Results 8,981-9,000 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission has proposed legislation on the publication of data on CAP beneficiaries. I am aware of the farmers’ concerns in relation to the proposals. Detailed data on payments to CAP beneficiaries was published prior to November 2010 when the European Court of Justice found that aspects of the legislation were invalid having regard to an individual’s right to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: District Veterinary Offices (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department is currently reviewing the administrative support for its 16 Regional Offices and, in particular, the centralisation of this support in one or more centralised office(s). Centralising administrative procedures would enable my Department to reduce the number of administrative staff it requires to support District Veterinary Office operations and, accordingly, the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: A request for a review of a 20% Cross Compliance penalty under the 2012 Single Payment Scheme relating to non-compliances under Statutory Management Requirement 4 (Nitrates) was received from the person named in November 2012. The applicant was advised, by letter dated 7 February 2013, of the outcome of this review, which was to uphold the original decision. The applicant was also advised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Following initial processing of the application of the person named, a dual claim was identified in respect of one land parcel declared. Following correspondence with my Department, the applicant confirmed in writing, on 10 September 2012, that he did not have the right to declare this parcel. As the dual-claimed parcel exceeded 20% of the overall area declared by the person named, no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Bodies (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department provides funding to animal welfare organisations involved in the delivery of animal care to a range of companion animals including dogs. In December 2012, funding of €1.365 million was awarded to 140 organisations. Details of the recipients of funds are set out in the following table and are also available on my Departments website at:...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bovine Disease Controls (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Bovine Brucellosis and TB reactors are removed under Section 20 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966 (as amended). This Act makes general provision for the control and eradication of disease, the categories of animals and classes of diseases to which the Act applies. Section 20 of the Act empowers the Minister to make Ministerial Orders for specified purposes and the nature of offences that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-environment Options Scheme was received in the Johnstown Castle Office of my Department from the person named on 28 November 2012. The initial processing of the applications has been completed and acknowledgement letters will shortly issue to all applicants. Following that the detailed actions listed in each application will be recorded and all applications...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 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 issues...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named is one of a number, their derogation application having been unsuccessful, who were offered the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee. To date, this option has not been availed of. Should the applicant choose to appeal, it will be referred to the Committee.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases are impacted by the requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. The person named subsequently availed of the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Full payment in respect of applications received under the 2011 Single Payment, Disadvantaged Areas and Grassland Sheep schemes issued directly to the bank account of the person named. Payment in respect of applications received under the 2012 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Areas scheme issued on the 24th December 2012 to the estate of the deceased. No payment was due under the Grassland...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: During processing of the SPS application received from the person named, an issue arose in relation to the reference area of a land parcel declared. That issue was resolved in early January 2013 and the full payments due issued on 11th January 2013, in respect of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and on 3rd January 2013, in respect of the Single Payment Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horsemeat Statistics (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 182 together. The number of horses slaughtered in plants approved by my Department in each of the years since 2008 was as follows: 2008 2,002 2009 3,220 2010 7,296 2011 12,575 2012 11,402 I understand from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland that the following numbers of horses were slaughtered in local authority approved slaughter...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Population (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not undertaken a census of horses. As stated in my reply to the Deputy on 22 January, the Central Statistics Office has recently published a Census of Agriculture for 2010, which shows the number of horses in the country returned at 106,020 of which 37,513 were thoroughbred horses and ponies. However, the most recent estimate of the number of horses in Ireland is provided...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Imports (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 186 together. It is assumed that the Deputies are referring to goods originating outside Ireland whether as a result of trade within the EU single market or imports sourced from non-EU countries. In either case, the importation of meat and meat products into Ireland is a function of supply and demand dynamics, both locally and generally, and is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Equine Exports (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The number of horses certified for export by my Department during the years in question is as set out in the following table. YEAR NO. OF HORSES 2008 2229 2009 2702 2010 2306 2011 2557 2012 2369 The movement of equidae within Member States of the EU is subject to harmonised rules as outlined in Council Directive 2009/156/EC to prevent the spread of disease. However, in view of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Feedstuffs (13 Feb 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: Horsemeat Issues (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: All types of equines can be slaughtered for human consumption, subject to compliance with the relevant legislation. In particular the animals are required to be properly identified in accordance with EU and national legislation. Equines issued with a passport after 1 July 2009 must have a corresponding microchip implanted by a veterinarian, which is recorded in the passport and creates a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Leases (13 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is not possible to provide this information in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farming Incentives (14 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Since taking office I have been concerned by the poor age structure in Irish farming. Recent analysis shows that there are more farmers over 80 than under 35 in Ireland. I have been working to encourage more new entrants to take up farming as a career. Budget 2013 saw the extension of key reliefs that were already in place for young new entrants (such as the 100% relief from Stamp Duty and...