Results 3,781-3,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: Having regard to the targets set in the Food Harvest 2020 Strategy, it is essential that we develop and grow our export markets for food and drinks to ensure that we have markets for the proposed growth in production in the dairy, meats, drinks and other sectors. Both the Algerian and African markets generally present many opportunities for Irish companies to expand their exports of food and...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The latest CSO data, covering the first six months of 2011, shows a continued growth in Ireland's agri-food exports following on from an increase of 11% in 2010. The combined value of exports in the categories Food and Live Animals and Beverages during the first half of the year was €4.279 billion, an increase of more than 14% on the first half of 2010, showing the agri-food sector's...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The proposed ban on the sale of raw milk for direct human consumption is not new. Sale of raw cows milk was banned for many years (from 1997 till 2006) by my Department; and previously by most local authorities. The ban lapsed due to a change in EU legislation in 2006. A public consultation process was held in 2008 in relation to the proposed extension of the ban to goats and sheep milk....

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Food Harvest 2020 strategy envisages a significant increase in output and production in the dairy and meat sectors in addition to other areas of food and drinks production, with the ultimate aim of achieving an export target of €12billion in 2020, i.e. an increase from a figure of €8billion in 2008. I and my Department have identified the facilitation of trade and the development of...

Written Answers — Organic Farming Scheme: Organic Farming Scheme (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Government's National Recovery Plan sets out the expenditure ceilings for my Department for the period 2011 to 2014 and future funding for the Organic Farming Scheme will have to be considered in the context of these budgetary constraints. Furthermore, my Department is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of expenditure and will be engaging in the 2012 Estimate process. No...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: Under current EU regulations governing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme there is no provision for making more than one payment in the case of partnerships. However, in line with the need to improve scale and increase efficiency as identified in Food Harvest 2020, the Department is looking at ways to encourage more collaborative working,, including partnership formation, and is seeking to...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department is working with the Loughs Agency and other relevant Departments and agencies to address the issues involved which are complex in nature. Every effort is being made to bring the process to a conclusion as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was the subject of a Nitrates inspection by the Integrated Controls Division of my Department acting on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on the 2nd of March 2011. This inspection uncovered discrepancies that were deemed to be intentional and a penalty of 20% was recorded against the 2011 Direct Payment for the person named. The...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The statistics sought in respect of the period since 1989 are currently being compiled and I will respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: To facilitate forest harvesting, a total of approximately 33,700 hectares of forestry was licensed for felling since 2007. Each licence to clearfell, issued under the Forestry Act 1946, carries a compulsory replanting condition obliging the licensee to replant the cleared area within 12 months of the expiry of the licence. In addition to the replanting required as a consequence of...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: Council Regulation No. 1290 of 2005 requires the Department to publish on its website certain details on beneficiaries of schemes funded or co-funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) or the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Following a European Court of Justice Judgement in 2010 only data relating to beneficiaries who are legal persons are being...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 November 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, had to be completed before any payment could issue. These checks have now been...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: Business Plans for the Development of the Fishery Harbour Centres were published in 2009 and provide a blueprint for the future development of the Fishery Harbour Centres. The Business Plans set out a five year timeframe for implementation of the recommendations. I can confirm that in the two years since their publication my Department has been actively engaged in the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Minister did not take fishermen aquaculturists to court in 2010.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: As part of Ireland's obligations under the Common Fisheries Policy, the Marine Institute collects data on the status of quota stocks in Irish waters. This data contributes to the ICES advice to the European Commission and is intended to inform the Commission's proposals for total allowable catch of quota species each year. The ICES advice to the Commission is specific to individual species...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry: Fishing Industry (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority has statutory responsibility for collection of data on landings by Irish vessels and is independent in the performance of its functions. I have no role in the matter. However, I have referred the Deputy's question to the SFPA for direct response on this matter. Data on landings by non-Irish vessels are a matter for the Member State of registration of...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry: Fishing Industry (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority has statutory responsibility for collection of data on landings by Irish vessels only and is independent in the performance of its functions. I have no role in the matter. However, I understand that data on landings is not collected by reference to distance from shore. I have referred the Deputy's question to the SFPA for direct response. Data on...

Written Answers — Fish Quotas: Fish Quotas (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: Each member State has a role to enforce the fishing quotas determined by the EU Council. The EU Commission has overall responsibility to evaluate the application of the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy by the Member States and to apply deductions of quota where a Member State exceeds its quotas in a particular year. The monitoring and control of fishing activities in Irish waters and...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry: Fishing Industry (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: My information is that approximately 48% of domestic sales are Irish in origin. Imports are understood to be mostly canned fish and frozen fillets for the fast food trade, as well imports of fresh cod and salmon to balance shortages of domestic supply. An Bord Bia promote the consumption of local fresh fish, including hake, haddock, whiting and mackerel and shellfish species such as crab,...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (6 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: Member States have no oversight role in relation to the observance of fishing quotas by other Member States. The EU Commission has overall responsibility to evaluate the application of the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy by the Member States. It is a matter for the EU Commission, as set down in EU Regulation, to apply sanctions in the event of any quota breaches.