Results 5,701-5,720 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Operational matters such as this are properly the responsibility of the Teagasc Authority and not the Minister. I am advised by Teagasc that they have closed the office in Bagnelstown and plan to dispose of it on completion of certain matters relating to the conveyance. The Deputy may wish to contact Teagasc directly for further detail.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Agri-environment Options Scheme is designed to protect biodiversity, encourage water management/quality and contribute to climate change. The scheme provides for a considerable degree of flexibility in achieving these objectives and farmers to may implement measures from a range or menu of options which are best suited to their own circumstances. Participants in AEOS have been approved...

Written Answers — Fishing Discards: Fishing Discards (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Finding practical and implementable solutions to the wasteful practice of discarding fish is a major priority issue for me. It is an important element of the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy which is currently under consideration at the EU Fisheries Council and the EU Parliament. Ireland has been to the forefront in the drive to reduce and eliminate discards and has taken a number of...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Appointments to the Boards of BIM, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, the Marine Institute and other fisheries related State boards that come under the remit of my Department are made in accordance with the legislation establishing the respective agencies and in compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. In making appointments to boards I take into...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Eight staff of my Department who were under the maximum retirement age and headquartered in County Waterford retired in the period from 1 January 2012 to date. No Waterford based staff of my Department retired on age regulations (i.e. having reached the age of 65) during this period.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to introduce the Bill into the Seanad. We have had a number of discussions on agriculture, animal health issues and veterinary practice. As the engagement from Senators has been hugely positive, I considered it appropriate to introduce the Bill in the Seanad before taking it to the other House as there are many Members here who want to get engaged in the detail of the...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: An important element in drafting the Bill has been to reduce bureaucracy. One development in line with this aim is the introduction of an on-the-spot penalty for minor offences and has advantages for the individual and the State. It avoids the time and costs of court proceedings. There is recourse to the courts for individuals who do not wish to pay an on-the-spot penalty and to contest an...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I understand I only have five or six minutes.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Second Stage (3 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will be as comprehensive as I can in answering Senators' questions. Puppy farms have given rise to ongoing issues and this why the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 has been commenced. It was necessary to delay that legislation until we finalised the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 because there was crossover between general dog breeding and greyhound breeding, which was already...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st November 2010 having completed the Form N option, indicating that he had designated lands. 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,...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (8 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The regulations governing the milk quota regime provide that a milk quota allocation attaches to the lands used for production of the milk. Consequently a farmer may permanently dispose of his or her milk quota allocation though sale of the land and quota to another milk producer or, under certain circumstances, through the leasing of the land and quota. A farmer may also dispose of quota by...

Written Answers — Beef Industry: Beef Industry (8 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together. The establishment of an effective discussion group model similar to that successfully employed in the dairy sector was a key recommendation of the report of the industry-led Beef 2020 Activation Group which was set up to advise on the implementation of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. The Beef Technology Adoption Programme (BTAP) giving...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. There were issues that arose in relation to the transfer of entitlements. All of these matters are resolved thereby allowing payment to issue under the next 2010 Scheme payment run very shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first three years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. During the course of an on farm inspection on 28 July 2011, areas which...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (8 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The information request by the Deputy is listed in the following table. CONSULTANT NATURE OF WORK PAYMENTS FROM FEBRUARY 2011 TO APRIL 2012€ Brendan Riordan Professional fee for training services on net-flow of funds calculation 6,000 Milliards Solicitors Legal advice, consultations, correspondence and court attendance 2,723 TOTAL 8,723

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (8 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not employ external public relations companies. Public relations advice, where required is provided by my Department's Press Office.

Written Answers — Wildlife Protection: Wildlife Protection (8 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The felling licence granted to Coillte for the site in question is accessible to the public. My Department issued this felling licence to Coillte, following a referral to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Inland Fisheries Ireland and Meath County Council, and having duly considered the matter. The licence was issued with appropriate conditions to which Coillte adhered. Coillte was...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: An Assistant Secretary General was re-engaged by my Department on a part-time contract basis since retiring under the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement in October 2010. Sanction for this contract was received from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The cost to my Department to date is €120,860.63. This contract is due to expire in October 2012. A Laboratory Analyst...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The accompanying tables set out the amount of money paid out on a county by county basis in 2011 for AEOS when scheme payments commenced and in 2009, 2010 and 2011 scheme years in respect of REPS. AEOS County Amount Paid in 2011€ CarlowCavanClareCorkDonegalDublinGalwayKerryKildareKilkennyL aoisLeitrimLimerickLongfordLouthMayoMeathMonaghanOffalyRosco...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (8 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Operational matters such as this are properly the responsibility of the Teagasc Authority and not the Minister. I am advised by Teagasc that this matter is being dealt with locally by the Principal of the College in question and that he has met with the parties involved and agreed that future student skills practical training will be done following prior consultation with local contractors.