Results 2,761-2,780 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Common Fisheries Policy (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: We are back to fishing. I recently accompanied President Mary McAleese on a three day official visit to Spain. During the visit, on 21 March 2011, I arranged a bilateral meeting in Madrid with Rosa Aguilar, Minister of Environment, Rural and Maritime Affairs and who is the Spanish Minister with responsibility for fisheries, to discuss the planned reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP,...

Common Fisheries Policy (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for that question. I am flying to Brussels this evening and am to meet the Fisheries Commissioner tomorrow. I have not yet met her but would like to do so. I have met the Agriculture Commissioner. The Common Fisheries Policy review is very important for Ireland. It must not be in the political shadow of the Common Agricultural Policy review, which is happening at the...

Common Fisheries Policy (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: That is a good question on an important issue. Ireland is very anxious to make progress with electronic log books on boats such that when trawlers, be they French, Spanish, British or Irish, catch fish instant information will be obtained on the catch volume. The Naval Service, which is monitoring catch, would have access to the information instantaneously. Manual log books can be doctored...

Food Harvest 2020 (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: We have returned to the subject of Food Harvest 2020, the potential and value of which I hope people outside the farming sector will begin to appreciate. The question concerns whether we can introduce tax breaks for dairy farmers who need to invest to increase capacity in the period after 2015. Taxation policy is a matter for the Minister for Finance. My officials are in contact with the...

Food Harvest 2020 (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: If I had had a little more time, I would have spoken about some of the grant aid that is being planned for the sector. The Deputy will probably be aware of the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme for the dairy sector, which is about providing grant aid for dairy equipment, rainwater harvesting and the modernisation of parlours. Some targeted grant aid will be made available. A quite...

International Agreements (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 35 and 45 together. These questions relate to the EU's negotiations with the Mercosur countries on a new bilateral trade deal. In case the House is not aware, this represents an extraordinary threat to the Irish beef industry because in essence what may happen is that the European beef sector would be sacrificed to allow European financial services and...

International Agreements (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: It is important to state our position should not be against any world trade deal as Ireland has many industries. Most of the growth in our economy comes from the export sector at present, and many of those exports are to world markets outside the European Union. We must be careful, therefore, in what we say about world trade. At the same time, we cannot allow an agreement to be reached...

International Agreements (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: It is an "any other business" item tomorrow. That is the only way to get a specific issue such as this on the agenda. My understanding is that the Presidency establishes the agenda for Council of Ministers meetings. If one wishes to include something extra on the agenda, on which Ireland has insisted on this occasion, the way to do so is to have it considered as an "any other business"...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: As I mentioned in my response to a similar question earlier, it must be emphasised that the primary responsibility for producing within quota and ensuring the avoidance of a super levy rests with every individual milk producer. It is up to dairy farmers, who are familiar with the rules of the quota regime, to make the right decisions and protect themselves from exposure to potentially very...

Written Answers — Agriculture Strategy: Agriculture Strategy (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: The key growth targets in Food Harvest 2020 are as follows: - Increase the value of primary output of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors by €1.5 billion. This is a 33% increase compared to the 2007-2009 average. - Improve the value added in the sector by €3 billion. - Achieve an export target of €12 billion for the sector. This is a 42% increase compared to the...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: The report, entitled 'An Economic Evaluation of Foot and Mouth Disease', which was produced in March 2002, relates to a study undertaken of the economic evaluation of the effects of the 2001 FMD outbreak, with particular reference to - the economic impacts of FMD and the control measures introduced on the main sectors affected and on the Exchequer; and - an estimate of the likely economic...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: The impending closure of the Department's local office in Mullingar represents the final phase of implementation of an extensive review carried out within the Department almost two years ago. Paramount to restructuring the local office network was concern to ensure a high-quality service to farmers and food business operators throughout the country. The new structure not only maintains a...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: Since I assumed office on 9 March last, I have had bilateral meetings with my French and Spanish ministerial colleagues. I also had the opportunity to meet my ministerial colleagues from the 26 other member states at the recent EU Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels on 17 March last. The meeting with my French counterpart, Bruno Lemaire, was devoted primarily to the reform...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together. The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the fisheries policy of the European Union, which was first put in place in 1983 and has been subject to reviews every 10 years. The most recent review in 2002 and the next is formally scheduled for 2012. The European Commission published a Green Paper on the latest reform of the CFP in April 2009 in...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: We have a unified body, Bord Bia, with the role of promoting the marketing of Irish food, seafood, drink and horticulture. In its market research, development and promotional activities, Bord Bia works closely with producers, industry and existing and potential customers throughout the world to communicate the high-quality sustainable production systems operating in Ireland and identify and...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission published a Green Paper on the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in April 2009 in order to launch a consultation process with member states and all stakeholders and to initiate a broad public debate on the future CFP reform. Dr. Noel Cawley was appointed to oversee an extensive nationwide consultation process involving all stakeholders, fishermen,...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 58 together. As of earlier today, with 99% of the national quota accounted for by returns from milk purchasers, estimated butterfat-adjusted deliveries for the 2010/2011 milk quota were 0.43% under quota. While these are estimated figures, and a definitive outcome will not be available for some months, at this juncture it appears that the country has,...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I announced the opening of the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) for the submission of 2011 applications on Wednesday 6 April. The closing date by which applications must be submitted to my Department is 16 May. Scheme documentation is now available on my Department's website and printed documentation will be available shortly. To assist both planners and farmers intending to apply for...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 52 together. Following my appointment as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 9 March, I immediately sought a meeting with Commissioner Damanaki in order to discuss Ireland's priorities regarding the Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and indeed other items of key importance for the Irish fishing industry. It is important from the...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (13 Apr 2011)

Simon Coveney: Coillte is one of 28 commercial state bodies that are currently being reviewed by the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities chaired by Mr. Colm McCarthy. No decisions have yet been taken by the Government about the future of Coillte.