Results 461-480 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Earlier this year the EU adopted a package of measures to revise and consolidate Community legislation in relation to food hygiene. The bulk of this package is due to come into force on 1 January 2006. Although the recast of EU legislation was primarily motivated by the necessity to ensure high levels of public health protection in relation to food production, it also provided an opportunity...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 102 together. My Department has asked the Garda to investigate certain practices in a licensed beef processing plant. This action was taken following preliminary results of an investigation conducted by a team from within my Department. The nature of the investigation that led to the involvement of the Garda centred on the company's compliance with the...

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 82 together. This issue has been discussed on a number of occasions and at various levels with the British and Northern Ireland authorities, including at ministerial level. I understand that efforts to have the remaining elements of the EU-wide ban rescinded are continuing but details on how this should be pursued is a matter for the UK authorities.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The 2004 area aid application of the person named has been fully processed with an area determined for payment purposes of 117 hectares. Payment of her full entitlement under the 2004 area-based compensatory allowance scheme could not be made until a potential stocking density problem had been resolved but, now that this has been done, payment will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The rules governing GMOs are set down in EU legislation, which have been jointly adopted by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers under the co-decision procedure and which are binding on all member states. In particular, Article 22 of EU Directive 2001/18/EC stipulates that member states may not prohibit, restrict or impede the placing on the market of GMOs, as or in products which...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has been notified that the circumstances outlined in his single payment scheme application did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure-exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. Following this decision the person named submitted an appeal to the single payment appeals committee. A full review of the circumstances of the case will...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Although my Department did not operate any specific schemes of financial assistance for animal welfare bodies, ex gratia funding has been provided in recent years to a number of appropriate bodies involved in the direct delivery of animal care and welfare services throughout the country having regard to moneys available from within my Department's Vote at year end. Each application received...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: In the expectation that funds will be available from within my Department's Vote towards year end, I expect to be in a position to make grants available, on a basis similar to previous years, to organisations which directly deliver animal care and welfare services and which have approached my Department in the course of this year requesting assistance. The position in relation to 2005 will be...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The following is the up-to-date position regarding the processing of force majeure applications under the single farm payment scheme: Number No. cases received 15,256 No. cases not yet dealt with 2,728 No. successful applicants 1,420 No. unsuccessful applicants 8,667 No. cases requiring additional information 2,441 No. Appeals cases 1,099 No. successful cases following...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The person named is a participant in the 1994 early retirement scheme introduced under EU Council Regulation 2079/92, which she entered in joint management with her husband. It is a requirement of the Council regulation that any national retirement pension to which a scheme participant "and his or her spouse or partner in a joint management situation" becomes entitled must be deducted from...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Statements of provisional entitlements under the single payment scheme totalling €50,052,090 million have issued to herdowners in County Mayo. Further provisional entitlements of approximately €9 million will issue to County Mayo herdowners during the next few months. These entitlements are currently being processed under various measures provided for in the EU regulations underpinning...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Beef carcase classification is one of the functions executed by the livestock, beef and sheep meat division of my Department. The staff of that division are currently headquartered at three different locations, at my Department's offices in Maynooth and Cavan and in my Department's beef carcase classification unit at Johnstown Castle, Wexford. The decentralisation of my Department is being...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: A statement of provisional entitlements under the a single payment scheme has not issued to the person named, as amendments to the single payment database in respect of all premiums claimed during the reference years by the person named, have not yet been finalised. A statement of provisional entitlements will issue shortly when these amendments have been completed.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Substantial changes have been made in REPS with the introduction of REPS 3 from 1 June 2004. The main changes include an average increase of 28% in payment rates, fully delivering on the Government's commitment in Sustaining Progress, the new requirement to incorporate two additional biodiversity measures into REPS undertakings and reductions in the level of penalties. Mountain land as such...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Johne's disease has a worldwide distribution and is caused by infection with mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, MAP. Most cattle are generally infected early in life by ingestion of MAP through colostrum, milk, faecal contaminated teats, water, feeds or surfaces. Adult animals can become infected but it is rare and they usually have other problems such as deficiencies with their...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The 2004 area aid application for the person named has been fully processed with an area determined for payment purposes of 7.20 hectares. Payment of his full entitlement under the 2004 area-based compensatory allowance will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The introduction of the single payment scheme, giving farmers an assurance about the level of direct payments they will receive in the medium term, offers them an opportunity to consider changing their farming activities. I believe that this is a good time for farmers to look at the organic option. While there is a growing demand for organic produce among consumers, much of that demand has to...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy may be aware that an interdepartmental — interagency working group has been established within my Department to draw up strategies and best practices to ensure that efficient and effective measures for the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops are in place if farmers wish to cultivate GM crops in this country. The working group has reviewed research into GM crop production...

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: An agreement signed with Libya in June 2000 provided that Ireland would be officially listed as a source country for all Libyan tenders for the supply of live cattle. Since then, however, the Libyan Foreign Minister indicated that it had not been possible to import live cattle because of what he called logistical problems and that Libya would buy beef directly. Libya subsequently issued...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The transport of animal by-products, including SRM, is governed by the provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 1774 of 2002. Those regulations provide that animal by-products must be collected and transported in sealed new packaging or covered leakproof containers or vehicles. Vehicles and reusable containers which come into contact with animal by-products must be cleaned washed and disinfected...