Results 1,321-1,340 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I thank the Members. So far, it has been a very constructive debate with much discussion and food for thought.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Senator is pushing his luck.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Senator should make a recommendation.

Seanad: Veterinary Practice Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I may end up here myself.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (24 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: While I am aware that significant quantities of fresh milk are being imported into the State, provided such milk meets the standards of EU Directive 92/46, it can be traded freely within the European Union. My role, as Minister for Agriculture and Food, is to ensure that an EU policy framework is in place, and EU market management measures are implemented in a manner which allows the dairy...

Written Answers — Potato Production: Potato Production (24 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have no plans to request Teagasc to establish a facility for land leasing or a land exchange to help with the upscale and consolidation of the dairy industry. Under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988, the function of Teagasc is to provide research, training and advisory services for the agri-food sector. Moreover, the milk quota regulations restrict the establishment...

Written Answers — Potato Production: Potato Production (24 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The alignment of supply with demand is essentially a market issue. I am aware that there is an over supply situation in the potato sector and this, combined with falling consumption due to changing eating habits, is giving rise to continuing downward pressure on prices. The establishment of any voluntary scheme to control production is a matter for growers. In this context I would urge...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has applied for consideration in respect of the inheritance and new entrant measures of the single payment scheme. Following an examination of the documentation submitted I am pleased to advise that her application in respect of the inheritance measure has been successful. A statement of provisional entitlements outlining this position will issue to the person named shortly....

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (24 Mar 2005)

Mary Coughlan: At present, a minimum of 20 income units from farming is required in the case of applicants for grants under the on-farm investment schemes. This includes the farm waste management scheme which has now replaced the control of farm pollution scheme. The European Commission has repeatedly opposed any relaxation of this minimum income requirement despite several approaches by my Department on...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The NeighbourWood Scheme offers considerable support to local authorities, community groups, environmental NGOs and private woodland owners to work in partnership to develop appropriate woodland amenities in and around villages, towns and cities. Six applications for preliminary approval have been received to date this year. Since this is a demand-driven scheme, it is impossible to say what...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named, having been notified that the circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure or exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) 1782/2003, submitted an appeal to the independent single payment appeals committee. Following a full examination of the circumstances of the appeal, the findings of the independent single payment...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Ireland's quota under the special beef premium scheme is 1,077,458 animals, comprising animals in the bull or first age categories. Under the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) 1254/1999, where the quota is breached in respect of the bull or first age category, the overshoot reduction must also be applied to the second age category animals. These provisions were applied when the overshoot...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: After attending a Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels, I travelled to Paris to meet the French Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Rural Affairs on 15 March to discuss EU agricultural matters. I subsequently represented the Government at a number of St. Patrick's Day events in Paris from 16 to 18 March. These events included hosting a reception in the embassy for...

Written Answers — Sheep Flock Restocking: Sheep Flock Restocking (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: A group under the chairmanship of Dr. Crosby examined the question of costs arising following restocking with a particular category of sheep in the case of flockowners where the depopulations occurred during the initial scrapie depopulation regime. In total, 100 flocks were depopulated under this phase and restocking was not permitted for a period of two years. Flockowners received...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am very much aware of the concerns of the Society of Irish Foresters about the proposals for forestry contained in the draft Rural Development Regulation 2007-2013. The draft regulation was first published by the European Commission last summer, and is the subject of ongoing negotiations in Brussels. These are merely proposals at this stage and are some way from agreement in their present...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Payments under the 2003 and 2004 area-based compensatory allowance scheme were made to the person named on 11 March 2004 and 27 October 2004 respectively. The person named lodged two applications under the 2003 EU special beef premium scheme, one 18 February 2003, in respect of six animals and one on 19 May 2003, in respect of four animals. Payment in respect of five of the six animals...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 611 to 614, inclusive, together. The Deputy is referring to Special Report No. 9, 2004 of the European Court of Auditors concerning forestry measures within rural development policy. This report related to EU-wide forestry measures and not those of Ireland as such. Individuals or companies are not mentioned in this report. The cases cited by the Deputy were...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 615 to 620, inclusive, together on the basis that they refer to issues arising in Special Report No. 9 of the European Court of Auditors concerning forestry measures within the European Union's rural development policy. This report examines the implementation of the various EU forestry measures across all the member states, not only Ireland, and will be...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I formally received the report of the Oireachtas joint committee on 7 April. I have asked my officials to consider the recommendations contained in the report, having due regard to the terms and conditions both of the early retirement scheme and the European Commission regulations under which both the current and previous schemes were implemented.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Compensation for tuberculosis reactors valued under the on-farm market valuation scheme issued to the person concerned on 14 March 2005.