Results 5,861-5,880 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 6 October 2006, the closing date for receipt of applications under the Scheme having been 24 April 2006. There was provision under the Terms and Conditions of the 2006 Scheme for receipt of late applications up to 18 May 2006, subject to a cumulative 1% penalty per working day that the application was...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme was received from the named person on May 16th 2005. Full payment in respect of this application was issued on December 1st 2005, and the cheque was cashed on January 9th 2006.

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: This case involves the use of and access to a turbary right over a bog plot. The position is that the person named in the details supplied, has applied to my Department, as successor to the Land Commission for a formal right of turbary over a plot owned by a third party. The person named is in dispute with the fee simple owner of the land, over which the right will be exercised. My...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's Agri Vision 2015 Plan of Action and the National "Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2006-2013" identify the necessary actions to build a knowledge-based, competitive, innovative and consumer focused agri-food sector. Investment in Research and Development is at the forefront of these strategy documents and funding in this area has been a priority for my...

Written Answers — Healthy Eating Guidelines: Healthy Eating Guidelines (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I recently launched a national healthy eating initiative known as the Food Dude Programme to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption among school children. Managed by An Bord Bia, it will, on completion, have been introduced to 600 schools over 3 years. The programme which was developed by the University of Wales, Bangor is based on positive role models (the Food Dudes characters), repeated...

Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has contributed to the development of the horticulture industry particularly through its grant aid schemes under the National Development Plan. These schemes have been a catalyst for investment and growth and have assisted producers to upgrade or develop new production facilities and have also enabled commercial enterprises to improve marketing and processing facilities. The...

Written Answers — Social Partnership Agreements: Social Partnership Agreements (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: One of the key features of the agriculture chapter of Towards 2016 has been the Government's willingness to provide a major increase in funding for agriculture from Exchequer resources. This has not only made up for the inevitable decline in EU funding, due to our economic success as a country, but has also provided the finance for the very significant enhancement of some major schemes which...

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that both I and my Department officials have been in regular contact with the European Commission with a view to simplification of the Single Payment Scheme with particular reference to the issue of the arrangements for cross-compliance inspections. I have also raised my concerns with Commissioner Fischer Boel and also with Minister Seehofer, the German President of the...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Some 48,580 applications were received by my Department under the Farm Waste Management Scheme by the closing date of end-December 2006. To date, approx. 10,600 approvals have been issued to farmers to commence work and I am currently examining various proposals to speed up the approvals process under the Scheme. The Standard Costings used to calculate grants payable under the Scheme will...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The following table sets out details of the number of live cattle exported over the five-year period 2002 to 2006: 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 148,094 221,093 130,347 185,267 249,414 The live export trade is an important competitive element in the livestock and meat industry and, as such, has my full support as an integral part of that sector. As can be seen from the above, the live trade is...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I am reasonably optimistic about the prospects for the forestry sector in 2007. Afforestation grants continue to cover 100% of planting costs and farmers opting for forestry enjoy a 20-year premium of up to €574 per hectare. Furthermore, farmers can plant up to 50% of their land without affecting their Single Farm Payment. The Forest Service of my Department has put together a new package...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 259 together. Live cattle exports reached 250,000 head in 2006, up by 65,000 head on the previous year. The value of this trade is estimated at just over €145m. The principal drivers of this increase were a strong rise in calf and weanling shipments. A strong veal market combined with tight supplies from other exporters boosted Irish calf exports,...

Written Answers — Agricultural Processing Sectors: Agricultural Processing Sectors (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: In keeping with commitments given in the agri-Vision 2015 Action Plan, I announced last year, investment packages totalling €150 million to support the development of the dairy, beef and sheepmeat processing sectors. €100 million is for the dairy sector while €50 million is being provided for the beef and sheepmeat sectors. This substantial grant assistance, which should trigger...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Over the past few months, I have been participating in a Ministerial Taskforce on Bioenergy, to prepare a National Bio-energy Action Plan to develop Ireland's bioenergy resources to 2020. The Action Plan was launched at the weekend and is a comprehensive strategy to increase the deployment of Ireland's bioenergy resources in the transport, heat and electricity markets. The Plan sets out a...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Planting policy on species selection seeks to increase the diversity of species planted in Irish forests. For landowners planting under the national afforestation programme, the choice of species is a matter for the individual who is planting, subject to site suitability and its inclusion in the Forest Service's Approved Species List. This list includes several native species.

Written Answers — Vegetable Sector: Vegetable Sector (7 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The vegetable sector is a very important sector of the horticultural industry which is capable of further substantial growth and development. The value of farm gate output of field vegetables was around €61m in 2005 compared to €57m in 2004. While there has been a consolidation of grower numbers over the last number of years, production has remained relatively steady. As is common for...

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The introduction of the single payment scheme, involving the move to a decoupled system in Ireland, and the linkage to cross-compliance requirements set down in EU legislation and dealing with the environment, public, animal and plant health and animal welfare was a major challenge both for farmers and my Department. The need to provide detailed information for farmers and to engage in...

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I completely refute the Deputy's assertion. It is obvious he was not listening to——

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy did not do so. I informed him that people received information in 2004 to 2006, inclusive. Teagasc, with which 99.9% of farmers are in contact, and the private consultants are providing the advisory service. It is hypocritical of the Deputy to suggest that we have not contacted, consulted or informed farmers. As stated earlier, I hope that, on foot of the consultations taking...

Direct Payment Schemes. (8 Mar 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Deputy Naughten's little quip is not acceptable and I will tell him why. Perhaps he should have read the contents of the article to see where there is real support for farming on the ground, rather than make snide remarks across the House.