Results 4,601-4,620 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for the enforcement of general food labelling legislation including country of origin, rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), a body under the aegis of the Minister for Health. This is achieved through service contracts between the FSAI and the relevant agencies including the Health Service Executive, the Local Authority Veterinary Service, the Sea Fisheries...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Government will provide almost €112 million in funding for the forestry programme in 2012. The total amount of funding for forestry is the amount announced in the 2012 Estimates augmented by a carryover of Departmental savings of €27 million from 2011. This allocation reflects the Government's continued commitment to a sector which is important both in creating and maintaining...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government 2011 contains a commitment to amend and strengthen legislation on animal cruelty and animal welfare. The main vehicle to fulfil this commitment will be the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which is a wide-ranging piece of legislation providing a basis for regulating the related areas of animal health and welfare. I intend to publish the Animal Health and Welfare...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Food Harvest 2020 report identified opportunities to sustain jobs in food processing and in the primary sector by improving competitiveness, achieving greater scale and innovation. The report concluded that a net gain of 6,500-7,000 jobs in food and aquaculture could be achieved by 2020. The Government's recently announced Action Plan for Jobs highlighted the agri-food sector as an area...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Industry: Agri-Food Industry (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: The taxation measures announced in Budget 2012 reflect this Government's commitment to the agri-food industry and in particular to the expansion planned in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. The measures announced have been designed specifically to: · Encourage farming as a career for young people · Incentivise farm partnerships and greater productivity at farm level · Stimulate land...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: There were a number of changes in the recent budget which will have an impact on beef farmers and which also will support the Food Harvest 2020 objectives, contributing to jobs and growth in the sector. While it was of course necessary to reduce public expenditure overall I have been able to continue with important measures for suckler farmers, for those in disadvantaged areas and to...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: Under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001(No. 20 of 2001), the horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund). State funding provided through the Fund is pivotal to the survival of the horse and greyhound racing industries. The funding provided to both Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Industry: Agri-Food Industry (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: As I mentioned earlier in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 8, it was my intention that, broadly speaking, the measures announced in Budget 2012 would encourage farming activity, incentivise greater productivity at farm level and so assist the achievement of the growth targets mentioned in Food Harvest 2020. In relation to Food Harvest 2020, I am personally driving progress on the...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Industry: Agri-Food Industry (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 44 and 59 together. The agri-food sector is contributing to the country's economic recovery through its significant role in adding value to the economy and its contribution to the export led recovery. CSO data shows that Ireland's agri-food exports increased by 11% in 2010, reaching almost €8 billion. This sector is continuing to improve in 2011 with...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not employ external public relations companies and has not for 2011. Public relations advice, where required is provided by my Department's Press Office. It is not possible to provide costs for this service, as the work is carried out as part of the standard duties of the staff involved. Table 1 Nature of Service Provided Payment€ Photography 27,548 Advertising*...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: Earlier this year I asked the fishing industry and other interested parties to make proposals on the future management arrangements for all Irish herring fisheries. In response to my notification of the review, a number of proposals were received from industry, many offering conflicting views, particularly in regard to the need to ring fence the fisheries. Taking account of the views...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988. In accordance with that Act, my consent is required by the company for certain actions. For some of those actions, the approval of the Minister for Finance, or now, following the enactment of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011, the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Industry: Agri-Food Industry (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: I am of the belief that it is always beneficial to have a wide range of outlets available for our high quality agricultural produce. To this end my Department engages with Bord Bia and the Department of Foreign Affairs, in consultation with the industry, to secure access to more third country outlets. In relation to meat, we reached agreements in 2011 with the authorities in Turkey, Egypt...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: On 8 November, I launched an Irish "discard" atlas, which is a detailed compendium of discards by the Irish Fleet on a stock by stock and area by area basis. The Atlas, compiled and produced by the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara with the support of Irish Industry, outlines a range of potential measures to help reduce discarding. I sent a copy of the Atlas to Commissioner Damanaki....

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 42, 48 and 55 together. I would refer colleagues to the statement I made to this House in October last following the launch of the CAP reform proposals. This set out in detail my views on the package and my priorities in the negotiations. To summarise the position, my priorities in these negotiations are: · To ensure that the negotiations on the next...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy is aware, energy policy, including renewable energy policy, is a matter in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, T.D. Officials from my Department work closely with their counterparts in Minister Rabbitte's Department and also with other Agencies and Bodies such as the Sustainable Energy Authority of...

Written Answers — Departmental Reforms: Departmental Reforms (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department has been engaged in an ongoing programme of reorganisation and structural reform at all levels. In the context of the 2012 Budget negotiations, my priorities have been to continue the process and to achieve further efficiencies and improved service delivery both within the Department and in the State bodies under its remit. I am determined to ensure that all schemes and services...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: Beef production is the predominant activity on Irish farms with more than 100,000 holdings involved in supplying the raw material to an industry that employs almost 8,000 people and exported product worth more than €1.5 billion in 2010. The prospects for 2011 are positive with the value of beef exports expected to grow by 9% to upwards of €1.7 billion for the year. The Food Harvest 2020...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 57 together. Firstly I would like to emphasise that it is my intention in the ongoing negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy to ensure that the reform delivers the environment in which Irish agriculture and food production can develop and prosper based on viable family farms in all parts of Ireland. The EU Commission proposals,...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Industry: Agri-Food Industry (14 Dec 2011)

Simon Coveney: The projections for 2011 in relation to Irish agri-food exports have remained good all year, although there was a decrease in some sub-sectors in the third quarter. According to the Irish Exporters Association we can expect exports for 2011 to be in the region of 12% higher in 2011 than they were in 2010. It is estimated that food and drink exports will total €8.9bn in 2011. If these...