Results 2,741-2,760 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: Under the Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, Teagasc has statutory responsibility for the provision of education, research and advisory services to the Agriculture sector. It is a matter for Teagasc and its Board to prioritise activities in the delivery of these services and to allocate its resources in accordance with these priorities. Teagasc is currently implementing...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: The above named commenced REPS 4 in May 2008. He received his year 1 payment in July 2009 and his year 2 payment in January 2010. Due to digitisation, area discrepancies had to be corrected and an adjusted plan was submitted on 11 February 2011. The plan is expected to be checked this month and the application of the person named will then be processed for payment.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS4 in February 2009. He received his year 1 payment in June 2010. Officials from my department wrote to the person named on 3 November 2010 requesting soil sample results and an adjusted plan. These were received on 30 March 2011 and the file was immediately processed. Further discrepancies were discovered when the application underwent the SPS crosscheck....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in February 2009 and received his year 1 payment in February 2010. The file was chosen for an inspection in respect of his year 2 payment. It is currently with the Inspector and when the inspection is finalised it will be processed for payment.

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: Following a public tender inviting expressions of interest for the preparation of Business Plans for the Fishery Harbour Centres Raymond Burke Consulting and McIver Consulting were selected to carry out research and prepare a Business Plan for the six Fishery Harbour Centres. The report, "Business Plans for the Development of the Fishery Harbour Centres", was launched on 7th March 2009 by...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: Farmers who are active participants in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme on the closing date for AEOS are not eligible to join the scheme in 2011. The closing date for AEOS is 16 May 2011. The person named will not complete their REPS participation until after the closing date for receipt of 2011 AEOS applications and will therefore not meet the eligibility conditions of the scheme...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-Environment Options Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Payment will issue to the person named at the earliest possible date once these checks have been completed.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Question Nos. 23 and 24 together. I congratulate Deputy Moynihan, Deputy Colreavy and Deputy Pringle on being made spokespersons on agriculture and fisheries for their parties or groups in the House. I look forward to a constructive relationship with them. We have many challenges in the next two years in respect of budgetary constraints, but agriculture and fisheries can...

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am glad this issue was raised by a member of the party Deputy Moynihan represents. The announcement of an AEOS scheme for this year was made by the previous Minister, but there was no provision in the budget for that. The Department of Finance had no provision for it. My Department had no provision for it. There are expenditure ceilings, to which the previous Government signed up, to...

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I have been there and know it well.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am very conscious that many farm families are and have been reliant for practically all of their farm profits on schemes such as REPS and the current AEOS. While we allow the more fertile land to be farmed in a more intensive manner to produce more food and meet the targets set under Food Harvest 2020, in addition to all of the other exciting events that will happen in the agriculture...

Harbours and Piers (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is Ireland's premier fishing port. To date, in excess of €50 million has been invested in the development of the harbour by my Department. This investment has brought the harbour infrastructure and facilities up to a class leading standard. My Department is conscious of the valuable and necessary contribution the harbour plays in the support and...

Harbours and Piers (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I have been to Killybegs a number of times, most recently for the by-election in which the Deputy participated, and I am very aware of the potential for development. The marine resource is underestimated by most. Killybegs Harbour can and will be at the heart of developing a more ambitious fisheries sector, with a particular focus on fish processing. We can do much there to process more...

Milk Quota (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I will leave aside my notes to answer this question because otherwise I will have to stop half way through and the Deputy will not receive a full response. There is much concern in the dairy industry about a soft landing for the sector as we approach the end of milk quotas in 2015. There was much concern until a few days ago that there would be a super levy applied to Ireland for...

Milk Quota (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: There are two issues involved. First, we cannot allow a situation to develop where there will be a dramatic increase in milk production and a collapse in its price because we do not have markets for it. That would be a disaster. This problem needs to be dealt with as part of a soft landing solution in terms of the ending of the quota system. We are working to achieve this through the food...

Departmental Bodies (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: On the last question, the Deputy might be interested to hear that I met representatives of Teagasc yesterday in regard to this matter and it is part of an ongoing discussion.

Food Exports (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy recognised, Food Harvest 2020 sets out an ambitious roadmap and targets for the Irish food and drinks industry over the next decade. This is being driven by the high level implementation group, which I chair, and by a number of activation groups. With regard to expanding Ireland's share in existing markets, Bord Bia is implementing or planning to implement a number of key...

Food Exports (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I agree with much of what the Deputy said. The 2008 health check, which put the current superlevy system in place, was signed up to by the previous Government. I concede that everyone in this House recognises that we need to get more flexibility as 2015 approaches, and we will be trying to do that. Currently, the marketing campaign around food expansion in the dairy sector in this country...

Food Industry (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I thank my colleague for raising the question. We are very lucky in this party that we have a number of Deputies with significant experience in the agriculture and farming sector. I look forward to working with them and taking their advice because I will need it at times. Agriculture and the agrifood processing sector is one of Ireland's most important indigenous industries. I would argue...

Food Industry (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: The answer to the question is: "Absolutely." The Deputy pointed to one of my concerns with Food Harvest 2020. When milk quotas come to an end in 2015, we will see an explosion of ambition in the dairy sector because we will see a significant increase in dairy production. For example, in Cork we will see a doubling of the volume of milk being produced. We must do that. It will be the same...