Results 5,801-5,820 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Although I am happy with the excellent performance of the agri-food and fish sectors in the last 18 months I am of course aware of the challenges which must be faced including increased cost of inputs such as fuel, feed and fertiliser as well as access to credit. Agri-food exports are also subject to international commodity price fluctuations as we have seen in recent months in relation to...

Written Answers — Fur Farming: Fur Farming (10 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The permitted methods for slaughter/killing of all farmed animals including fur animals are outlined in European legislation, namely, Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing. Exposure to carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are among the permitted methods for killing of fur animals and the chambers in which the animals...

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

Simon Coveney: The main potential benefit of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) system for Irish Fishermen is that it provides a system which aspires to the structured and sustainable management of international fishing activity in each of the key areas of interest to Irish Fishermen. In addition, it provides stable arrangements for access to the large EU seafood market for the large volume of Irish seafood...

Written Answers — Harbour Charges: Harbour Charges (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Charges for the use of facilities at each of the six Fishery Harbour Centres are currently levied by virtue of the Fishery Harbour Centres (Rates & Charges) Order 2003. My Department has however recently conducted a review of the 2003 Order and a draft new Rates & Charges Order, the first proposed changes to the fee schedule for almost a decade, has been prepared on foot of that review. ...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare Legislation: Animal Welfare Legislation (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 405 together. In the first instance the keeper of animals is primarily responsible for their welfare. The principal statutes governing cruelty to all animals in this country, including race horses, is the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1965. Responsibility for enforcing this legislation rests with An...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare Issues: Animal Welfare Issues (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department's responsibility, which is set down in legislation, currently extends to the welfare and protection of farmed animals only i.e. animals normally bred or kept for the production of food or for use in or for the purpose of farming. The relevant legislation in this area is the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984 and the European Communities (Welfare of Farmed...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare Issues: Animal Welfare Issues (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department's responsibility, which is set down in legislation, currently extends to the welfare and protection of farmed animals only i.e. animals normally bred or kept for the production of food or for use in or for the purpose of farming. The relevant legislation in this area is the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984 and the European Communities (Welfare of Farmed...

Written Answers — Sugar Reform Compensation: Sugar Reform Compensation (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named concerning the outstanding payment in respect of an element of the compensation due on foot of the Sugar Reform package. It is expected that the payment in question will issue in the coming weeks, directly to the bank account of the person named.

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

Simon Coveney: Under the current Single Payment regulations entitlements that are leased out with land revert to the owner on expiry of the lease for the land. The European Commission published its proposals for reform of the CAP post 2013 in October last and negotiations on those proposals are continuing. Under the proposals existing single payment entitlements will be abolished on 31 December 2013 and...

Written Answers — Fish Quota: Fish Quota (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: In February 2012, boarfish catch limits for operators with a previous specified track record in the fishery were issued to operators which is applicable up to the end of October. Vessels without the specified track record are permitted to fish up to 400 tonnes for the period up to 31 October as set out in Determination (No.18) of the Need for an Authorisation for Certain Fish Stocks. A 5%...

Written Answers — Sheep Inspections: Sheep Inspections (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Direct Payments Schemes is required to carry out annual inspections covering land eligibility and cross compliance to ensure compliance with EU regulatory requirements. Eligibility checks must be carried out on 5% of applicants. These checks are carried out to verify that the actual area claimed in the application form corresponds to the area...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (15 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 — Fish Quota: Fish Quota (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: In 2011 I asked the fishing industry and other interested parties to make proposals on the future management arrangements for all Irish herring fisheries. In response to my notification of the review, a number of proposals were received from industry, many offering conflicting views, particularly in regard to the need to ring fence the fisheries. Taking account of the views expressed I issued...

Written Answers — Fish Quota: Fish Quota (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under Article 12 of Regulation (EC) no 520/2007 the number of Community vessels fishing for Northern Albacore Tuna as a target species is fixed and up to 50 Irish fishing vessels may be authorised to fish albacore tuna in any given year. Each year applications are invited from those wishing to partake in this fishery. Applications were invited from interested parties and by the closing date...

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The correspondence referred to is a transcript of a recent article in the Irish Examiner dated Thursday, 26 April 2012. The article in question deals with the recent changes introduced by my Department for dealing with the movement of cattle out of herds which are contiguous to or neighbouring herds which are experiencing a high risk TB breakdown. However, it attempts to undermine the...

Written Answers — Fur Farming: Fur Farming (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will await the final report on the review of fur farming, which I expect to receive next week, before deciding what further steps to take.

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

Simon Coveney: In accordance with EU legislation, the responsibility to place safe food on the market rests with the food business operator and therefore the consequences of a failure to meet that requirement also rests with the food business operator. However in the light of the impact of the dioxin contamination incident on the pigmeat sector, it was decided to introduce as an emergency measure the...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: The recycling plant at Ballybrommell, Fenagh, Co. Carlow was closed at the time of discovery of the dioxin incident and restrictions placed on the contaminated feed. Consent was given in November 2011 by the UK Environment Agency for movement of the contaminated material from the Fenagh site to the UK for use in a Power Station. DAFM released the material for transfer to the UK facility in...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department is currently reviewing the 2007 and 2008 Single Payment status of the person named in light of further documentation recently furnished to my Department by the Deputy . This information was requested by my predecessor in his response to a previous Ministerial Representation by the Deputy. As soon as this review is complete the person named will be informed of the outcome.

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (15 May 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department has no record of receiving a 2010 or 2011 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area application from the person named. All pre-printed Single Payment applications issued by my Department contain a pre-addressed return envelope with a Swiftpost label attached in respect of which the herd owner receives a receipt from the Post Office upon posting. If the person named can provide this...