Results 10,981-11,000 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (9 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: While the organic sector in Ireland is small by European standards, it is growing. The total area in conversion or with full organic status rose by nearly 5,000 hectares to over 35,000 hectares in 2005, an increase of some 15% on 2004. That figure has increased by a further 1,500 hectares so far this year. My Department already provides substantial financial supports for organic producers,...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (9 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: EU Directive 64/432/EEC provides that, where an animal reacts positively to a TB test, two clear reactor re-tests at 2 month intervals are required before the Officially TB-free status of the holding can be restored. The Directive does, however, provide for a derogation from the second test provided certain conditions are fulfilled. This derogation is catered for under the Department's...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: A revised Farm Waste Management Scheme was introduced by my Department in March 2006 in order to assist farmers meet the additional requirements of the Nitrates Directive. As the Scheme forms part of the current EU Rural Development Round, it must close for new applications at the end of this year. However, I am aware that some farmers are experiencing delays in preparing planning...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (9 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has no record of having received an application from the person named for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named applied for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under category B. Category B caters for farmers who, between 1 January, 2000 and 19 October, 2003 made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: An explanatory booklet for farmers, setting out the requirements of the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006, has been prepared by my Department in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The booklet will be sent to all farmers over the next two weeks along with copies of the Regulations...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (8 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Following the successful conclusion of the recent Partnership talks, I announced my intention on October 19 to increase the rates of premium paid to landowners participating in the afforestation scheme by 15%. The increase must be formally approved by the European Commission. When this approval is received my Department will take steps to implement the increased premium rates.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (8 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department is currently examining the possibility of such a scheme, as part of forestry support under the New Rural Development Programme.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (8 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: An appeal against a decision of my Department in respect of a refusal to approve afforestation grant aid on lands owned by the person in question was received on 1 September 2006. The appeal was fully processed but was not successful. The original decision to refuse approval was upheld on the grounds of landscape environment considerations.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. Payment of €20,734.97 was made by my Department to the applicant on 7 November 2006.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2006. The 50% advance under the Single Payment Scheme in the amount of €13,342.31 issued to the person named on 31 October 2006. It is expected that payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category B. Category B caters for farmers who between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003 made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during the...

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (8 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Around 640,000 tonnes of poultrymeat was imported into the EU last year, the equivalent of approximately 6% of consumption. These imports are permitted in accordance with the EU's WTO obligations and are in full conformity with the comprehensive veterinary standards applicable to such products. Unprocessed third country poultrymeat must bear an indication of the name of its country of origin...

Written Answers — Sheep Industry: Sheep Industry (7 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Sheep Industry Development Strategy Group issued its report in June 2006. This is a comprehensive study of the sheep industry which sets out a Development Plan for the industry contained in 37 recommendations. I decided that the best way to implement these recommendations was to set up an implementation body comprised of representatives of all sectors in the industry, including the...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (7 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The production of Biofuels is one of the main elements in developing the renewable energy sector in Ireland. In the recently published Green Paper "Towards A Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland" the Government made a firm commitment that the development of an indigenous biofuels industry is a core component of Government policy to improve energy sustainability. My Department has been...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (7 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The responsibility for implementation of the Health (Country of Origin of Beef) Regulations 2006 (SI 307 of 2006) lies with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). There are over 44,000 food businesses in Ireland of which 29,000 are in the service sector. This includes restaurants, hotels and pubs. These food businesses are inspected on a routine basis by some 220 Environmental Health...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: As indicated in my previous reply regarding this matter, the person concerned submitted an application to my Department for grant-aid for the construction of a slatted house (including underground tank) under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. It was subsequently discovered, however, that work had commenced on the construction of the underground tank prior to the issue of approval and, as it...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (7 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 funding is provided for the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector. This Scheme is aimed at assisting the development of the horticulture sector by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant and equipment. Under the Scheme the companies referred to received grant aid of €23,553 and...

Written Answers — Pesticide Controls: Pesticide Controls (7 Nov 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Since 2000, some 183 samples of mushrooms have been analysed nationwide for pesticide residues as part of the official monitoring programme. The results from 2000 to 2005 have been published and no maximum residue level (MRL) exceedance was detected during this time. This Department's pesticide monitoring programme is supplemented by the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Programme. This voluntary...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Nov 2006)

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...