Results 9,721-9,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (16 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1069 and 1070 together. The European Communities (Welfare of farmed animals) Regulations 2010, S.I. No. 311 of 2010 gives effect to a series of European Directives concerning the protection of animals, including horses, kept for farming purposes. Department Veterinary Inspectors are designated authorised officers under these Regulations. The provisions of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (16 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The figures are as set out in the tables below. The figures for REPS for the years prior to 2012 are available on my Department’s website. REPS Breakdown by Scheme and County - - 2012 - 2013 (to end March ) County Participants Paid Amount Paid Participants Paid Amount Paid CARLOW 296 €2,569,467.78 45 €308,222.97 CAVAN 982 €5,736,112.04...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Productivity (16 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has primarily used stocking density to measure agricultural productivity. While stocking density does not represent all the elements of agricultural productivity, it is a tangible and precise measurement of activity where data from my Department is readily available. The following analysis has been carried out at national level as part of my Department’s analysis of CAP...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (16 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 30th November 2012 and an acknowledgement letter has issued to the person named. The processing of all applications is nearing completion and I expect to be in a position to inform all applicants of the outcome in the next few weeks. In the event that any queries arise on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (16 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: Further to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, NewERA, Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department have worked to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. Substantial work has been undertaken in the interim on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The persons named became registered as owners of a herd number on the 16th May 2008. The previous registered herd owner held single payment entitlements but they were not transferred to the persons named when they took over the herd number. The previous registered herd owner is deceased. An official from my department wrote to the persons named on the 30th June 2009 advising them of the...

Topical Issue Debate: Beekeeping Industry (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: Following that profound statement, may I first agree with the Deputy on a couple of points, mainly on the importance of bees and the maintenance of bee populations? However, it is important to have some accuracy in this regard. The neonicotinoid pesticides that it is proposed by the Commission to be banned or restricted in their use are not widely used in Ireland and only 0.7% of...

Topical Issue Debate: Beekeeping Industry (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: I agree with the last statement. If I am convinced that, in all likelihood, the use of a certain product has the potential to do significant damage to the bee population in Ireland, we will act on it. I wish to be clear about that. This is a small but important industry in Ireland, and bee populations are also hugely important for non-honey production reasons in terms of pollination and so...

Topical Issue Debate: Beekeeping Industry (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: That is not true. I must correct the record.

Topical Issue Debate: Beekeeping Industry (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: For the record, it is not a question of big and small countries. There are big and small countries on both sides. It is a split between 13 on one side and 14 on the other. There have been two debates on neonicotinoids in the Council of Ministers with the Commissioner. I chaired the debates. There is division in terms of the opinion and the state of scientific evidence on this issue. We...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbour Authority Properties (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is referring to the proposed introduction of pay parking within the Fishery Harbour Centre at Howth. I am reviewing all aspects of the matter at present. I can assure the Deputy that I will take account of all aspects of this matter - the views of the various harbour users, the potential return on the State’s investment, the possible impact on the harbour businesses and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Premium (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The forestry premium payment for this applicant has been processed and the payment will be lodged to his bank account in mid-April 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 214 together. The Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which is currently before the Oireachtas, contains provisions relating to the prohibition of cruelty to animals at Section 12 of the Bill. Section 25 of the Bill provides for the adoption of Codes of Practice for the purposes of providing practical guidance relating to any of the purposes of the Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for co-ordinating the enforcement of food legislation in Ireland rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and is discharged by Official Agencies who operate under Service Contract to the FSAI. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is one such Official Agency and it has responsibility for official controls, including labelling, at the retail stage.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS Sow Welfare Scheme and applied for a grant prior to the revision of the scheme which I announced on 27 June 2012. At this time I made provisions for significant improvements under the revised scheme in order to further assist pig farmers to meet the new EU animal welfare requirements for the sector. However, only persons who had not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 6th December 2012 and an acknowledgement letter has issued to the person named. The processing of all applications is nearing completion and I expect to be in a position to inform all applicants of the outcome in the next few weeks. In the event that any queries arise on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st November 2010 and full payments totalling €208.32 and €2,980.46 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: I understand that the vessel in question is a licensed vessel from an EU Member State. The responsibility for licensing of the vessel and the fishing opportunities to which it has access is a matter for that Member State. Control of the vessel within Ireland's Exclusive Fisheries Zone is a matter for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Suckler Welfare Scheme Payments (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered 13 animals under the 2012 Suckler Scheme. Payment has already issued in respect of one of these animals. Payment in relation to a further 11 animals will issue shortly following resolution by the applicant of errors, which were identified. However, the 13th animal is ineligible for payment under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme which require that the dam of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011 and has received full payment totalling €592.72 in respect of 2011. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed...