Results 6,681-6,700 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Expenditure (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am very conscious of the significant problems and pressures that the very heavy rainfall this summer has caused for farmers. I am very conscious that farmers need money in their hands because of the poor summer and because of cash flow problems that some are experiencing at the moment and I am responding to these pressures within the funds available to me. Last week I announced the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The definition of an active farmer is still the subject of substantial discussion in the CAP reform negotiations and there is no clear outcome as yet. Under the CAP reform proposals, the EU Commission has proposed to exclude from receipt of Single Farm Payment those whose annual direct payments are less than 5% of the total receipts they obtain from all non-agricultural activities or, if...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The REPS 4 agri-environment plan commenced on 1st June 2008 and the person named received full payments for the first three years of the 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 payments issue. Following an inspection in August...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned is an applicant under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Currently, this applicant is one of a number whose cases are impacted by a requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who have applied for a derogation in this regard. This application had not been determined in sufficient time to enable payment with the first tranche...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned is an applicant under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Currently, this applicant is one of a number whose cases are impacted by a requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who have applied for a derogation in this regard. This application had not been determined in sufficient time to enable payment with the first tranche...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 477 and 478 together. The number of aquaculture licence applications awaiting decision in respect of sites in County Kerry is 75. The vast majority to these sites are located in areas designated as ‘Natura 2000’ sites. All such sites are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay has been received by my Department. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement is being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act which provide for extensive consultation with stakeholders, including Inland...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Offices (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: Together with the Office of Public Works my Department is reviewing the accommodation requirements for the Department’s staff based in County Galway. This review is ongoing.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department has already reached agreement with the Libyan and Lebanese authorities to the opening of their markets to cattle from Ireland. In the case of Libya, my Department is working closely with the Libyan veterinary authorities to have the age limit of animals, which currently stands at 24 months, increased to thirty months. My Department has also secured the opening of the Egyptian...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alternative Farm Enterprises (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: There are currently no grant schemes available from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to support the production of bioethanol from grain. The Deputy may be aware that the Biofeuels Obligation Scheme was introduced in 2010 by the then Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to contribute to achieving the renewable transport target under the Renewable Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 484 together. The number of aquaculture licence applications determined since 17th July 2012 is 9. The number of applications in total currently awaiting determination is 618. The average timeframe for processing individual licence applications varies depending on location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of sites,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Development (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: Phytoplankton blooms such as the one that occurred this summer are naturally occurring and are an inevitable occasional feature of operating aquaculture farms in Irish coastal waters. The Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara are working closely together and with the affected farmers to render as much technical assistance as possible under the circumstances. The Marine Institute already...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Appointments (2 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: One Assistant Secretary General was re-engaged by my Department on a part-time contract basis to fulfil my duties relating to the main productive sectors and to fulfil key priorities for the agri-food sector during Ireland’s Presidency next year. One Senior Research Officer is engaged on a contract for services basis for a limited period. His contract is due to expire on 1 March 2013....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tuberculosis Incidence (3 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: As previously indicated in my reply of 10 July 2012 it has been decided not to make any payments to the person concerned under the TB Eradication Scheme in respect of testing conducted in his herd after 4 October 2010 due to reported interference with the test. That decision has now been reviewed on appeal through the regional assistant principal officer and the person concerned has been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Stocking Densities (3 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: Eligible applicants under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme must meet (a) a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per hectare in respect of 2011 (equivalent to 2 ewes per hectare) and (b) 0.15 livestock units per hectare in 2012. In relation to the 2011 requirement, specific provision is has been made for those farmers, who had a stocking density less than 0.3 livestock units...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Expenditure (3 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department has modelled various CAP reform proposals using the 2010 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) database of actual payments to farmers in that year, rather than entitlements. Analysis of this database shows the following: - around 7,600 farmers were paid at rates in excess of €500 per hectare in 2010. Capping payments at €500 per hectare would in theory provide around...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (3 Oct 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 €1,223.24 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: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (3 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am not in a position to comment in detail about this case other than to say that, in making payment, my Department was obliged to comply with the terms of a Court Order obtained by a third party.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (3 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned is an applicant under the Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes. In order to meet EU requirements, the application concerned was one of a number which was selected for inspection. As this process had not been completed in sufficient time, it was not possible to include the person concerned with the initial tranche of DAS payments on 26 September. As soon as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (3 Oct 2012)

Simon Coveney: Details of the re-opened Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS) which I announced last week with funding of €20m will be available on the Department’s website in the next few days. The Terms and Conditions for the scheme will be largely similar to those of previous years. The closing date for applications is 30 November and my aim is to ensure that all applications are...