Results 13,481-13,500 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has been engaged in delivering an unprecedented programme of ICT transformation. As part of this transformation, it has delivered large-scale ICT systems that are extremely successful and deliver excellent value to the Department, its customers and its stakeholders. Access to the best international research and advice is a critical component in the successful management of such...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has a range of large operational activities that depend critically on information and communications technology, ICT. This is an integral part of our service delivery and provides the level of operational efficiency, customer service and control appropriate to management of schemes worth some €3 billion. In this context it is important the ICT management keep fully abreast of...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department subscribes to the services of the company to which the Deputy refers, which is a globally recognised provider of research and business intelligence in the area of ICT. It is not associated with any software or hardware vendor, and the advice of the company is regarded as totally independent. This is of significant value since it is hard to get truly independent, unbiased...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Although several companies offer research and advisory services, the company in question has a worldwide reputation as the leading independent adviser in the industry. It is a globally recognised provider of research and business intelligence in the area of ICT. It is not associated with any software or hardware vendor, and its advice is regarded as totally independent. The company referred...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for consideration of force majeure or exceptional circumstances in respect of his entitlements under the scheme. The circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure or exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. The person named appealed that decision to the single payment appeals...

Written Answers — Land Annuities: Land Annuities (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Information notices describing the new land annuity capital discounted buy-out scheme will shortly be published in the farming and national press. These notices will set out the terms of the buy-out scheme, as provided in the Land Act 2005. I also intend to write to each farmer entitled to participate in the buy-out scheme, providing them with full details of the scheme and their entitlements...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The proposal for the introduction of further modulation of direct payments is one of a series of proposals which was put forward by the Commission with a view to facilitating agreement on the next financial perspective for 2007-13. The negotiations broke down at the European Council in June and the UK Presidency aims to conclude an agreement next month. The Irish position in the negotiations,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The application from the person named was received in my Department on 31 August last. The application was referred for a full plan and on farm inspection due to discrepancies between the area declared for area aid and the REPS area. Following this inspection an amended plan was required and was received in my Department on 4 November. The amended plan is now being processed and if in order...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve under category B which caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, invested 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the disadvantages areas scheme-single payment scheme was received from the person named on 5 May 2005. A payment for the amount of €4,126.60 in respect of the 2005 disadvantaged area scheme was lodged to the bank account of the person named on 23 September 2005.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The detailed information requested by the Deputy, covering a period of a decade, will require an extensive retrospective data retrieval and assessment exercise in my Department. The information will be sent to the Deputy once it has been compiled.

Farm Livelihoods. (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The negotiations on the next WTO agreement have entered an intensive phase in recent weeks in the run-up to the WTO ministerial conference next month in Hong Kong. Agriculture is one item on a broad trade liberalisation agenda which also includes services, industrial goods and other matters. From our point of view, given the economic and social importance of agriculture, it is obviously a...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Coillte Teoranta was established under the Forestry Act 1988. Section 9(1) of the Forestry Act 1988 provides that "The Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Finance, shall cause a private company conforming to the conditions laid down in this Act to be formed and registered under the Companies Acts." Coillte Teoranta was accordingly formed and is, therefore, a private company...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: From 1995 to 1998 the reported animal disease problems in the Askeaton area were the subject of a comprehensive multi-agency investigation under the auspices of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. The report of this investigation, which was published in August 2001, concluded that although a small number of farms experienced notable difficulties, there was no evidence of serious or...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The documentation forwarded by the person concerned in response to my Department's written request for additional information in support of his application for installation aid is being examined at present. The applicant will be notified in due course of the outcome of this examination.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The expenditure by my Department on providing services through the Irish language in each of the years 2002, 2003 and 2004 is as follows: Training* Translation Advertising Signage Other â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ 2002 1,980.00 482.18 Nil Nil Nil 2003 1,440.00 6,250.86 1,659.63 Nil 6,591.00 2004 2,070.00 18,835.57 2,604.56 1,030.00 13,673.79 * Gaeleagras Courses.

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In Ireland responsibility for genetically modified foods comes under the aegis of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Minister for Health and Children, while responsibility for the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms into the environment rests with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. My Department...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2005 single payment scheme-disadvantaged areas scheme was received from the person named on 16 May 2005. Following 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 — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware of the report and of the concerns raised with regard to potential risks associated with crop spraying. The report, commissioned in June 2004, was published on 22 September. 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...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In the autumn of 2003, my Department, together with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, set up a technical working group to determine whether earth-lined stores, out-wintering pads and constructed wetlands or reed beds should have a place in agricultural practice. The working group has taken expert advice from a variety of researchers and other sources and has...