Results 20,321-20,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Other Questions: Afforestation Programme (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: -----native species as well as commercial timber.

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have a problem here that I signalled earlier. My advice is that these inspections are the subject of legal proceedings and I cannot comment any further on the matter. I am not happy that this has gone down the legal route. We have repeatedly tried to find solutions in this case, but once an issue like this is the subject of legal proceedings, I am precluded from saying anything further....

Other Questions: Departmental Investigations (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will check that for the Deputy. My understanding is that our investigation and the appeal of that have concluded. I may need to verify that. Once something goes down the legal route, anything I say here may impact on that, so I need to be careful what I say.

Other Questions: Beef Data Programme (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I think there was disquiet at the start, but it is wrong to say there is considerable disquiet now. The disquiet I have now is that more people want to get into the scheme. They want to know if it is fully subscribed and if we will reopen it. That is the pressure I have been getting. I accept there was considerable concern at the start, especially in understanding the star rating system...

Other Questions: Beef Data Programme (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: There will be another round.

Other Questions: Beef Data Programme (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: He certainly has not. The implementation of the scheme has progressed well. I will give Deputy Ó Cuív some figures to chew on. More than 252,500 samples have been sent back from genomic testing thus far, which covers more than 19,100 herds. This is a positive response rate for the scheme as it means that 71% of participants have sent back tissue samples. The scheme is working.

Other Questions: Beef Data Programme (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Why did the Deputy ask for the figure if he already has it?

Other Questions: Beef Data Programme (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am glad I am consistent at any rate.

Other Questions: Beef Data Programme (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is no confirmed underspend this year. I will have a Supplementary Estimate to provide for additional expenditure in the Department as opposed to an underspend in the Department. We will discuss the reasons for the Supplementary Estimate when it is presented to the House. I do not envisage €53 million will be spent on the beef data and genomics programme this year not because...

Other Questions: Beef Data Programme (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: No, I cannot confirm that figure as that is not the plan. We will know what the figures are at the end of the year when we calculate the overspend versus overspend, taking account of the Supplementary Estimates. Until all moneys have been paid out and each section of the Department has finalised its figures for the year, we will not have a final figure. I do not accept the point the Deputy...

Other Questions: Special Protection Areas Designation (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: In the first instance, farmers with hen harrier land already have priority access to the green low carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS. I also provided that such farmers would be automatically approved for GLAS plus should they be farming a sufficient area of habitat. I strongly encourage all farmers with hen harrier land to take up this measure under GLAS, which offers a payment rate of...

Other Questions: Special Protection Areas Designation (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: A wrong was committed against the farmers concerned who were promised something which was not delivered. The previous Government had form in that regard in that it promised the sun, moon and stars in its efforts to achieve agreements but failed to deliver because it did not have the money to do so. One of the reasons it has taken some time to provide a response to help farmers who have hen...

Other Questions: Special Protection Areas Designation (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: That is actively happening. As part of the threat response plan being led and managed by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht through the National Parks and Wildlife Service, there is an assessment of whether the measures that have been put in place to protect the hen harrier have worked to date and to determine what lessons can be learned in terms of future protections. We...

Other Questions: Legal Matters (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy seems to be making a habit of trying to raise legal cases in the House. I could not answer his last question and I cannot answer this or the next question either. I have the same answer on all of them. The case is subject to legal proceedings involving the named person and the Department and therefore I cannot comment at this juncture. I have the exact same answer for the next...

Other Questions: Legal Matters (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: There would be no problem answering that question if legal proceedings had not begun. Once something goes into our legal office to prepare the defence of the position of the Department, I will not get into providing details that may be used at a later stage as part of evidence in court. That would be very foolish of me. I encourage Deputies and farmers who have issues and concerns about...

Other Questions: Legal Matters (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have said what I have to say on this. I am not trying to be unhelpful or to block anybody; I am following legal advice which I think is sensible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Data (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bonamia ostreae, a parasitic organism that gives rise to Bonamiosis in oysters, has been present in native Irish oysters (Ostrea edulis) since the 1980s. It is widespread within Europe and also in the USA and Canada. The parasite was first diagnosed in Cork Harbour in 1987 following the detection of significant losses in native oysters. How or precisely when the parasite was introduced is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Land (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The decisions taken in this case were based on advice provided to my office by the Legal Services Division of my Department and therefore I cannot comment on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Basic Payment Scheme, the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry out an annual round of inspections. These cover both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure adherence with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of public, animal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Data (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The new TAMS measure will make €395 million available to Irish farmers for investing in on-farm infrastructure, facilities and equipment. All TAMS schemes have been opened and the applications received under the first tranches of both the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme and the Dairy Equipment Scheme are now being processed. The first tranche for the Pig and Poultry Scheme...