Results 6,001-6,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (12 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: This is a complex file involving multiple owners of the land under the contract in question. The file is being examined by the Forest Service in line with its current control checks. It is envisaged that this will be completed in the very near future, if no complications arise. Subject to no issues arising from the checks, the file will then be processed for payment in the following days.

Written Answers — Fish Sales: Fish Sales (12 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under the Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-2013, BIM pays cooperatives 55% of the market price of berried lobsters presented by co-op members for v-notching by a BIM officer and returned alive to the sea by the fishermen in order to spawn. I understand that some fisherman's co-operatives pay their members the remaining 45% of the market value of the lobster from funds derived...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (12 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: In response to the Deputy's question, I have detailed below the Special Advisers that are employed in my Department. A salary increase was requested for one of the Advisers based on the substantially higher salaries earned in the private sector and the particular compensation package earned prior to his appointment by the individual concerned. A single point salary of €110,000 per annum...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare Issues: Animal Welfare Issues (12 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am satisfied that Ireland has made good progress with the implementation of EID requirements for sheep, in line with EU rules. This has, in fact, already been acknowledged by the EU Food and Veterinary Office. The Deputy will know that we are now moving to implement the final elements of the tagging arrangements for EID in sheep coupled with the appropriate revisions to NSIS. This is the...

Written Answers — Direct Payment Scheme: Direct Payment Scheme (12 Jun 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 for land must be carried out on 5% of applicants. These checks are carried out to verify that the actual area claimed on the application form corresponds to...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare Issues: Animal Welfare Issues (12 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The number of horses slaughtered in Department approved abattoirs between 2008 and 2012 is set out in the table below. Year Number 2008 2,002 2009 3,220 2010 7,296 2011 12,575 2012 (up to 30th April) 3,956 There are also a number of smaller horse abattoirs which operate under the supervision of local authorities - these are not included in the above table. My Department does not keep...

Written Answers — Harbour Fees: Harbour Fees (12 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The recently published draft new Rates and Charges Order set out the first proposed changes in almost a decade to the fee schedule for the use of the facilities at each of the six Fishery Harbour Centres, at Dingle, Castletownbere, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros a' Mhíl. The draft was published following an extensive review of the existing Rates and Charges Order for the Fishery...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (12 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named has been informed in writing that he was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The 2012 salaries allocation for my Department is €184.552m. The apportionment of this allocation under the four high level goals was published in my Department's revised estimate for 2012 and is outlined in the table below. Programme High Level Goal 2012 Staff Numbers (Full-time Equivalent) 2012 Pay Allocation €m Agri-Food Policy, Development & Trade To progress, in collaboration...

Common Fisheries Policy: Statements (13 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am glad to have the opportunity to update the House on the result of a long but successful Council of Ministers meeting last night. Its objective was to get agreement among member states on a Common Position from the Council's perspective on the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, reform. This morning's EU Fisheries Council adopted a general approach on the reform of the Common Fisheries...

Common Fisheries Policy: Statements (13 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: No, I am happy to let others speak and would rather listen to what they have to say. While my understanding was that 15 minutes were allocated to me, of which I have taken ten, I will be glad to give Members more time because I would rather listen to what they have to say.

Common Fisheries Policy: Statements (13 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I would like to answer the questions in detail and if any Deputies have specific questions, they should feel free to intervene and I will be happy to answer them. I will begin with Deputy Browne's comments on what Seán O'Donoghue said this morning. Outside of my Department, most of us involved with fishing would accept that there is nobody who knows more about the fishing industry than...

Common Fisheries Policy: Statements (13 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: If a country goes back to the Commission, this essentially means it is going back to the European Parliament and Council, which means it can appeal to all the other Ministers. If something unreasonable is being imposed, other countries can get involved which would not otherwise have participated in the debate. Thus, there is a certain level of protection there. One of the fundamental...

Common Fisheries Policy: Statements (13 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: Basically, yes. There is not really a weighting as such, because each side essentially has a veto, in that it can just not agree and therefore delay a decision. That is why people such as Pat The Cope Gallagher, MEP, are so important in the European Parliament, as is Jim Higgins, MEP. One is a full member of the fisheries committee, while the other is a substitute member. It is also...

Common Fisheries Policy: Statements (13 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: It will be both. There will be monetary support for producer groups. This is one of the matters about which the Commission feels strongly; it wants to empower collective producer groups because that is the best way of ensuring they secure the right prices for their products. We will see strong support for such groups. We all agree on the point about individual transferable quotas, ITQs....

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (13 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2010 and full payment totalling €486.14 issued in respect of 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...

Written Answers — Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (13 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: In February 2010, the Bioenergy Scheme was launched as part of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) under the Rural Development Programme. This Scheme is 50% co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The level of grant-aid available under the Bioenergy Scheme since 2010 is 50% of the crop establishment costs up to a maximum of €1,300 per hectare....

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (13 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The regulations governing the EU Single Payment Scheme require that all applications under the Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme must be received in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, or submitted on-line to the Department, no later than midnight on 15 May. Under the provisions of the relevant EU Regulations, there is, however, a 25 day period after the 15 May for the...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (13 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: As a subsidiary of a non commercial state agency Moorepark Technology Limited (MTL) is subject to public sector pay policy insofar as it is required to obtain Departmental approval for pay rates. MTL is also deemed to be a "public service body" under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 by virtue of the fact that they have a public service pension scheme, and is,...

Written Answers — Public Service Remuneration: Public Service Remuneration (13 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: No bonuses were paid to Chief Executives of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department in 2011. Queries on bonuses to the senior officials in the State Bodies should be directed to the State Bodies themselves.