Results 9,321-9,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (14 Mar 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: Forestry Sector (14 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: In the absence of specific details of the applications that are considered to be unduly delayed it is not possible to comment further on the matter. If the Deputy wishes Forestry Division in Wexford will contact him to obtain a list of such cases with the relevant details of the persons affected and I will be happy to have the matter investigated further.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (14 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was recently confirmed as having satisfied the minimum stocking density requirements under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, following a review of the agri-enviroment plan for the holding. Processing of the application is now complete and payment is due to issue shortly to the nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (14 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: All animals exported to destinations outside of the European Union are required to be accompanied by a veterinary certificate attesting to animal health requirements as stipulated by the importing country. The requirements in relation to the transport of live animals on a commercial basis are laid down in Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The agreement on the CAP that was reached last night is a major stepping stone in the negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which have been ongoing for over four years. Ministers from the 27 member states of the EU accepted a package of proposals tabled by the Irish Presidency and successfully concluded what is known as a general approach on the CAP reform package. ...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: On the proposal on the redistributive payment, which is being described as a front-loaded payment, this is essentially a top-up on a farmer's single farm payment for the first 30 ha. or 32 ha. in the case of Ireland if we opt for the full limit of an average area. This is an optional tool we may or may not decide to use.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I believe it is 20% of the overall envelope but I will have to check the figure. On coupling, considerable pressure was applied to significantly increase the potential to use coupled payments. The Presidency's proposal, which was the same as the Commission's proposal, was to apply a 5% limit in respect of countries such as Ireland that had decoupled and a 10% limit for other countries...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I share the Deputy's concerns about the plight of Cyprus. Many people view the images from the island with great concern and Irish people can relate to the events taking place in Cyrus given what has occurred here in the past five years. Deputy Michael McGrath is trying to turn a crisis for a small country in Europe into a problem in Ireland. His approach is irresponsible and not founded...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Let me set the record straight on a couple of issues. There is no evidence to suggest that what is taking place in Cyprus is having any impact in Ireland, whether in the financial markets, for example, in respect of the cost of funds, or on bank deposits. That is a simple fact. It is also a fact that the decision to raid deposits in Cyprus, as the Deputy describes it, was proposed by the...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: We have here a country which made a decision that was not forced on it.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The difficulty facing Cyprus is the condition, as part of the bailout, that it raise almost €7 billion to trigger a financing mechanism of €10 billion under a programme. It needs to find a way of raising this money and it proposed to do so by imposing a levy on deposits of less than and more than €100,000.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The proposal was rejected by the Cypriot Parliament and Cyprus is now seeking an alternative means of raising the money. Ireland, as a fellow European Union member state and holder of the Presidency, will monitor the position on a daily basis and assist in this crisis in any way we can, as will the Commission.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Which was?

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Let me deal with that question first. I should have dealt with it in the first round. I will give an absolute guarantee on behalf of the Government - under no circumstances will the Government look to introduce a Cypriot-style levy on deposits to raise money.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have discussed this matter with the Minister for Finance. From the Government's point of view, I am clear as crystal. We will not target bank deposits for any purpose. I cannot be any clearer. I grasp only too well the difficulties that Cyprus faces. I spent many hours last night in Brussels trying to put a Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, deal together. I spent a great deal of time...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: -----into a scaremongering session for Ireland and Irish banks.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should be more responsible.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Michael McGrath should be more responsible.

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. I will provide some clarity on the corporation tax issue. It is important that people not try to muddy the waters. As part of an agreement to finance a programme in Cyprus, it and the other countries in the Eurogroup signed up to an increase in its corporation tax rates. The Deputy will remember that there was significant pressure on Ireland to do the same before,...

Topical Issue Debate: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (20 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: This is a crisis for a country that is entering a bailout, just as we faced a crisis that was very costly for the Irish people.