Results 3,461-3,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I will try to respond to that profound comment at the end. As I have only five minutes, I wish to concentrate on the job at hand which is to get the best deal possible from the existing document on the table. I agree with Deputy Pringle that the idea that we sold out fishing to get a good deal on farming is totally inaccurate. Ireland's deal on farming is no better or worse than that of...

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: That is not true. Practically every pelagic boat has done very well in recent years.

Common Fisheries Policy Reform: Statements (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: However, we should consider the catch. The capacity for catch is just as high now. That said, I am not happy with the state of the industry. We have the capacity to expand the fishing industry but we need to use the tools available to us to do that. In recent weeks we have been trying to encourage the catch in Irish waters by non-Irish trawlers to be landed in Irish ports to be processed...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: In the context of the Croke Park Agreement, my Department is implementing a range of actions, including those aimed at achieving greater flexibility of staff deployments, changes in work practices and cost efficient service delivery. The Deputy's proposal is compatible with the objectives set down in the Agreement.

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with Section 49(3) of the Forestry Act 1946 each General Felling Licence granted by the Forest Service contains a compulsory replanting condition to replant the cleared area within 12 months of expiry of the licence. This condition transfers to the successor in title if the lands concerned are sold on. Under Section 4 (3) of the Forestry Act 1946, legal proceedings for...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The EU Directive referred to is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive, 85/337/EEC (as amended). The primary objective of the EIA Directive is to ensure that projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment are subject to a prior assessment of their likely impacts before a decision is taken as to whether consent is granted to proceed. The European Court...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I have responsibility for attendance at meetings of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers. Since the formation of this Government, I have attended all six formal meetings held and one informal meeting.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 279 together. BIM is an independent statutory body and the main provider of vocational training to the seafood industry and hence policy in this regard is a matter for the Agency. I am examining a request received from BIM in the last week for additional staff to meet the needs of delivering the Skipper Full Certificate course. This request must be...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department has reviewed the file in this case and, as the person concerned has been informed on numerous occasions in the past, the position remains unchanged from that outlined in reply to previous Parliamentary Questions and representations. As the person concerned is aware, these matters have been fully dealt with by the Irish courts many years ago and it neither possible not...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department is involved in the payment of a wide range of grants and subventions including, for example, payments under the Single Payment Scheme to some 130,000 beneficiaries and area based compensation allowances to some 102,000 farmers. The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department and the resources required to compile the level of detail would not be...

Written Answers — Horticulture Sector: Horticulture Sector (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: In 2010 the output value of horticulture, including the potato sector was estimated at €391.4 millions, as follows: Horticulture Product 2009Values€ million 2010Values€ million % change Main Counties of production Mushrooms 98.8 98.5 -0.3 Monaghan, Kildare, Tipperary Field Vegetables 71.4 59.9 -16.1 Dublin, Meath, Wexford, Cork Protected Crops 70.6 71.6 +1.4 Dublin, Wexford...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Agriculture Appeals Office received the appeal from the person named on 24th January 2011. The Department's file was received at this office on 10th February 2011 and was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 23rd February 2011 for adjudication. The appeal is currently under consideration by the Appeals Officer and it is anticipated that the decision will be available in the near future....

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named has submitted an application for an allocation of milk quota under the Hardship Category of the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal for the 2011/ 2012 quota year. The closing date for receipt of applications for this Scheme was 1st July last. Officials of my Department are currently processing the applications. The Tribunal will shortly commence consideration of these applications...

Written Answers — Farm Improvement Scheme: Farm Improvement Scheme (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Farm Improvement Scheme was received by my Department on 31 October 2007 from the person named. As announced at that time, applications under the Scheme were processed up to the level of funding provided for in the Scheme as set out in the 2006 Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016 . As the scheme funding has been exhausted, it is not possible to grant aid further...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: My reply of 14 July, 2011 sets out the procedures that are followed in relation to changes to a herdnumber. On 9 December 2009 a copy of the death certificate of the person in whose name the herdnumber was registered was received by my Department. In accordance with standard procedures in such circumstances, the herdowner was then registered under personal representatives of the deceased...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Acting Chairman. My understanding of what we are trying to do today is that I will make an initial 20-minute presentation about the Government's approach to agriculture ranging from how the Common Agricultural Policy is panning out and the approach we are taking to reforming it in Ireland's interests to addressing the challenges we face domestically and the opportunities that...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: No, I have a speech with bullet points but I will speak in more general terms rather than reading a script because Members will find that more useful. I would like to map out the overall context in which I am planning an ambitious expansion of the food industry, increasing primary food production and adding value to raw products before they are exported from Ireland. All of the growth in the...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: To deal with the last question first, we want to ensure that it is Ireland that decides how single farm payment money is distributed in future. My preference would be to ensure that we keep payments as close as possible to where they are at present. There is an argument, which has some currency, around consideration of recoupling some payments or some element of single farm payment,...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: Yes, and we do not get as much money from the EU for it. With regard to the 1% of land in Ireland being organically farmed, I would like to see that increased but that will be a commercial decision for farmers. The price premium one can get for certain organic products, although not all products, will drive an interest in a certain amount of organic farming and I am happy to encourage that....

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (20 Jul 2011)

Simon Coveney: I will be brief and will not be tempted into a debate on the agri-environment options scheme by Senator Ó Domhnaill because I know many other Senators want to ask specific questions. A commitment was given in the budget last year for a new AEOS with a budget of €50 million, which was not budgeted for. That is a fact. What was budgeted for was €34 million, which was the cost of AEOS I....