Results 7,501-7,520 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The farming organisations were made aware in December 2007 of the fact that the EU Regulations governing REPS 4 might, if applied strictly, require a departure from the existing practice of paying REPS participants in full at the beginning of each contract year. My officials informed them that they were making every effort to persuade the Commission that the existing practice should continue...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The person named is a participant in REPS 3. In the course of the ongoing discussions on the payment arrangements for REPS 4, the European Commission raised questions early in January 2008 about the established practice of paying REPS 2 and REPS 3 farmers at the beginning of each contract year. At that stage, some â¬6 million had already been paid to REPS 2 and REPS 3 farmers since 1...
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (14 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: In the course of the ongoing discussions on the payment arrangements for REPS 4, the European Commission raised questions early in January 2008 about the established practice of paying REPS 2 and REPS 3 farmers at the beginning of each contract year. At that stage, some â¬6 million had already been paid to REPS 2 and REPS 3 farmers since 1 January 2008. My officials have argued strongly...
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (14 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Up to 10 February 2008, 4,895 payments to farmers in REPS 2 and REPS 3 were approved and awaiting release. The information requested is set out in tabular form below. County Payments approved for REPS 2 participants Payments approved for REPS 3 participants Carlow 0 68 Cavan 16 189 Clare 10 189 Cork 8 277 Donegal 36 321 Dublin 2 13 Galway 45 577 Kerry 32 305 Kildare 1 58 Kilkenny...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: An application for REPS 4 from the person named was received in my Department on 19 December 2007. His contract cannot therefore commence before 1 January 2008. As regards REPS 4 contracts commencing on or after 1 January 2008, my Department is in discussions with the European Commission as to whether the previous practice of paying farmers at the start of each contract year in REPS can...
- Written Answers — Crop Losses: Crop Losses (14 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 to 168, inclusive, together. Brown rot is caused by the bacterium Ralstonia Solanacearum and results in yield losses in host plants and the rotting of tubers. The disease poses no risk to human or animal health. The handling of this disease is governed by EU legislation, which is being followed by my Department in this case. My Department has also had a...
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (14 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I am satisfied that sufficient resources are available in my Department's estimates for 2008 to ensure that the necessary inspections can continue to take place under the Farm Waste Management Scheme and that all financial commitments under the Scheme will be met.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The person named is a participant in REPS 3. In the course of the ongoing discussions on the payment arrangements for REPS 4, the European Commission raised questions early in January 2008 about the established practice of paying REPS 2 and REPS 3 farmers at the beginning of each contract year. At that stage, some â¬6 million had already been paid to REPS 2 and REPS 3 farmers since 1...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The person named applied for his REPS payment on 30 November 2007. Further information was requested and was received in my Department on 30 January 2008. However, I understand that additional information, related to the compulsory purchase of some of his land, is still required by my officials before processing of the application can be completed. If the application is found to be...
- Written Answers — Safety Works: Safety Works (19 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: This matter is under extensive communications with Donegal County Council. The current position is that the Department is working with the Chief State Solicitor's Office concerning the preparation of a lease. Every effort is being made to expedite the matter.
- Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, provided for the establishment of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). This independent authority was established on January 1st 2007. The principal functions of the Authority as set down in the Act are: 1. To secure efficient and effective enforcement of sea-fisheries law and seafood safety law. 2. To promote compliance with...
- Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The BIM Board is made up of six members. All members are Ministerial appointees as set out in the 1952 Sea Fisheries Act.
- Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Section 23 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 provides that the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board shall consist of a Chairperson and six other members. In accordance with that Section the Chairperson shall be appointed by the Government, while the remaining members of the Board are appointed by the Minister from amongst persons nominated by classes of organisations prescribed under...
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (19 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I had further discussions with Commissioner Fischer Boel in Brussels earlier this week about the difficulties with the European Commission in relation to the established practice of paying REPS 2 and REPS 3 participants at the beginning of each contract year. I am very glad to say that I obtained the Commissioner's agreement that Ireland can continue to receive REPS payment claims and make...
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (19 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I had further discussions with Commissioner Fischer Boel in Brussels earlier this week about the difficulties with the European Commission in relation to the established practice of paying REPS 2 and REPS 3 participants at the beginning of each contract year. I am very glad to say that I obtained the Commissioner's agreement that Ireland can continue to receive REPS payment claims and make...
- Written Answers — Percent for Art Scheme: Percent for Art Scheme (19 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Question Nos. 443 and 444 together. I refer the Deputy to the reply by the Minister for Finance to these questions. Material in regard to my Department is included in that reply.
- Written Answers — Financial Management Systems: Financial Management Systems (19 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: My Department's financial management system comprises the SAP R3 Accounts system which was introduced into my Department in 2001. The original system was provided by IBM. Additional modules were added in 2003 and the system was updated in 2006. The annual cost of maintaining the software is â¬193,000. This annual maintenance fee does not include the cost of the on-site development and...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: The 2007 payment for REPS 3 (second year payment) issued on 19 January 2007. There was a reduction in the payment due to the disposal of leased land. The person named has written to my Department to confirm that he understands the reason for the reduced payment. He has also recently applied for his third year payment. I had further discussions with Commissioner Fischer Boel in Brussels...
- Written Answers — : (19 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: An application was received on 25 April 2007 requesting the transfer of 10.01 standard entitlements by way of lease to the person named from another farmer. An issue involving unused National Reserve entitlements held by the person named prevented the immediate processing of this application. This issue has since been resolved and the requested transfer has been fully processed. Payment...
- Written Answers — : (19 Feb 2008)
Mary Coughlan: Payments to REPS 4 farmers under contracts which commenced in 2007 are now issuing. The person named applied for REPS 4 on 17 January 2008. My officials are in discussion with the European Commission on the payment arrangement to apply to REPS 4 contracts commencing in 2008 and I expect the matter to be clarified shortly.