Results 1,341-1,360 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

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

Mary Coughlan: The person named applied for consideration both as a farmer who commenced farming during the reference period and under the inheritance measure of the single payment scheme. Following an examination of the applications, the person named was notified that the inheritance measure was successful and his application to be treated as a farmer who commenced farming during the 2000 to 2002 period...

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

Mary Coughlan: The person named has applied to the 2005 single payment national reserve under category B, investment, and category D, new entrant. The position with regard to the national reserve is that all applications are being processed and in view of the number of applications received and accompanying documentation submitted, it will be some time before processing is completed. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The milk quota regulations provide for the establishment of milk production partnerships subject to a number of conditions. In certain cases exemptions may be allowed by my Department where some conditions relating to milk production partnerships are not satisfied. Applications for the registration of milk production partnerships can be made to the Dairy Partnership Registration Office,...

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

Mary Coughlan: The person named lodged three applications under the 2004 EU special beef premium scheme, one on 2 January 2004 in respect of two animals, one on 1 September 2004, in respect of 14 animals and one on 31 December 2004 in respect of one animal. Payment in full has issued in respect of the first application. Payment in respect of 11 of the 14 animals applied on under the application dated 1...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (12 Apr 2005)

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 is a body established to consider and advise on applications for additional quota from individual producers who have suffered severe hardship in the context of the milk quota system. It also examines applications from producers whose herds have...

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

Mary Coughlan: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the study on the supply of, and demand for, ash for hurley making as mentioned in my response to him on 1 March 2005. The study, which will be carried out by Teagasc, is being scoped and costed at present. The basis of the study will be to examine questions of supply and demand for ash plants required for hurley making. The study will look at both...

Written Answers — Potato Sector: Potato Sector (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: While potato acreage has declined by 4% in the past five years to 12,600 hectares, production has increased by 11% to 506,000 tonnes. The increased production has led in the past two years to over-supply and a downward pressure on prices. A feature of potato production is the gradual decline in the number of growers. The industry is becoming more concentrated with a small number of...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested is set out in the table below. Year No. of Participants in each year No. of Compliance Inspections No. of Audits No. of Participants with penalties imposed 2000 44,795 19,709 1,927 4,643 2001 44,672 8,551 590 2,707 2002 39,761 8,570 1,561 2,400 2003 36,818 8,802 1,589 1,904 2004 38,467 9,264 1,668 1,604

Written Answers — Departmental Decisions: Departmental Decisions (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Agriculture Appeals Office was established in May 2002 to deal with appeals from farmers on an independent statutory basis. Since then the following numbers of appeals have been received: Year Received Successful or Partially Successful Unsuccessful Other (Withdrawn, Not Valid, Out of Time etc.) On Hand 2002 518 191 285 42 — 2003 1,143 438 623 82 — 2004 1,116...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: It is assumed that the question concerns consignments of pigmeat that were imported into the European Union and subsequently forwarded to a cold store in County Tipperary during the first three months of this year. All pigmeat imported from non-EU countries is checked for compliance with EU veterinary legislation at the first EU border inspection post where it is presented for completion of...

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

Mary Coughlan: I received the report of the joint Oireachtas committee formally 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 of the European Commission regulations under which both the current and previous schemes were implemented.

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

Mary Coughlan: The following table shows the sections of my Department currently based outside Dublin which will be moved to other non-Dublin locations under the Government's decentralisation programme and the likely numbers of staff concerned. Neither of the locations has been included in the first phase of moves as recommended in the November 2004 report of the decentralisation implementation group. It is...

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

Mary Coughlan: I received the report of the joint Oireachtas committee formally 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: The person named has been notified that the circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure — exceptional circumstances — under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. Following this decision the person named submitted an appeal to the independent single payment appeals committee. A full review of the circumstances of the case will be carried out...

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

Mary Coughlan: I received the report of the joint Oireachtas committee formally 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 — Fairtrade Products: Fairtrade Products (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware that Oxfam Ireland is actively involved in a campaign to make fairtrade products widely available within Ireland and has been successful in securing support from the major multiples here for its fair trade fortnight in March last. The decision to use any Fairtrade product by my Department would be subject to compliance with public procurement rules and it is a matter for the...

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

Mary Coughlan: Under the Government's decentralisation plan, my Department's headquarters in Dublin will relocate to Portlaoise. To achieve the staffing targets set out for Portlaoise in the plan, it is not envisaged that smaller sections of my Department will be transferred to regional or local offices. I am aware that with the introduction of the single payments scheme staff in local offices of my...

Written Answers — Agriculture Appeals Office: Agriculture Appeals Office (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: With regard to the rural environment protection scheme, REPS, the agriculture appeals office made four recommendations. My Department took all of these recommendations into consideration when preparing for the introduction of REPS 3 in 2004. The first recommendation was that participants be notified of changes to the scheme at the same time as REPS planners or at their next anniversary date....

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 641 and 642 together. While my Department has provided grants and other financial assistance to a variety of organisations over the past three years, such organisations are not gender specific. Consequently, it is not possible to present information relating to such grants and assistance in terms which are gender specific.

Written Answers — Biofuel Crops: Biofuel Crops (12 Apr 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The promotion and development of renewable energy, including biofuels, are matters in the first instance for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. An interdepartmental group, chaired by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and comprising of officials from my own Department, the Departments of Finance and Transport, the Department of the...