Results 5,021-5,040 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Credit Availability: Credit Availability (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: My officials are in regular contact with farm bodies, various national banks and the Banking Federation concerning the availability of credit to farmers. I am aware that, like many other sectors, farmers are finding it difficult to get credit due to the strict assessments introduced as a result of the global financial crisis. However, despite concerns a relatively small number of cases from...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (9 Feb 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 — Food Industry: Food Industry (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the current EU/MERCOSUR bilateral trade negotiations, no market access offers have been made to date and none are likely to be exchanged before the summer. I am, nonetheless, acutely aware of the vulnerability of the beef industry arising from any MERCOSUR deal. I have repeatedly expressed Ireland's serious reservations at European level about the negotiations with MERCOSUR,...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Food Harvest 2020 report, which was developed in collaboration with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, lays down ambitious plans for the development of the agrifood sectors, including the dairy and beef sectors. I am personally chairing a High Level Implementation Group to ensure that all of the stakeholders in these very important sectors are fully committed to achieving the ambitious...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: Questions relating to taxation are a matter for the Minister for Finance. However tax legislation currently provides a scheme of taxation, known as income averaging, for certain farmers. Under this scheme, eligible farmers can elect to be charged income tax on the average of their farming profits over a three year period, rather than on the basis of their assessed profits over each...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: Operational issues in relation to sea fisheries control are a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). I have asked the SFPA to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: As a member of the EU, Ireland is obliged to ensure that national laws do not restrict the freedom of establishment of economic operators, including persons or companies, to carry on an economic activity in one or more Member States. The Treaties also establish the right to freedom of movement of goods between Member States. Derogations may be granted but are subject to strict tests...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 200 together. I am committed to continuing the path set out in Food Harvest 2020 for the development of the seafood sector in Ireland into 2012. Food Harvest 2020 identifies the potential of the seafood industry to increase employment from the present level of 11,000 to 14,000 full time equivalent jobs by 2020, mostly in peripheral coastal communities....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: The following definitions, for farms rather than farmers, are those used by Teagasc in its annual National Farm Survey which details the composition of Irish farms in terms of numbers, size, demographics, financial data and work pattern etc.: Full-time farm: A farm which requires at least 0.75 standard labour units to operate, as calculated on a standard man day basis. Part-time farm: A farm...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is understand that the Deputy is referring to the proposed changes to the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, specifically those farmers who are new claimants under the 2012 DAS scheme. 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: No single payment entitlements were established for the person named as he did not submit applications under the Direct Payment schemes in the reference years 2000, 2001 and 2002. The person named submitted applications for entitlements under Category A of the 2005, 2006 and 2008 National Reserve and also Category C of the 2007 National Reserve. In order to have been eligible to apply to the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 10 May 2011. This application was selected for a Cross Compliance inspection. During the course of the inspection breaches were recorded relating to the Tagging of Sheep and the failure to maintain a flock register for the previous 5 years. This resulted in a 5% penalty being...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 28 October 2011. As the application was received after the closing date for the scheme of 16 May 2011, it was therefore not eligible for consideration for processing. The person named was informed of this decision on the 15 November 2011 and of his right to seek a review. He...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2011. This application was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. During the course of this inspection discrepancies were found that resulted in a claimed area of 589.94ha being reduced to 583.14ha. If the total area found is not sufficient to support the number of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS in June 2008 and received payment for the first two years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulation which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments have been finalised. Following an on farm inspection the person named was...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 191 together. The WTO Doha Development Round talks are stalled at present and the prospects for conclusion of an agreement are uncertain at this point in time. Nevertheless, the EU Commission continues to represent the views of Ireland and other EU Member States in discussions with other trading partners based on positions agreed at EU level. These...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: Food Harvest 2020 (FH2020) represents the strategic blueprint for the development of the agriculture, food, fisheries and forestry sector for the next decade. Its implementation, as well as the parallel negotiations at EU level to ensure an appropriate CAP policy and EU Budget framework post 2013, are the strategic steps which I am pursuing to develop the agri-food sector. FH2020 contained...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: The export performance of the meat and dairy sectors is affected by factors such as currency exchange rates, fluctuations in market prices and tariff rates. The value of beef exports in 2011 is estimated at €1.81 billion, an increase of 15% on the 2010 level. Similarly, lamb exports in same period are estimated to have increased by 10% to an estimated €180 million. In 2011, exports of...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002, which sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law, stipulates among other things, that food business operators at all stages of production, processing and distribution within the businesses under their control must ensure that foods satisfy the requirements of food law and that these requirements are met. In regard to traceability the...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (9 Feb 2012)

Simon Coveney: While the Department's laboratory facilities at Backweston have the capability to deal with the bulk of analytical requirements, certain elements (testing for exotic viruses etc) are referred to other national and international laboratory service providers. It is envisaged that the need for such referrals will continue to diminish, as the Department's laboratories continue to introduce and...