Results 4,561-4,580 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Tillage Sector: Tillage Sector (13 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is a deficit market for cereals, and prices here are greatly influenced by world market conditions. The maintenance of an efficient and viable cereals sector in Ireland is clearly very important. Not only does the sector generate an income for our tillage farmers but it is also a key source of feedingstuffs for our livestock sector. Harvest 2011 The most recent Teagasc Crop Report...

Written Answers — Sport Horse Sector: Sport Horse Sector (13 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: The sport horse sector is a very important contributor to the Irish economy. It is worth €400m annually to the Irish economy and supports the equivalent of 16,000 jobs. Responsibility for the development of the sport horse industry rests primarily with Horse Sport Ireland, the organisation established in 2007 in accordance with the proposals outlined in The Dowling Report. Horse Sport...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (13 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: The application for pre-planting approval by the person named was approved, and the applicant notified accordingly, on 28 November 2011.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 2011. 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. These checks are...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 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, had to be completed before any payment could issue. The person named was also...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 6 May 2011, processing of which has recently been finalised, thereby allowing payments under both Schemes to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named in the coming days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from September 2011. 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. These checks are...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 6 May 2011, following processing of which over-claims were identified on two of the land parcels declared. The applicant has been written to in this regard and, on receipt of a satisfactory reply, the application will be further processed with a view to the appropriate payments issuing immediately thereafter.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 409 together. The following tabular statement shows the position regarding applications and payments to herd-owners in counties Monaghan and Cavan under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Applications received Applications paid Value of payments Monaghan 4,138 3,902 €7,723,024 Cavan 4,899 4,605 €9,852,450 There are no delays in payments to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. Earlier this year, mindful of the difficulties caused for farmers by the current financial crisis and also being acutely aware of the significance to the wider rural economy of the Single Payment, I successfully sought the approval of the Commissioner to have advance payments made. I am pleased to say that these payments started issuing,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 6 May 2011. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility Inspection. This inspection was completed and the application has now been fully processed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme issued on the 9 December 2011 and payment under the...

Grant Payments (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: Many difficult decisions had to be made by the Government in the light of the recognised ongoing weaknesses in the public finances. In that regard, savings had to be found in my Department's 2012 budget, in the context of which a decision was taken to limit the funding for the 2012 disadvantaged areas scheme to €190 million. To achieve this saving, priority is given to active farmers who...

Grant Payments (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: I will give a direct answer to the question. We do not have exact figures for the number of people who will be affected negatively by the changes to the disadvantaged areas scheme. The figure on REPS is much easier to calculate. There are 30,900 people in REPS 4 and they will experience a cut of 10% to their payments under the scheme.

Grant Payments (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: That is an entirely different question but I would be happy to try to answer it with the understanding of the Chair. We are trying to recognise the fact that, when quotas go after 2015, there will be a significant increase in the volume of milk being produced by dairy farmers. People anticipate that within the first 12 to 18 months, there could be an increase of between 15% and 20%. We...

Genetically Modified Crops (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for issues relating to the cultivation of genetically modified, GM, crops in Ireland rests with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, while responsibility for GM foods rests with the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. I have responsibility for issues relating to GM animal feed and, should it arise, the...

Genetically Modified Crops (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: It is important that people understand the role GM crops play in Irish agriculture. GM crops are not cultivated in Ireland nor am I aware of any plans to grow them alongside other commercial crops. The issue that arises for Ireland pertains to animal feed. If we are to create competitive industries, whether in pigs, poultry or other livestock sectors, we have to be cost competitive in...

Genetically Modified Crops (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: If licences are to be granted for trial cultivation of GM crops, applicants will have to undergo a lengthy and rigorous process beforehand. I am not aware of any specific developments in this area but if it is happening I would be happy to take note of the Deputy's concerns in order to ensure rigorous assessment procedures are followed.

Decentralisation Programme (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the original Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department was that 600 headquarter posts would move to Portlaoise, 100 posts in the local offices in Cork city would move to Fermoy and up to 100 posts in the laboratories in Cork and Limerick would move to Macroom. The proposed moves to Fermoy and Macroom were initially deferred for review in 2011....

Decentralisation Programme (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: Like the Deputy, I had serious concerns about the decentralisation programme and I set out my views clearly while I was in opposition. It was a populist move which made no sense and it cost the country a fortune. We are trying to reverse many of the crazy decisions that were taken on the basis of winning votes rather than doing something sensible. Having said that, we are stuck with what we...

Decentralisation Programme (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: The honest answer is when we are ready. We are not going to rush the process because I want to ensure the Department is efficiently run. We employ a large number of staff in Portlaoise and they are doing a good job. I would like to consolidate them under one, two or three roofs rather than seven if that can reduce costs. It will take time to work out how we can best achieve that objective...