Results 13,721-13,740 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An application for the transfer of single payment entitlements by means of inheritance was submitted in this case to the Department of Agriculture and Food in December 2004. It was found that evidence of transfer of ownership had not been received with the application, however. The Department issued a letter on 14 February 2005 requesting the required documentation. Reminders were issued on...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (6 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988. Day-to-day operational matters, such as the sale of land and issues surrounding the sale of land, are the responsibility of the company. Under section 14 of the Forestry Act 1988 and the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, Coillte has certain responsibilities and duties when selling...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (5 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: 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 agreement in question is a matter of an operational nature for Coillte.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (5 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Payments under the 2005 disadvantaged areas scheme commenced on 26 September 2005. The person named submitted an application under the single payment scheme and the disadvantaged area scheme on 16 May 2005. The payment will be based on 27.30 hectares and will be issued by my Department shortly, the person named having been confirmed as meeting the minimum stocking density requirement of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In response to a previous parliamentary question concerning this matter, I indicated that as the animals in question were non-CMMS-compliant when they were submitted by the person named for the 2004 special beef premium scheme, premium could not be paid. It is a basic requirement of the scheme that animals be recorded on my Department's CMMS database as being in the herd of the applicant on...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (5 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The joint committee's examination of the early retirement scheme provided a welcome opportunity to air a wide range of issues and I believe that this in itself has been helpful in clarifying the position. Earlier this month, I provided a detailed response to the report. Regrettably, I have not been able to accept a number of the committee's recommendations. They are precluded by elements of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: There is no provision in my Department's Vote in 2005 to fund projects of this nature.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: An application for consideration under the force majeure, exceptional circumstances, measure of the single payment regulations was submitted by the person named on 28 October 2004. Following processing of this application, the person named was notified that the circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure, exceptional circumstances, under Article 40 of Council...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve under categories B and D. 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve under categories C and D. Category C caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, sold their milk quota into the milk quota restructuring scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under livestock premia...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The area processed for payment purposes under the disadvantaged area scheme for the person named in 2005 is 17.47 hectares. Payment will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (5 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The disposal of waste materials generally is covered by the Waste Management Acts 1996 to 2005, which apply to all sectors of society including the agricultural sector and is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, manufacturers and importers of farm plastics, that is, silage bale wrap and...

Written Answers — Animal Cruelty: Animal Cruelty (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I would like to set out the background to this incident. The case involved the slaughter on-farm by the herdowner of some 4,000 pigs over a five day period following the discovery by Department veterinary inspectors of quantities of Carbadox on the farm and an admission by the herdowner that he had spread the substance on the floors of pig pens. The movement of any animals from this herd,...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I met the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Fisher Boel, in Ireland last June to discuss the Commission proposals on the reform of the sugar regime, the overshoot of the special beef premium and the management of the dairy market. As regards sugar, I emphasised my total opposition to the Commission proposals, which had been published just prior to the Commissioner's...

Written Answers — Animal Health Strategy: Animal Health Strategy (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am fully committed to the development of an all-Ireland animal health strategy, the ultimate objective of which should be the free movement of animals on the island and the development of agreed policies to control animal disease and to facilitate trade. There is already a long history of co-operation between the Administrations North and South on animal health issues. The Administrations...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The European directives to be implemented by my Department are set out in the following schedule, which has been circulated. Council Directive 2004/117/EC is in the final stages of implementation and is expected to be finalised by the end of the month. In all other cases, I intend to have the directives implemented by the due date. Schedule Directives to be implemented by Department of...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council which took place on 19 September. On that occasion, the sugar reform proposals did not feature on the Council agenda. I expressed my serious concerns about the proposals when I met with Commissioner Fischer Boel on her visit to Ireland in June, and again at the Council of Agriculture Ministers in...

Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The horticulture sector is a very dynamic one that has grown to be a significant entity within the overall agricultural industry. Farmgate production is now close to €300 million with retail sales of €650 million. Demand for processed and semi-prepared produce has increased dramatically over the last number of years and is expected to continue. The horticulture sector is also very labour...

Written Answers — Sugar Quota: Sugar Quota (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under the EU sugar regime, each member state has a quota for manufactured sugar. There is no quota for sugar beet. The EU regulations stipulate that the quota must be made available to the sugar manufacturing enterprises in the member state. Accordingly, in Ireland the entire sugar quota is processed by Irish Sugar Limited, which is the only sugar manufacturer in this country. Irish Sugar...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Agreement was reached in Geneva in August 2004 on a framework setting out the structure and general content of the new World Trade Organisation, WTO, agreement. The detailed implementation of this framework has been the subject of ongoing negotiation at technical and political level and the aim is to conclude an agreement at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December 2005. I am...