Results 6,401-6,420 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Parlour feeders were not eligible for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme which closed for new applications at the end of 2006. They are, however, eligible for grant-aid under the new Farm Improvement Scheme which was introduced by my Department on 12 July 2007.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme was submitted from the Representative of the first person named to the second person named on the 15th May 2007. The application is fully processed and letters of approval issued on the 17th of September.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme to the person named was submitted on the 29th March 2006. During processing of the Transfer application, it was necessary for an official of my Department to write to the person named seeking outstanding legal documentation relating to the application. The requested documentation was received on the 23rd...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Farm Improvement Scheme was launched by my Department on 12 July 2007 and provides grant-aid for, inter alia, animal housing, slurry storage facilities, and investments in relation to dairy hygiene. Approvals to commence work, such as the installation of cow mats, are now being issued to farmers who have submitted completed applications for grant-aid under the Scheme.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned is an applicant for grant-aid under the Installation Aid Scheme. An appeal in relation to the case is currently being considered by the Agriculture Appeals Office.

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's statutory responsibility extends only to the welfare and protection of farmed animals under the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984, and the European Communities (Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes) Regulations 2006. The main statutes governing cruelty to animals in this country are the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1965. Responsibility...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The introduction of a comprehensive Animal Welfare Bill, updating existing legislation to ensure that the welfare of animals is properly protected and that the penalties for offenders are increased significantly, is one of a number of animal welfare-related commitments contained in the Programme for Government. Other such commitments include the consolidation of responsibility for the...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Following consultations with the Commission services on the details of this scheme, certain modifications were made and a revised application for state aid approval was submitted to them on 15 August 2007. This is currently under consideration by the Commission. My Department is in regular contact with the Commission with a view to obtaining approval as rapidly as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The higher rate of grant under the Installation Aid Scheme is available to eligible applicants set-up in farming for the first time between 1 May and 31 December 2006 provided they meet the relevant conditions of the Scheme. The person concerned is an applicant under the Installation Aid Scheme. He was set-up in farming for the first time on 4 February 2006; consequently the higher grant...

Written Answers — Forestry Act: Forestry Act (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I am advised that the subject matter of the question relates to an ongoing court process and therefore it is not possible to make any comment on the matter while it remains sub judice.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme to the person named was submitted on the 3rd April 2006. The Regulations governing the Transfer of Entitlements allow that Single Payment entitlements may be transferred without land only if the transferor has used at least 80% of his payment entitlements in one calendar year. The application for the...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Under the provisions of the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1965 dog fighting is among those activities that is illegal. The enforcement of these Acts is a matter for An Garda Síochána who may, on receipt of a complaint, investigate and bring a prosecution against any person alleged to have committed an offence under the Acts. The new Programme for Government includes a commitment to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person in question had applied for grant-aid to construct a forest road. It is a condition of Forest Roads scheme that prior written approval be obtained before any work is commenced. This condition is stated very clearly in the scheme documents. When the application was examined, it was found that the road had already been built and, accordingly, the application was refused. This...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: To ensure that all planners offering planning services to REPS applicants are qualified to do so, my Department established minimum educational qualifications for planners. As well as having the necessary qualifications, a planner must submit a training plan for assessment to my Department and make himself or herself available for training courses organised by my Department. Only when my...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I approached Commissioner Fischer Boel earlier this year, seeking her agreement to have payments made with effect from 16 October rather than 1 December as is provided for in the relevant EU regulations. While the Commissioner indicated that she could not agree to this request at this time, she did make it clear in her written response that she agreed with the need to work for greater...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that tests carried out on behalf of the local authorities, on the liquid which leaked into the River Boyne, indicate that the material was either diesel or kerosene. There is no indication that any material of animal origin was involved in this incident. In the circumstances this matter is the responsibility of the relevant local authorities and I understand that they are...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named did not apply to the National Reserve under the New Entrant Category. He did however submit an application to the 2005 National Reserve under the Hill Farmers Scheme which caters for farmers with commonage land who were prevented from expanding their sheep production during the 2000-2002 reference period pending publication of the Commonage Framework Plans in 2003. The...

Written Answers — Sheepmeat Sector: Sheepmeat Sector (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: A comparison of prices paid to lamb producers here and in Northern Ireland for this year shows that the average price here is €3.36 per kg, which is a slight increase on last year. This compares to €3.25 per kg, on average this year, in Northern Ireland. While prices can be compared, profit margins in both areas depend on a range of factors, which are not accurately comparable.

Written Answers — Beef Quality Assurance Scheme: Beef Quality Assurance Scheme (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I brought the IFA report to the attention of Mr Markos Kyprianou Commissioner for Health some time ago. I received a detailed response and assessment from the Commission. While I fully accept the Commission's reassurance that all appropriate measures would be taken to protect EU consumers, I have noted that certain deficiencies highlighted by the IFA were recognised by the EU Food and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Sep 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned is an applicant under the Installation Aid Scheme and the grant payment was issued to him by my Department on 7 September 2007.