Results 3,001-3,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Section 8.7 of the Terms and Conditions of the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme provides that persons participating in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme are not eligible to join the scheme. The closing date for AEOS was Monday 16 May 2011 and as the person named will not complete their REPS3 contract until 31 May 2011, unfortunately they are not eligible to join the scheme in 2011.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named has been approved into the AEOS scheme with a start date of 1 September 2010. 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. I expect that payments to participants...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department is not at present in a position to grant the continuation of a deceased participant's pension to his or her dependants. Since the first Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming was introduced in 1994, it had been my Department's practice to continue to do so. However, following audits of the Scheme by both the European Court of Auditors and the European Commission, the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: As processing of the application under the Grassland Sheep Scheme received from the person named on the 17 May 2010, has now been finalised, the payment due will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Irish Horseracing Industry: Irish Horseracing Industry (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I appreciate the importance of the role of the Irish National Stud Company Ltd. as the flagship of the thoroughbred industry. The recommendations of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities will be considered by the Government and decisions regarding future action will be taken.

Written Answers — Trade Missions: Trade Missions (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: At this point in time, my trade related visits planned for this year involve a visit to the UK in June which, as the Deputy will be aware, is one of Ireland's leading export markets for food and beverages. I will meet with my UK counterpart, Ms Caroline Spellman, the Minister for the Environment and two of her junior ministers to discuss trade and other related matters. Events will also be...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The holding of the person concerned was restricted during the period 2 April 2008 to 8 June 2010, following a post mortem check on animals sent for slaughter which disclosed TB infection in two animals. Arising from the disclosure of TB in these animals, several TB tests were conducted on the person's herd in the course of the following months and a total of 26 reactor animals were removed...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Modulation is a process whereby each farmer's Single Payment is reduced by a set percentage (first €5,000 exempt, 9% between €5,001 and €300,000 and 13% over €300,000). Up to 80% of funds generated through modulation can be retained in Ireland for spending on certain Rural Development measures. The main Rural Development measures currently administered by my Department are the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: There is currently one vacancy at General Operative level in Castletownbere. However, as the Deputy will be aware, a moratorium on recruitment and promotion is currently in place in the public service. Under the terms of the moratorium, no public service post, however arising, may be filled by recruitment or promotion without the prior sanction of the Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 12 April 2010. During the validation of the application, a number of errors were identified in respect of some land parcels declared by the applicant. This matter has now been resolved and payment will issue to the person named shortly.

Written Answers — Dairy Industry: Dairy Industry (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: A number of supports are available to companies in the dairy ingredients sector. Client companies of Enterprise Ireland are eligible for support under all elements of the Food Competitiveness Fund, which is funded by my Department and which supports business transformation through 'lean' business process initiatives, management development and leadership initiatives. Companies engaged in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 3 in November 2006 and has received payment in respect years 1 to 4. Following an inspection on 20 September 2010, penalties totalling 100% of the year 5 payment were imposed. The person named was informed of these penalties and of the right to appeal by letter dated 4 February 2011. To date no appeal has been received.

Written Answers — Animal Identification Scheme: Animal Identification Scheme (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The introduction of electronic identification (EID) for sheep was agreed at EU level in late 2003. At that time, it was agreed to defer the implementation date until January 2008. The Agriculture Council revisited this issue in December 2007 when it was agreed that the deadline for the compulsory introduction of EID should be set for 31 December 2009, 6 years after the original decision was...

Written Answers — BIM Training Programmes: BIM Training Programmes (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: BIM is an independent statutory body and has advised my Department that the demands of delivering the 14 week intensive course leading to the Skipper Full Certificate of Competency require the availability of two Master Mariner plus other instructors with maritime qualifications satisfying the requirements of the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport. In August, 2008 the...

Written Answers — Food Imports: Food Imports (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Imports of fresh fruit and vegetables into Ireland for the years 2008 – 2010 are presented in Table 1 below. It should be noted that in the case of fruit the values include fresh/dried fruit. In the case of vegetables the values include fresh/chilled vegetables. My Department continues to encourage the production of fruit and vegetables in Ireland and only recently I announced the...

Written Answers — Apple Growing Industry: Apple Growing Industry (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food conducts a detailed apple orchard census every five years to update national statistics and to comply with EU legislation. The last orchard census took place in 2007*. It showed 40 Irish apple growers with a production area of 579 ha. The Department estimates this area to have now increased to about 620 ha. Apple varieties grown in Ireland...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The information being sought is personal data within the meaning of the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2003 and the Minister cannot disclose such data without the consent of the data subjects. However, if the Deputy can provide the relevant consents, the Minister would be willing to provide such information directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 3 in December 2006 and has received payment in respect years 1 to 4. Following an inspection on 3 December 2010, penalties totalling 105% of the 5th year payment were imposed. An appeal dated 23 March 2011 was received by my Department. Following a review of the case the person named was informed by letter on 24 May 2011 that the appeal was not successful. The...

Written Answers — National Reserve Applications: National Reserve Applications (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The closing date for the 2011 National Reserve was 16 May 2011. Category B caters for farmers who commenced farming after 15 May 2009. In addition certain criteria in relation to income limits, farming experience and farming qualifications must also be met. Applicants are also required to submit a 2011 Single Payment application form detailing all lands which they are currently farming....

Written Answers — National Reserve Applications: National Reserve Applications (24 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The closing date for the 2011 National Reserve was 16 May 2011. Category B caters for farmers who commenced farming after 15 May 2009. In addition certain criteria in relation to income limits, farming experience and farming qualifications must also be met. Applicants are also required to submit a 2011 Single Payment application form detailing all lands which they are currently farming....