Results 5,341-5,360 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (15 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: Valuations for properties at each of the six Fishery Harbour Centres are provided by Lisney Auctioneers and Valuers. The rental valuation currently in place in respect of the Auction Hall at Ros an Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre reflects the valuation made by Lisney as at 4th August, 2011 and in their professional opinion represents the current market rent.

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (15 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The pig sector remains the third largest component of the agri-food sector, with production, prices and exports all growing significantly during 2011. The industry faces a number of challenges in the short and medium term and my Department will continue to assist the sector to resolve these issues. One of the main issues affecting the industry at present is the availability of credit. This...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (15 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: Out wintering of cattle is governed by Cross Compliance (Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) Under SMR4 (Nitrates) farmers who are stocked at less than 140kg of Nitrates per hectare (equivalent to 1.65 livestock units per hectare) can avail of the option to out winter some animals and thereby reduce the volume of storage required...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (15 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: This is an operational matter for Teagasc. I am aware that Teagasc offer a range of Advisory Packages to their clients for which fees are charged including a specific Package aimed at farmers participating in discussion group activities. I understand the Teagasc Authority agreed a proposal to incorporate the Beef Technology Adoption Programme (BTAP) into the Premium or Discussion Group...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 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. This application was also randomly...

Written Answers — Noxious Weeds: Noxious Weeds (15 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Noxious Weeds Act 1936, as amended, provides for the control of the spread of noxious weeds including Ragwort. Under the Act, it is an offence not to prevent the spread of such noxious weeds. The owner, occupier, user or managers of lands on which these weeds are present are subject to the provisions of the Act, including a fine of up to €1,000 on conviction. My Department actively...

Milk Quota (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: This is not the first time Deputies Moynihan and Kirk have raised this issue, understandably so, because it is an important one. In the past year my Department and I have been extremely active in raising at every appropriate opportunity the question of an adjustment to the milk quota regime. We have made determined efforts to secure a soft landing for all member states in the lead-up to milk...

Milk Quota (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The initiative is under way in that regard. I have mentioned the butterfat issue at practically every Council meeting I have been at. We have been taking Ministers aside on an informal basis and also setting up the formal bilateral meetings that I outlined in the answer to the question. The problem is there is no mechanism to force the EU to accept a butterfat correction. The reason we...

Milk Quota (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: It has been brought up directly with the Danish Presidency but it has also been brought up repeatedly directly with the Commissioner by me. The Commission position is straightforward. The Commission states that the Council voted in 2008 on a milk health check which guides policy, and if the Council wants to change that, the Council can do so but that must come from Council, not from the...

Milk Quota (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The position is clear. Unless the Commission can be persuaded to change the regulation on the treatment of butterfat levels, they will remain as they are. This puts Ireland under pressure, which I acknowledge. When I last looked at the figures, we were 0.006% under quota. There has been a very early grass growing season this year - we are about one month ahead of schedule in some parts of...

Animal Diseases (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy raises the important issue of the Schmallenberg virus, SBV, which was confirmed in December 2011 following the birth of deformed lambs in the Netherlands. Its manifestation in adult cattle had been under investigation in Germany and the Netherlands since the summer-autumn of 2011. It has now been recorded in eight member states - Germany, Belgium, France, Luxemburg, the United...

Animal Diseases (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: I have discussed this issue with my counterpart in Northern Ireland. It is a good example of where we can take a fortress Ireland approach. Diseases do not respect borders, but our geographical location is sometimes fortunate in that we are isolated from the British mainland and Europe and thus receive protection in terms of the spread of certain contagions. My understanding is that the...

Grant Payments (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: By way of background, the situation in regard to payments under the agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, is that the European Union regulations governing its administration require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including cross-checks with the land parcel identification system, LPIS, must be completed before any payment can issue. EU audits have made it absolutely clear...

Grant Payments (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: I do not normally read long replies but the Deputy asked about a specific case and I wished to give a specific answer and there is a lot more detail on that case. I have been frustrated by the roll-out of some payments relating to the agri-environment option scheme, AEOS. There have been genuine reasons for this and I assure the Deputy I have been pushing staff in my Department as hard as I...

Grant Payments (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: First, it is not acceptable if this has happened.

Grant Payments (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: If someone from my Department tells a farmer that he or she will be paid within days, I expect that to happen. I note that last year, payments in general in my Department were way ahead of any previous year on record. I refer to the timeliness of payments such as disadvantaged area payments, single farm payments and those AEOS payments that could be made on time. They were significantly...

Grant Payments (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: In the first instance, it is important to place on record that this person has been paid.

Grant Payments (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The issue is that there were delays in respect of the payment. Such delays should not have occurred but there were genuine reasons for them. I would certainly not criticise the staff of my Department in that regard. The latter have worked overtime in trying to issue these payments.

Grant Payments (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: The issue arose in the context of a process problem which related to changing maps, in the first instance, and then digitising those changes. Delays arose as a result of the problem to which I refer. I accept that it may have taken longer than should have been the case to arrive at a resolution in respect of this problem. However, that resolution will ensure that there are unlikely to be...

Fisheries Protection (21 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Browne for tabling a question on this extremely topical matter. I have set out for the House on numerous occasions the background to the mackerel dispute with Iceland and the Faroe Islands, most recently last week during a Topical Issue debate with Deputy Harrington. I have also set down the importance of the mackerel fishery for our fleet and the serious concerns we have...