Results 3,081-3,100 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — National Beef Herd: National Beef Herd (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: It is assumed that the Deputy's question refers to the numerical strength of the suckler cow herd and this information is presented in tabular format below. It will be observed that the number of suckler cows has remained relatively stable over the last decade albeit with a gradual decline in overall herd size. The Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme has undoubtedly helped to improve animal husbandry...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I recently visited Brussels to attend the European Seafood Expo and while there took the opportunity to meet with the European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn. I regard the Commissioner as an important ally for Ireland in both the Commission and in Europe and would like to develop a strong working relationship with her into the future. Commissioner...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: In relation to the development of local fisheries, the Irish seafood sector employs approximately 11,000 people, mostly in peripheral coastal communities. Irish seafood enterprises are indigenous businesses with significant scope for expansion and have an important role to play on the road to national economic recovery. Food harvest 2020 estimates employment in the industry has the...

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

Simon Coveney: It is a requirement that animal products for human consumption imported from third countries meet standards at least equivalent to those required for production in, and trade between, Member States. The FVO carries out assessment of third countries wishing to export animal products to EU and submits for Commission approval those where the responsible authorities can provide appropriate...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Chinese Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Mr Niu Dun, and a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture will visit Ireland this week. The visit is viewed as an important opportunity to facilitate greater understanding and confidence between our two countries in the integrity of our food safety and veterinary control systems, and so facilitate trade....

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

Simon Coveney: 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 of which was 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 order to launch a consultation with Member States...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Article 68(1) of Council Regulation (EC) 73/2009 makes provision for the use of unused Single Payment Scheme funds to address specific disadvantages affecting farmers; in recognition of dairying being an economically vulnerable type of farming, it was decided that €18 million of these unused funds would be used to support a three-year Dairy Efficiency Programme. The Programme encourages...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (26 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The 2011 Scheme for the Allocation of Milk Quota to New Entrants was announced on 31 January 2011, with a closing date of 8 April 2011. The Scheme provides for three New Entrant categories, namely: Category A - Brand New Entrant to Dairying; Category B - Purchaser of Quota as a New Entrant through the Milk Quota Trading Scheme; Category C - Purchaser of Quota as a Successor through the Milk...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (26 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I assume the Deputy is referring to recent correspondence from the Cork South West Lobster Fishermans Co-Operative in relation to funding for the cooperative. This Cooperative wrote to me in April seeking funding of €50,000 over 5 years for the cooperative, to enable it to continue to fund its contribution towards payments to lobster fishermen who are members of the Coop and who engage in...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (26 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. In June 2010 UCD launched a report entitled 'Challenges and Solutions to Support Good Equine Welfare Practice in Ireland'. The report highlighted a number of factors including the increasing numbers of horses at risk of being abandoned and the necessity for a comprehensive system of equine identification. The response from the Equine...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (26 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the issues raised by the person to whom the Deputy refers. There has been extensive contact between the individual concerned and officials from my Department. It is my understanding that the complaints made by this individual to the relevant regulatory bodies have been investigated and the outcome of those investigations have been made known to the complainant. My Department's...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the issues raised by the person to whom the Deputy refers. There has been extensive contact between the individual concerned and officials from my Department. It is my understanding that the complaints made by this individual to the relevant regulatory bodies, North and South, have been investigated and the outcome of those investigations have been made known to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together. The Burren Farming for Conservation Programme is one of three schemes introduced by my Department using funding made available following the CAP Health Check; a total of €1 million per annum was provided for this Scheme out of the total amount available of €25 million, with the balance divided between the Grassland Sheep Scheme (€18...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table. The testing concerned is a requirement under Regulation (EC) 999/2001. Year Healthy Slaughter Number of Tests Number of Positives Number of Tests Number of Positives Cost of Testing Sheep Healthy Slaughter Healthy Slaughter Fallen Animals Fallen Animals â'¬ 2002 3,307,500 54,813 (1.65)% 13 5,222 33 2,772,431.00 2003...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Castlemaine Harbour area is a designated Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive. This highly protected environmental status requires that before the mussel seed fishery in Castlemaine Harbour can be opened, the fishery must be subject to an appropriate assessment of its potential to impact on the conservation...

Written Answers — Pigmeat And Poultry Sectors: Pigmeat And Poultry Sectors (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware that prices are a function of the supply and demand dynamics in the market place and my Department has no role in how they are determined. Having said that, it is important to note that there are a number of EU measures in place to support prices. At European level a number of market supports are in place and are utilised on an ongoing basis. Export refunds,...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 276 together. The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for the enforcement of this legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (F.S.A.I.). This is done through service contracts between the F.S.A.I and my Department, The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Operational matters relating to An Bord Bia are the responsibility of the board of An Bord Bia and my own Department has responsibility in relation to policy matters. I understand from An Bord Bia that the number of people (full-time equivalent) currently employed by An Bord Bia is 92.8 representing a reduction of 11.5 since 2009. Some 5.5 vacancies were not filled in 2009, a further five...

Written Answers — Tionscal na hIascaireachta: Tionscal na hIascaireachta (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: Seoladh an Clár Náisiúnta um Bia na Mara i mí Iúil 2010 chun cúnamh deontais a chur ar fáil ó mhaoiniú an Státchiste do ghnéithe áirithe de thionscal na hiascaireachta, lena n-áirítear dobharshaothrú. Le linn an phróisis chomhairliúcháin phoiblí agus reachtúil ar an measúnú straitéiseach comhshaoil a rinneadh ar an gClár seo, bhí imní ar na Bord Iascaigh Láir agus...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 May 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered forty-three animals under the 2010 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment has been made in respect of thirty-four of the animals and a further four are ineligible as, the validation checks undertaken by my Department, established non-compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. The remaining five animals have queries associated with them. Letters have issued...