Results 11,741-11,760 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (25 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I support the general thrust of the proposed Regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products and I believe that it is a step in the right direction towards the simplification of controls and procedures. There have been extensive discussions at Council Working Group level during the current Presidency. The proposed Regulation was debated at the Council of Ministers this week...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The number of persons assigned for decentralisation to Portlaoise is 177. Of this number, 4 are new recruits and 47 promoted staff members have committed to moving. The number of persons assigned for decentralisation to Fermoy is 18. The number of persons assigned for decentralisation to Macroom is 22.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: All eligible farmers who experienced depopulation due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001 on the Cooley peninsula have been granted Force Majeure and have had the reference year 2002 excluded from the calculation of their Single Farm Payment. These farmers will also receive the National Envelope top-up on the number of ewes on which ewe premium was paid during the reference period. The...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (24 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Article 92 of Council Regulation (EC) 1782/2003 of 29 September 2003 provides for a review of the Energy Crops Scheme. By 31 December 2006, the Commission shall submit a report to the Council on the implementation of the Scheme, accompanied, where appropriate, by proposals taking into account the implementation of the EU biofuels initiative. As part of this process, I will be seeking to have...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Member States may only grant State aid where authorized to do so by the EU. The Council Regulation governing the restructuring aid does not provide such authority.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 249 together. In the exercise of its functions as an agency for the payment of EU funds, my Department is bound by rules laid down at EU level. The EU regulations dealing with schemes funded by the EAGGF Guarantee Fund require member states to charge interest at a rate determined in accordance with national legislation. These EU regulations are...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (24 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has not incurred expenditure under the RAPID programme.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy is available in respect of each Department local office only. The following table sets out the up-to-date position in regard to the number of applications received and approvals issued under the new Farm Waste Management Scheme. As the issue of Department approval to proceed with works under the Scheme involves, in most cases, an on-farm visit by a...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (24 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The number of herd numbers registered for the purposes of the TB and Brucellosis Eradication Schemes on a county basis at present and in 2000 is set out in the table below. The reduction in the number of herd numbers between 2000 and 2006 reflects the gradual decline in the number of farmers during this period. County 13/5/2006 31/12/2000 Carlow 1,448 1,576 Cavan 5,169 5,464 ...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (24 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Bovine disease levies are collected under the Bovine Disease (Levies) Act, 1979 and are specifically intended to ensure that farmers share the cost of compensation under the TB and Brucellosis Schemes. Revenue from bovine disease levies in 2005 amounted to €11.39m but this is expected to fall to approximately €10m this year. Expenditure on compensation to farmers under the Disease...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Department sought applications for the 2005 National Reserve in December 2004. The closing date for receipt of completed applications was extended to 16 May 2005 to coincide with the closing date for the 2005 Single Payment Scheme applications. The National Reserve Scheme was widely advertised at that time. If the person named has extenuating circumstances that prevented him from...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application to the 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 2000-2002. Investments can include...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: In general, the Single Payment established for farmers is based on the three-year average number of animals (hectares in the case of Arable Aid) that attracted premium payments in the years 2000, 2001 and 2002. The Regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme provide that the Member State must ensure that an allocation from the National Reserve to an applicant who has already benefited...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category A which 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 2000-2002. A formal...

Written Answers — Rural Development Programmes: Rural Development Programmes (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The current annual rate of compulsory modulation is 4% and this will rise to 5% from 2007. These deductions from the direct farm payments will be used for rural development purposes and member states will take them into account in drawing up their 2007-2013 rural development programmes. At the European Council in December 2005, it was agreed that member states could, on a voluntary basis,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application requesting consideration in respect of the Inheritance measure of the Single Payment Scheme. The applicant was notified on 27 May 2005 that his application was successful. The person named also submitted applications under the Private Contract Clause and Consolidation measures of the Single Payment Scheme. However, following processing, it is clear...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The standard costings used to calculate grants payable under the Farm Waste Management Scheme are currently under review within my Department. Pending the outcome of that review, my Department's current Standard Costings are being used. The Department of Finance is participating in the review process. The revised Costings will be introduced as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 to 379, inclusive, together. Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988 and day to day operational matters are the responsibility of the company. The granting of a right of way is a matter of an operational nature for Coillte. The question of whether or not the development of this quarry should proceed is a...

Written Answers — Official Hospitality: Official Hospitality (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department does not have a wine cellar nor does it stock wines.

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (23 May 2006)

Mary Coughlan: As a member of the EU and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ireland is in a position to avail of opportunities for trade that are essential for the development of our open economy. Membership of these organizations also brings reciprocal trade obligations. All such imports must come from third countries or areas of third countries that have been approved by the EU authorities for export to...