Results 13,321-13,340 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment national reserve under category B, which 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned was refused a grant under the farm waste management scheme, as the item concerned was purchased prior to the lodgment of his application for aid. It is a strict condition of the scheme that aid will not be given for equipment purchased before written approval has been conveyed to the farmer. As my Department's decision has been upheld by the agriculture appeals office, I...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (17 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Copper chrome arsenate is a wood preservative and is regulated under the biocides Directive 98/8 which was transposed into Irish legislation by S.I. 625/2001. All wood preservatives are currently being reviewed and evaluated at European Community level as part of the implementation of this directive and copper chrome arsenate is not being defended under this process. As a result, all Irish...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (17 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Tanalith E has been notified for use as a wood preservative in Ireland in accordance with the provisions of the biocides legislation. Tanalith E contains the biocide active agents copper carbonate, propiconazole, tebuconazole and boric acid, all of which are at present being reviewed at European level as required by Directive 98/8. This review is expected to be finalised for each of these...

Written Answers — Capital Expenditure: Capital Expenditure (17 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The vast majority of capital expenditure in my Department relates to demand led capital grant schemes involving relatively small scale investments by farmers and others in the agri-food sectors. There are no capital projects in my Department for which estimated cost was between €30 million and €50 million in the years specified.

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (16 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In March 2005 my Department, through the Chief State Solicitor's office, entered into an agreement with the person to whom the Deputy refers in settlement of a case brought by that individual against my Department. I am satisfied that my Department has used its best endeavours at all times to comply with the terms of that agreement. On 7 October 2005 the person in question was involved in a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2005 single payment scheme-disadvantaged areas scheme was received from the person named. During processing of this application, an eligibility issue was identified regarding one of the parcels claimed. This has now been resolved and payment in respect of the disadvantaged areas scheme will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (16 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Since the confirmed outbreaks in Russia and Kazakhstan in July and the more recent outbreaks in Turkey, Romania and Croatia, a range of measures have been put in place to further minimise the risk of the introduction of the H5N1 avian influenza virus into the European Union and, consequently, Ireland. Since the initial outbreaks of the H5N1 virus in south east Asia in late 2003, the EU...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (16 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department supports the development of small rural based food enterprises directly and through Bord Bia. Grant aid is available under the scheme of investment for the commercial horticulture sector to encourage investment in commercially viable horticultural enterprises. The scheme is primarily aimed at those in rural areas who are engaged in production or are starting production projects....

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (16 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: While the Common Agricultural Policy is subject to ongoing reform, the last substantive reform took place under the mid-term review, which was agreed by the Council of Agriculture Ministers in June 2003. The reform represented a favourable outcome for Ireland. The main policy proposals under consideration at present are the Commission's proposals for the reform of the sugar sector. In the...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (16 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I reiterated my firm opposition to the Commission's proposals when I addressed last month's meeting of the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg. I emphasised that the price cuts proposed are too severe, the reforms should be based on a longer lead-in time for the EBA and we should await the outcome of the WTO meeting in Hong Kong before seeking to agree a more equitable and balanced outcome. I...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (16 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: One of the early retirement scheme requirements is that the applicant's farming transferee meets certain viability criteria. In the case of the person named, it was found that his farming transferee did not meet the viability threshold of 20 income units derived from farming owned or leased land. Accordingly, his application, which was received in my Department on 26 March 2002, was rejected...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (16 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: It is a requirement of the EU regulation under which the early retirement scheme is implemented that the early retirement pension can be paid only as a supplement to any national retirement pension that the participant receives. Consequently, the value of any such national retirement pension must be deducted from the early retirement pension. In the case of the person named, he became...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 105 together. My Department has been taking the threat of an outbreak of avian influenza very seriously. As the House will know, outbreaks of the H5N1 virus have been confirmed in eastern and central Europe since July 2005 but no outbreaks have been confirmed within the EU, other than the birds which died in quarantine in England. The Department of the...

Written Answers — Environmental Pollution: Environmental Pollution (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The report will be taken into account in the review of the regulatory system for plant protection products being undertaken with our EU partners and the Commission. The report reflects public concerns brought to the attention of the royal commission, recognises the lack of evidence of causality and recommends that risk assessment techniques and methodologies be reviewed and that additional...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)

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. In October 2004, Ireland submitted proposals for a derogation from the general organic nitrogen limit of 170 kg per hectare per annum laid down in the nitrates directive. The proposal was designed to allow farmers to operate, under appropriate...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under the affordable housing initiative my Department has identified six sites for consideration in Counties Cork, Dublin, Galway and Kildare. The sites in County Cork are located in Clonakilty and Model Farm Road in Cork city. The sites in County Dublin are located in Harcourt Terrace, Dublin city, and in the townland of Backstown near Lucan. The site in County Galway is located in Athenry....

Written Answers — Veterinary Services: Veterinary Services (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Veterinary practices are primarily commercial entities and their locations are driven by commercial realities. However, in so far as State involvement is concerned, I can point to a number of recent measures which will alleviate difficulties which may arise in certain parts of the country. First, under the new Veterinary Practice Act, which will come into effect on 1 January next, there is a...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am always prepared to facilitate trade in live sheep which is governed by EU rules governing intra-Community trade. Trade in sheep between member states of the European Union is subject to the provisions of Council Directive 91/68/EEC, as amended, as regards reinforced controls on the movement of sheep and goats. The controls provide as a minimum requirement that breeding and fattening...

Written Answers — Beef Imports: Beef Imports (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I fully support the policy that animal products imported into the EU from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, EU member states. In this context, I wrote last month to the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, Mr. Markos Kyprianou, concerning the sanitary rules applying to the import of livestock products,...