Results 10,341-10,360 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application under the Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances provisions of the Single Payment Scheme. Having assessed the full circumstances of this case, it was deemed that the circumstances outlined did not fulfil the criteria for Force Majeure as laid down in Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003. The person named then appealed this decision to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme to the persons named was submitted on the 31st October 2006. The application was examined and further documentation was required. The further documentation was received on the 1st December 2006 and the application has now been fully processed. Payment in respect of 26.69 entitlements will...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: For reasons of administrative efficiency, the Milk Quota Trading Scheme was managed centrally by my Department. However, the Scheme was operated at co-operative level and the results have been issued to each co-op, who will contact their suppliers directly with the outcome of their applications.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: For reasons of administrative efficiency, the Milk Quota Trading Scheme was managed centrally by my Department. However, the Scheme was operated at co-operative level and the results have been issued to each co-op, who will contact their suppliers directly with the outcome of their applications.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: In the circumstances outlined the extension of the family lease is a matter for both parties to the lease to arrange. The Milk Quota Regulations provide for the renewal of leases within a period of 6 months of expiry of the lease.

Written Answers — EU Legislation: EU Legislation (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested is not readily available and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Forestry Industry: Forestry Industry (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The following are the projected clearfelling figures in hectares for the area in question for the period 2007-2011 inclusive: Year Hectares 2007 730.4 2008 639.9 2009 488.7 2010 830.6 2011 100.0 Coillte has a general policy of allowing open access to its forests and the recreational opportunities that result are among the many non-timber benefits that Irish forests offer. These...

Written Answers — Forestry Industry: Forestry Industry (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I do not currently have plans to amend the remit of Coillte as set out in its Memorandum of Association in relation to the provision and management of recreational woodland areas. Coillte has a role in the provision of recreational facilities and has produced a revised and updated policy on recreation, 'Recreation Policy-Healthy Forests, Healthy Nation', which I launched in October 2005.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: REPS 4 will form part of the new Rural Development Programme for the period from 2007 to 2013. The Programme was sent to the European Commission in late December, 2006 and has to go through its approval process. I cannot be definite as to how long this process will take but I continue to pursue early approval. My officials are in ongoing contact about it with their counterparts in the...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The measures relevant to my Department in the 2000-2006 National Development Plan did not provide for or relate to individual projects. Instead, they comprised support schemes for the agri-food sector and related research. The table below sets out payments under the various schemes in County Kildare during the period. Scheme Amount â'¬m Compensatory Allowances 6.302 REPS 17.597...

Written Answers — Forestry Regulations: Forestry Regulations (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware that Coillte are encountering problems with unauthorised activities in a number of their forests. Arising from these problems, Coillte have, in accordance with Section 37 of the Forestry Act, 1988, requested me to make bye-laws governing this activity. Draft bye-laws have been prepared and are currently being considered by Coillte.

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (7 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The requirement that all bovine animals over 30 months of age, slaughtered for human consumption, must be tested for BSE is provided for in Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council, laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (The TSE Regulation). Accordingly I do not have the discretion...

Avian Flu. (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for allowing me the opportunity to give the response of my Department to the confirmed outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu on a turkey farm in Suffolk. As the House will be aware, this case was confirmed on Saturday morning last, by which time the management committee of my Department's National Disease Control Centre, NDCC, had met....

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The first Milk Quota Trading Scheme was successfully launched on Wednesday last, 31 January. The first exchange resulted in a total of 73 million litres of quota being traded at prices ranging from 11 cent to 23 cent per litre. A second exchange will take place later in the spring. My Department is currently reviewing the operation of the first exchange in consultation with the main farming...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: In the context of the 2000-2006 EU rural development framework, amendments introduced in 2003 extended possible support options. The additional options included support for food companies and farmers in respect of compliance with EU standards. The 2003 amendments did not, however, provide additional funding. While funding later arose through the modulation process, support for small food...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Under the EU Energy Crops Scheme, aid of €45 per hectare is available for areas sown under energy crops provided they are intended primarily for use in the production of biofuels and electric and thermal energy produced from biomass. I intend to introduce an additional national payment of €80 per hectare in 2007 as a further incentive for farmers to grow energy crops. The €80 payment...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Last year, I took advantage of the Commission's transitional rules to make special provision for REPS 2 contracts expiring up to 30 November 2006 to be extended for a further year. However this option is no longer available to me. The EU Regulations governing REPS 2 and REPS 3 expired on 31 December 2006. It is now legally impossible to approve or extend contracts under either of those...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has produced an Explanatory Handbook for farmers that sets out in clear terms their obligations under the Nitrates Regulations. This Handbook, together with a copy of the Regulations, was sent to all farmers in October 2006. Following this, a series of open information meetings took place during the period 20 November to 4 December 2006, conducted by my Department in...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The rules governing the production and use of GM crops within the Community are set down in EU legislation which has been jointly adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. This legislation is binding on all Member States and does not provide for the declaration of a GM free country or region. There are, however, options available to restrict the growing of GM crops within regions...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Since the initial outbreak of Equine Infectious Anaemia, or 'swamp fever', in June 2006, my Department has taken significant steps to contain the outbreak and progress its eradication and to protect the very valuable Irish bloodstock industry. To date, twenty-eight cases have been confirmed, the most recent on 10 December 2006, over eight weeks ago. This is, by some considerable distance,...