Results 4,861-4,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: That he is choosing to visit Ireland represents significant progress. I am familiar with the sugar beet industry. My family farm used to produce sugar and I used to deliver much of it to what was then the Mallow factory. There may be a future for sugar production in Ireland. Due to a demand and supply problem, the price of sugar rocketed last year. A rough rule of thumb is that, as long...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will. People probably know my views on protecting the suckler herd. I have maintained the suckler cow welfare scheme despite the pressure applied by many people to get rid of it. I do not want to allow the beef sector to become a byproduct of the dairy sector, which will be a danger as excitement around the dairy industry grows in the lead up to 2015 when milk quotas will vanish. Milk...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will revert to Senator Daly regarding the forestry. I suspect I know where the question comes from.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: After I discuss free range pork with Bord Bia, I will revert to Senator Norris with a proper answer.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: If I could make a suggestion, I would be more than happy to take questions on fisheries. I would probably say everything that I intended to say in the ten minutes anyway.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I would be more than happy, if that is what the House wants.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: That is the Irish Dairy Board.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I wish to make a brief comment on something Senator Denis O'Donovan raised at the start, namely, the tragedy in Union Hall. I have spent two afternoons there but I would have liked to have spent more time there because at times like this, I have a responsibility to try to support communities linked to areas of my responsibility.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: Many people believe little is happening in the aquaculture and fish farming sector. We are about to change the fish farming landscape in Ireland in a manner with which non-governmental agencies and individuals who have concerns about the salmon farming industry will be comfortable. The scale of the proposed salmon farms is such that they will be offshore - up to 6km to 7km from the coast -...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: We plan to exploit this opportunity in a sustainable manner. The Department and its agencies will establish a proper licensing and testing system. The fact that I would welcome these developments does not mean we are not required to go through a thorough, independent and transparent licensing mechanism. Regardless of how I distribute the Celtic Sea herring quota I will probably be taken to...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: This is my only objective and it is the reason for the proposals I have made. I am somewhat restricted legally in terms of what I can say, including on which way I am leaning in this regard, because whatever I say will be used as part of any argument that may be made later. However, if Senators wish to speak to me afterwards, I will certainly discuss my position with them. We are trying to...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am unable to answer Senator Healy Eames's question on oysters in Clarinbridge as I am not familiar with the issue. However, if the Senator provides details, I will revert to her. If the issue is one of dredging, it is probably not the responsibility of my Department. However, if I can be of assistance in the matter, I will examine it. When specific cases are raised I prefer to ascertain...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: Ireland's seafood exports to China are increasing. To give an idea of the size of the market, China consumes 91 million tonnes of seafood every year, of which 70% is farmed. Most regions of the world farm a substantial amount of the fish they consume. This is not the case in Europe which is behind the curve in this area. On the basis of current demand trends, the United Nations predicts...

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: While the memorandum signed by my Department was for food, I suspect we will sign another memorandum with the Vice Premier of China next month which will be much broader than food.

Seanad: Agriculture and Fisheries: Statements, Questions and Answers (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: Senator Ó Domhnaill asked about the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, and perhaps we will need another discussion on this. The key issue of concern in that regard is the proposal from the Commission with regard to introducing a system of individual transferable quotas, ITQs. Currently, the way we run our system is that the quota the country has been allocated is reallocated to boats that are...

Seanad: Counterfeit Pesticides (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I thank Senator Burke for raising this issue. I am glad he did so because it has forced a focus on this issue in my office that perhaps was not there previously, although there is a strong focus on it in the Department, as I have found out since the Senator tabled his motion. The placing on the market and use of plant protection products is regulated in Ireland by SI 83/2003. This...

Seanad: Counterfeit Pesticides (26 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will follow through on that. I have a comprehensive answer but only read out part of it because of time constraints. The Senator will find a lot of detail in it useful. I ask him to contact the office if he wishes to follow up.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS in June 2008 and received payments for the first three years of their contract. 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 in respect of 2011. These checks have now...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: 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 ability to farm is restricted by the physical...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2012)

Simon Coveney: Herd number P2060980 was transferred in to the name of the person named on 23rd June 2011 which was after the 16th May 2011 closing date for the 2011 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area schemes. An application under the 2011 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area schemes for Herd number P2060980 was received on 9th May 2011 signed by the previous owner of the herd number and payments under the...