Results 5,021-5,040 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: As outlined in a reply to a previous Question from the Deputy, the person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the National Reserve under Category C which caters for farmers who sold their milk quota into a re-structuring scheme and converted to a farming sector for which a direct payment under the Livestock and/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Single Payment Scheme application of the person named has been fully processed and 50% advance payment will issue shortly. The Disadvantaged Area Scheme payment will issue also.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: As there is no record of an application under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme having been received from the person named, I have had arrangements made for an official of my Department to make direct contact with him with a view to clarifying the position.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that the Deputy is referring to two Reasoned Opinions addressed to Ireland, one in relation to the implementation of the EIA Directive and the other in relation to the Habitats Directive. The first is dated 13 July, 2005 and the second 4 July, 2006. In relation to the first, which deals with the application of the EIA Directive to proposed afforestation projects, my Department...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named did not farm during the reference period and the Department did not therefore establish any payment entitlements for him. He submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payments Scheme National Reserve under categories A and D. Category A caters for farmers who inherited land or received land free of charge or for a nominal sum from a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on the 4th April 2006. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing the Single Payment Scheme, the application was randomly selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. During the course of the cross-compliance...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland's obligations under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity are a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I understand that the eighth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in March 2006 reaffirmed a previous decision that in the absence of reliable data on genetic use restriction...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The daughter of the person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the National Reserve under Category C. This category caters for farmers who were active milk producers who sold their milk quota into a re-structuring scheme and converted to a farming sector for which a direct payment under the Livestock and/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme, payments worth €1,180 million have been made to 127,838 applicants, who have declared eligible hectares and have entitlements under the Scheme, representing in excess of 99% of applicants. A further €14.2 million was paid in respect of Modulation refund. Insofar as the 2005 National Reserve is concerned the vast majority of applications have now...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category D. This category caters for farmers who commenced farming after 31 December 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002 but who received no direct payments in respect of that scheme year. The person named has been deemed successful under this Category. A...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category C. Category C caters for farmers who were active milk producers who sold their milk quota into the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The following table sets out details of the export of live cattle for the years 2004 and 2005. 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 2004 2005 Belgium 1,496 1,268 France 340 4,724 Great Britain 1,203 1,202 Northern Ireland 44,814 26,450 Germany 6 95...

Written Answers — State Aid: State Aid (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department was represented at the meeting of the Working Group on State Aids on 25 October at which the Commission's latest proposals for the State Aid Guidelines for the agriculture sector, 2007-2013, were discussed. I, together with several of my EU Ministerial colleagues, had indicated strong opposition to the Commission's original proposals. Following these representations, the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I am satisfied that all the interviews were conducted in a fair and equitable manner in respect of all the candidates. The format and processes governing the interviews were agreed in advance with the union, which represents the grades in question and an independent Human Resource consultant chaired each interview board.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Subject to the approval of the European Commission, the new Rural Development Programme will include provision for a Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming with a yearly maximum payment rate of €15,000. Further details of the proposed Scheme will be included in the text of the draft Programme which my Department will publish shortly for consultation.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2006. The 50% advance payment, in the amount of €8,189.39, issued to the person named on 25 October 2006.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: A revised Farm Waste Management Scheme was introduced by my Department in March 2006 in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates Directive. As the Scheme forms part of the current EU Rural Development Round, it must close for new applications at the end of this year. I have already agreed that, where the proposed works under the Scheme require planning...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named applied for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under category A, and category 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 2000-2002....

Written Answers — Sheep Industry: Sheep Industry (7 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Sheep Industry Development Strategy Group issued its report in June 2006. This is a comprehensive study of the sheep industry which sets out a Development Plan for the industry contained in 37 recommendations. 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, including the...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (7 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The production of Biofuels is one of the main elements in developing the renewable energy sector in Ireland. In the recently published Green Paper "Towards A Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland" the Government made a firm commitment that the development of an indigenous biofuels industry is a core component of Government policy to improve energy sustainability. My Department has been...