Results 20,081-20,100 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: This is the last time I will intervene, because I do not want to take up too much of the members' time. I am as anxious as other people to develop a proper, regulated and supported harness racing industry in Ireland, but this cannot be done in a couple of hours by the committee next week, with approval of the horse and greyhound fund hanging over us. The committee needs to bring before it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have a Cabinet meeting next Tuesday and I will then take oral parliamentary questions on defence, so I will not be able to be here next Tuesday, and I will not rush this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I do not understand why the Deputy is linking the issue with the horse and greyhound fund. The Deputy has a right to question Horse Racing Ireland on this issue, although arguably it would say it does not have any responsibility for harness racing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: It has responsibility for regulating and managing racing on tracks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: HRI does not have the power to refuse the use of tracks it does not own, but it may well have been asked for advice. We should have a more honest discussion about this. Many people are trying to get their heads around what harness racing as an industry might look like in Ireland. We are at the early stages of this conversation. We need to reassure people rather than trying to bully them...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: With respect, we did not accept that and we changed it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: And I dealt with it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I dealt with it and subsequently had a conversation with the chair of Horse Racing Ireland about it. We are dealing with it and will deal with it more comprehensively in the Bill, but it is a separate issue from the funding of the industry. That is the only point I am making.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: We could pick a number of issues on which we could question Horse Racing Ireland. Deputy Penrose might have questions on Kilbeggan racecourse. Deputy Heydon might have question on point-to-point racing. Senator Mary Ann O'Brien might have issues on marketing and so on. Horse Racing Ireland is accountable to the Oireachtas. We are not giving it the money; we are giving the industry the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are proposing to delay its funding model until we answer questions on other issues. I thank that is inappropriate.

Topical Issue Debate: Fishing Industry (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue because I know it is causing concern and frustration. I have had a lot of interaction, particularly on social media, on this issue. I can assure the Deputy that it is not going unnoticed in my Department or by the agencies with responsibility for enforcement of the rules. Control of vessels within Ireland's exclusive fisheries zone is as a...

Topical Issue Debate: Fishing Industry (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The situation is not as loose as may be suggested. Boats have electronic logbooks such that we know what is being caught. Obviously, it helps to inspect to ensure that is the actual position. We know where the vessels are as soon as they enter Irish waters. If the Deputy were to visit the naval headquarters in Haulbowline staff there would be able to show him on screen the location of all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Basic Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 22 May, 2015. Processing of this application has been finalised and payment issued on 19 October 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Twelve cows calved in the herd of the person named in 2014 and payment of €240 is due under the Beef Data Programme. Payment will be expedited as soon as possible .

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Letters are currently issuing to all participants in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) urging them to submit all genotype samples and surveys by 8 December so that payment can be made in the current year. A total of 252,672 genotype samples have been returned so far while 26, 684 herds have submitted some or all of the surveys. Of the 26,684 herds who have submitted data , 813...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Expenditure (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The 2015 estimates include an allocation of €20m to cover GLAS payments in the current year. This will be sufficient to make an 85% first instalment payment to all applicants with a 1 October commencement date, who are approved for part-year payment in 2015. The prepayment validations are being prepared at present and the actual expenditure in 2015 can only be accurately forecast when...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Vessel Licences (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 to 107, inclusive, together. Under the Common Fisheries Policy fishing vessels must be licensed and registered in accordance with Articles 22 and 24 of EU Regulation 1380/2013 and Articles 6 and 7 of EU Regulation 1224/2009. The fishing opportunities available to vessels, including within the Irish Exclusive Fishery Zone (EFZ) for 2015 are set out in TAC...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 29 May, 2015. Processing of the application is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 21 May 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for an ovine animal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is no record of the person named having lodged an application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme with my Department.