Results 8,321-8,340 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The AES west region has the highest number REPS participants in the country — 22.4% on average in 2006 and 2007. The number of REPS appeals received by the Agriculture Appeals Office for the region in 2006 and 2007 was 26.5%, on average, of the national total. The percentage of appeals fully allowed from this region, at 9%, was broadly similar for other regions. The percentage of...

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The person named is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Applications under this Scheme are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016. The application concerned is, therefore, eligible for consideration and will be processed subject to funding still being available at that time.

Written Answers — Disposal of Animals: Disposal of Animals (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The person named had 8 cattle and 34 sheep seized under Court Order. Of these, one of the cattle and 27 sheep were unidentified which rendered them unfit for slaughter for human consumption. Another of the cattle was also deemed unfit for slaughter for human consumption due to immaturity. All of these 29 animals were disposed of as unfit for human consumption and consequently, they did not...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The possible re-introduction of the ewe premium is one of several recommendations made in a report by Liam Aylward, MEP, to the European Parliament on 25th February 2008, addressing issues in the sheep sector. The EU Council of Ministers will, at my request, discuss the development of the sheep sector at its next meeting on 17th March. I am mindful of the challenges facing the sheep sector....

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 357 together. My Department is committed to a research programme aimed at the development of a vaccine for use in badgers since the mid 1990's. The programme involves collaboration with various bodies and in particular with the badger vaccine group based in UCD and we have committed significant resources to both staff and funding in this regard. From...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The East Offaly project, undertaken between 1989 and 1994 by my Department, was the first of a number of formal studies which demonstrated that a marked reduction in the levels of tuberculosis and a significant reduction in the risk of a herd experiencing a TB breakdown was observed when the local badger population was maintained at a low level. The total number of badgers culled under the...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The farming organisations were made aware in December 2007 of the fact that the EU Regulations governing REPS 4 were likely to require a departure from the existing practice of paying REPS participants in full at the beginning of each contract year. My officials informed them that they were making every effort to persuade the Commission that the existing practice should continue for REPS 4....

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The farming organisations were made aware in December 2007 of the fact that the EU Regulations governing REPS 4 were likely to require a departure from the existing practice of paying REPS participants in full at the beginning of each contract year. My officials informed them that they were making every effort to persuade the Commission that the existing practice should continue for REPS 4....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: There are no active contracts remaining in REPS 1. Valid payment applications in REPS 2 and REPS 3 approved up to 3 March have been scheduled for payment. The failure to supply training certificates or soil samples and the need to clarify apparent discrepancies in area are the main reasons why payment applications cannot be processed.

Written Answers — : (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Under the 2002 Extensification Premium Scheme, applicants qualified for the higher rate of premium where the stocking density of their holding was found to be less than 1.4 livestock units per hectare; where the stocking density was found to be 1.4 livestock units per hectare or higher, but less than 1.8 livestock units per hectare, the applicant qualified for the lower rate of...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced in March 2006 in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates Directive closed for new applications at end-December 2006. Farmers who had not submitted a complete application by that date had until 29 June 2007 to submit all required drawings, etc., including confirmation that planning permission had been applied...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: In the interest of staff safety and welfare, my Department offers Stress Management training for all staff wishing to avail of it. In 2005 one hundred and nine staff attended a stress management course. In 2006 twenty-eight staff attended a stress management course. In 2007 seventy-three staff attended a stress management course. The Department has three trained Employee Assistance...

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.

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

Mary Coughlan: An application was received on 20 April 2007 requesting the transfer of 43.02 standard entitlements from the joint names of the person named and his deceased brother by way of inheritance to the person named. While the person named, as joint owner of the entitlements in question, is automatically entitled to fifty percent, the remaining entitlements form part of the estate of his deceased...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Responsibility has been devolved to the following agencies: Teagasc Responsibility for the procurement or provision of education, training and advisory services in agriculture as well as responsibility to undertake, promote, encourage, assist, co- ordinate, facilitate and review agricultural research and development including research and development in relation to food processing and the...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (6 Mar 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Musk Rats Act, 1933 (Application to Mink) Order 1965, the keeping of mink is prohibited except under licence, obtained from my Department. Licences are issued under this legislation only if the applicant, following an inspection, is found to be compliant with a number of key conditions. There are five licensed fur farms in Ireland. There is no legislation requiring the licensing...