Results 7,161-7,180 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (4 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Allocations of milk quota from the National Reserve are granted on the basis of recommendations from the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal. The Tribunal examines and makes recommendations on applications for additional quota from individual producers taking into account factors such as current quota size, off-farm income and/or other farm enterprises, size of holding, and family circumstances,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application to transfer National Reserve entitlements with land by way of lease under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme from the person named was received on the 11th May 2007. The entitlements in question were consolidated in 2005, at the request of the person named. Entitlements that are consolidated change status from Standard to National Reserve Entitlements. Under the terms and...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (4 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The sheep sector is an important part of the overall agri-food sector and its future depends on its ability to meet the needs of the market. The downward trend is production and an ageing consumer profile are major factors which the industry felt should be examined in order to develop a way forward. With this in mind the industry established the Sheep Industry Development Strategy Group...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (4 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The number of farmers in Galway participating in REPS 2 and REPS 3 at the end of the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and to date in 2007 is set out in following table. Year REPS 2 REPS 3 2004 4,284 1,035 2005 3,278 2,306 2006 1,470 5,101 2007 243 5,352 (The apparent increase in REPS 3 numbers in 2007, even though the Scheme closed to new entrants at the end of December 2006, is because there...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Directives mentioned in the question refer to the proposals of the EU Commission on the sustainable use of pesticides which are currently under consideration. These proposals are subject to the Co-decision process, involving both the EU Council and the EU Parliament working in parallel. The EU Parliament adopted a position on these proposals at its plenary session on 23 October last. I...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is currently recruiting for Fermoy from the Central Applications Facility (CAF), the mechanism by which existing civil servants apply for such posts. Until all the various CAF processes are exhausted, it is not possible to determine whether shortfalls will exist. If shortfalls arise, my Department will examine the issue with the Department of Finance. Any recruitment at entry...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Single Payment Scheme entitlements granted to the herdowner were calculated on the basis of his Livestock Premia payments during the 2000 to 2002 reference period. An alternative reference period of 1997 to 1999 could be availed of in certain circumstances, e.g. acceptable force majeure. However, no application was received from the herdowner to have his case assessed and, if successful,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has no record of a REPS application from the person named.

Written Answers — Video Conferencing Facilities: Video Conferencing Facilities (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: In my role as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which by its nature has countrywide responsibilities, I use video conferencing, if appropriate, in order to reduce the amount of travel taken to attend meetings. The deployment of video conferencing facilities in my Department is determined by the nature of the work being undertaken and the number of staff working in a particular...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: A total of 228 of my staff availed of the Travel Pass Scheme in 2007.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together. The disposal of waste from the Department's Offices is by way of contracts with the various Local Authorities. The Office of Public Works also organise the disposal of certain waste equipment for the Department. Specialised areas of the Department have separate contracts for the disposal of other waste. Figures are not available for...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry: Fishing Industry (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The escalation of fuel costs, as a result of global economic and political conditions, remains a matter of concern for all sectors of industry. It is important to note that the fishing industry in Ireland already receives favourable treatment in the form of a full rebate on excise and VAT on marine fuel, if the enterprise concerned is registered for VAT. Fuel subsidies, in terms of operating...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named, following which the issues raised are being fully investigated. On completion of these enquiries, the official in question will again contact the person named.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2007 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received in this case on 2 May 2007. One of the primary provisions of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is that applicants must maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for at least three consecutive months. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified as potentially...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 17 April 2007. Following processing of this application, it was found that some land parcels claimed by the person named were also the subject of a scheme application by another applicant. All of the outstanding queries on the 2007 Single Payment Scheme application of the person named have now been...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application for the Transfer of Entitlements with land to the person named was received on 4th May 2007. The person who was transferring the entitlements submitted a Single Payment application form on 4 May 2007. During processing of the Transfer application it was necessary for an official of my Department to the write to the person named advising him to have the registration details of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 will be processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Departmental Meetings: Departmental Meetings (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together. My Department has a Management Advisory Committee (MAC) chaired by the Secretary General which meets fortnightly. My Special Advisor is a member of the Committee. Periodically, a meeting of the MAC is held at Ministerial level which involves the MAC and myself and the Ministers of State. I chair those meetings. Reports are prepared of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table. Minister Coughlan Minister of State Brown Minister of State Sargent Minister of State Wallace Permanent Civil Servants 11.1 * 2 4 5 Programme Managers 0 0 0 0 Special Advisors 1 (PCS) 0 1 0 Policy Assistants 0 0 0 0 Personnel on Secondment 1 (PCS) 1 (PCS) 2 (PCS) 0 Other non Permanent Civil Servants 3 4 2.5 5 PCS...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named held 23.07 payment entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme in 2007. In order to receive full payment, the applicant must declare one hectare of land in respect of each entitlement held. The person named declared 22.55 hectares of eligible lands in 2007 and received a 50% advance payment, amounting to €3,554.63, on 16 October 2007 based on the number of hectares...