Results 15,561-15,580 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I am concerned at the confusion in the House on the need for a clear title and in some cases to take out grants of administration. My Department does not require clear title for redemption of an annuity. Those annuitants, however, who need to raise finance to avail of the offer may need to show clear title in order to obtain a loan. These people need to ensure their title is now in order. In...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The Senator is absolutely right. It was of grave concern to me that a few farmers had very large arrears and considerable land holdings too, although I doubt the Senator is speaking of them. There are 15 annuitants with arrears in excess of €20,000 and a further 34 with arrears between €10,000 and €20,000. In total, 49 cases owe €1 million. That is a considerable sum of money. We have...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: We have considered this matter on the basis of the issues raised on Second Stage and would like to bring the matter to finality. All Members of both Houses would agree that we have moved on. The Land Commission has been gone for more than 20 years. We want landowners to be landowners, which is the best way to deal with the issue. It is on this basis that we are trying to impress on people the...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I am enamoured with the Senator's view.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I am too nice for that. Just in case there is any misunderstanding, I have been advised that in hardship cases, rescheduling can be provided for repayments. My Department is the competent authority for purposes of EU funding. As many of the payments to farmers have been partially funded by the Exchequer and co-funded by the EU, the advice of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is that the...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: This procedure will only be used as the last resort. We have taken the opportunity over many years to deal with these issues, which were unsatisfactory, and we certainly would not do this in a haphazard way. Consultation would have to take place with the relevant landowner and farmer. We hope never to have to go down that road. However, it is a legal provision that can be invoked if necessary.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I am glad the Senator has clarified the background to this amendment. As the Senator knows, the insertion of the word "recoverable" could be construed to mean all payments, future and past, which would have a legal implication and might not be sound. I do not propose to issue a certificate as outlined in section 5 of the Bill unless all arrears of annuities are paid up to date. However, in...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I intend that the date of the instrument affecting the property transaction shall not be more than four months after the date of the certificate. I believe the wording from the Parliamentary Counsel is clear and concise. I am happy with the legislation as it stands.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The word "practicable" is open to interpretation. It is my firm intention to issue certificates without delay. I am sure the Senator will be aware that the numbers requiring such certificates will be very small as this only refers to those who have an ongoing annuity of more than €200 per annum. At present only 2,300 such persons exist and this number should be considerably reduced after...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I am advised that if we did not issue a certificate or delayed a certificate, to which a person is legally entitled, the farmer would have recourse to a judicial review. Bearing in mind the numbers, I believe this will not present a problem. While the practicalities of it could be implored and impressed upon the Minister if a problem exists, I do not anticipate such a problem.

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I appreciate the Senator's intention to impress on the Minister an obligation to do something. It is the firm view of the Department that it would like to deal with this issue as quickly as possible. My officials and I will discuss the best way to transmit the message in the context of an information campaign. I agree that legislation can be confusing, especially for those who are not...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Section 5 requires those who are registering a land transaction, as defined in this section, to furnish beforehand a clearance certificate to the Land Registry to confirm that no arrears of annuities are due to the Department. Clearance certificates will be issued by my Department. Under section 5(2), as currently drafted, the Land Registry does not require that a certificate of clearance in...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: There would be no capital——

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I assure the Senator that it will not be a problem where no capital is involved. We are not tying people up. I simply gave an example of how this section might manifest itself. Those mentioned by the Senator, such as nephews or grandsons, will be covered under section 5.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Although my Department does not operate any specific schemes of financial assistance for animal welfare bodies, ex-gratia funding has been provided in recent years to a number of appropriate bodies involved in the direct delivery of animal care and welfare services throughout the country having regard to moneys available from within my Department's Vote at year end. Each application received...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: Earlier this year the EU adopted a package of measures to revise and consolidate Community legislation in relation to food hygiene. The bulk of this package is due to come into force on 1 January 2006. Although the recast of EU legislation was primarily motivated by the necessity to ensure high levels of public health protection in relation to food production, it also provided an opportunity...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 102 together. My Department has asked the Garda to investigate certain practices in a licensed beef processing plant. This action was taken following preliminary results of an investigation conducted by a team from within my Department. The nature of the investigation that led to the involvement of the Garda centred on the company's compliance with the...

Written Answers — Beef Exports: Beef Exports (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 82 together. This issue has been discussed on a number of occasions and at various levels with the British and Northern Ireland authorities, including at ministerial level. I understand that efforts to have the remaining elements of the EU-wide ban rescinded are continuing but details on how this should be pursued is a matter for the UK authorities.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The 2004 area aid application of the person named has been fully processed with an area determined for payment purposes of 117 hectares. Payment of her full entitlement under the 2004 area-based compensatory allowance scheme could not be made until a potential stocking density problem had been resolved but, now that this has been done, payment will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (12 Oct 2004)

Mary Coughlan: The rules governing GMOs are set down in EU legislation, which have been jointly adopted by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers under the co-decision procedure and which are binding on all member states. In particular, Article 22 of EU Directive 2001/18/EC stipulates that member states may not prohibit, restrict or impede the placing on the market of GMOs, as or in products which...