Results 4,821-4,840 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Categories A and B. Category A caters for farmers who inherited land or received land free of charge or for a nominal sum from a farmer who had retired or died by 16 May, 2005 and who had leased out his/her holding to a third party during the reference period...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (11 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Sheep Strategy Group completed its comprehensive study of the sheep industry in June 2006. The report sets out a Development Plan for the sector contained in 37 recommendations covering all relevant aspects of the sector. I decided that the best way to implement these recommendations was to set up an implementation body comprised of representatives of all sectors in the industry. It is...

Written Answers — Sheep Exports: Sheep Exports (11 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The latest period for which official trade statistics are available is the 6-month period ending 30th June 2006. During that period, a total of 117 tonnes of Sheep meat (carcass weight equivalent) was exported to Portugal. This compares to 135 tonnes for the corresponding period in 2005 and 989 tonnes for the year 2005 in total.

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (11 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The requirement that all bovine animals over 30 months of age, slaughtered for human consumption, must be tested for BSE is provided for in Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, TSEs. Under the Regulation, as it currently stands, I have no...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Terms and Conditions of the REP scheme state that the beneficiary must attend the REP Scheme training course. In the case of joint applications either applicant may attend the course, but he or she must attend the whole course. Only in very exceptional circumstances, which are decided on a case by case basis following a written request to the local Regional Inspector, would a derogation...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (11 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: No tribunals of inquiry, commissions of inquiry or investigations have been established by my Department within the specified timeframe.

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (12 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland cannot at present export its beef products to the People's Republic of China because of the ban imposed as a result of BSE. A formal approach was made in March this year to the veterinary authorities in China with a view to having the ban lifted. The matter was raised again during the Ireland-China Joint Commission meeting in June. Since then Ireland and the People's Republic of China...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (12 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Under the relevant EU Regulations, eligibility for the EU restructuring aid for the sugar industry is confined to three categories: processors, beet growers and certain specialized machinery contractors who worked for the growers. In accordance with the EU Regulations, the Government in July made certain decisions concerning implementation of the restructuring aid, in particular the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (12 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Coillte's purchase of the company in question is subject to the approval of the Competition Authority. I understand that the Competition Authority is currently carrying out a full (Phase 2) investigation in relation to the proposed acquisition.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (12 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I met growers' representatives on 3 October. Various issues relating to the poultry industry generally and Castlemahon in particular were discussed. The growers indicated that they were developing plans to buy the Castlemahon business as a going concern and that this plan would be sent to the liquidator.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (12 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department holds REPS planning agency training courses when there are a sufficient number of applicants to justify holding a course. My Department held 4 REPS planning agency training courses in the past 5 years, 2 in 2001, 1 in 2002 and 1 in 2004. A further 2 courses are scheduled for next week. Some 51 individuals have been approved as REPS planning agencies in the past five years....

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (12 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The next courses for REPS planning agencies will be held on Tuesday 17 October in Mitchelstown, Co Cork and Wednesday 18 October in Ballinasloe, Co Galway. The last course was held in Bunclody, Co Wexford, in September 2004.

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (12 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There are no regulations in place that prevent cattle being exported through the ports referred to or indeed through other locations that have adequate facilities. My Department's function in relation to the transport of livestock by sea is to approve vessels based on statutory requirements regarding the protection of animal welfare. The actual provision of services for the transport of...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (12 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: A penalty was notified in this case because the REPS undertakings in respect of the farmyard had not been complied with. I am aware that the person named has appealed the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office. I understand that an oral hearing has taken place and that a decision will issue shortly.

Direct Payment Schemes. (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Cross-compliance involves two key elements, namely, a requirement for farmers to comply with 18 statutory management requirements set down in EU legislation on the environment, food safety, animal health and welfare and plant health, and a requirement to maintain farms in good agricultural and environmental conditions. If an applicant is found to be non-compliant, sanctions provided for in...

Direct Payment Schemes. (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: It is important to state that a comparative analysis of the decoupled and the coupled payment schemes shows that in 2004 there were 18,000 inspections and in 2006 there will be eight. That is a significant reduction in inspections. On the basis of an appreciation, Deputy Naughten is correct in stating that there are more part-time farmers, which of itself can impose difficulties, and I...

Direct Payment Schemes. (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There are issues in that regard coming from our part of the country on the movement of animals about which we must be careful to ensure there are no disease issues. We had grave concerns, as Deputy Crawford will be aware, about disease issues in County Fermanagh, for example, which would have significant implications for us in the Border counties. What I am saying is the rate of inspection...

Direct Payment Schemes. (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I expected a reaction on the other side of the House——

Direct Payment Schemes. (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: ——but it is not permitted.

Food Safety Standards. (17 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I have been in regular contact with Commissioner Kyprianou on the issue of Brazilian beef and he has assured me that the Commission will not hesitate to take the appropriate protection measures if a product, imported from a third country or produced in the domestic market, represents a risk to the health of EU consumers, livestock or plants. Indeed, the Commission official who attended the...