Results 13,861-13,880 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Farm Retirement Scheme. (4 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 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 Ireland...

Farm Retirement Scheme. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy has nearly answered the argument he put forward. That is the reason I put out this idea, although I would not say I am stirring the pot.

Farm Retirement Scheme. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Foresight is 20/20. Therefore, we must evaluate the scheme. I agree that its usefulness when introduced was tremendous. However, the decrease from 10,000 to 2,599 farmers to date participating in the scheme represents a major gap. It poses the question why are farmers not interested in participating in the scheme. There are a number of reasons, including that the pension is not index-linked....

Sugar Beet Industry. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have already made it clear that the Commission's proposals for reform of the EU sugar regime, which were published on 22 June, are unacceptable in their present form. The key elements of the proposals are a 39% price cut in the institutional price for sugar, a corresponding reduction in the minimum price for sugar beet and 60% compensation to farmers for the price cut. A voluntary...

Sugar Beet Industry. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I have continued to speak to my colleagues over the summer. I will shortly meet my colleague from Italy where the implications for sugar are equally severe. We have not had a bilateral meeting yet with either the Commission or the Presidency. I hope to do that on the Monday night of the Council meeting. The high level group of officials will meet the Commission to discuss this matter on...

Sugar Beet Industry. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As I said, this will be paid for through a levy on existing sugar producing factories from throughout the European Community. National funding will not be involved. The Deputy asked about the Spanish authorities. I met the Spanish Minister for Agriculture, Ms Elena Espinosa, the last time I attended a Council meeting, which was three weeks ago. As regards meetings with officials,...

EU Directives. (4 Oct 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. Ireland's national action programme under the directive was formally submitted to the European Commission by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 29 July 2005. The next step is for the Minister to make regulations to...

EU Directives. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am surprised the Deputy did not thank me for recognising the significant implications of my proposals for his constituency and deciding to increase grant aid. He did, however, reflect——

EU Directives. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The issue is before the European Commission. It is my intention to activate the scheme from the beginning of next year when applications will be sought. In the period prior to Commission approval being given, those preparing to develop new facilities should make appropriate preparations, for example, securing the necessary planning permissions. The derogation would be important for...

EU Directives. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The scheme will include an annual review.

EU Directives. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I do not want to see builders taking a hand out of farmers.

EU Directives. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I look forward to doing so.

Bovine Diseases. (4 Oct 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I am aware both of the confirmation of BSE in an animal born in Wales in 2002 and the reports of BSE being transmitted in an experimental sheep flock in the United Kingdom. There are no particular implications for Ireland as a result of either incident. To date, 16 cases of BSE have been confirmed here in animals born after 1998, the most recent of which had a registered date of birth of...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (29 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: For 2006, I have decided that the modulated funds should be used on a once-off payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme. This requires EU approval and is under current consideration by the EU Commission. Persons in receipt of the single farm payment will qualify for the once-off payments under the disadvantaged areas scheme provided they are eligible under that scheme. For the 2007-13...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application under the single payment scheme and the disadvantaged areas scheme. There has not been any delay relating to digitising and he is clear for payment on 63.23 hectares of forage. The disadvantaged areas scheme payment will be based on 45 hectares, the maximum number of hectares payable under the scheme, and will be issued by my Department this week.

Written Answers — Veterinary Medicines: Veterinary Medicines (29 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department circulated draft regulations in relation to veterinary medicines for consultation in early August of this year and has received written submissions from most of the main stakeholders. My Department has also subsequently met with many of these stakeholders concerned as part of the consultative process. In addition, as required by the relevant legislation, the animal remedies...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named, having been notified that the circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure-exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003, submitted an appeal to the single payment appeals committee. Following a full examination of the circumstances outlined in the appeal, the single payment appeals committee made a...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: A right of turbary was allotted in 1960 by the former Land Commission over a plot on this bog, which is part of the Clanricarde Estate, to a person with the same name and address as outlined in the question.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Following the closure of its Carlow plant last March, Irish Sugar Limited has made arrangements to process the full Irish sugar quota at its Mallow plant, which has been upgraded for that purpose. The question of producing bioethanol at the sugar plant in Mallow from sugar beet is a matter for commercial decision by Irish Sugar Limited.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (28 Sep 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The son of the person named has been notified that the circumstances outlined in his application for force majeure-exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003 did not satisfy the criteria for that measure. He has also been advised that he can appeal my Department's decision to the single payment appeals committee who will carry out a full review of the...