Results 9,101-9,120 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Offices (26 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 Payments (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Of the farmers in Co Clare, 31 were paid 2012 Single Farm Payment of over €50,000, while 2,540 were paid less than €5,000.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases were impacted by the requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011 and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. The applicant subsequently availed of the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The holding of the person named has recently been confirmed as having met the minimum stocking density requirements of the Scheme, following receipt of outstanding evidence relating to sheep on the holding. This has enabled processing of the application to be finalised, with payment due to issue shortly to the nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Importation of Fertilisers (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Ireland does not have a fertiliser manufacturing industry and, therefore, all inorganic fertilisers used are imported. A risk based annual programme of sampling is prepared which sets out the number of samples of various types of fertiliser that are to be taken at various fertiliser blending facilities and ports. These samples are taken by Authorised Officers of my Department and are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (26 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 in 2011 and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. The person named subsequently submitted additional information to my Department which showed that this requirement...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The holding of the person named has recently been confirmed as having met the minimum stocking density requirements of the Scheme, following processing of the 2012 Sheep Census. This has enabled processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application to be finalised, with payment due to issue shortly to the nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Colleges (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the Agricultural (Research, Training and Advice) Act, 1988, Teagasc has responsibility for the provision of education and training services to the agricultural sector. These services are delivered through a network of agricultural colleges, regional education centres and in collaboration with three privately-owned colleges. Within the various colleges and at local level, Teagasc provide...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The holding of the person named has recently been confirmed as having met the minimum stocking density requirements of the Scheme, following receipt of outstanding evidence relating to sheep on the holding. This has enabled processing of the application to be finalised, with payment issuing to the nominated bank account on the 14 February, 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The 2010 SPS database, which my Department has used to model various CAP reform proposals, shows an average payment per hectare of €272. If all land declared for which farmers did not hold Single Payment Scheme entitlements were included, the average payment per hectare would be reduced to €265.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Agencies (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 594 together. Queries on bonuses, other performance related payments and allowances to staff in the State Bodies should be directed to the State Bodies themselves. The details of the salaries of the Chief Executive Officers of the twelve State Bodies operating under the aegis of my Department for 2012 are outlined in the table below. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (26 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 in 2011 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: A shipment of 2882 cattle from Ireland is currently en route to Libya. While I understand that further trade with Libya is likely, this is a commercial matter and not one in which my Department has any direct involvement.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the terms and conditions of the Single Payment Scheme, an applicant, as well as meeting the Scheme criteria, is required to comply with EU regulatory requirements relating to cross compliance in the areas of public, animal and plant health, environment and animal welfare. In this case, application by the person named under the Single Payment Scheme is currently being reviewed arising...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheepmeat Sector (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The market performance of the sheep sector, in common with other agricultural sectors, is a function of supply and demand. I am aware that sheep prices for the year 2013 to date are disappointing for producers and are running at around 17% below the 2012 level for the corresponding period. This decline is reflected also in other EU member states and can be attributed to a number of factors...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under Food Harvest 2020, ambitious development targets were set for a number of agricultural sectors, including the beef sector. In this context, €5m of Exchequer funding was made available in 2012 for the establishment of a Beef Technology Adoption Programme (BTAP) to encourage the adoption of best management practice on beef farms. In order to qualify for the 2012 Beef Technology...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 14th November 2012. The initial processing of the applications has been completed and acknowledgement letters have issued to all applicants. The detailed actions listed in each application are currently being recorded and all applications will be ranked and selected according to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Meat Processing Plant Inspections (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The onus of compliance with EU food safety regulations, including traceability requirements, rests in the first instance with food business operators. My Department maintains a permanent presence in approved slaughter plants. Regular visits are made to other Department approved meat plants. The frequency of these inspections in plants other than slaughter plants, which focus primarily on food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: In order to qualify for the 2012 Beef Technology Adoption Programme, applicants were required to have satisfied one of the following two criteria: - Farmers with suckler cows must be current participants in the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme (AWRBS), that is, they must have received payments under the Scheme on 2010 born calves and have applied to participate in ICBF HerdPlus prior to applying...

Topical Issue Debate: Horsemeat Investigation (27 Feb 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will shortly obtain a written response to which he can refer. I agree with him in the context of the outcome he is seeking, namely, restoring credibility and confidence to an industry which has been damaged by what happened during the past six weeks. That is the reason we are so focused on getting the answers the Deputy is looking for, and I believe we have the independence in the...