Results 8,321-8,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Other Questions: Sheep Grassland Scheme (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: None of that comes under the scheme we are discussing.

Other Questions: Sheep Grassland Scheme (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: If the Acting Chairman allows, I will be happy to answer the question. There are only the four of us in the Chamber. The media have probably long since gone to bed.

Other Questions: Sheep Grassland Scheme (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: This is a serious issue. I hope I have answered the questions on sheep farming. I answered questions on the beef sector for Deputy Martin Ferris, but I will respond to Deputy Mick Wallace. I am not targeting the small guys. The new scheme we are putting in place - a €10 million scheme - will ensure farmers with 20 or fewer suckler cows will receive payments on all of them. We made...

Other Questions: Sheep Grassland Scheme (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The point is that they are being asked to do a fraction of what they were previously asked to do. I agree that this was a great scheme. It improved the quality of suckler beef in Ireland and brought about significant changes in areas like animal husbandry, data collection and the general performance of those animals. While I would have put a new scheme in place anyway, I would have liked...

Other Questions: Sheep Grassland Scheme (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I will conclude by responding to the point made by Deputy Kirk. Half of the beef in Ireland comes from the suckler herd and the other half comes from the dairy herd. As I have said on many occasions, if we do not support the suckler herd, beef will simply become a by-product of the dairy industry as it expands and grows in the context of the elimination of quotas in 2015. I do not want...

Other Questions: Sheep Grassland Scheme (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I assure the Deputy that would have been my preference as well.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 15 together. Given the very comprehensive and detailed nature of the information requested across a broad range of schemes, I am arranging for it to be provided directly in an appropriate format to the Deputies as soon as possible. The inspections concerned are an inherent requirement deriving from the very significant funding which is drawn down...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Suckler Welfare Scheme Application Numbers (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: In the first instance I would like to set the record straight in that no decision was made to abolish the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme, which, in fact, is due to end on 31 December 2012. This Scheme was a five-year Scheme for beef animals born in herds owned by eligible participants during the period, which commenced on 1 January 2008 and ending on 31 December 2012. In that regard, I have made...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ash Dieback Threat (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I recently met with the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle O'Neill MLA, at a joint North South Ministerial Council where we shared information on actions taken in both jurisdictions in relation to Chalara fraxinea. My colleague Minister of State Shane McEntee TD, has also met with Minister O'Neill and has been in regular direct contact to ensure that the legislation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Calafoirt agus Céanna (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: Cuireann an Clár Forbartha Caipitil Infreastruchtúir Cósta agus Chuanta Iascaigh, a ndéanann mo Roinnse riaradh air ar bhonn bliantúil, maoiniú ar fáil d’oibreacha caipitil ag sé Ionad Cuain Iascaigh lena n-áirítear Ros an Mhíl. Tá dul chun cinn déanta le blianta beaga anuas ar chlár céimithe...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The annual fishing opportunities for the Community’s fishing fleets are traditionally agreed at the December Fisheries Council. This year, the arrangements for 2013 are due to be negotiated at the Council scheduled for 18th to 20th December. The levels of Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and the quotas for Ireland will be determined at that meeting following negotiations with Member States...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the fisheries policy of the European Union which was first put in place in 1983 and has been subject to reviews every 10 years. The current CFP is under review and will not now be completed during the Cypriot Presidency and accordingly will fall for delivery during the Irish Presidency of the EU. My overarching goal for the new CFP is for a sustainable,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to inform the deputy that there was no decision to abolish the relief on stamp duty on land transfers for young farmers. This important relief was due to end this year but is once again being extended. The relief plays a vital role in encouraging the timely inter-generational transfer of family farms. Irish and EU agricultural and rural development policies are consistent in...

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

Simon Coveney: The Single Farm Payment is one of the most important payments received by farmers each year. The amount of funding available for payment to Irish farmers under the 2011 and 2012 Schemes was €1.263 billion and €1.255 billion respectively. These funds were used to pay the Single Farm Payment and the Article 68 Schemes namely the Grassland Sheep Scheme, the Dairy Efficiency...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Schemes, Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry out a programme of annual inspections. This inspection regime covers both the eligibility of land declared to drawn down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure adherence with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Eligibility (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: Payment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has not issued as the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements for 2012. I might add that the changes introduced for the 2012 Scheme did not in any way impact on this case since the stocking density would not have met the pre-existing requirements either. The facts of this case are that the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Transfers (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: Recent analysis shows that there are more farmers over 80 than under 35. The situation has been deteriorating for many years, both in Ireland and in the rest of Europe. I have been working to encourage more young people to take up farming as a career. Budget 2013 saw the extension of key reliefs that were already in place for young farmers (such as the 100% relief from Stamp Duty and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: While the three markets in question are open to exports of live cattle from Ireland, no trade is currently taking place. The question of when trade will begin is dependent on a number of factors, including commercial factors such as price and demand and the availability and cost of suitable sea transport. My Department has made every effort to facilitate ship approval and I am hopeful that a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Dividend (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: Coillte Teoranta paid a dividend of €2 million to the State in September 2012. This was an interim dividend in respect of the period January to June 2012. Discussions regarding final dividend for 2012 are not concluded.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy (13 Dec 2012)

Simon Coveney: The CAP reform proposals provide an option for Member States to apply a regional approach but there is no obligation on Member States to do so.