Results 9,861-9,880 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Proposals for a new Early Retirement Scheme, with a maximum annual pension payment rate of €15,000, have been included in the draft Rural Development Programme for the period 2007-2013. The draft Programme was sent to the Commission in late December,2006 to begin the approval process. I cannot be definite as to how long this process will take but I continue to pursue early approval and my...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The second person named has received his full Single Payment for 2006. His payment was based on his standard entitlements. An application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme from the second named person to the first named was submitted on the 26th January 2007. Applications for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme may be...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Supreme Court delivered its judgement in a case relating to animal remedies legislation on 29 March. A further hearing before the Court is to be held when the courts resume after the Easter break in relation to the implications of the judgement. In the interim, my Department is considering the full implications of the judgement in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General....

Written Answers — Special Protection Areas: Special Protection Areas (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The site in question is in an area which the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government has identified as one of a number of areas around the country which are important for the survival of the Hen Harrier, which is a protected species. The European Commission had expressed the gravest concern at any further planting within these areas until it was possible to fully assess the...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: In the first instance, the issue of water meters on farms is a matter for the Local Authorities. However, I am aware of the concerns expressed by the farming community in regard to this issue and I am conscious of the need to ensure that usage of metered water on farms for agricultural purposes is kept to a minimum. Thus, for example, the technical specifications for farm buildings...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (5 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme and my Department's commitment in the Charter of Rights for farmers to ensure maximum integration of inspections across schemes and for cross-compliance has resulted in a drop in annual farm inspection levels from 18,000 under the coupled regime to less than 8,000 in 2006. I agree that the inspection requirements linked to...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The following table shows the number of appointments made to State bodies under the aegis of my Department during the years specified. Year Male Female 2002 21 6 2003 23 3 2004 10 3 2005 5 1 2006 38 8 2007 3 1 The Deputy should be aware that I do not have total discretion in relation to such appointments. Some appointments are required to be made on the basis of nominations from...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: In the period specified, I would expect to make two appointments to the Board of Teagasc and two to the Board of Coillte. There is one vacancy on the Board of the National Milk Agency in respect of which I am awaiting a nomination from the relevant industry interest. There is also a vacancy of chairperson of my Department's Consumer Liaison Panel.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payments Scheme National Reserve under Categories A and D. Category A caters for farmers who inherited land or received land free of charge or for a nominal sum from a farmer who had retired or died prior to the 16 May, 2005 and who had leased out his/her holding to a third party during the...

Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: They will choose it again.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: There are 36 staff in receipt of a full salary who have not undertaken work in the past month: For the most part, these staff are availing of maternity/adoptive leave or are on long-term sick leave. (The monthly salary amount for these staff is approximately €108,000).

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: While it is apparent from the computer records maintained that the person named submitted applications under the 1996 Special Beef Premium Scheme, it is necessary that the original files be extracted from the Department file archive in order to ascertain the position regarding the eligibility of the applications in question. Given the time lapse involved, it may take some time to locate the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 5 April 2006. My Department issued full payment to the applicant amounting to €1,296.57 under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme on 10 January 2007. There are Single Payment Scheme entitlements of the order of €2,300 held in the name of the person's late mother. My Department has been...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Payment dated 23 March 2007 has issued to the person named, in line with the targets agreed with the farming bodies.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The application for payment in this case was received on 12 February 2007 and is being processed in line with the targets agreed with the farming bodies.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payments Scheme National Reserve under categories A and D. Category A caters for farmers who inherited land or received land free of charge or for a nominal sum from a farmer who had retired or died by 16 May, 2005 and who had leased out his/her holding to a third party during the reference period...

Written Answers — Veterinary Council: Veterinary Council (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Veterinary Practice Act 2005, which regulates the veterinary profession, does not contain any provision in relation to the retirement age for veterinary practitioners. On that basis, the need for the Veterinary Council to seek my approval regarding any changes to the retirement age of veterinary practitioners does not arise. In any event, I have not received a submission from the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: This case was the subject of a protracted investigation by officials of my Department, the conclusion of which was that the herd of the person named and that of his son were intermixed, that serious breaches of the animal identification system had been perpetrated and that the identities of significant numbers of animals could not be confirmed. As indicated in response to various previous...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of farmed animals under the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984, and the European Communities (Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes) Regulations 2006 (SI No 705 of 2006). It does not have statutory responsibility for the care and welfare of other animals such as dogs and cats....

Written Answers — Bord Bia: Bord Bia (3 Apr 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form hereunder. The normal term of office is three years with outgoing members eligible for re-appointment. In the event of a casual vacancy arising, a new member will be appointed for the unexpired term of office of the outgoing member. The convention is that presidents of farming organisations are appointed for the duration of...