Results 6,581-6,600 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Beef Imports: Beef Imports (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: During 2006, imports of Brazilian beef into Ireland amounted to 6,324 tonnes, a decline of 8 per cent on the previous year. It should be noted, however, that Ireland also imports beef from other EU Member States, and some of this may be non-EU beef already in circulation within the Community. In this regard the EU imported a total of 331,436 tonnes of beef from Brazil last year, which was...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. A decision will be made in relation to the application as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Under the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme, a sum of €85 million has been allocated to the modernization of agricultural holdings, which includes the Farm Improvement Scheme. 5,557 applications have been received, to date, under that Scheme. I expect moneys will begin to be paid shortly as these applications are processed.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has completed a comprehensive review of the Forestry Act 1946 and draft Heads of a new Forestry Bill have been prepared. The proposed legislation will address many of the issues raised during the extensive consultation process undertaken by my Department. Change of land use, which includes the question of replanting, is one such issue and in drawing up the new Bill it is...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 April 2007. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 20 September, with payments issuing in respect of those cases cleared for payment at that stage. Payments continue to issue as further cases subsequently become clear. The application of the person...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Under the terms and condition of the TB eradication scheme, herdowners may, in very particular circumstances, be granted permission to move animals into a restricted holding. Decisions to grant permission are taken on the basis of assessment of the holding from a disease perspective and herdowners are advised by the DVO that the movement of certain animals into the holding, at any time...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: This appeal was received in the Agriculture Appeals Office on 29 May 2007. Following necessary preliminary consultation and the retrieval of reference documentation, the file was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 19 September 2007. The Appeals Office will contact the appellant shortly to arrange the oral hearing that he requested.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2007. The Terms and Conditions governing the Scheme require that applicants maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare declared for at least three consecutive months. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified as not meeting this...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named had a compliance inspection in February 2007 at which significant issues were identified. He was written to later that month outlining the issues, and given a chance to explain the circumstances before a decision was taken about imposing a penalty. The matters raised are currently under further investigation by my officials and the person named will be notified directly...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Article 6 of the Bovine Tuberculosis (Attestation of the State and General Provisions) Order 1989 S.I. No. 308 of 1989 as amended provides that the test to be used shall be the intradermal tuberculin comparative test using PPD or HCSM bovine and avian tuberculins or a test specified in an authorisation in writing by the Minister. The results of tuberculin tests carried out by private...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The annual instructions issued by my Department to all private veterinary practitioners approved by me to perform the tuberculin test state that the selected sites should be clipped (an area not less than 2.5cm in diameter) and debris removed prior to injection. I am satisfied that the removal of debris covers the requirement to cleanse and that the reference to cleansing does not imply or...

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Assessments: Regulatory Impact Assessments (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: To date, my Department has applied and completed one Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) to the proposed Forestry Bill, which is awaiting submission to Government. My Department is not aware of any area where an RIA should have been applied, but was not. My officials are aware of the need and conditions for an RIA to be carried out in line with the Cabinet decision of June 2005 in that regard.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 2 May 2007. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 20 September, with payments issuing in respect of those cases cleared for payment at that stage. Payments continue to issue as further cases subsequently become clear. The application of the person named...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Eligibility under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme requires, inter alia, a minimum of three forage hectares located within a designated Disadvantaged Area and a minimum stocking density for the holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare, for a three-consecutive month period. Eligibility under the Single Payment Scheme requires, inter alia, that applicants hold one eligible hectare for...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The current milk intake position shows Ireland as being 0.35% above quota for the period to September 30, 2007. The super levy penalty on excess milk production is set down under Council Regulation (EC) No 1788/2003. Member States must abide by the terms of the Regulation and I have no discretion in the matter.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (16 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 and 413 together. To the end of September, some 250 civil servants have transferred to my Department's offices in Portlaoise under the decentralisation programme. It is expected that 10 to 20 more will have moved by the end of 2007. 180 of the 250 were Dublin-based and 70 were from other locations.

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (17 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The development of policy within my Department is informed by consultation with a range of stakeholders as well as consideration of its impact on the physical, economic and social conditions of people living in rural areas, with particular emphasis on farm and fishing communities. In relation to the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, my Department consulted with a number of groups...

Written Answers — Animal Deaths: Animal Deaths (17 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: A post-mortem diagnostic service, provided by my Department's Laboratory Service, has the capacity to respond rapidly to urgent disease outbreaks involving animal deaths. This involves a comprehensive pathology-based diagnostic service and is available throughout the year to herd and flockowners, in consultation with their veterinary practitioners. In all cases of unexpected on-farm death,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Following the recent receipt of acceptable evidence from the person named, it was decided to accept his 2007 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application for processing. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is scheduled to issue to the person named today, 17 October, with the advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme due to issue to him shortly.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (17 Oct 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Restaurant Franchise holders in my Department source all meat from local suppliers who are part of the Féile Bia Programme administered by An Bord Bia.