part-time. The same survey indicates that 62% of farms (defined by Teagasc in terms of labour units) were part-time. By contrast, the latest...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Increased grant-rates under the Farm Waste Management Scheme were introduced by my Department with effect from 24 March last as follows: (a) a new standard grant-rate of 60%, with 70% being available in the four Zone C counties (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan) for both animal housing and slurry storage. The previous standard grant-rate for such work was 40%; (b) increase in the maximum...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The disposal of waste materials generally is covered by the Waste Management Acts 1996 to 2005, which apply to all sectors of society including the agricultural sector, and is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, manufacturers and importers of farm plastics, that is, silage bale wrap and...

Written Answers — World Trade Talks: World Trade Talks (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The current negotiations on a new WTO Agreement, which cover a broad trade liberalisation agenda, have been under way since they were launched in Doha in November 2001. Significant progress towards concluding an agreement was made in the Framework Agreement which was reached in August 2004 and at the Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005. A further WTO Ministerial meeting, held...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The following table sets out the number of farmers in each county whose payments under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme had issued by 5 July 2006. The number of applications with outstanding problems, which must be solved prior to payment, is also set out. Payments are continuing to issue to farmers as their applications are processed to completion, in accordance with the EU legislation...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 526 together. My Department engages approximately 700 part-time Temporary Veterinary Inspectors (TVIs) to augment the permanent Veterinary Inspectors employed by my Department at EU export-approved meat plants. TVIs are engaged to carry out duties as and when required by the permanent Veterinary Inspector in charge at each such plant. I have no...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The details sought by the Deputy in relation to the value of advertising placed by the Department each year since 2002 is set out as follows: Advertising — 2002 € Advertising (including display/general advertising and Statutory Notices) 638,440 Promotional videos for disease eradication and beef assurance schemes 3,086 Total 641,526 Advertising — 2003 € ...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The facilities are provided by the Dublin Airport Authority in order to enable my Department carry out its statutory functions for the protection of animal and public health and food safety. The airport facilities include office, interview and examination areas for the operation of control checks by Department personnel on: —personal import of animal products by passengers; —the licensed...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The senior Departmental group, which has been examining forestry strategy, has largely completed its review and the content of its report is being finalized at present. While it is not planned to publish this report in the formal sense, it is my intention, once the report has been considered, that it will be made available to interested parties on request.

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Plans for the introduction of a scheme to support the planting of willow are at an advanced stage, but will require EU approval. I am also aware of renewed interest among some producers in growing 'miscanthus' as a feedstock for bioenergy purposes. My Department has received a number of proposals for the introduction of establishment grants for miscanthus and these are currently being...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is the competent authority in Ireland for the enforcement of EU legislation regarding genetically modified (GM) animal feed. The authorization and labelling of GM feed is governed by the GM Food and Feed Regulation (EC No.) 1829/2003. The labelling terms non GM and GM free are not defined in EU legislation and are terms that are used voluntarily by the feed industry. However,...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Sector: Sugar Beet Sector (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Following the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme last year, farmers now have the freedom to choose whatever farming enterprise is most appropriate to their circumstances. Under the agreement on reform of the EU sugar regime, the Single Payment Scheme is being extended to cover sugar beet compensation. The sugar reform agreement also provides for the introduction of aid for...

Written Answers — Nitrates Directive: Nitrates Directive (6 Jul 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The implementation of the Nitrates Directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister, Deputy Roche, sent proposals to the European Commission in May for amendments to the Regulations he had made in December 2005 giving legal effect to Ireland's Nitrates Action Programme. The new proposals, which the Minister has...