Results 4,081-4,100 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 388 together. There is good support from my colleagues in the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers for the Common Agricultural Policy. Over recent years an alliance of some 14 Member States, including Ireland, has pressed on a continuous basis for a strong CAP and to defend EU agricultural interests in the WTO. Indeed this alliance has been augmented...

Written Answers — Agriculture Policy: Agriculture Policy (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Agri-Food sector has performed exceptionally well in the last 18 months. Exports from the sector have increased and global prices for our products have remained good. The sector has responded well to the challenging targets agreed in Food Harvest 2020, which clearly maps out the future growth of the sector. There are, nonetheless, major challenges ahead. Input prices have remained...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: The following imports of meats into this country over the past three years from both EU and non-EU countries have been recorded: tonnes tonnes tonnes 2009 2010 2011** Beef 25,548 27,672 17,717 Salted Beef 118 254 147 Bovine Meat and Offal Preparations* 7,469 12,092 9,985 total 33,135 40,018 27,849 Sheep meat total 4020 3130 2144 ...

Written Answers — Suckler Cow Quota: Suckler Cow Quota (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: Data on the suckler cow herd over the last 5 years is presented in the following table. The size of the overall national herd, including the beef cow herd, is determined by market forces. Market prices and, ultimately, profitability reflect the relationship between supply and demand with these factors influenced in turn by other variables such as future expectations and input costs. With...

Written Answers — Dairy Sector: Dairy Sector (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: I expect the Irish dairy sector to fully exploit its undoubted potential over the next decade and beyond. The roots of this potential lie in the unrivalled natural advantage we possess in the form of a grass-based production system, which allows us to produce milk and other dairy products of the highest quality in an environmentally friendly manner and on a highly cost efficient basis. These...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: While the budget is primarily a matter for the Minister for Finance, I have received submissions from farm bodies outlining their views on taxation matters relating to the sector. I am in regular contact with farm bodies and my officials discuss various proposals with representatives from the sector. Given the current budgetary constraints it is important to ensure that the tax system...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 396 together. I am committed to continuing the path set out in Food Harvest 2020 for the development of the seafood sector in Ireland. Food Harvest identifies the potential of the seafood industry to increase employment by 3,000 to 14,000 full time equivalent jobs by 2020. The strategy set out in Food Harvest involves both the processing and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 22 April 2011 following processing of which payment issued to the applicant on 1 November.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: Single Payment Scheme applications were submitted for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 on behalf of the late father of the person named. As the herd-number was transferred to the person named on 3 May 2007, Single Payment Scheme applications for the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 were submitted in the name of the person named. An application to transfer the Single Payment entitlements to the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 401 together. An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 21 April 2011, processing of which has recently been completed, thereby allowing payment the 50% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme to issue on 28 October. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme as also...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 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, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks a query arose...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 16 May 2011, following processing of which over-claims were identified on two of the parcels declared by the person named. The person named has been written to in this regard and, on receipt of a satisfactory reply, the application will then be further processed with a view to the appropriate payment...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 16 May 2011, processing of which has recently been completed and the 50% advance payment under this Scheme issued to the applicant on 25 October 2011. The Single Payment Scheme balancing payments will commence issuing on 1 December, as is provided for in the relevant EU Regulations.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: Staff numbers in my Department decreased by 672 FTE (full-time equivalents) from the beginning of 2009 to the end of September 2011. TABLE 1: END-YEAR STAFFING LEVELS End-Year Total FTE 2008 4,245.1 2009 3,881.0 2010 3,632.2 End-Sep 2011 3,572.9 The Department's staff are spread over various staffing streams, all of which have been affected by reducing staff numbers in the timescale...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme/Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2011, following processing of which, payments under both Schemes issued to the applicant on 1 November.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 16 May 2011. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility/Cross Compliance Inspection. This inspection was completed and the results have now been processed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme and a 50% advance payment under the Single...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: While an application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 20 April 2011, as validation of this application is not complete, payment has not yet issued. Immediately validation is completed, payment will issue shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 9 April 2011, following processing of which, and notwithstanding the circumstances as outlined by the Deputy, an over-claim on one of the parcels declared by the person named remains to be resolved. The person named was written to recently in this regard and, on receipt of a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 5 May 2011, following processing of which, payment of the 50% advance of the Single Payment issued on 17 October. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is due to issue in the coming days.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (2 Nov 2011)

Simon Coveney: EU Member States' national reference butterfat contents were set at the commencement of the milk quota regime, and were confirmed as recently as 2007 by Council Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007. Ireland's national reference butterfat content is 35.81 g/kg. Individual producers' reference butterfat contents have been subject to change over the years on foot of quota transfers, quota allocations...