Results 1,921-1,940 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department located approximately 50 additional staff in Portlaoise as an initial step in decentralisation during 2004. Currently work for another 60 staff is being transferred to Portlaoise and will be undertaken by staff in that office who are being freed up as a result of rationalisation of income support schemes. My Department aims to transfer a further 50 staff to Portlaoise by early...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Each year, as part of its control plan, the Department of Agriculture and Food prepares an annual inspection programme detailing the number and category of feed samples to be drawn for analysis. With the coming into force in April 2004 of EU Regulation 1829/2003/EC, requiring member states to carry out the appropriate controls to ensure compliance with GM labelling requirements for food and...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food has produced a report on a broad range of issues relating to the early retirement scheme, not all of which are within my remit. I expect to be in a position shortly to respond to the report. In responding, it will be necessary to take account of the EU regulations governing the early retirement scheme and I intend to have regard also to an...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Trade in sheep between member states is governed by EU legislation which prescribes the conditions for trade which vary by reference to the category of sheep involved. For all categories it is a requirement that a veterinary inspector must satisfy, inter alia, that the sheep were resident on the holding of origin for 30 days, or 21 days for slaughter sheep, and that no sheep were moved onto...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Agreement was reached in August 2004 on a framework which sets out the overall outline and structure of the next World Trade Organisation, WTO, agreement. The framework provides that the substantial improvement in market access envisaged by the WTO ministerial conference in Doha in 2001 will be achieved through tariff reductions and expansion of tariff quotas, with flexibility in the case of...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Bovine viral diarrhoea, BVD, is not a scheduled disease under the Diseases of Animals Act 1966, and there are no funds at my disposal out of which financial assistance could be given to cover outbreaks of this disease. If serious outbreaks occur, advice should be sought by the owners of affected herds from their veterinary surgeons. The Department's veterinary laboratory service is available...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Much legislation governs the labelling of meat and meat products. The general labelling regulations covering, among other things, all food sold in Ireland require that the information be given clearly, accurately and in a language understood by the consumer. This legislation comes within the remit of the Department of Health and Children. My Department is responsible for legislation policy on...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The negotiations on the rural development framework for 2007 to 2013 are expected to conclude next week. It will be then for the individual member states to formulate their national rural development strategies and programmes. Allied to these developments, the possibility of seeking an extension to the disadvantaged areas can be borne in mind. I should point out, however, that the new...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 524 to 527, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland implemented the single payment scheme in January 2005. The special beef premium scheme and the slaughter premium scheme were the only schemes where the deadline for receipt of applications was 31 December 2004. This meant that as many farmers as possible submitted their applications in late...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (14 Jun 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted two applications under the 2004 special beef premium-bull premium scheme in respect of a total of six animals. The first application, in respect of one animal, was received on 12 October 2004. The second application, in respect of five animals, was received on 21 October 2004. Following computer validation, it was found that the animal included on the first...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, Ireland implemented the single payment scheme in January 2005. The special beef premium scheme and the slaughter premium scheme were the only schemes where the deadline for receipt of applications was 31 December 2004. This meant that as many farmers as possible submitted their applications in late December 2004 in order that they could benefit from the special beef...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned applied for grant aid from my Department under the dairy hygiene scheme in December 2004. However, as the installation of the equipment concerned had been completed in June 2003, the application was deemed ineligible for aid. As it is a strict condition of the scheme that grant aid will not be paid for works commenced before written approval has been conveyed to the...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am in agreement with many of the proposals outlined in the strategy and welcome this valuable contribution to the forestry debate at this time. A planting level of 20,000 hectares per annum is one of the targets set out in the programme for Government 2002 and is also in the 1996 programme, Growing for the Future. I will review the current forestry strategy following the conclusion of the...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named entered the scheme of early retirement from farming on 27 October 1994 and his participation ceased on 26 October 2004 when he had completed the maximum period of ten years in the scheme. Therefore, no further payments are due to him.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The records held by my Department indicate that the herd owner applied for area aid in 2000. There is no record of payment to him under the special beef premium scheme in 2000 or 2001. Ewe premium was paid to the herd owner in 2002. The herd owner concerned was issued with a provisional entitlement notice for the single payment taking account of the information set out above on 10 September...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named applied for premium on 37 and 36 animals, respectively, under the 2002 and 2003 suckler cow premium schemes. He received payment in respect of 34 animals for both years, as this is the number of quota rights on record for him. However, it was found at an inspection on 8 August 2002 that five animals were non-compliant with CMMS identification and registration requirements. As...

Written Answers — EU Audits: EU Audits (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am not aware of an impending EU audit visit to County Galway. However, a European Commission audit of agri-environment measures took place in Galway and Dublin in May 2005. As is normal practice, my Department received advance notification from the Commission of its visit and of files its team wished to examine during their audit. My officials examined these files to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The application by the person named for the early retirement scheme was incomplete at the time of application and remains incomplete. Evidence that his farming transferee and the transferee's father were farming as separate enterprises with separate herd numbers and handling facilities was never furnished. This deficiency in the application was communicated to the application on several...

Written Answers — Suckler Cow Quota: Suckler Cow Quota (14 Jun 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Following the mid-term review of Agenda 2000 all livestock premia and arable aid schemes, including the suckler cow premium scheme, were abolished with effect from 1 January 2005 and replaced by the single payment scheme. There is, therefore, no suckler cow quota national reserve in operation for 2005. Under EU regulations a single payment scheme national reserve was set up to provide for the...