Results 3,041-3,060 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: As this is a general question, I might use it as an opportunity to outline the Government's position to date.

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Yes. This question is on the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP. As people will know, along with the Common Agricultural Policy review, there is also a CFP review. It is important that both get the priority they require. Those negotiations are occurring in parallel with the overall EU budget negotiations. Next month, the Commission will publish the first draft proposals on the so-called EU...

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am answering two questions.

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Let me conclude. The single transferable quota is a potentially lethal policy for Ireland which we need to resist, because we do not want to see quota seeping out of Ireland through loopholes in the law. This has already happened in the UK, by the way, as quota was taken by Spanish companies under British flags, and those fish never see the British coast. We do not want to see the same...

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I share the Commissioner's concern about discards but I do not agree with her solution to that problem. It is simply a moral issue, but, in addition, the killing of juvenile fish in order to catch marketable fish is detrimental to future fish stocks. Literally hundreds of thousands of tonnes of juvenile fish are dumped over the side, dead, because they cannot be brought ashore by a boat...

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Deputy McGinley raised that issue with me this morning. I am going to Killybegs and Greencastle next weekend and I hope I will have an opportunity to meet some of those fishermen and hear what they have to say. It is not as easy as the Deputy might think to simply transfer quota to them to make up for losses they have experienced, because this would mean taking quota from somebody else....

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 40 together. I had thought we would take Nos. 35 and 36 together. Maybe this is an opportunity for people to come back and ask for more detailed answers if they want. These questions are about the discussions I had with Commissioner Damanaki. To say that I made a clear case in terms of my reservations about single transferable quota would be an...

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: There is a detailed discussion to be had with regard to the consequences of what happened off Arranmore Island where a localised fishing industry that was entirely reliant on crab and lobster was wiped out when the fishermen lost all their gear in a storm. That is a matter to which I will give consideration when I visit Donegal. I do not want to raise expectations without first having...

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Yes, we did discuss that matter and the Commissioner was quite taken aback when I stated that Ireland is ready to proceed with the introduction of electronic log books. I also informed her that we are hugely frustrated that she is not taking a stronger position in respect of this matter, particularly in the case of Spain. The Commission has set a date - I believe it is September - after...

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I do not want to make commitments in the Chamber when I may not be able to deliver on them later. However, I would be more than happy if the Deputy wished to talk to me in person about the case he raised of the 15 fishermen. Deputy Pearse Doherty does not need me to remind him that we do not have much money to spend. My Department must make significant savings next year which will stress...

Common Fisheries Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I can always rely on Deputy Peter Mathews for figures. He is correct about the number of jobs that could be created. It is my ambition to dramatically expand the aquaculture industry in Ireland in a way that is consistent with protecting special areas of conservation, SAC, and Natura areas. As well as putting fish farms in harbours and bays, we must examine the potential for offshore fish...

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: There was no delay in submitting my Department's progress report under the Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement. It was forwarded to the Department of Finance on the 4th of May. The report outlines the significant progress made by my Department, which has been engaged in a fundamental process of re-organisation, major reductions in staffing levels and improvement of its business processes,...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am of course concerned that Ireland could be over quota in the 2011/2012 milk quota year. Favourable market and weather conditions during the 2010/2011 milk quota year contributed to a dramatic increase in milk production, which resulted in a remarkable turnaround from a position where the country was 10 per cent under quota at the end of the 2009/2010 milk quota year. Increased heifer...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 54 together. To coincide with the next EU multiannual financial framework, discussions are underway on the policy direction for the CAP after 2013. Ireland has taken an active part in the discussions to date in the Council and in bilateral meetings with the Commission, European Parliament, other Member States and groups of Member States. The size of...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Agriculture and the agri-food processing sector is Ireland's most important indigenous industry. It has a key role to play in terms of direct economic activity and is one of the growth sectors designated to advance our national export led economic recovery. In my view, this sector provides a strong base for national economic development. Currently, the overall industry has an annual output...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The total level of current investment in agri-food research is significant and comprises a number of sources. My Department operates 2 competitive funding programmes for agri-food research, namely the Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM) and the Stimulus Research Programme under the National Development Plan 2007-2013. Awards under the 2 Programmes since 2005 amount to €131m while...

Written Answers — Beef Sector: Beef Sector (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: As I have stated previously, I am very concerned about the EU/MERCOSUR negotiations. I raised this issue at both the March and April meetings of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers and expressed my reservations about these negotiations, particularly regarding the impact a deal with MERCOSUR might have on the Irish and EU beef sector. I also conveyed my concerns directly to Commissioner...

Written Answers — Fish Quotas: Fish Quotas (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 55 together. I am very concerned about the unacceptable practice of discarding fish at sea and I am fully committed to working both nationally and internationally to bring about an end to this practice. Commissioner Damanaki has placed discarding of fish high on her agenda for the Common Fisheries Policy reform and at my meeting with her on the 14th of...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The current Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) between the European Community and Morocco came into force in February 2007. A Fisheries Protocol, setting out the detailed operating rules for the FPA, was also established at that time. The FPA, which includes the waters off Western Sahara, renews automatically every four years. The Protocol, however, expired on 27 February 2011. The...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 71 together. As the Deputies will be aware the pigmeat sector has been experiencing a severe reduction in its margins brought about by the large increase in feed prices since the middle of 2010. Feed makes up some 70% of the cost of rearing a pig. Since the middle of 2010 my Department has been urging the European Commission to take action in order to...