Results 701-720 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The EU regulation to which the Deputy refers is Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005. It should be noted that most of the requirements contained in this regulation will not come into effect until 5 January 2007, with a small number of other provisions only having effect from 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2009. The Council regulation, when it comes into force, is designed to improve the welfare...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am encouraged by the current rate of demand for REPS. Numbers have risen steadily since REPS 3 was introduced in June of last year. We have already received some 6,000 applications from farmers who were not already in REPS. A further 8,500 farmers who were in REPS 2 have taken advantage of the special fast-track arrangements for transformation and have switched over to REPS 3. In all, there...

Written Answers — Company Dispute: Company Dispute (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The case mentioned by the Deputy arose from a dispute between a company, my Department and two co-defendants. This related to the storage of tallow at its premises going back to 1997. A settlement was reached with the plaintiff on 6 December 2004. The settlement was agreed on the basis of legal advice from State counsel and with the sanction of the Office of the Attorney General. It was...

Written Answers — Rural Development Regulation: Rural Development Regulation (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Commission proposals for a new rural development regulation covering the period 2007-13 are at present being discussed at working group level in Brussels. Insofar as forestry is concerned, I have very serious concerns about the impact of the proposals. In particular, I am concerned about the proposed reduction in planting grants from 100% to 40%, the reduction in premiums and a reduction...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is referring to a recent report from the European Environmental Agency, EEA, which suggested that 84% of planting since 1990 has taken place on peat-lands. This figure does not in any way correspond to the information available to my Department. In reply to a number of questions from Deputy Sargent on the matter on 2 December 2004, I indicated that my Department had requested...

Written Answers — Horticulture Industry: Horticulture Industry (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: One of the notable features of horticulture and potato production in recent years has been a continuing decline in the number of growers and an increasing concentration of production in the hands of large scale producers. Despite the decline in grower numbers however output value has continued to increase, with the value of vegetable production increasing from €43 million in 1999 to €49...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An interdepartmental inter-agency working group was established within my Department in October 2003 to develop proposals for a national strategy and best practices to ensure the co-existence of GM crops with conventional and organic farming. Part of the group's work programme has been to examine the economic implications of such farming practices. Preliminary research completed by Teagasc...

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland is currently the dominant import supplier of prime beef to the British market, supplying 258,000 tonnes to that market last year. The UK authorities have signalled that they will commence a transition period towards ending the over 30 months scheme, OTMS, for British beef during the latter half of 2005. This transition period will be used to validate their BSE testing regime and to...

Written Answers — Hazardous Farm Waste: Hazardous Farm Waste (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am not aware of the inquiry mentioned by the Deputy. My Department is the authority responsible for the control of exports of animal by-products and it has received no inquiries from the British Environmental Agency in relation to such exports. My Department has also established that the competent authorities with responsibility for the export of material covered by waste legislation from...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The planting target of 20,000 hectares per annum set out in the programme for Government reflects the target set in Growing for the Future, published in 1996. The average number of hectares planted per annum since 1996 was 14,000 hectares. The Review and Appraisal of Ireland's Forestry Development Strategy, published by Peter Bacon and Associates, is a key element in the review of the sector....

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The requirement in the scheme of early retirement from farming that the participant must either transfer or lease their land to a young farmer who meets certain eligibility conditions is an EU regulatory provision and my Department has no discretion in the matter. Where the lease of the land expires before the period of the pension it is necessary for the participant either to renew the lease...

Written Answers — Sugar Industry: Sugar Industry (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 36, 43 and 72 together. The recent decision by Greencore Group plc to close its sugar plant in Carlow and to consolidate all of its sugar manufacturing in Mallow was taken by the company in the light of the increasing competition in the sugar market and taking account of the reality that changes will occur in the industry as a consequence of the reform of...

Written Answers — Agriculture and Food Sector: Agriculture and Food Sector (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Agri-Vision 2015 Committee was put in place last year to set out a vision for the agriculture and food sector over the next decade. This committee was given the task of building on the work of the 2010 committee, which had reported in 2000. The Agri-Vision 2015 Committee was set terms of reference which stated, among other things, that it should "Review the strategy and recommendations...

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I was particularly pleased to announce the reopening of the Algerian market last October. This followed intensive efforts over a prolonged period and efforts are continuing to further develop this market. Indeed there are indications that the range of product will be expanded to include frozen beef in the coming months. Although the Egyptian market has reopened for imports of Irish beef,...

Written Answers — Export Subsidies: Export Subsidies (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The framework agreement for the next WTO round commits member countries to agree detailed rules, including an end date, for the parallel elimination of all forms of export subsides and for the introduction of disciplines on all export measures with equivalent effect. This approach should ensure equal competition on the world market for all exporters. The final terms of the new WTO agreement...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 69 together. The force majeure procedure for the single farm payment scheme is implemented by my Department in accordance with the provisions of Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. Eligible applicants under this measure can have their entitlements based on an average of one or two years during the reference period — 2000, 2001 and...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have not been in contact with the Department of Finance about re-instating roll-over relief on land acquired by compulsory purchase orders.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The rate of pension payable under the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming is the maximum amount provided for by the EU Council regulation under which the scheme was introduced. The regulation does not provide for indexation of payments. My Department's proposals for the current early retirement scheme, which commenced on 27 November 2000 and is one of the measures in the CAP rural...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The last grant payment made by my Department in respect of the Rooskey plant in County Roscommon was in June 1997. My Department, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland, is examining the position regarding contingent liabilities arising from the plant's closure. The process of recovery of any amounts identified as due will follow upon completion of this exercise.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (27 Jan 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The rate of pension payable under the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming is the maximum amount provided for by the EU Council regulation under which the scheme was introduced. My Department's proposals for the current early retirement scheme, which commenced on 27 November 2000 and is one of the measures in the CAP rural development plan for the period 2000-06, included provision...