Results 5,541-5,560 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (1 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: No positions have been filled from members of the panel to date. No applicants have withdrawn from the panel. First offers have issued to 13 candidates and a further two offers will issue when the Public Appointments Service has informed the Department that all relevant clearances have been received from the two applicants.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: For both new applications and annual applications received and paid in REPS 3 between I January 2006 and 31 December 2006, the average time for making a REP scheme payment was 7 weeks and 1 day. This is within the timeframe agreed for REPS between the farming organisations and my Department.
- Direct Payment Schemes. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Cross-compliance is an integral part of the direct payment regime following the introduction of the CAP mid-term review changes in 2005. With the extension of cross-compliance to a number of other scheme areas from this year, including the disadvantaged areas scheme and REPS, the delivery of annual payments to farmers of the order of â¬1.9 billion is now covered by the requirements of...
- Direct Payment Schemes. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy's suggestion that we have instilled fear in farmers throughout the country is not true.
- Direct Payment Schemes. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: To have people like the Deputy raising harum-scarum ideas can instill fear in farmers. Since I was first appointed, I have implored the former Commissioner, Commissioner Fischler, and Commissioner Fischer Boel that we should have pre-notification. The impression given by the media did not reflect what the Commissioner said in Germany. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan...
- Direct Payment Schemes. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: First, the checklist will be made available prior to the inspections this year.
- Direct Payment Schemes. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Prior to inspections this year. Second, a copy of the inspection report was made available during the inspections in 2006 and, in any case, the farming organisations have had a copy of the checklist for a considerable period as I made it available to them prior to negotiations. Third, Dr. Noel Cawley has been appointed by me to oversee a number of the issues on cross-compliance, most...
- Direct Payment Schemes. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: We had this discussion during the last Question Time for the Department. The Deputy will note from an agreement between Teagasc and my Department that there is absolute clarity on the matter.
- Direct Payment Schemes. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: It may not necessarily be what Deputy Naughten likes to hear but I am duty bound to ensure that farmers are within the frameworks of entitlements and eligibility.
- Direct Payment Schemes. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I will provide further information for farmers during the spring, early summer and autumn on the context of other aspects of cross-compliance that come to fruition in 2007.
- Company Closures. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Under the relevant EU regulations, the restructuring aid for the sugar industry has to be drawn down on the basis of an aid application submitted by the sugar processor. The applications must contain a restructuring plan, including a social plan detailing the actions planned in particular with respect to re-training, redeployment and early retirement of the workforce concerned. In July...
- Company Closures. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I must take into consideration that judicial proceedings are in progress on this issue. I am aware of the situation. I have met the workers twice and know the unions have met Klaus-Dieter Borchardt the Deputy Chef de Cabinet of Ms Fischer Boel who has outlined a response similar to that provided to Mary Lou McDonald, MEP. The Commission's position explains the relevant provisions of the EU...
- Company Closures. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The golden share has nothing to do with the issue. It only refers to permission to be given by the State in the disposal of the sugar assets and has nothing to do with the day to day workings of Greencore or anything arising from the EU restructuring scheme. Therefore, I cannot interfere, particularly when a judicial review is in the offing. We would love to bring clarity to the matter and...
- Company Closures. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: All the golden share allows me to do is give permission for the sale of the property, but we are not at that stage.
- Company Closures. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The matter is before a judicial review and I am precluded from any public comment on any aspect of it in case that process would be seen to lack independence and clarity, which is what I want to pursue until the matter is brought to finality.
- Grant Payments. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: It is always good to be informed in opposition.
- Grant Payments. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, will be more than happy to facilitate the Deputy with his constituents. He will certainly be in touch.
- Grant Payments. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The staff in Raphoe are hard at work, like all my departmental staff.
- Sugar Beet Industry. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The compensation package negotiated in the context of the reform of the EU sugar regime is worth in excess of â¬310 million to Ireland. It is comprised of three elements. The first is the sugar beet compensation which has been incorporated into the single payment scheme with effect from 2006. It will be worth approximately â¬123 million to Irish beet growers over seven years. The second...
- Sugar Beet Industry. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Coughlan: With regard to the judicial review and restructuring aid, the case is due to be heard on 1 May, and we all hope it can be finalised soon so we can proceed with the June date. We will have to await the outcome. The diversification aid of â¬44 million is separate from the disputed amount. The matter of tax implications is currently being assessed by the Department of Finance and I have held...