Results 7,701-7,720 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: If land which is part of a REPS contract is disposed of on foot of a compulsory purchase order, reimbursement of REPS payments already made on the area is not required. In practice, however, my Department does not normally look for payments to be refunded if it is satisfied that land is disposed of to a local authority for the public good without a compulsory purchase order.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (5 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's primary responsibility is to ensure the sustainable development of a competitive consumer-focused agri-food sector and to contribute to a vibrant rural economy and society and that only food which meets the highest standards of food safety and quality enters the food chain. All of the control systems in place within my Department acting in co-operation with the Food Safety...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (5 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters are the responsibility of the company. As a commercial State company, Coillte Teoranta is not covered by the Public Service Benchmarking Scheme and consequently there are no direct implications for pay and pensions in the company arising from the report of the Benchmarking...

Written Answers — Meat Processing Plants: Meat Processing Plants (5 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: My Department does not have a role in setting prices at meat processing plants. In the case of the sheep sector, I have noted that introduction of the new pricing system proposed by processing plants has been postponed. Trials on mechanical grading are planned for later this month and are being facilitated by my Department. I would hope that a transparent grid for pricing can be agreed...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (5 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The European Commission first tabled proposals in 2004 on a review of the Less Favoured Areas (Disadvantaged Areas), with a view to having changes implemented as part of the Rural Development Framework for 2007-2013. The proposals represented a move away from designation based on socio-economic factors, (declining rural population, low productivity and low farm incomes), to a methodology...

Written Answers — Departmental Documentation: Departmental Documentation (5 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: When a farmer applies to join the Suckler Welfare Scheme (and opts to send back the information on paper as opposed to on-line), the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) sends out a Suckler Pack containing the following: 1. An Animal Events Book 2. Pre-paid return envelopes 3. A copy of the latest Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 4. A pocket-sized notebook for the farmer's own use. The...

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (5 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: EU Regulation 183/2005 lays down general rules on feed hygiene, the conditions and arrangements to ensure traceability of feed, and the conditions and arrangements for the registration and approval of all operators involved in the manufacture, haulage, storage or use of animal feed. As required under the legislation my Department established a register in 2006 of all feed business operators,...

Written Answers — : (5 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The storage and utilisation of poultry manure are covered by the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006 (SI no. 378 of 2006), made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Regulations place obligations on farmers regarding the storage of livestock manures, specify periods when the land application of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: At present, farmers can choose to have their payments made by cheque or electronic funds transfer directly into their bank account and this situation will continue during the 2008 EU financial year, which ends on 15 October. However, as and from the 2009 EU financial year commencing on 16th October 2008, payment by cheque will no longer be permitted under EU rules. A new requirement to make...

Order of Business (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: He should hurry up.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: He needs to take off.

Order of Business (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Irish is the first language.

Diseases of Animals Act 1966: Motion (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: We shall have new legislation to consolidate all of those.

World Trade Organisation: Statements (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I very much welcome this opportunity to address the House on the ongoing WTO negotiations. As a small open economy, Ireland has much to gain from the rule-based multilateral trading system provided by the World Trade Organisation and the current round of negotiations presents both challenges and opportunities for all of the major economic sectors in Ireland, in particular the services,...

World Trade Organisation: Statements (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: ——and other WTO negotiating partners must make equivalent contributions to ensure that an ambitious and balanced agreement is realised. It is time for realism to prevail at the negotiations with regard to what is attainable and acceptable in respect of agriculture. We must achieve genuine balance in any final agreement. Crucially, the European agrifood sector must not be sacrificed for...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The Government decided on 2 October 2007 that responsibility for foreshore licensing functions under the Foreshore Act 1933 in respect of port companies and harbour authorities governed by the Harbours Acts 1946, 1996 and 2000 and any other harbour or harbour related developments intended for commercial trade, and for all energy developments (including oil, gas, wave, wind and tidal energy)...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is a challenging national issue which faces all sectors of Irish society. Farmers are playing their part in meeting this challenge and my Department supports their efforts by funding and promoting various schemes which contribute to the reduction and sequestration of greenhouse gases. These include the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (REPS),...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Bord Bia has a Decentralisation Implementation Plan in place and continues to work with the Government's Decentralisation Implementation Group and the Department of Finance to ensure the achievement of that Plan. Issues relating to transferability of staff between agencies and with the Civil Service generally are being examined centrally by the Department of Finance. Bord Bia is also...

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The on-going trend towards part-time farming reflects a combination of factors including the increased availability of off-farm employment. Many small-scale producers find that combining farming with off-farm employment is an effective way to ensure their continued viability in farming. At the same time, full-time farmers are looking to the new flexibility offered to them under decoupling...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I assume the Deputy is referring to the application by the person concerned for grant-aid under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Applications received under that Scheme are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016.