Results 7,481-7,500 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: We could examine adding a subsection to indicate that veterinary advice must be sought in the case of a disease outbreak. I will formulate the correct wording for that.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Will I speak to amendment No. 6 at this point?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: It is not a big issue in any event.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Perhaps the Deputy should focus on amendment No. 26 in her comments on this group of amendments. I have no input into how they are grouped together. I have no problem taking-----

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will speak in a spirit of trying to address the Deputies' concerns. It will not be a huge surprise to them that I am not likely to accept amendment No. 26, as there are technical problems with it. In addition, I do not agree with what is being proposed. The Deputies are proposing to amend the section of the Bill governing performances involving animals. Clearly, the section in question...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: I have proposed a way to deal with this, but I am in the hands of the committee. Unfortunately, we got off to the wrong start. I said I would deal with the essence of what was sought in amendment No. 26, the outlawing of a series of practices that the Deputies consider unacceptable. I was going to explain that I did not agree with such an approach and set out my reasons. For example, I...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: That is as upfront as I can be at this stage.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: My understanding is that the only stag hunt in the country has not got a licence renewal, therefore, it is not happening. That is different from outlawing it. So far as I am aware there is no intention to renew that licence.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Yes. That might be useful. I can provide a briefing note to members of the committee on the various areas in order that we can have a discussion on the issue the next day. I do not want to raise people's expectations that I will start banning a series of practices that I do not believe should be banned. However people need to know the actual position in terms of what is legally...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: That would be very useful and it will be done before the next meeting.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: We will put the report on the Department's website in the next couple of days. People will be able to see the full report and the recommendations on fur farming. It is just a report. I am not required to take all the recommendations on board, but I would like people to see the recommendations made by the group. We will put the report up within the next couple of days.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Business of Select Committee (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: I would say we will need a long session the next day.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Business of Select Committee (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: It would be great if we could try to get this completed before the end of the session.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Business of Select Committee (8 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am in the committee's hands.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department is not aware of the Garda Fraud Squad investigating any matter in relation to Horse Racing Ireland or the Turf Club. The CEOs of Horse Racing Ireland and the Turf Club have confirmed to officials from my Department that they, also, are unaware of any such investigation. In any event, I am sure the Deputy will understand that it would be totally inappropriate for me to make any...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantages Areas’ Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry-out an annual round of inspections covering both the eligibility of land declared to draw down payments and also cross-compliance aspects to ensure compliance with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of public, animal and plant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme, only eligible agricultural land can be claimed upon for aid under the scheme. Agricultural land is defined as any area taken up by arable land, permanent pasture or permanent crops and which is used for an agricultural activity. In addition an applicant must ensure that agricultural land is maintained in good agricultural and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with EU legislation governing the payment of area-based aid, in particular, Council Regulation 73/2009 and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1122/2009, it is necessary for Member States to carry out on-the-spot land eligibility inspections on at least 5% of all farmers submitting a single payment scheme application. In carrying out these land eligibility inspections, Member States...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: The named person was an applicant under my Department’s Hardship Scheme. Allocations of quota on the grounds of hardship are based on recommendations made by the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal, which operates in accordance with objective criteria outlined in the explanatory note that accompanied the application form, and the overall volume is determined by the projected volume of quota...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (13 Nov 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2012 Single Payment/ Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 8 May 2012. As the applicant does not have any Single Payment entitlements, no payment is due under this scheme.