Results 14,461-14,480 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Depopulation Programme: Depopulation Programme (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: It is estimated that there are in excess of 450,000 cattle in the national herd which were born before 1996. It is difficult to put an accurate value on such animals since their value to farmers is measured in terms of the calves and milk produced on an annual basis rather than by reference to what they would command at the market or in the factory. However, based on recent values of BSE...

Written Answers — Avian Influenza: Avian Influenza (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Avian influenza is a serious, highly contagious viral disease of poultry which can also spread to other animals and occasionally to humans. EU legislation to control avian influenza is laid down in Directive 92/40/EEC. In brief, this directive requires that all suspected cases of avian influenza must be investigated and appropriate measures taken in case of confirmation of highly pathogenic...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: EU legislation, jointly adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, on the cultivation of GM crops specifically prohibits the unilateral declaration of a GM free country. There are, however, methods available to restrict the growing of GM crops within regions of a country. These include the concept of voluntarily developed GM free regions — a concept being explored by a number of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The introduction of the single payment scheme will lead to significant staff savings in my Department due to the rationalisation of a number of the farm income support schemes. While the final net impact cannot be stated exactly at this stage, I expect staff savings of 400 by January 2006. The transition is being actively managed within the Department to ensure an orderly redeployment of the...

Written Answers — Teagasc Service Development: Teagasc Service Development (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Teagasc, the agriculture and food development authority, was established under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988. Its function under the Act is to provide research, training and advisory services for the agrifood sector. Teagasc is governed by an 11 member authority. The chairman and five ordinary members are appointed by the Minister and the remaining five members are...

Written Answers — Carlow Sugar Plant: Carlow Sugar Plant (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My approval has not been sought to the sale of any property following the recent closure by Greencore of the Irish Sugar plant at Carlow and I am not aware of the company's intentions in that regard. As Minister, I hold a special share in Greencore plc. That share has the same monetary value as any other share in the company but special conditions are attached which prevent the company from...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: European Council Regulation 1782/2003 governing the single payment scheme provides that each member state must set up a national reserve using between 1% and 3% of every individual farmers entitlements. A single payment advisory group comprising representatives from the farming organisations, Teagasc and officials from my Department was set up to advise on the national reserve. A 3%...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is aware that the High Court, in respect of a judicial review of the seizure and detention by my officials of certain corn gluten imported into this country, recently ruled in favour of the company referred to on two counts. First, the authorised officers, appointed by the Minister, did not have the necessary powers, under the Irish legislation quoted, to impound the feed material...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department recently completed the expenditure review of the current scheme of early retirement from farming. Copies of the review were laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 13 April 2005. The expenditure review process was established by the Department of Finance in 1997 in the context of the strategic management initiative. The purpose of the review of the early retirement scheme...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Deputy is referring to special report No. 9 of the European Court of Auditors concerning forestry measures within the EU's rural development policy. This report examines the implementation of the various EU forestry measures across all the member states, not just Ireland. It covers a very wide range of issues, many of which are questions which relate to EU policy in this area. In relation...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: To date in 2005, there have been 25 confirmed cases of BSE. In the same period in 2004, there were 59 cases. This represents a reduction of 57%. In 2003 and in 2002, over the same period, there were 82 cases and 131 cases, respectively.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I made arrangements last month to expedite balancing payments to farmers affected by the special beef premium quota excess based on an estimated overshoot reduction. Over the last two weeks, some €80 million has been paid to special beef, suckler cow and slaughter premium applicants with the bulk of this going to farmers with more than 25 special beef premium animals. I have also raised the...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The proposed redefinition of disadvantaged areas is one element of a EU Commission proposal on support for rural development in the 2007-13 period. The proposed redefinition responds to the European Court of Auditors' criticism, endorsed by the European Parliament, of the current system. The suggested new methodology is based on natural conditions, notably soil and climatic factors. The...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I received the committee's report formally on 7 April and my officials are currently examining it. This report arises from an investigation by the committee of a complaint by a group representing retired farmers. Department officials provided a comprehensive formal written response to the complaint and attended a meeting of the committee in July 2003 to answer questions from members. The...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under the new single payment scheme, farmers receiving direct aid are required to respect the various statutory management requirements set down in EU legislation on the environment, food safety, animal health, and welfare, and plant health and to maintain the farm in good agricultural and environmental condition, GAEC. There will also be an obligation on the member state to ensure that there...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 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. In October last, Ireland submitted an action programme to the European Commission for further implementation of the nitrates directive. In December the Commission conveyed its view that the action programme was not complete and did not comply with...

Written Answers — Biotechnological Inventions: Biotechnological Inventions (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Promotion and development of renewable energy in Ireland are matters in the first instance for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. My Department is represented on the bioenergy strategy group established by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural resources to consider policy options and support mechanisms available to Government to stimulate increased...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Payment details for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 in respect of this herd owner were contained in a statement of his provisional entitlements issued by my Department to him on 1 February of this year. The Department has issued a duplicate of that statement together with a review form to the herd owner.

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Under the EU regulations governing the single payment scheme, farmers, who inherited holdings during or since the reference years from those who had entitlements established for them, may also inherit those entitlements. The farmers concerned should each complete an inheritance form in order to get the entitlements registered in their own names. The completed form together with supporting...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 May 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Payment dated 28 April 2005 has issued in this case.