Results 15,101-15,120 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Agriculture Appeals: Agriculture Appeals (24 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The appeals officer issued a decision on 30 January 2005 to disallow the appeal submitted in this case. A copy of the decision will be forwarded to the Deputy. An oral hearing was held on 19 January 2005. The decision of an appeals officer is final and conclusive, except in certain circumstances. An appeals officer may change a decision if there is new evidence, new facts or a relevant change...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to present the Land Bill 2004, which was passed by Seanad Éireann last October. This Land Bill is designed to achieve several objectives. The main thrust of what I propose is a further and final, equitable means to address long-standing difficulties with the collection of land purchase annuities. I want to resolve the ongoing...

Land Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The Department of Social and Family Affairs did it for 40 years.

Written Answers — Potato Sector: Potato Sector (23 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In order to provide growers with a period of adjustment to the changes introduced to the seed certification scheme, the charges for PCN testing will be deferred until 2006. The other charges proposed for services under the scheme relating to field inspection, sealing and labelling will however apply as planned later this year. Wide consultation has already taken place with growers'...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (23 Feb 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. A nitrates action programme was submitted to the EU Commission in October last. Its provisions emerged from a consultation process with stakeholders, including the farming organisations, and from the recommendations of independent adviser Mr....

Written Answers — Veterinary Practices: Veterinary Practices (23 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I do not have any plans to fund the establishment or maintenance of veterinary practices in any part of the country. However, I am conscious that in future the viability of such practices may come under pressure in some areas and I will monitor the situation regarding veterinary cover on an ongoing basis.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named included the animal in question on an application under the 2004 special beef premium scheme received in my Department on 15 July 2004. It is a requirement of the scheme that animals being submitted for premium be CMMS compliant on the date of application. Following computer validation it was found that the animal in question was not recorded on the CMMS database as being in...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (23 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Primary responsibility for the welfare of animals rests with the owner or keeper of the animals. The owners-keepers are obliged to take all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of animals under their care and to ensure that such animals are not caused any unnecessary pain, suffering or injury. The welfare of animals kept for farming purposes in general is covered by the European Communities...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Work on drafting the animal health Bill is proceeding in my Department. There is still a significant body of preparatory work to be completed and it is not possible at this stage to indicate a date for publication.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (23 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The REPS contract in this case was completed on 31 July 2004. The person named has been paid in full for his participation in REPS.

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (23 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I confirm that an application form to the 2005 single payment national reserve has been received from the person named before the closing date for receipt of applications. The position with regard to the national reserve is that all applications are being processed at present and in view of the number of applications received and accompanying documentation submitted, it will be some time...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (23 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for consideration of force majeure-exceptional circumstances in the calculation of his provisional single payment entitlements as a result of TB restriction of his herd in 2000 and 2001. Following an examination of the pattern of production, the inward and outward movements recorded on the cattle movement monitoring system and the premia eligibility...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The numbers of applicants-applications under the various schemes from 1997 to 2004 are set out in the table:

Written Answers — Factory Closures: Factory Closures (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that Greencore employed a consultancy firm. I have not seen the report of the firm nor was it discussed in my meetings with the company. Any inquiries about the report would be a matter for the company itself.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: Having examined the relevant application, I am satisfied the person in question meets the criteria laid down for payment of the farmer-rate of forestry premium.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: In addition to informal third party observations sought by my Department with the named individual on 7 October 2004, the individual's spouse contacted the Department by telephone on the same day. The outcome of that contact was to confirm the reluctance of the individual concerned to the release by the Department of the information in question. Contact was also made by the Department with...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As agreed with the Deputy's office, a copy of the FOI central policy unit notice number 13, "Requests involving third parties — A step by step guide" was forwarded to him on 16 February 2005.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has not concluded that the Freedom of Information Acts contain any lacunae.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: The person named applied to lease his entire quota under the milk quota temporary leasing scheme 2004-05. His entire quota amounted to 109,105 litres, of which 21,808 litres had been allocated from the national reserve under various measures. As allocations from the national reserve are not eligible for temporary leasing, the maximum which the producer is entitled to offer to the 2004-05...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (22 Feb 2005)

Mary Coughlan: As part of the suggested 2007-13 rural development framework, the European Commission has proposed new criteria for less favoured areas. These lay emphasis on soil and climatic conditions. In line with other member states, Ireland has highlighted the sensitivity of this issue. Ireland has also sought clarification as to the Commission's intentions. While some clarification on the proposed...