Results 20,961-20,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farm safety is one of the most important issues facing farming today. Statistics show that accidents on farms cause more workplace deaths than all other occupations combined. Last year, 2014, was a particularly difficult year with 30 deaths on Irish farms and there have been 16 fatal farm accidents to date in 2015. The Health and Safety Authority, a state agency of the Department of Jobs,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The European Union scheme of geographical indications (GI) protects the names of quality agricultural products and foodstuffs where a strong link exists between the product’s characteristics and a defined geographical area. In the case of a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) the product must be produced or processed or prepared in the geographical area and a specific quality,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Market Access (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Various actions in the Food Wise 2025 strategy relate to market access and the personnel needed to assist in the identification, development, reinforcement and securing of new third country markets. For example in 2016 my Department, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland will explore synergies and priorities for the deployment of human resources in specific markets, including possibilities for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Food wise 2025 recommends that I commission an independent review of the existing aquaculture licensingsystem involving all key stakeholders, to identify the current shortcomingsand bottlenecks (legislative, resource and logistical), to report by early 2016and implement necessary changes to the aquaculture licensing system as amatter of priority. Separately, my Department is presently making...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was notified of the outcome of a review of their file by letter dated 29 September 2015. Penalties that had been imposed were reduced from 48% to 21%. The person named was notified of this decision and that the difference arising from the reduced penalty would be refunded. Arrangements are being made to issue the amount to be refunded as soon as possible. The delay in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Basic Payment Scheme/Area of Natural Constraint Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 20 March 2015. Following processing, a forestry eligibility issue arose in respect of a number of the parcels declared by the person named. This matter has now been resolved and payment is now due under both schemes. Payment will issue directly to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2015 Private Contract Clause application to my Department. This application has been fully processed and payment under the Basic Payment Scheme will issue as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Data (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: To date in 2015, 5,758 farmers whose entitlements values are €20,000 or over have received a payment under the Basic Payment Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: My role as Minister in relation to the beef sector is to establish a policy and support environment that allows it to flourish in line with normal market principles. As the Deputy is aware, price is ultimately a matter to be determined between both the purchasers and the sellers of cattle. Cattle prices are determined by supply and demand dynamics which are in turn influenced by seasonality...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 29 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 a Bovine Identification...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Living Wage (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Based on introducing a minimal threshold hourly rate of €11.50, the estimated additional annual cost in 2016 for staff employed by my Department would be approximately €77,000, after the sanctioned increase of 2.5% under the Lansdowne Road Agreement is taken into account. The parallel information in respect of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Flood Relief Schemes Applications (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Government has allocated a sum of €5 million to be distributed as emergency humanitarian support to small businesses that have been unable to secure flood insurance and have been flooded arising from the impact of Storm Desmond. The Irish Red Cross Society have agreed to administer the scheme on behalf of the Government. The scheme is aimed at providing a contribution to the costs...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: As of the 31 of October, 2015 (the latest date for which figures are available), the serving strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 9,155 (whole-time equivalent). Budget 2016 includes a provision of some €416 million for Permanent Defence Force Pay and this amount will allow for the payment of the full establishment of 9,500 personnel, in line with the commitment in the White...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The recently published White Paper on Defence sets out a developmental path for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). It provides that the overarching establishment of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) be set at 4,169 personnel, consisting of 3,869 Army Reservists and the expansion of the establishment of the four NSR Units from currently 200 personnel to 300. The current...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Freedom of Information Fees (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The total amount the Department of Defence has received in fees from Freedom of Information requests in 2014 and in 2015 to date is set out in the following table. Year Upfront Fee Search and Retrieval Fee Internal Review Fee Fees refunded * Total Net Fee 2014 €165.00 €188.55 €75.00 €45.00 €383.55 2015 0 0 €30.00 0 €30.00...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Staff (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: In my role as Minister for Defence, I have not appointed any political staff to work in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Process RIA (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has published the following Bills since 9 March 2011: 1.Defence (Amendment) Act 2011; 2. Civil Defence Act 2012; 3. Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Act 2012; 4. Defence (Amendment) Act 2015. The following proposed Bills are included in the current Government Legislation Programme: 1.Defence Forces (Forensic Evidence) Bill; 2. Red Cross Bill; 3....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I would like to clarify that meetings of the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) are convened and chaired by the Lead Government Department. In the case of severe weather events, these meetings are chaired by senior officials of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government as the lead Department and I have been personally briefed by the Chair of the NECG...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The following tables set out the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 October, 2015, the latest date for which figures are available, across all three services and ranks, broken down by gender. The figures provided are for whole time equivalent posts. Army Rank Male Female Total Lieutenant General 1 0 1 Major General 2 0 2 Brigadier General 6 0 6 Colonel...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The following tables set out the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Force as of 31 October, 2015, the latest date for which figures are available, in both the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve broken down by rank and gender. Army Reserve Rank Male Female Total Lieutenant Colonel 5 0 5 Commandant 48 0 48 Captain 53 3 56 Lieutenant 171 30 201 Sergeant...