Results 6,761-6,780 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Tree Felling: Tree Felling (1 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Since my reply to you of 3rd October, there has not been any further findings of positives in the Sutton and Bayside areas. The laboratory has confirmed the following samples to be positive for fireblight and a copy of the laboratory results will be provided to the Deputy. Location Tree Species Result Date Samples Taken Bayside Boulevard North Crataegus monogyna Positive 13-8-2007...
- Written Answers — Tree Felling: Tree Felling (1 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: As Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food I do not have responsibility for local authorities or their work.
- Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (1 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The Farm Improvement Scheme launched last July. The level of applications was being closely monitored having regard to the financial commitment agreed for this Scheme in the current Partnership Agreement. I announced yesterday that applications under the Farm Improvement Scheme have reached the level of funding available and that, as a result, the scheme is closed to new applications for...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The scheme of performance-related awards in the civil service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It does not apply to Secretaries General. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. However I can say that during 2007 awards totalling...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: An application under the Single Payment Scheme / Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 1 May 2007. The 50% Advance Payment, which amounted to â¬2,343.36, was paid to the applicant on 30 October. My Department will commence balancing payments to all eligible applicants on 1 December 2007 as provided for in the relevant EU Regulations. Payments under the...
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The sheep sector is a hugely important part of the overall Irish agri-food sector and I believe it has a very good future. The sector's future depends on its ability to meet the needs of the market. The downward trend in production and an ageing consumer profile point to both supply and demand issues. I am confident, however, that a framework is being put in place to address these issues....
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Perhaps we should consider one of today's publications which contains an article regarding the sheep sector this week with the headline "Buyers are plentiful and prices are holding", which is good to see. The Deputy is right in pointing to a reduction in the number of sheep kept on the land, which is mainly because we are now in a decoupled era. However, I have taken a personal interest and...
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The answer is no.
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Once again Fine Gael Deputies are not aware of any of the European Commission rules.
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The suckler cow scheme is a welfare scheme.
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: It addresses the issue of quality, not numbers.
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: There is no way I can introduce any scheme targeted towards numbers.
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy believes he knows the answers to everything, but he knows the answers to nothing at this time. He should stop pointing his finger; a little manners in this House would help. I will tell him what is happening.
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I do not need a chill pill. I will not rise to the opposition. Through REPS 4 â¬28 million is available to farmers in a specific mixed grazing scheme. Hill sheep farming applications are in and are being reviewed. They are happening now. ICBF is working at present with the sheep breeding industry. Some time ago I established a Teagasc centre of excellence, which is working with farming...
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: It is a Commission proposal and we have gone beyond it in many ways. I have reviewed the tagging regime as it discommoded many farmers. Neither of those is exclusive. The sheep fencing and handling facilities were requested during the discussions.
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: I will deal with that on the question regarding the farm improvement scheme. However, that has nothing to do with the electronic tagging issue. Further discussions and consultation will take place with all those involved.
- Agrifood Sector. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: We have worked towards that process and what the Commission proposes to introduce is more difficult than what we currently have.
- Milk Quota. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: Reviews of the operation of milk quotas and implementation of single payment scheme due in 2008 will be amalgamated into an overall "Health Check" of the Common Agricultural Policy. A Commission communication in preparation for the Health Check is expected to be tabled towards the end of this month and formal legislative proposals are expected to be published in May 2008. Agreement on the...
- Milk Quota. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is correct that those are pertinent issues and when the committee is established, a number of them will be considered. That approach will be more than beneficial as we will hear what Members have to say. I have grave concerns about a number of issues, particularly compulsory modulation. Farmers need political stability to proceed in the decoupled era and I expressed that concern...
- Farm Improvement Scheme. (6 Nov 2007)
Mary Coughlan: The farm improvement scheme was launched by my Department in July 2007 and funding for the scheme was agreed under the partnership agreement, Towards 2016, as part of an overall programme of investment in the agri-food sector. A total of â¬350 million was provided for farm waste and other on-farm investment measures, of which â¬79 million was provided for investments in farm improvements....