Results 10,441-10,460 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I would like to assure the Deputy of my continued support for the Native Woodland Scheme. This is an extremely important scheme and I would like to see it enhanced and developed further so that the significant benefits which it brings, particularly in terms of biodiversity, can be maximized. The scheme was introduced in 2001 under the terms of the last Rural Development Programme and aimed...

Written Answers — Farm Structures: Farm Structures (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: A number of schemes and reliefs have been introduced in recent years to bring about improvements in farm structures. Low levels of land mobility remain an obstacle for those who wish to enter farming or expand the size of their holding. However, leasing has become an increasingly popular means of securing land as the volume of land sold on the open market declines and land prices rise. At...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: There is no known instance of a food safety alert arising from mycotoxins generated by mould in cheese in the State. The EU Regulations 2073/04 and 1881/2006 which set maximum levels of contaminants, including Mycotoxins in foodstuffs, do not require the testing of cheese for such mycotoxins. However, the premises to which the question refers are considered to be in the priority category...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The revised Farm Waste Management Scheme, which was launched by my Department in March 2006, closed for applications at the end of December 2006. A total of 48,580 applications have been received by my Department under the Scheme and these applications are currently being processed. It is my intention to process these applications as soon as possible and I am currently examining various...

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

Mary Coughlan: I was very pleased with the results of the first milk quota Trading Scheme, which I announced last Wednesday. As the Deputy will be aware the scheme has two elements — a Priority Pool and a Market Pool, the latter functioning through an exchange mechanism. The Trading scheme allocates some 70% of the total quota offered for sale to the Exchange at which a market-clearing price is computed...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named applied for his full 22.79 single payment entitlements in 2006 and received 50% advance payment on 16th October 2006, the balancing payment issued on 01 December 2006.

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

Mary Coughlan: The position as regards the welfare and protection of animals is that my statutory responsibility relates to the welfare and protection of farmed animals only and does not extend to other animals. 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) is the legislation...

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

Mary Coughlan: Fur farming is a legitimate farming activity in this country. 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. Fur Farming is also considered to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 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 28th April 2006. During processing of the Transfer application it was necessary for an official from my Department to make direct contact with a third party involved in the Transfer to seek clarification on certain matters relating to the application....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that the person named submitted an application for the Single Payment Scheme on the 9th May 2006. However, payment cannot issue in respect of this application as no Single Payment entitlements are registered in this person's name. No application to transfer entitlements to him has been received by my Department.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: This is a case where there was a change of ownership of a forest plantation which has received grant assistance under the EU funded afforestation grant and premium scheme. In such cases premium payments are suspended until the change of ownership has been finalised. In this case the person in question has been unable to furnish the requested documentation which would entitle him to the farmer...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: New accommodation has been built for the District Veterinary Office in Navan and a contract has been placed to fit out the new building. It is intended to occupy the new Offices at the earliest possible date. In the interim, following discussions with staff, remedial works are being undertaken in the existing DVO to deal with Health and Safety concerns.

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

Mary Coughlan: The price paid to milk suppliers is a commercial decision between the supplier and purchaser over which I have no influence. Traditionally, milk has been paid for on the basis of its butterfat content but in practice nowadays, processors test for a number of other constituents, including protein, lactose, SCC and TBC levels when calculating the price payable to any given supplier for the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme from the person named was submitted on the 3rd November 2006. The application was accepted even though the closing date for receipt of completed applications to transfer entitlements was the 16th May 2006. During processing of the Transfer application it was necessary for an official of my...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: While the person named established entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme, no payment is due to the person named, as the person named has applied to transfer these entitlements to another farmer in respect of the 2006 Scheme Year. During processing of the transfer application, it was necessary for an official of my Department to seek clarification on certain matters relating to the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named obtained an administrative herd number in November 2006. He then applied to transfer out his Single Payment Entitlements for 2005 by Private Contract Clause under a lease agreement. His application was successful and payment for 2005 will issue shortly to the recipient of the leased entitlements. An application was also received for the Transfer of Entitlements from the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category C. Category C caters for farmers who sold their milk quota into the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned became eligible for payment from 21 January 2007. Hardship Grant payments are issued on a monthly basis and the payment will be processed after the 20 February 2007. Payments will continue to issue until 30 April 2007 when the scheme ends or until the herd is de-restricted, whichever is the earlier, subject to continued compliance with all of the terms and conditions of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named applied to transfer entitlements under the Inheritance measure of the Single Payment Scheme. The application was successful and payment under both the 2005 and 2006 Single Payment Scheme will issue to the person named shortly.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (6 Feb 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The new Early Retirement Scheme 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 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...