Results 14,321-14,340 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (18 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 to 253, inclusive, together. The objectives of Council Regulation EC No. 1/2005, which applies generally from January 2007, are to improve the welfare of animals during transport and to ensure a consistent and effective application of rules governing the transport of animals across the European Union. It is the result of intense negotiations at both the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In view of recent developments in my Department, including the introduction of the single payment scheme, SPS, we are continuing to review staffing requirements of our local offices. In this context, a definitive decision on the staffing requirement for a dedicated Leitrim office has yet to be taken.

Written Answers — Agricultural Sector: Agricultural Sector (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Central Statistics Office publishes data on the number of persons in farming, it does not collect data on entrants to or exits from farming. Data is only available in respect of the period 2000 and 2003. According to the 2000 census of agriculture there were 32,800 farmers in the western region, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, and in the 2003 farm structures survey there were 32,000 farmers,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The herd number quoted, which has been dormant since 1995, was previously registered in the name of the spouse of the person named. As the spouse of the person named was not farming during the reference period, 2000 to 2002, having availed of the early retirement scheme in 1995, he did not establish any entitlements under the single payment scheme. Under the provisions of the single payment...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted four applications under the 2004 special beef premium scheme, in respect of a total of 13 animals. The first application, in respect of seven animals, was received on 2 March 2004; the second application, in respect of one animal, was received on 19 April 2004; the third application, in respect of three animals, was received on 22 December 2004; and the fourth...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted three applications under the 2004 special beef premium scheme, in respect of a total of 32 animals. The first application, in respect of five animals, was received on 4 March 2004; the second application, in respect of 19 animals, was received on 21 May 2004; and the third application, in respect of eight animals, was received on 20 December 2004. The 60% advance...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted three applications under the 2004 special beef premium scheme, in respect of a total of 43 animals. The first application, in respect of two animals, was received on 27 January 2004. The second application, in respect of 38 animals, was received on 2 November 2004. The third application, in respect of three animals, was received on 2 December 2004. Following...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The personnel division in my Department, as with all Departments of State, operates under a wide range of Civil Service procedures and codes of practice. While the Department of Finance has a leading role in preparing these procedures and codes of practice and in agreeing them with Departments and staff associations at the general council, there is no other formal accreditation attached to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department adheres to the Civil Service grievance procedures when dealing with all formal grievances from staff members. The procedures allow a complainant who is dissatisfied with the outcome of an internal decision to have the matter reviewed by a mediation officer appointed by the Minister for Finance. The use of a mediation officer in the following situations is not permitted under the...

Written Answers — Departmental Charges: Departmental Charges (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: A review of the legal basis for the imposition of charges and levies is under way in my Department. A review of charges levied by State bodies under its aegis has also commenced. The Deputy will appreciate that as these reviews have only recently commenced, no conclusions can be drawn as yet.

Written Answers — Sheepmeat Sector: Sheepmeat Sector (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy will be aware, the fall in prices for new season lamb, during mid to late April 2005, led to protests by sheep farmers at meat export premises. I am glad to report that the dispute appears to have been resolved following discussions between farmers' representatives and the export plants. The following table shows the average factory price for spring lamb for the month of April...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 258 together. I am always prepared to facilitate trade in live sheep which of course, has to take place in accordance with EU rules governing such intra-Community trade. Trade in sheep between member states of the European Union is subject to the provisions of, inter alia, Council Directive 2003/50/EC, which amends Council Directive 91/68/EEC, as...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Intra-Community trade regulations require that sheep intended for export must be consigned from the holding of origin or from an approved assembly centre. My Department is prepared to facilitate such trade by approving assembly centres in accordance with the European Communities (Assembly Centres) Regulations 2000, SI 257 of 2000. However, to be approved as an assembly centre, a livestock...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I formally received the report of the Oireachtas joint committee on 7 April. I have asked my officials to consider the recommendations contained in the report, having due regard to the terms and conditions both of the early retirement scheme itself and of the European Commission regulations under which both the current and previous schemes were introduced.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Allocations of milk quota from the national reserve are granted on the basis of recommendations from the milk quota appeals tribunal. The tribunal is a body established to consider and advise on applications for additional quota from individual producers who have suffered severe hardship in the context of the milk quota system. It also examines applications from producers whose herds have...

Written Answers — Land Annuity Payments: Land Annuity Payments (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The number of persons with current obligations to my Department in respect of capital and-or interest payments on foot of land purchase annuities in County Wicklow is 74.

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In February 2004, the Commission proposed financial ceilings for market supports and direct payments under the Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2007 to 2013, which would provide additional funding for Bulgaria and Romania on top of the amounts agreed in October 2002 by the European Council for the EU25. The Commission has also proposed that €88.75 billion would be provided for...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: There has been a number of asset disposals during the period in question. My Department is gathering the information requested and a comprehensive reply will be issued to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: There has been a number of asset disposals during the period in question. My Department is gathering the information requested and a comprehensive reply will issue to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (12 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Central Statistics Office is responsible for the collection of statistics in relation to imports of meat and meat products. The following tables, which were compiled from data supplied by that office, set out the details requested by the Deputy. In relation to the tables the following should be noted: in certain cases the record of import may include the re-import of Irish products that...