Results 14,361-14,380 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 May 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 in early February 2004. The person named has been notified that the circumstances outlined by her do not satisfy the criteria for force majeure-exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. The...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named has received his full entitlement under the 2004 area based compensatory allowance scheme. The person named lodged three applications under the 2004 special beef premium scheme, in respect of a total of 28 animals. The first application, in respect of 23 animals, was lodged on 28 May 2004, the second application, in respect of four animals, was lodged on 6 December 2004 and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: This appeal was received in the agriculture appeals office on 27 May 2004 and the appeals officer issued a decision on 13 August 2004 to disallow the appeal. The decision of the appeals officer is final and conclusive, except in the following circumstances: an appeals officer may change a decision where there is new evidence, new facts or a relevant change in circumstances but the appeals...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (11 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has been aware, from an early stage in the negotiations leading to the introduction of the single payment scheme, of the possible implications for retired farmers who had leased their holdings during the reference years 2000 to 2002. In so far as it has proved possible in the context of the EU regulations governing the single payment scheme, and following lengthy discussions...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (10 May 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. For the purposes of the revised action programme, on which my Department has been consulted, Mayo is located in zone B as it was in the earlier version sent to the European Commission in October 2004. The provisions of the action programme will...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I received the report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted five applications under the 2004 special beef premium scheme, in respect of a total of ten animals. Payment has issued in full in respect of these ten animals. No applications were received under the scheme from the spouse of the person named. Ten animals eligible under the 2004 slaughter premium scheme were slaughtered under the herd number of the person named....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures under the single payment scheme. Following processing of his application, the person named was advised his inheritance application was successful. The appropriate entitlements gifted with land during the reference period have been transferred to the person named. The new...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures under the single payment scheme. Following processing of his application the person named was advised that his application under the inheritance measure was successful. The percentage entitlements gifted with land during the reference period have been transferred to him. The...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (10 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 was 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 been...

Written Answers — Livestock Ownership Regulations: Livestock Ownership Regulations (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 307 together. Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No. 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000, which established a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and the labelling of beef and beef products, defines a "keeper" as any natural or legal person responsible for animals whether on a permanent or...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The hardship grant is aimed at assisting eligible owners or keepers whose herds are restricted during the period 1 November to 30 April. Under the terms and conditions of the hardship grant 2004-05, payment will not be made where the owner or keeper fails to co-operate with veterinary inspectors or authorised officers in carrying out their duties under the diseases eradication schemes. In...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: It is a condition of REPS that slurry may not be spread within 50 m of any school grounds, public building or amenity area and that there must be no spreading of slurry within 1.5 m of any field boundary. The specification for REPS planners in the preparation of REPS plans also recommends a buffer strip of up to 50 m where land spreading of animal manures takes place adjacent to housing...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted two applications under the 2004 special beef premium scheme in respect of a total of five animals. The first application, in respect of three animals, was received on 16 January 2004. The second application, in respect of two animals, was received on 2 November 2004. The 60% advance payments issued on 18 October 2004 and 25 February 2005, respectively. Following...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (10 May 2005)

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

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The European Commission's draft regulation governing for the post-2006 rural development framework proposes the reclassification of disadvantaged areas. This proposal responds to the European Court of Auditors' criticism, endorsed by the European Parliament, about the current system. The suggested new methodology would be based on natural conditions, notably soil and climatic factors. The...

Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 304 together. The number of mushroom growers has decreased from 566 in 1995 to 228 in 2004. The rate of decline increased sharply since 2000. The numbers of growers in the past three years were: 2002, 365 growers; 2003, 289 growers; and 2004, 228 growers. While the number of growers declined over the past ten years, mushroom output increased in the...

Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The quantity of mushrooms imported into Ireland is not significant in terms of our overall production and imports tend to be exotic varieties to meet the demands of niche markets. Total mushroom production in 2004 is estimated at 65,000 tonnes of which some 80% was exported to the UK market where there is strong competition mainly from Dutch and Polish imports. The difficulties facing the...

Written Answers — Agriculture Sector Developments: Agriculture Sector Developments (10 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Trade in agricultural products among member countries of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, is regulated by agreements concluded between the members of that organisation. Negotiations on a new agreement have been under way for some time and are expected to conclude at the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong in December 2005. While the Commission negotiates on behalf of the EU on the basis...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (10 May 2005)

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