Results 3,301-3,320 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The data for REPS/AEOS is not available at this time; it will be made available to the Deputy as soon as possible. Single Payment Scheme The Single Farm Payment forms a significant part of the annual income of the farming community in Ireland. It is clear that the timing of this payment is extremely important to farmers, particularly those farmers with low farm incomes. It is also important...

Written Answers — Credit Availability: Credit Availability (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: I have had meetings with the banking sector in recent months and my officials are in regular contact with them to discuss current challenges for credit availability in the agriculture and food sector. Farmers who are not satisfied with the service provided by their banks can ask for an internal review by the relevant bank and if they are still not satisfied can apply to the credit review...

Written Answers — Departmental Functions: Departmental Functions (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: It is not within the power of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to control farm input prices as they compare to any other jurisdictions, however my officials do monitor all movements in input and output prices produced by the Central Statistics Office. The latest Annual CSO figures available, for 2010, show that overall input prices dropped by 1.6% during the year (see table...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: Following the abolition of milk quotas in 2015, the supply management arrangements that currently exist will no longer be relevant, and it is not anticipated that any alternative form of supply management will replace milk quotas. Therefore the collection and processing of milk will, subject to requirements in relation to hygiene standards, be a matter between milk processors and their...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: Since 1995, my Department has provided funding of over €12m to animal welfare groups, many of whom are voluntary. My Department also contributes around €20,000 annually to Gorta's World Food Day.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: Under the Agriculture, (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, Teagasc has statutory responsibility for the provision of education, advisory and research services to the agriculture sector. Teagasc develops its programmes, services and activities in conjunction with its clients and partners overseen by an Authority that is representative of the main stakeholder groups in the agri-food...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The EU regulation providing inter alia for microchipping is directly applicable and has been in force since 1st July 2009. A Statutory Instrument providing for powers of authorised officers and other matters will be signed in the near future.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned has taken over a farm which was the subject of an application under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Payment of the grant will take place when it has been determined that all the terms and conditions of the Scheme have been complied with. The checks concerned should be completed in the near future.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2010. Under the EU Regulations governing the 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 the checking process...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (29 Jun 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 application from the person named was in fact received in the Department on 11 April 2011 and as is the case with all applications received after the closing date, it was not submitted to the assessment group for consideration.

Written Answers — Seafood Exports: Seafood Exports (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: Ireland exported 220,000 tonnes of seafood to 70 countries in 2010, valued at €368 million. EU markets account for 80 % of our seafood exports. Bulk seafood exports have increased to Nigeria, Russia and Egypt. Seafood exports are also increasing to high growth Asian markets, notably China and South Korea. Potential exists for value adding exports to these countries, particularly with...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The purchasing arrangements of retailers are a commercial matter under the competition rules operating in the Single Market. My colleague the Minister for Health and Children has overall responsibility for food labelling legislation. Under the EU labelling Directive 2000/13/EC the origin of foodstuffs circulating in the EU is required to be declared only if its absence might mislead the...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: I and my officials have had extensive contacts with EU colleagues regarding the future viability of the EU and Irish agri-food sectors. These contacts have taken place against the background of the negotiations on reform of the CAP, the ongoing negotiations on the WTO Doha Development Agenda and the discussions on the proposed Free Trade Agreement with the MERCOSUR group of South American...

Written Answers — Animal Slaughter: Animal Slaughter (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: Research by Enterprise Ireland shows current slaughter capacity in Ireland is under used by up to 50%, depending on the level of supply. Decisions to increase slaughter capacity at individual meat establishments are taken by the management on a commercial basis. When making changes to systems and procedures, approved meat establishments are advised to signal their intentions to my...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: In the context of discussions on the future direction of the Common Agricultural Policy, I have consistently emphasised the importance of security of food supplies and the need to maintain and increase the food production potential of the European Union. There is good support among my EU Ministerial colleagues for these arguments and I am pleased, in that respect, that preserving food...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: Beef production is the predominant activity on Irish farms with more than 100,000 farm families involved in supplying the raw material for a labour intensive industry that employs almost 8,000 people and exported product worth more than €1.5 billion in 2010. This strong export orientation means that it will be a critically important component of our plans for economic recovery. The Food...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The table below sets out the numbers of pigs slaughtered in Export-Approved plants in each of the last five years. Year Number of Pigs Slaughtered 2006 2,618,501 2007 2,569,535 2008 2,527,596 2009 2,365,568 2010 2,601,701 Total pig population has fallen by approximately 10% over the same period, but grew slightly in 2010. Pigmeat production in 2010 amounted to 215,000 tonnes, while...

Written Answers — Sheepmeat Sector: Sheepmeat Sector (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: According to the latest National Sheep and Goat Census, which was completed in December 2010, the number of sheep declared by herdowners, at 3,116,232 head, represented an increase of 1.3% on the 2009 figure. This is the first year on year increase recorded since the first census was carried out in 2005 and it confirms the indications in the 2009 census that the decline in sheep numbers has...

Written Answers — Meat Exports: Meat Exports (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The following table details both the volume and value of beef exports since 2006. Irish Beef Exports 2006 – 2010 Year Volume (tonnes cwe) Value € 2006 520,000 1.5bn 2007 523,000 1.5bn 2008 483,000 1.5bn 2009 460,000 1.4bn 2010 505,000 1.5bn Ireland exports some 90% of its beef production and around 99% of exports go to other EU Member States. The United Kingdom remains our...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (29 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) under the aegis of the Minister for Health has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food safety in Ireland. It carries out this remit through service contracts with my Department and other agencies including the HSE, Local Authority Veterinary Service and Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. The work to ensure compliance with the...