Results 7,101-7,120 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Salmon Farming: Salmon Farming (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Salmon ranching is an activity that has not taken place in the State previously and accordingly requires careful consideration. Relevant state agencies are examining the multi-faceted implications of such an activity and will advise in due course. It should be noted that aquaculture activities, including the culture or farming of any species of fish, aquatic invertebrate or aquatic plant,...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Government's decision of July 2006 concerning the implementation of the EU restructuring aid for the sugar industry, Greencore would have received €98.4m of the total amount of €145.5m available to Irish beneficiaries. However, that decision was quashed by the High Court in June 2007 so the final allocation to Greencore has not yet been determined. The relevant EU regulations...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2007 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received in this case on 2 May 2007. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 21 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 in this case has now been fully processed and payment...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Office of Public Works carried out an Access Audit on my Department's Offices and Laboratories and are arranging to ensure the offices are made accessible to people with disabilities.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: A unit of the Corporate Affairs Division in my Department has responsibility for press and media matters. The equivalent of 4.5 staff work full-time on media communication duties in this unit. They are paid normal civil service salaries commensurate with their grades. Details of the staff costs for each of the first three quarters of 2007 are set out in the table below. â'¬ Quarter 1...

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The information in relation to my Department's website is given below. The operation of the websites of agencies under the aegis of my Department is the responsibility of the agencies concerned. Website Date set up Updated Cost (exclusive of staff costs) http://www.agriculture.gov.ie. including http://agfood.ie and various subsites 1996 Continually €552,500

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned is an applicant under both the Dairy Hygiene and Farm Waste Management Schemes. My Department has no record of having received any notification of completion of works and the related documents from the applicant. The applications cannot be further progressed until this documentation is received.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: In 1998, a 100% penalty was applied to the person named in respect of a serious breach of the REP Scheme conditions. This penalty was upheld upon appeal to the REPS Appeals Committee and the Office of the Ombudsman. In 2001, the person named availed of the option offered by my Department to pay by agreed monthly instalments over a specially extended timeframe. In light of this agreement, my...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I am responsible to the Dail for the bodies set out below insofar as Ministerial policy is concerned, but not for their day-to-day operations or for policies set by the Boards of the bodies. Teagasc An Bord Bia Irish National Stud Co. Ltd. Coillte Teoranta National Milk Agency Veterinary Council of Ireland Bord Iascaigh Mhara Marine Institute Sea Fisheries Protection Authority Aquaculture...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The 2007 Estimates provide for a Grant-in-Aid of €26.505 million to An Bord Bia. An Bord Bia also receives money in respect of specific certification costs relating to quality assurance and implementation of the Health Eating Initiative (Food Dude programme) in primary schools. The amounts provided for the latter activities in 2007 are €2.3 million and €4 million respectively.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: This is an operational matter for Bord Bia and it is not appropriate that I respond on such day to day activities.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's Vote for 2007 included an allocation of €361 million for REPS. Some €262 million of expenditure has been incurred to date. Spending for the remainder of the year will be determined by the number of farmers who send in their annual payment applications. In 2006, REPS payments came to €33 million in November and €61 million in December.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: This is an operational matter for Bord Bia and it is not appropriate that I respond on such day to day activities.

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has in place extensive controls to protect personal data, in particular for sensitive information such as individual banking information. The Department has a secure and robust IT infrastructure that provides protection for all of the electronic information that it holds. The Department also has a sophisticated data access control system that provides for tailored access...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Single Payment Scheme is subject to ongoing scrutiny by auditors from the European Commission and the European Court of Auditors. In its recent annual report for 2006, the European Court of Auditors highlighted what they regard as certain deficiencies in the operations of the Single Payment Scheme in a number of Member States including Ireland. In particular, the Court of Auditors...

Written Answers — Pet Passports: Pet Passports (28 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: This pet passport application is being processed and will issue very shortly.

Written Answers — Domestic Abattoirs: Domestic Abattoirs (28 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: As I indicated to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question 29499/07 on 22 November 2007, the regulation of local abattoirs is the responsibility of local authorities, who report to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland on this issue. I am, however, considering whether there is scope for support to abattoirs in relation to specific activities under the marketing and processing scheme...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (28 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has applied, through his Solicitor, for Registration to the Property Registration Authority (Land Registry). He has been informed by that Authority that it appears from its maps that the property is in fact registered to the Congested Districts Board. I as Minister, as successor to the Congested Districts Board and the Irish Land Commission have no objection to the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (28 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together. The implementation of the Nitrates Directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The dates of the prohibited periods for spreading fertilizer are set out in the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006, made by the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's offices at Maynooth and Backweston are not part of the Government's decentralisation programme and vacancies are not currently being filled under the CAF arrangements. Currently, all vacancies are being filled from existing Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food staff.