Results 13,581-13,600 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that a number of meetings of the single payment advisory committee, comprising representatives from my Department, Teagasc and the farming organisations were held to discuss the rules governing the allocation of the national reserve. The most recent such meeting was held last week and I expect to be in a position to make appropriate decisions shortly.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (27 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have not taken a decision on the future of the early retirement scheme. The EU Council regulation covering the current scheme will expire in December 2006. The Council regulation on rural development for the period from 2007 to 2013 again includes provision for member states to operate early retirement measures. No decisions have yet been taken regarding the schemes to be operated in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Oct 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, 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 — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (26 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 222 and 226 together. Under harmonised rules the import into the EU of animal products for human consumption may only take place from countries and establishments approved by the community. For the protection of human and animal health exporting countries must have standards covering animal health, disease control arrangements and veterinary supervision of...

Written Answers — Foreign Travel: Foreign Travel (26 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Since my appointment on 29 September 2004, I have attended one foreign conference. This conference was entitled, International Meat Conference, and was held on 14 October 2005 in Rome. The attendance at this conference was timed to coincide with a meeting with the Italian Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Alemanno, to discuss a number of issues including the reform of the EU sugar regime and the...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (26 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Efforts to locate the relevant map among the Irish Land Commission maps held in the records branch of my Department have been unsuccessful. It is now a matter for the Land Registry Office to provide written confirmation to my Department that it has also carried out a search for this map. If it is unable to trace it then the Land Registry Office should request the survey branch of my...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the disadvantaged areas scheme was received from the person named on 5 May 2005. Following computer validation of the application, it was found that one parcel which had been included by the person named on his application had also been included on the application of another scheme applicant. The person named was written to on 3 October 2005 and asked to confirm his right...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme. He was advised that he was ineligible to be treated as a new entrant during the 2000 to 2002 reference period as he farmed and received premia payments in respect of all three years. He was also not eligible to benefit from the transfer of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has requested consideration for transfer of entitlements by way of gift. However, the lands were gifted by deed of transfer dated 11 October 2005 and, therefore, the transfer of entitlements cannot take place until after the 2005 single payment has issued to the transferor. A letter outlining the position will issue to the person named this week.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (26 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: A disadvantaged areas scheme payment of €4,101.24 was made to the person named on 23 September 2005. This amount was paid on 45 hectares, the maximum area in respect of which a payment may be made under the disadvantaged areas scheme. There are no other payments due at present to the person named. An application has been received from this herd owner under the single payment scheme....

Written Answers — Avian Influenza: Avian Influenza (26 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My officials and their colleagues in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Belfast enjoy a consistently good working relationship on a range of issues of mutual interest and concern. This relationship includes formal meetings in the context of the North-South Ministerial Council as well as very regular, informal contact between officials in both Administrations. On the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Consequent on the recent reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, a number of headage and premium schemes are being terminated by my Department. This reduces my Department's requirement for staff. In particular, there will be a reduction of approximately 100 in staffing levels in Michael Davitt House. The Garda Síochána is establishing the Garda information service centre, GISC, in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted applications for consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme. The person named was notified that his new entrant application was rejected as he established no entitlements during the reference period 2000-2002. The inheritance application was accepted on 16 May 2005 and the entitlements gifted with lands to...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: No penalty will be applied for under-declaration of land under the single payment scheme unless a full parcel of land has been omitted. Even then, if the area of the parcel omitted is less than 3% of the total area declared, no penalty will be applied. Where the area of the land parcels under-declared amounts to between 3% and 20% of the total area declared, a penalty of 1% will be applied to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has submitted an application requesting consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme. Following processing, her applications under both measures were eligible. However, the new entrant measure was more financially beneficial and, as a result, the years 2000 and 2001 were excluded from the calculation of her single...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The document entitled Guidelines for the Engagement of Consultants in the Civil Service, issued by the Department of Finance in 1999 provides instructions to all Departments in the engagement of consultants. They outline national and EU contract procedures and, furthermore, set out guidelines for establishing the need to engage consultants, describe the selection process and provide...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: During the period December 2001 to April 2003, a total of 135 flocks were depopulated under the scrapie programme and restocking was not permitted for a period of two years. Flock owners received compensation for the capital value of the sheep and for income loss for that period. In addition, those who restocked in the third year are to receive compensation for income loss for that year. A...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named was not in receipt of either livestock premia or arable aid payments during the 2000 to 2002 reference period and has not established entitlements under the single payment scheme.

Written Answers — Noxious Weeds Act: Noxious Weeds Act (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Noxious Weeds Act 1936 provides for the control of the spread of the following six noxious weeds: thistle, ragwort and dock — 1937 order; common barbery — 1958 order; male wild hop plant — 1965 order; wild oat — 1973 order. Under this Act, it is an offence not to prevent the spread of weeds scheduled as noxious weeds under the Act. The owner, occupier, user or manager of lands on...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Woodlands of Ireland is a partnership involving those with an interest in conserving Ireland's native woodlands. The project is funded jointly by the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Heritage Council. The objectives of the project are to develop strategies aimed at securing the sustainable management of Ireland's...