Results 6,461-6,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bovine Disease Controls (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The bovine TB eradication programme includes a comprehensive range of measures aimed at eradicating TB from the cattle population in Ireland through testing and the control of cattle movements in order to prevent the spread of disease. More specifically, the programme provides for the mandatory annual testing of all cattle in the national herd, the implementation of a range of supplementary...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Development (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: Castlemaine Harbour is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 site). My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has engaged in a major programme to gather the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Oifigí Roinne (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: Ar Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí atá an mhórfhreagracht cóiríocht a sholáthar do mo Roinnse. In athbhreithniú a rinneadh le déanaí ar an gcostas a bhain le cóiríocht agus ar na roghanna atá ann maidir le malairt áitribh shocraigh an OPW briseadh ón gconradh reatha. Dá réir sin, tá mo Roinnse ag obair leis an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Stocking Densities (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under EU Regulation 21/2004, all sheep keepers must count the sheep present in the flock on the holding, record the number in the flock register and are legally obliged to return this number to my Department. The requirement to complete and return the Sheep Census is a legal one, even where there are no sheep on the holding during the period designated. Failure to complete and return the form...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Reopening (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the importance of agri environment payments to the agriculture sector and am actively considering the possibility of re-opening the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) to allow for the submission of new applications. I am examining the situation against the background of the strict budgetary constraints which are in place and the difficult choices which must be made in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Feedstuffs (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: Market prices for cereal-based animal feed and soya are a function of global supply and demand dynamics, currency relativities, weather conditions and other external factors. Increasing feed prices in 2012 are primarily a function of poor weather conditions in the USA, Brazil, Argentina, Russia and the Ukraine. The expected shortage in cereals comes on top of relatively poor harvests in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Nitrates Usage (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am very aware of the difficulties this summer on farms as a result of the adverse weather conditions. Farmers planning their fertiliser applications must take into account the concentrate fed in the previous year. Additional concentrates can therefore be used this year provided they are taken into account in next year’s plans for application of chemical fertiliser. Where a farmer...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Suckler Welfare Scheme Extension (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Suckler Welfare Scheme is a five year Scheme and was introduced to improve welfare standards for beef animals born between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2012 and to assist in the establishment of a breeding database from which Suckler farmers could identify the best breeding stock for their particular requirements. The Scheme is fully funded by the Exchequer and a recent Value for money...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Application Numbers (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: In order to make the necessary savings under the budget for the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, a range of technical adjustments to the Scheme criteria were introduced, with the agreement of the EU Commission, to ensure that the aid payment is focused on farmers who are making a significant contribution to achieving the objectives of the Scheme, which are defined in the governing EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: In order to make the necessary savings under the budget for the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, a range of technical adjustments to the Scheme criteria were introduced, with the agreement of the EU Commission, to ensure that the aid payment is focused on farmers who are making a significant contribution to achieving the objectives of the Scheme, which are defined in the governing EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: Payment of the application by the person named under the Forest Roads Scheme will be made this week.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011 and has received full payment totalling €866.45 in respect of 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota Applications (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: In February last, details were announced of the 2012 Scheme for the Allocation of Milk Quota to New Entrants to Dairying. The scheme had a closing date of 4th May 2012. Approximately 270 applications were received in my Department before this deadline. These applications were subject to a preliminary examination to ensure compliance with the eligibility criteria as set out in the Detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Division (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The review of the Commonage Framework Plans, which was carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, with the assistance from my Department is completed. The review, which was conducted at individual commonage parcel level, indicates both the minimum and the maximum livestock units that will have to be maintained in order for the commonage to be maintained in Good Agricultural and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1399 and 1401 together. First and foremost the Animal Health & Welfare Bill consolidates existing legislation in the area of animal health and welfare and will minimise bureaucracy in the first instance by reducing the number of different pieces of legislation in the area. The Bill is vital to underpin and enhance the competitiveness of Ireland as a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bovine Disease Controls (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is officially free of Brucellosis since 2009 (our last case was in 2006) and my Department has scaled down the brucellosis testing programme since then, as follows: - the age threshold for annual round testing has been increased from 12 to 24 months; - only 20% of dairy herds and 50% of non-dairy herds are required to be tested this year for the round test. - the validity period of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bovine Disease Controls (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: I put in place some limited funding to support an industry led programme to eradicate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) during this year’s voluntary phase in order to encourage farmer participation in the programme and to help demonstrate the economic benefits that accrue to farmers as a result of BVD eradication and is currently being reviewed.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1403 and 1407 together. Following extensive consultation with the Libyan authorities by my Department with the support and assistance of the Irish Embassy in Rome, the Libyan market was recently opened for live male cattle under 24 months from Ireland. My Department will continue to work with the Libyan authorities with a view to further easing trading access.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pig Quality Assurance Scheme (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Bord Bia Pig Quality Assurance Scheme (PQAS) is voluntary and application for membership certification is open to all producers (including outdoor production) who have a valid National Pig Identification and Tracing Scheme herd number and who wish to participate. The conditions for membership certification are clearly set down by Bord Bia and these must be fully adhered to. An...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (18 Sep 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned has appealed the Department’s decision in this case to the Independent Agriculture Appeals Office. A hearing in the matter is currently being arranged and the person will be contacted in this regard as soon as possible.