Results 11,241-11,260 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Decisions on the future use of the former sugar factories at Carlow and Mallow are primarily a matter for the owners, Greencore Group plc. Anybody who expressed an interest in the possibility of utilising these factories for bioethanol production was advised to pursue the matter with Greencore. The future use of the Mallow factory is, of course, linked to the EU restructuring scheme for the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Oct 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: the persons named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payments Scheme National Reserve under categories A B C 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2006 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2006. Following initial processing of this application, it appeared that the minimum stocking level required under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme had not been complied with. However, following direct contact between an official of my Department and the person named, he is to submit...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The above-named person is an applicant under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. A pre-approval inspection will be carried out by my Department's officers shortly and a decision in respect of the application concerned will be made following that inspection.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: For persons who entered the Early Retirement Scheme in the year ended 31 December 2000 the pension is payable for a maximum period of 10 years but in any event not beyond the participant's 70th birthday. The person named entered the Scheme on 24 December 2000 and payment of his pension will continue until 5 June 2010, when he reaches the age of 70. It is a requirement of the EU Council...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The implementation of the Nitrates Directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, who made Regulations on 18 July 2006 giving legal effect to Ireland's National Action Programme under the Directive. The Regulations, which replaced those made in December 2005, were the subject of a comprehensive consultation process involving...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named was refused entry to REPS on the grounds that his holding was artificially created in order to satisfy the conditions for REPS participation. Artificially creating a holding for this purpose is expressly prohibited in the terms and conditions of the scheme. The Department position was upheld on appeal to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office. Subsequently, when deciding...

Written Answers — Compensation Payments: Compensation Payments (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There are no funds available to me to compensate for difficulties such as those experienced by farmers in the Shannon Callows and elsewhere in the country due to the very wet weather experienced at certain times this year. However, I have secured agreement from the European Commission to make an advance payment this month, at a rate of 50%, under the Single Payment Scheme and this will be of...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Council Regulation on Rural Development for the period from 2007–2013 includes provision for member States to operate a range of measures including an Early Retirement Scheme. Work is currently taking place on the finalisation of the new Rural Development Programme which will begin in 2007. The context of the Programme has also been discussed in the Partnership negotiations with the...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware the current milk quota arrangements were extended until the end of the 2014/15 milk quota year as part of the 2003 Luxembourg Agreement on the reform of the CAP. While a review will take place in 2008, any further proposals for reform are a matter for the EU Commission, while the Council will make decisions on such proposals. Should the Commission come forward with...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has not to date submitted an application under the Inheritance measure of the Single Payment Scheme to transfer the entitlements currently held in his late fathers name. An Official from my Department will be in contact with the person named, to ascertain the position.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (10 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: In May 2003, a group representing retired farmers lodged a petition with the European Parliament Committee on Petitions, alleging that Ireland had not implemented correctly the Council Regulations governing the 1994 and 2000 Schemes of Early Retirement from Farming. The Committee requested information from the European Commission. In reply, the Commission made it clear that in its...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: This case has been examined by officials from my Department and the system to be installed by the applicant has been found to be acceptable to them, subject to the old agitation point being made safe by its replacement with slats. Approval to commence work will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (5 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Regulation 38 of the European Communities (Milk Quota) Regulations, 2000, as amended, provides that milk producers may transfer quota from their existing milk purchaser to a new milk purchaser in any quarter beginning 1st January, 1st April, 1st July or 1st October, provided a set notification procedure is followed. A producer may, in certain circumstances, apply in writing to my Department...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (5 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The forestry programme for 2007 to 2013 will form an integral part of the new Rural Development Programme. A draft of the rural development programme will issue for public consultation shortly.

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (5 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The requirement that animals may be sent for slaughter only if they have been tested for TB within the previous 12 months is a necessary component of the Eradication Programme to ensure that individual animals do not go for prolonged periods without test and that the exposure pattern to TB within herds is regularly evaluated. While cattle are routinely tested for TB lesions at post mortem,...

Written Answers — Animal Identification Scheme: Animal Identification Scheme (5 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There are no plans to review the decision taken to award the contract following the recent public tender process for the supply of cattle tags. The tendering process was conducted in a fair, open and transparent manner in accordance with EU and national legislation on public procurement. The award criteria were set out in the Invitation to Tender document. This document also outlined the...

Written Answers — Control of Horses: Control of Horses (5 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Control of Horses Act, 1996 assigns the primary role for dealing with wandering horses to local authorities. The information sought for 2004 and 2005 is set out below and is based on information provided to the Department by local authorities in relation to numbers of horses impounded. Data for 2003 was provided on a different basis and comparable information is not available in respect...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (5 Oct 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Technical Working Group referred to was established in 2003 to evaluate the possible introduction into agricultural practice of a number of new structures, including Earth-Lined Stores and Out-Wintering Pads, and to make recommendations as to whether or not such structures should be permitted. Based on the Group's recommendations, I approved the specification for Earth-Lined Stores last...