Results 5,281-5,300 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The application referred to is in respect of a site located within Drumcliff Bay which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 site). All applications in 'Natura' areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. My Department, in conjunction with the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was in receipt of an Early Retirement Pension from my Department from 7 January, 1999. The rules of the scheme state that any Social Welfare pension must be deducted from the Early Retirement Scheme pension. The onus is on the participant to notify my Department of any change in their Social Welfare pension entitlement and officials in my Department will now request...

Written Answers — Horse Racing Industry: Horse Racing Industry (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. HRI has a regulatory and developmental role in the thoroughbred industry and its broadly based functions are outlined in The Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 (in addition to the functions assigned under The Irish Horse-racing Industry Act 1994). The Horse and Greyhound Racing...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st November 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, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks a query...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The flock owner has been informed that the scrapie positive animal in question was a case of Atypical scrapie and not classical scrapie and that his flock would not be subjected to the genotyping process as required for classical scrapie. Under the relevant EU Regulation (999/2001), this flock will be placed under restriction for a period of two breeding seasons to enable ongoing monitoring...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for issues relating to the cultivation of genetically modified crops, including GM trials, in Ireland rests with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan.

Written Answers — Scéim um Roghanna Comhshaoil Talmhaíochta: Scéim um Roghanna Comhshaoil Talmhaíochta (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: In ainneoin an brú airgeadais atá os comhair mo Roinn tá soláthar déanta agam in 2012 do €243 milliún faoi scéimeanna comhshaoil talmhaíochta. Táim i mbun breithniú a dhéanamh freisin ar an bhféidearthacht atá ann leis an AEOS (An Scéim um Roghanna Comhshaol Talmhaíochta) a athoscailt ar bhonn leasaithe nó ar scála teoranta in 2012. Déanfar an cinneadh seo i gcomhthéacs...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named joined the Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) in 2010 and his selected measures under AEOS included Traditional Hay Meadow. He subsequently joined the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) in 2011. My Department has established that payment, under both OFS and AEOS for land submitted under the Traditional Hay Meadow option in AEOS, is primarily based on the same principle i.e....

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The proposed changes to the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, including the proposed changes relating to the calculation of the minimum stocking density requirements, are still the subject of discussions between my Department and the EU Commission.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: This Government's commitment to the agri-food industry and in particular to the expansion planned in the Food Harvest 2020 strategy have been underlined in the most recent budget. The measures have been designed specifically to: encourage farming as a career for young people; incentivise farm partnerships and greater productivity at farm level; stimulate land sales and land transfers;...

Written Answers — Fur Farming: Fur Farming (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Review Group set up in my Department to review the issue of fur farming along specific terms of reference will conclude its report shortly. The Terms of Reference of the Group are as follows: 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...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Schemes: Farm Retirement Schemes (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The age profile of farmers is outlined in the table below. There are clearly fewer young people involved in farming now than there were in the past. However, the data does not provide a profile for the most recent four years. There has been a big increase in demand for farm courses in recent years, due to the economic climate. In addition a number of new provisions were introduced in the...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: Food products trade freely within the Single Market of the European Union and import substitution measures are not permitted under EU law. Over 80% of Irish agricultural production is exported. The Single Market arrangement ensures access to our most important markets within the EU and contributed to the 25% increase in the value of exports achieved in the past two years. This is an...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: Teagasc, in common with all other public bodies, has had to play its part in the planned reduction in public service numbers and pay costs set down by the previous Government in 2010 under the National Recovery Plan. The allocation of resources to particular programmes/services etc is an operational matter for Teagasc. The question of additional resources must have regard to the need to...

Written Answers — Potato Sector: Potato Sector (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: Whilst the area of potatoes planted has declined over the last 10 years, high yields in the past two seasons have seen production levels of over 400,000 tonnes. Exports to Russia from the 2010 crop helped to balance supply and demand on the domestic market. However, this has not happened with the 2011 crop which has led to excess supplies and downward pressure on prices this season. However,...

Written Answers — Potato Sector: Potato Sector (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: Maintenance of the high health status of the Irish seed potato sector is crucial to the viability of the potato industry. Under EU legislation (Decision 2004/03/EC), Ireland is one of a small number of areas within the EU officially recognised as a High Grade Seed Area for seed potatoes because the country is currently free from a number of significant potato diseases that occur in other...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department recognises the potential that exists in the organic sector as reflected by the various supports provided to organic producers and processors. These are as follows: The Organic Farming Scheme is an agri-environment measure under the Department's Rural Development Programme 2007-13. Farmers may enter into a contract for a minimum of five years and can qualify for yearly payments...

Written Answers — Beef Sector: Beef Sector (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: Data on the suckler cow herd for the last 2 years is presented in the table below. Data in respect of the current year is not yet available but the figure for December 2011 shows only a marginal decline (-0.7%) on same period in 2010. Year Suckler Cow Herd'000 head 2010 1,070.7 2011 1,063.3 Source: CSO December livestock data. Primary production in the beef sector benefits substantially...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: Allocations of milk quota from the National Reserve are granted on the basis of recommendations from the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal. The Tribunal examines and makes recommendations on applications for additional quota from individual producers. The person named submitted an application to the Tribunal seeking an allocation of additional quota on the grounds of animal disease. This...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned submitted an application for grant-aid under the Dairy Equipment Scheme during the course of the first tranche under that Scheme which closed on 31 January 2012. The tranche concerned is heavily over-subscribed and the selection process set out in the scheme Terms and Conditions will be required in order to determine those applications which will proceed to the approval...