Results 5,861-5,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: I am satisfied that the members of the management committee, each of whom is responsible for a significant functional area of my Department, provide representation at the management advisory committee for all staff working in their functional area. Accordingly, I have no plans to reform the membership of the management advisory committee of my Department in the manner suggested by the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: Up until last December 2011 when my Department stopped accepting applications, it was open to any veterinary practitioner registered with the Veterinary Council, including retired veterinary officials from my Department, to apply for approval to be engaged as a part-time Temporary Veterinary Inspector on a contract for services basis and to be available to be rostered for meat inspection...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: My Department keeps its staffing requirements under constant review and will seek to fill critical vacancies where necessary. My Department has a very varied staffing structure comprising administrative, technical, professional and industrial grades and, where it is a requirement of the job that the jobholder be a graduate, we will seek to fill the vacancy with a graduate. I would also...
- Written Answers — Animal Identification Scheme: Animal Identification Scheme (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: The person named was the subject of an inspection by the ERAD/Animal Health Division of my Department on the 21th of September 2011. This inspection uncovered discrepancies that involved the Tagging of Animals and the failure to notify movements of cattle to the Animal Identification and Movement system (formerly Cattle Movement and Monitoring System). A report detailing these discrepancies...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2009 and received payments for the first two 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 detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Administrative checks in respect of 2011 have been completed...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: My Department has no plans at this time to move any significant number of personnel from across the country to a location in Connaught.
- Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: The proposed renewal of the ban on the sale of raw milk for direct human consumption has been the subject of detailed consideration in both my Department and the Department of Health, including contacts at Ministerial and official level. Careful consideration has to be given to the legal options available to move the issue forward and the deliberative process in that regard is ongoing.
- Written Answers — Sugar Beet Sector: Sugar Beet Sector (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: The EU Sugar Regime underwent a radical reform in 2005 and Greencore, the holder of the entire Irish sugar quota availed of the sugar restructuring scheme, dismantled all its facilities and ceased production in 2006. Post reform production is now concentrated in 18 Member States. The present regime runs from 1 September 2006 to the 30 September 2015. The total compensation package negotiated...
- Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: The People's Millennium Forests Project was a flagship Millennium project sponsored by the National Millennium Committee and AIB and managed by Coillte in association with Woodlands of Ireland. This was the largest ever project directed at the expansion and enhancement of our native woodlands. There were 16 sites involved in this project, 14 of which are in the Republic of Ireland and two in...
- Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: The person named has declared 10.15 hectares of forestry on all applications for Area Aid/Single Payment from 2004 to 2011. Under the provisions of the governing EU Regulation, this afforested land is not eligible for payment under the Area Aid or Single Payment Schemes. The person named has received full payment under the Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme on all of the...
- Written Answers — Animal Welfare Bodies: Animal Welfare Bodies (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: I have responded in detail to questions previously put down by the Deputy regarding issues raised by the person to whom the Deputy refers. I have explained, in my earlier replies to the Deputy, my Department's responsibilities with regard to the welfare of horses and the options open to the individual should he wish to further progress complaints relating to the welfare of horses. My...
- Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: I announced the 2012 Scheme for the Allocation of Quota to New Entrants to Dairying in February last. The closing date for receipt of applications was 4 May. The applications received in my Department, before that deadline, are currently being processed. The assessment group will convene in July to evaluate all eligible applications. I expect to announce the results of the scheme in early...
- Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 552 together. EU farm payments include Agri-Environment Options Scheme, Agri-Environment Options Scheme 2, Area Based Compensatory Allowance Scheme, Bovine Dioxin Cull, Agri-Environment Programme, Arable Aid, Area Aid - General Scheme â Cereals, Area Aid related payments â Cereals, Area Aid â Simplified Scheme â Cereals, Agri-monetary aid 1st...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: Between April 2011 and April 2012 my Department re-engaged a retired Assistant Secretary and four retired veterinary staff on a contract for services basis for a limited period. In the same period, seven retired veterinary staff were approved by my Department to be engaged as Temporary Veterinary Inspectors on a contract for services basis and are available to be rostered for meat...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: The total cost of the scheme for the provision of ministerial drivers for myself and Minister of State McEntee for 2011 was â¬155,447 which is made up of drivers' salaries, mileage and subsistence. The corresponding figure for 2012 to date is â¬78,731. Prior to the introduction of the above scheme, the cost of Ministers' drivers and cars was borne by the Department of Justice and Law...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: The person named registered nineteen beef breed animals in 2009, sixteen beef breed animals in 2010 and twenty six beef breed animals in 2011 under the Suckler Welfare Scheme. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme each participant is required to carry out a series of measures and to submit notification of the dates that these measures had been undertaken. A review was carried out...
- Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: The service provided by the local office in my Department to certify cattle for export from Gort Mart is currently under review associated with the cost of providing the service. I hope to give you further information as soon as the review is completed.
- Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2011; on processing of same, it was discovered that the person named did not meet the stocking requirements of the scheme. The person named, having been notified accordingly in writing, subsequently submitted medical evidence supporting their explanation as to their...
- Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware that, in the context of the European Commission's proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2014 to 2020, the proposal to gradually move away from payments based on historical production towards a system of uniform national or regional payment rates by 2019 raises serious concerns for Ireland. Such a system would result in very significant transfers...
- Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (22 May 2012)
Simon Coveney: I try at all times, subject to diary and time constraints, to meet any and all interested parties to discuss issues that arise in policy areas under my remit as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. When diary constraints do not make this possible, senior Department officials are available to hear the concerns and/or ideas that people may wish to bring to my attention. This is also...