Results 9,121-9,140 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The proposal by the Commission is for a Framework Directive intended to establish a common strategy across all Member States for the protection and sustainable use of soil. Its aims include the integration of soil concerns into other policies, preservation of soil functions within the context of sustainable use, prevention of threats to soil and mitigation of their effects, and restoration of...

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department recently amended the Standard Costings applicable to bulk milk tanks under the Farm Improvement Scheme to ensure that all bulk tanks are included under the Costings.

Written Answers — Inshore Fisheries: Inshore Fisheries (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Since my appointment as Minister with responsibility for fisheries, I have been meeting the main representative bodies for the industry. While inshore fishermen are represented, to an extent, by the main representative body for the catching sector, the Federation of Irish Fishermen, the inshore sector has not a formal representative structure in place. Under the Shellfish Management...

Written Answers — Fish Quota: Fish Quota (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department manages fish quotas through various mechanisms in close association with industry representatives. In January 2007 the report of the Seafood Industry Strategy Review Group, under the Chairmanship of Noel Cawley, was published. This report "Steering a New Course" made two recommendations specifically related to quota management involving:— Implement a new, devolved, Fisheries...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The following is the position: Name of Agency Details of Appointments Current Vacancies An Bord Bia Mr Frank Hayes 1 vacancy Teagasc *Mr James J. Brett No vacancies Irish National Stud *Lady Chryss O'Reilly (Chairperson) No vacancies Coillte *Mr Brendan McKenna (Chairperson) 2 vacancies COFORD Mr Michael Lynn (Chairperson) No vacancies Bord Iascaigh Mhara Mr Seamus Dooley 1 vacancy...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, provided for the establishment of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). This independent authority was established on January 1st 2007. The Act clearly provides that the Authority is independent in the exercise of its functions and as such I have no remit as to its work programme or its relationships with other bodies. The act...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The EU dairy hygiene regulations set down provisions for food business operators to ensure that products of animal origin have an identification mark applied to them. Under those regulations the identification mark must indicate the country in which the establishment which performed the final processing, even if this final processing is packaging, is located. The regulations also prescribe...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 will be processed by my Department up to the level of funding available for the Scheme. I had indicated, at the time of the launch of the Scheme, that it would be terminated when the financial ceiling provided for the Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016, had been reached. I...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: To the end of October, 252 civil servants have transferred to my Department's offices in Portlaoise from a total of 330 people who have been assigned under the decentralisation programme. In excess of another 100 Central Applications Facility (CAF) applications are currently being processed. It is not possible to establish a final number of applications as my Department has yet to exhaust all...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application for the Transfer of Entitlements without land under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme to the first named person was submitted on the 3rd April 2007. The Regulations governing the Transfer of Entitlements allow Single payments entitlements to be transferred without land only if the transferor has used at least 80% of his/her entitlements in one calendar year. A person uses...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The relevant information is presently being collated and will be passed to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department currently has responsibility for the transposition of a large number of Directives into national law, none of which is the subject of enforcement proceedings for non-transposition. One Directive, on the Quality of Shellfish Waters, has been the subject of infringement proceedings. Responsibility for this Directive and the associated functions transferred to my Department on 19...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Forest Service of my Department provides grant aid for the construction of both development and harvesting roads, on the basis that the road construction is compatible with the code of best Forest Practice and Forest Service environmental guidelines. Grants of up to 80% of the cost incurred in the construction of a forest road are available subject to a maximum of €45 per linear meter....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme to the person named was submitted on the 26th of April 2007. During processing of the Transfer application it was necessary for an official of my Department to write to the person named requesting specific legal documentation. The requested documentation was received and the application is now fully...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (15 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I have now received the approval from the EU commission of Ireland's State application restructuring thefishing fleet. This restructuring programme will permanently remove some 35% of the Irish Whitefish Fleet from the sea and is an integral part of the Government's Cawley strategy to develop a restructured, profitable and sustainable seafood industry. I met with Fisheries Commissioner Borg...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (15 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Grant-aid is available to the pig sector for the improvement of animal welfare standards in sow housing under the Sow Housing (Animal Welfare) Scheme which was introduced by my Department in July 2007. An allocation of €6 million has been made available for the Scheme under the current Rural Development Programme and 35 applications have to date been received by my Department. The Scheme...

Written Answers — Domestic Abattoirs: Domestic Abattoirs (15 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: According to my Department's records, there were 426 approved local abattoirs in 1997. The Local Authority Veterinary Service (LAVS), reporting to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, is now responsible for such abattoirs and I understand that there are 189 abattoirs approved by the LAVS under new EU regulations collectively known as the Hygiene Package, which came into operation on 1...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned is an applicant for grant-aid under the Installation Aid Scheme. His application is currently being examined within my Department and the outcome will be notified to the person concerned shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department wrote to the applicant, to whom the Deputy refers, on 14th May 2007, informing him that his application for grant aid under The Quality Purchase Incentive Scheme (QSPIS) was unsuccessful as it did not comply with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. The applicant was also informed in this letter that if he was dissatisfied with the decision he could appeal (by 14th August...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (14 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: REPS is a voluntary scheme which has delivered over €2 billion in direct payments to farmers since its introduction in 1994. For the period 2007 to 2013, provision of almost €3 billion has been made for the scheme as part of the Rural Development Programme. There are currently some 55,400 participants. REPS 4, which currently has over 100 applications being processed for payment,...