Results 8,621-8,640 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pet Food Regulation (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The manufacture of pet food in Ireland is governed by EU regulations relating to animal by-products (ABPs), which provide that this product must be processed in a plant approved by the competent authority and to the parameters specified in the legislation. The regulations permit the manufacture of pet food from specified ABPs, including ABPs which are fit for human consumption but are not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The findings of laboratory tests, provided by the FSAI to my Department on 14th January 2013, revealed the presence of non beef DNA in some beef products produced in Ireland. This generally involved trace or minute amounts of porcine or equine DNA with the exception of one burger in respect of which a high level of equine DNA (29% of meat content) was indicated. While the FSAI has given...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has a strict system of transport rules in respect of both national and international journeys. The current Irish regulation in relation to the approval of ships for livestock transport is set higher than that which applies in other EU Member States. Detailed inspections are required before approval is given to ships transporting animals. The requirements for approval of dedicated...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002, which sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law, stipulates among other things that food business operators at all stages of production, processing and distribution within the businesses under their control must ensure that foods satisfy the requirements of food law. Specifically in regard to traceability, the regulations require that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Appointments to State Boards (22 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Since May 2011, a notification has been placed on my Department’s website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. Also on 7 September 2012 last, I placed an advertisement in the National Newspapers inviting expressions of interest. These applications were considered when appointments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2011. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 210 together. Payment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has not yet issued as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not yet satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements for 2012. My Department is in ongoing communication with the person named regarding outstanding issues. Immediately these issues are resolved, the case can...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste Íocaíochtaí (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Payment under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has not issued to the person named as the holding of the person named has not yet satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements. While the holding concerned is subject to a current agri-environmental plan, that plan does not restrict the holding to a stocking density of less than 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: As the holding of the person named did not meet the minimum stocking density requirements of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and as there is no current agri-environmental plan for the holding, a review of the stocking capacity of the holding was necessary. Following the recent positive outcome of this review, the application was further processed and payment issued to the nominated bank...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Imports (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Consignments of products of animal origin imported into Ireland from outside the EU are generally checked at a Border Inspection Post (BIP) on arrival in Ireland. There are two product BIPs in Ireland, at Dublin port and Shannon airport, operated by my Department. Controls on imported products consist of three types of checks – documentary, identity and physical. All consignments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Illegal Horse Meat Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department and Local Authorities operate under EU regulatory requirements which apply in this area in the delivery of official controls in relation to horse identification at marts and other sales venues, in abattoirs and at points of entry to the country. Where forged or tampered passports accompanying horses to slaughter are detected, it is the policy that such animals are destroyed and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Illegal Horse Meat Trade (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: EU legislation provides, which came into effect on 1 July 2009, that equine animals registered after that date must be identified with a passport and a microchip. The relevant national legislation is S.I. No. 357 of 2011 - European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2011 (as amended). This legislation provides that if an equine animal has not been identified within six months of the date of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware the free movement of goods within the European Union provides that once goods (including pigmeat) are produced in an approved establishment in another Member State, then those goods are free to move without official checks to other member states. Each Member State is responsible for ensuring that approved food premises comply with EU regulations. My...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first four years of their 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 any payments can issue. The detailed administrative checks identified an issue in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, there are two criteria to be satisfied in relation to horses. First, the holding itself must meet the definition of an Equine Breeding Enterprise and second, horses, in order to be taken into account for stocking density purposes, must be aged one to five years and, where older, must be a breeding mare for the purposes of the Scheme. While the person...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The reason for the penalty in this instance was outlined to the applicant by letter from my Department on 20 August 2012 and also in a reply to a previous Parliamentary Question on this case on 9th October 2012. In summary, the penalty arose from a breach of Nitrates legislation. My Department’s letter and also my response in the House drew attention to the review process which is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Imports (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: EU law provides for the free movement of goods between Member States. On that basis, food ingredients produced in an establishment which is approved under relevant regulation can be moved freely within the EU. The onus of compliance with EU food safety regulations, including traceability requirements, rests in the first instance with food business operators. Food business operators in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2010 and full payments totalling €1,424.71 and €4,473.78 issued in respect of 2010 and 2011 respectively. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Each year a number of swaps of fishing quotas and effort takes place with other Member States. Swaps are normally initially proposed or organised by the fishing industry lead by the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) and completed in a transaction between Member States. This may happen for a number of reasons. Firstly at the start of each year when the TAC and Quota Regulation is published,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards (23 Jan 2013)

Simon Coveney: Intensive investigations are continuing with a view to identifying the source of the equine DNA in one processing facility. This includes further analysis of a range of samples from both burgers and ingredients. Detailed analysis of records held by the company relating to the sourcing of ingredients and the incorporation of these ingredients is also being conducted. It would be inappropriate...