Results 4,721-4,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2011, processing of which has recently been finalised, thereby allowing payment to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the applicant in the coming days.

Written Answers — Animal Welfare Bodies: Animal Welfare Bodies (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department's legislative responsibility in the area of animal welfare extends to farmed animals only, including animals normally bred or kept for the production of food. Accordingly, matters relating to feral cats do not come within the scope of my Department. Nevertheless, my Department provides in excess of €1 million annually to animal welfare organisations involved in the provision...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2010 Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on the 16 April 2010. This application was fully processed and payment issued on 2 February 2011, based, in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme, on the original Sheep Census return received by my Department, which indicated that the person named had 10 breeding ewes in his flock. I have arranged...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Folio number supplied appears to have been opened in the Land Registry in 1954 and there have been two changes of ownership since that date and two areas transferred to other folios. A person with the same name and address as the original owner of the Folio signed a Q3 turbary right only, Purchase Agreement with the former Land Commission over a plot of bog in a different townland in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 12th May 2011. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility Inspection. Payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued on the 7th of December 2011 and payment under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme issued on the 9th of December 2011. Payments under...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that the matter has been drawn to my attention. While it does not appear, at this point that there is any conflict of interest issue arising in this matter, I am not in a position to comment any further at this time.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 723 together. It is widely recognised that the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is a very important one for this country, as the total area designated as disadvantaged is almost 75% of Ireland's total land area. From an economic perspective, the Scheme is particularly significant, contributing to the support of in excess of 100,000 Irish farm families, whose...

Written Answers — State Veterinary Laboratories: State Veterinary Laboratories (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs) provide a diagnostic laboratory service to the farming community, including the post mortem examination of aborted bovine foetuses, which involves dealing with infectious diseases. The Cork and Limerick RVLs were in urgent need of upgrade works to comply with environmental standards for the management of laboratory waste. The total estimated spend on...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: In response to the Deputy's question I have detailed the information requested in the table below. Name Title Salary p.a. 1 December 2009 Philip Hannon Special adviser €111,212 Dermot Ryan Special adviser €113,727 Stiofan Nutty Special adviser €103,728 1 December 2010 Philip Hannon Special adviser €102,866 Dermot Ryan Special adviser €105,105 1 December 2011 Aine Kilroy...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department participates in a number of Internship Programmes run by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. In 2011 we provided 6 month placements for two graduates from the University of Limerick and 7 placements under the JobBridge National Internship Scheme. In addition my Department provided three 6 month placements under the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme, which...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under EU rules the principal test used in the TB Eradication programme is the Single Intradermal Comparative Test (SICTT), known as the 'skin test', as specified in Council Directive 64/432 EEC (as amended). The gamma interferon blood test is authorised for use as an adjunct to the intradermal test under both European and national legislation. The gamma test is not suitable to be used as the...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in May 2008 and received payment for the first three years of the contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and accordingly is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. These administrative checks have revealed that there...

Written Answers — Íocaíochtaí Deontas: Íocaíochtaí Deontas (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: Fuarthas iarratas faoi Scéim na hAoníocaíochta/Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste ón duine ainmnithe ar an 1 Aibreán 2011. Roghnaíodh an t-iarratas seo le haghaidh Cigireachta Satailíte inar tugadh le tuiscint go raibh ró-éilimh i gceist. Dá éis sin deimhníodh na ró-éilimh nuair a rinneadh cigireacht ar an talamh ar na bearta. Le déanaí scríobhadh chuig an iarratasóir...

Written Answers — Common Fisheries Policy: Common Fisheries Policy (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 730 and 731 together. I am very concerned about the unacceptable practice of discarding fish at sea and I am fully committed to working both nationally and internationally to bring about an end to this practice. Commissioner Damanaki has placed discarding of fish high on her agenda for the Common Fisheries Policy reform and I am committed to giving Ireland's...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department is aware of the conclusions of the Krebs Report, which did acknowledge that badgers are a significant source of tuberculosis infection in cattle. With regard to its conclusion that healthy badgers are also removed under a culling programme, this is unavoidable in a situation where there is no reliable test on live badgers for detecting TB infected badgers and thus culling...

Written Answers — Fur Farming: Fur Farming (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I established a Review Group in my Department last November 2011 to review all aspects of fur farming. The Terms of Reference of the Group are: 1. To review fur farming in Ireland taking into account existing legislative provisions for the licensing of mink farming 2. To comment on the economic benefits of the sector 3. To consider the effectiveness of existing welfare controls, and 4. To...

Written Answers — Fur Farming: Fur Farming (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not collect this information. Fur Farming is a commercial activity and fur farmers may sell their product in a manner of their own choosing. The Deputy may wish to consult Trade Statistics data produced by the Central Statistics Office with a view to establishing the volume of goods exported.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: Young qualified farmers who inherit the family dairy holding can access milk quota through either the New Entrants Dairy Scheme or through the Milk Quota Trading Scheme. I recently announced a closing date of 27th January 2012 for the second stage of the 2012/2013 Milk Quota Trading Scheme and I intend to announce details of the 2012 Scheme for New Entrants to Dairying in early February....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Jan 2012)

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, Heritage 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 for breaches of the Nitrates regulations. The person named was...

Written Answers — Tuberculosis Incidence: Tuberculosis Incidence (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: The incidence of Bovine TB in Mayo in the period 2009-11 was as follows: 2009 2.60% 2010 1.95% 2011 1.81% (provisional) Although TB levels in Mayo are generally significantly lower than the average for the country as a whole, the downward trend in Mayo is similar to the rest of the country. I am pleased to be able to report that there has been a significant improvement in the...