Results 8,121-8,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: For the amusement of the committee, the Deputy might like to hear that there was an animal welfare issue last night when a swan walked in from the road through the main gates of the Department, meaning no cars could get in or out. It landed on Merrion Square or on the street and could not take off because of the tall buildings. The security officers built a nest for the swan, where it...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: Deputies will be glad to hear that we are trying to practice what we preach in this Department.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The swan is now safely back on the canal.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 48: In page 24, subsection (1)(b), line 31, after “adopt” to insert “, in whole or in part,”.These amendments do not change the meaning of the text. They are a series of minor amendments to improve the grammar and readability of the section. They make no material change other than to clarify that the Minister may adapt only part of an...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 49:In page 24, subsection (2), line 36, to delete “guidelines”.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 49a: In page 25, subsection (2), lines 2 and 3, to delete paragraphs (f) and (g) and substitute the following:“(f) the provision of housing and shelter for animals, (g) allowing animals to exhibit their natural and normal behaviour, or (h) safeguarding animals from environmental hazards.”. My amendment deals with the same concerns of amendment No. 50 and...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: May I explain amendment No. 49a?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: My amendment adds a new subsection. It states: In page 25, subsection (2), lines 2 and 3, to delete paragraphs (f) and (g) and substitute the following:(f) the provision of housing and shelter for animals, (g) allowing animals to exhibit their natural and normal behaviour, or (h) safeguarding animals from environmental hazards.”.Paragraph (g) deals with the next amendment. The...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 51: In page 25, subsection (4), line 13, to delete “(if any)”.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 52: In page 26, subsection (2), line 14, to delete “an”.This is a very minor technical amendment that was recommended by drafters to ensure consistency when referencing the animal health levy. When one omits the word "an" from the sentence it no longer reads as well. I would have inserted the word "the". With regard to legal jargon - Deputy McNamara can...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I understand where the Deputy is coming from. There is a standard procedure surrounding the laying of regulations before the House. I ask the Deputy to read the fourth last paragraph on page 10 of the Bill. It defines the laying of regulations and orders and describes what is required. It also describes what must be done to annul an order and how the House can take action. I agree with...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I like to think that I could not be accused of shying away from discussion at committees. At this stage I have attended here a couple of times a week. I am sure that I shall be back again when my Department brings forward a series of regulations and codes of conduct that we must put in place. I am sure that we shall discuss them even more when we deal with valuation. It is also important...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will try to respond. The context of use of the word "identified" is the reference in the Bill, "it is not identified in accordance with animal health and welfare regulations", which are quite clear in terms of what identifies an animal in respect of traceability. The real danger is imported animals without identification and the disease risk they pose. The identification systems provide...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 58a: In page 29, subsection (1), line 16, to delete “section 32(9)” and substitute “section 32(6)”.We have tried to put as much thought as possible into this section. It relates to compensation for owners of animals when those animals must be put down or removed from the herd in the case of TB and so on. The valuation around that is a complex...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: There are very clear rules around arbitration. Arbitration is defined in section 33.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is proposing to add "shall inform the owner of the independent appeal process to the decision and the associated timeframe.".

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I understand an independent appeals process is not available if a Minister decides not to pay compensation for any of the reasons outlined. However, a person may challenge a Minister's decision in the courts. The Department does not have an appeals process in place because it would be farcical to have the Department deal with an appeal against a decision made by the Minister. Two valuation...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: If there is an abatement of compensation, in other words, if the Minister refuses to pay part of the compensation for any of the reasons I outlined, the Deputy proposes that the person should be given notice that he or she may appeal the decision. It is my understanding that the only option available to the person is to take a case to court, as there is no appeals process in place.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: No, this matter is not part of the internal appeals process as a person would be appealing against a decision made by a Minister of the Department.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: In that instance, one is appealing against a decision that one does not qualify. In this case, however, the Minister is refusing to pay compensation for one of the reasons outlined. For instance, where a person has failed to take responsible measures to alleviate the risk or spread of a disease, failed to take appropriate biosecurity measures or failed to comply in a material way with the...