Results 9,521-9,540 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: My present plans for the development of the seafood sector are set out in the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013, and the complementary Irish Seafood National Programme 2007-2013, which identify the investment priorities for the development of the sector up to 2015. The Seafood Development Programme includes the overwhelming majority of initiatives for the development of the sector....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I want to assure the deputy that throughout this CAP reform process I have continuously engaged with all relevant stakeholders. I try at all times, subject to diary and time constraints, to meet any and all interested parties to discuss issues of mutual concern and when I am not available, senior Department officials are always available to hear concerns and proposals that stakeholders may...

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

Simon Coveney: Against the background of the abolition of milk quotas on the 1 of April 2015, my Department has been providing a range of supports to assist the dairy sector in its efforts to fully exploit its potential for expansion and development. It is clear that in the context of a quota free production environment, Ireland’s natural advantages in terms of climate and grassland provide a...

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

Simon Coveney: The maintenance of an efficient and viable cereals sector in Ireland is clearly very important to the well being of the agri-food industry. Indigenous production of cereals is of course, an important part of primary agriculture production. In addition to generating an income for our tillage farmers, the cereals sector is a key source of grain for the milling and malting industry and feeding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Expenditure (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has worked closely with both the pig and poultry sectors as they have adapted to the introduction of new animal welfare requirements in 2012 and in 2013. Significant supports, in the form of Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS), for egg producers and pig farmers were put in place and a total of €32 million to these sectors was made available under the Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I assume the Deputy is referring to the price of meat products (beef, pigs and lamb) which my department reports on a regular basis to the EU Commission. The following table shows the average market prices for beef, pigs & lamb for the first ten weeks of 2013, together with the corresponding prices for 2012: Prices exclude VAT 2013 2012 Beef (R3 Steers) €4.01 / Kg €3.88...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Loose Sow Housing Directive came into force on 1 January 2013. In order to comply with the requirements of this Directive many pig farmers had to convert existing pig units or construct new builds. In this context my Department made contact with Local Authorities during 2012 with a view to ascertaining the number of planning permission applications received from pig farmers in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487, 489, 493 and 494 together. As the Deputy will be aware the Minister for Health has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation and the new EU food information regulations that were adopted by the Council of Health Ministers in December 2011. However my Department plays an important role in the labelling of food together with the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 490 together. I remain fully committed to the growth targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 and I am very confident that these targets will be achieved. The progress achieved to date on the Food Harvest targets justifies my confidence. At end 2012, the value of both primary output and exports are estimated to have increased by 23% and 12%...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland, under the aegis of the Minister for Health, has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food safety in Ireland. This includes the enforcement of food labelling regulations. It carries out this remit through service contracts with my Department and other agencies including the Health Service Executive, Local Authorities, the Sea-Fisheries...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware that the Council of Agriculture Ministers successfully adopted a General Approach on CAP Reform by a strong qualified majority at its meeting in Brussels on 18 and 19 March last. In my view, what has been adopted by Council on the key outstanding issue from an Irish perspective, relating to the distribution of Direct Payments, represents a very good outcome for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Farming (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for co-ordinating the enforcement of food legislation in Ireland rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and is discharged by Official Agencies which operate under Service Contract to the authority. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and the Marine Institute act as Official Agencies under service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and enforce the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Suckler Welfare Scheme Payments (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered 13 animals under the 2012 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment issued in respect of five animals on 19 December 2012. The pre-payment validation programme established that were errors associated with the remaining eight animals. My Department has recently issued letters to the person named seeking clarification of these errors. When a response is received from the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Genetically Modified Organisms (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The issue of genetic modification is dealt with by three State agencies in Ireland. In summary: -Issues relating to GM foods come under the remit of the Minister for Health and Children (DHC) and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI); -GM feeds and the coexistence of authorised GM crops alongside non-GM crops rests with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM); while...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Policy (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: Last week’s agreement by the Council of Agriculture Ministers on a General Approach to the Commission’s proposals for the reform of the CAP included additional flexibility for Member States to implement alternative models for the internal distribution of direct payments. Included in these alternative models were the Irish ‘partial convergence’ approach - which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Remuneration (26 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: The details of the salaries of the Chief Executive Officers of the eight non commercial State Bodies operating under the aegis of my Department for 2012 are outlined in the table below. The details of salaries for the staff of these State Agencies are a matter for the Agencies themselves. Non-Commercial Body/Agency Salary Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board This Board does not have a...

Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No.1 :In page 7, line 14, after “AMEND” to insert “THE DOG BREEDING ESTABLISHMENTS ACT 2010,”.Before we get on to the amendment, I just want to say that we have had a long debate on this Bill in the Seanad with a good Second Stage and a comprehensive Committee Stage in the Dáil. There are 55 amendments which I hope to deal with today, if...

Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: These amendments will allow a horizontal regime to supersede existing provisions for identification in the Control of Dogs Act 1986, the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 and the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. I am proposing an amendment to Schedule 3 to provide that the Minister may introduce such regulations without the need for local authorities to specifically request as is currently...

Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2013)

Simon Coveney: At the moment there is no legal requirement for an owner to have a dog microchipped. We have two organisations, the Dogs Trust-----