Results 5,761-5,780 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The pig sector remains the third largest individual component of the agri-food sector, with production, prices and exports all growing significantly during 2011. I am aware of the concerns currently being expressed by the sector, particularly with regard to producer returns and the loose sow housing welfare requirements applicable from 1 January 2013. On the latter point, European...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: An essential component of my approach to the negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the building of alliances with my counterparts in like-minded Member States. I believe that this is an absolute priority if I am to maximise support for my position as the negotiations on the Commission's proposals unfold. Indeed, I have been actively building such alliances...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is understood that the Deputy is referring to the changes being introduced in respect of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, rather than the 2012 Single Payment Scheme, as there are no significant changes being introduced in respect of the latter this year. It will be recalled that, on foot of commitments given in the 2012 Budget, significant savings needed to be found in my Department's...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: It will be recalled that, on foot of commitments given in the 2012 Budget, significant savings needed to be found in my Department's expenditure for 2012, part of which it was decided should come from the funding assigned to the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, with the budgeted expenditure under the 2012 Scheme being reduced to from €220 million to €190 million. However, rather that simply...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Finfish farming has been a feature of aquaculture operations off the west coast for some time. On 13th April an application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay was received by my Department. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement is being considered under the provisions of the 1997...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under the arrangements agreed in the run up to the abolition of milk quotas in 2015, Ireland will have received an additional 9.3% in quota between 2007 and 2014. However for some Member States, including Ireland, these quota increases are proving insufficient to accommodate increases in milk production which have been driven by supply and demand dynamics, and the prospect of a quota free...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The information sought by the Deputy for the 2011 Schemes is currently not available as the inspection data is still being finalised following reviews, appeals etc. I have set out in tabular form, data on the Single Payment and Disadvantaged Areas Schemes for Co Carlow for the years 2009 and 2010. 2009 & 2010 Single Payment Scheme – Co Carlow 2009 2010 No. of Applicants Paid 1644 1641...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy may be aware that since 2007 my Department has been providing support through the Bioenergy Scheme for the establishment of the bioenergy crops miscanthus and willow. The Scheme currently provides grant-aid of 50% of crop establishment costs up to a maximum of €1,300 per hectare. Up to the end of 2011, over 3,000 hectares of crops have been established under the Bioenergy...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (10 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. On the 8th of November last , I launched the Irish "discard" atlas, which is a detailed compendium of...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Agriculture, (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, confers on Teagasc statutory responsibility for the provision of education, advisory and training services to the agriculture sector. It is a matter for Teagasc and its Board to prioritise activities in the delivery of these services and to allocate its resources in accordance with these priorities. Ministerial responsibility is...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has primary responsibility for the protection of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the Habitats Directive. Certain activities, including turf cutting, are restricted in these areas. Where a farmer cuts turf on a bog plot where cutting is prohibited then he/she is liable to be penalised under cross compliance if the non-compliance...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am actively considering the possibility of re-opening the Agri-environmental Options Scheme to allow for the submission of applications either on an amended basis from the existing scheme and/or on a limited scale and, in particular, the possibility of re-opening for applications later in the year with a possible closing date for applications of end September and a commencement date for new...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am aware that concerns have been raised with regard to welfare issues and sheep EID tagging and that the matter has been discussed by my officials with a number of farming organisations. I addressed this issue in a statement recently concerning EID sheep electronic tagging (EID) arrangements. The Deputy should be aware that EID has been a mandatory EU requirement for some years now. There...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is a notifiable venereal disease of horses in Ireland. Infection spreads through direct transmission of bacteria from mare to stallion or from stallion to mare at the time of mating. It is also transmitted to mares if semen used in artificial insemination (AI) comes from infected stallions. CEM is a condition that undermines commercial performance and as...

Written Answers — Rural Development Programme: Rural Development Programme (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Rural Development Programme for Ireland has an allocation of close on €4.9 billion for the period 2007 – 2013 to fund various support schemes in the agricultural sector under the principles of competitiveness, improvement of the environment, land management and the development of the wider rural economy. Support for agricultural development in less favoured areas (LFAs) forms an...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: As announced by the Government in February, consideration will be given to the possible sale of some assets of Coillte excluding the sale of land. A valuation of Coillte assets is currently being undertaken by the NTMA (NewERA unit) in conjunction with my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. A short presentation on the role of Coillte and the issues that might...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am aware that there was a significant increase in the incidence of Bovine TB in Northern Ireland last year in contrast to a 10% reduction in the South, with the result that herd incidence of TB in Northern Ireland in 2011 was over 40% higher than here. There has been a substantial improvement in the Bovine TB situation here over the past decade and we now seem to be getting on top of this...

Written Answers — Trade Missions: Trade Missions (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 36 together. I had the great honour of leading the largest ever Irish trade delegation to China, from 15-22 April, 2012, from the meat, dairy, seafood, beverages, bloodstock and agri-services sectors and government bodies. It was the most ambitious trade delegation ever which my Department, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland brought together, with a...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Issues in relation to leases by Government Departments/Offices, including my Department are a matter for the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The current measures for the protection of the sea bass stock in Irish waters have been in place since 1990 and were introduced arising from the dramatic decline of sea bass stocks in the 1970s. From a scientific perspective, our knowledge on the biology and stock dynamics of sea bass in Irish waters is poor. There is a need for new research in this area. Following recent discussions, the...