Results 1,881-1,900 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The framework agreement for the next WTO round, which was concluded in Geneva in August 2004, 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. That agreement covers export refunds, export credits, the trade distorting...

Written Answers — Meat Exports: Meat Exports (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In recent years, the focus of the Irish beef industry has been to broaden and expand its market reach at EU retail level, shifting its orientation away from international commodity markets and into the higher priced internal EU marketplace. Effective promotion and marketing of beef by Bord Bia and the industry has ensured a presence for top quality Irish beef in all the key European markets....

Written Answers — Meat Imports: Meat Imports (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Central Statistics Office is responsible for the collection of statistics on imports of meat and meat products. The following tables, which were compiled from data supplied by that office, set out the details requested by the Deputy. In certain cases the record of import may include the re-import of Irish products that were originally the subject of an export from this country. The...

Written Answers — Meat Imports: Meat Imports (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 171 together. Detailed EU legislation lays down the conditions that member states must apply to the production of and trade in products of animal origin, including fish, as well as to imports of these products from third countries. Under harmonised legislation a series of health and supervisory requirements are applied in the member states to ensure...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (25 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: All food produced under the control of my Department is subject to checks to ensure that it complies with relevant EU food labelling and traceability legislation. The requirements are as follows. In the case of fresh meat, carcasses, half carcasses or half carcasses cut into no more than three wholesale cuts and quarters intended to be placed on the market for human consumption must bear the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application on 16 March 2005 for consideration of his circumstances under the second tranche of the force majeure exceptional circumstances measure of the single payment scheme. Ill health was cited on the application form as giving rise to the circumstances outlined. However, no details or medical evidence were furnished in support of the application. The person...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Compensation by the ESB for losses resulting from ESB power lines in forest plantations is a matter for negotiation between the landowner and the ESB. On 27 January 2005 the forest service of my Department provided the forest owner with a statement of the value of forest premium lost as a result of the power lines in his plantation. This statement was provided to facilitate his claim to the ESB.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme after the reference period. Following processing of these applications it was deemed that the person named was not eligible as a new entrant as she commenced farming in 2003 after the reference period. To qualify for the inheritance measure one...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named applied for consideration in respect of both new entrant during the reference period and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme. Following examination of the papers submitted, the person named was notified that his new entrant application was unsuccessful as no direct payments were paid to him during the reference years 2000 to 2002. I am pleased to advise that the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted two applications under the 2004 special beef/bull premium scheme, one on 11 February 2004, in respect of one animal, and one on 30 September 2004, in respect of nine animals. Under the EU regulations governing the 2004 special beef premium scheme a stocking density of 1.8 livestock units per hectare applies, based on the forage area declared on an applicant's area...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Some 1,036 of the herd owners in County Clare who applied for more than 25 animals have now been paid interim balancing payments, based on an estimated quota overshoot. The total value of the interim balances is €1,542,477.38. The definitive position regarding the extent by which the national ceiling has been exceeded and the exact quota reduction will be established when all applications...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Production: Sugar Beet Production (26 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The EU Commission outlined its initial ideas for reform of the EU sugar regime in a communication to the Council and the European Parliament last July. The communication was the subject of technical discussions at Council working group level in Brussels and there was a policy debate at the Council's Agriculture Ministers meeting in November. The European Commission's initial ideas for reform...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Following a full examination of the circumstances outlined in the appeal, the independent single payment appeals committee found that the original decision taken by my Department should be upheld. However, my Department has re-examined the circumstances of this case and are satisfied that force majeure should be applied. As a result, the single farm payment entitlements will be based on 2002...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 to 345, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland implemented the single payment scheme in January 2005. The special beef premium scheme, along with the slaughter premium scheme, were the only schemes where the deadline for the receipt of applications was 31 December 2004. This meant that as many farmers as possible submitted their applications...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An application to the 2005 single payment scheme national reserve under category C was received in my Department from the person named on 23 February 2005. Since the final closing date was further extended to 16 May 2005, his application has been accepted. Category C caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, sold their milk quota into the milk quota restructuring...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I assume the Deputy is referring to the farm income requirements set out in the installation aid scheme. The scheme sets out the following examples of force majeure which may be recognised where an applicant is unable to meet the conditions of the scheme: death of the applicant; serious illness-incapacity of the applicant; compulsory acquisition of all or part of the agricultural holding...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (31 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The installation aid scheme provides a grant of €9,523 to farmers under the age of 35 who have been set up in farming for the first time and who meet certain education and income criteria. By virtue of the provisions of Article 8 of Council Regulation 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the EAGGF, grant aid may only be paid under the scheme in respect of, inter alia, farm...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (31 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Work on drafting the animal health Bill is proceeding in my Department. There is still a significant body of preparatory work to be completed and it is not possible at this stage to indicate a date for publication.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has received an application from the person named but there is an issue relating to the area included in her REPS plan which must be resolved before the application can be processed further. The applicant and her REPS planner have been made aware of the issue.

Written Answers — Water Pollution: Water Pollution (31 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: A possible role for anaerobic digesters in dealing with organic waste from the both the agricultural and agrifood sector and, in particular, from the pig and poultry sectors has been under consideration by my Department for some time. Some years ago my Department grant aided an anaerobic digestion facility on a pilot project basis with a view to examining its feasibility and potential to...