Results 10,101-10,120 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Fodder Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: We will provide the flexibility that I think the Deputy is looking for.

Fodder Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Fodder Crisis: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: That is fine.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ash Dieback Threat (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The purpose of the all-Ireland Control Strategy for Chalara is to provide an all island framework for the policy of identification, control and eradication of the causal agents of Chalara (ash dieback) a major threat to our ash trees. The draft control strategy has been developed jointly with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland (DARD) to ensure that there...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: As I have previously advised, the financial and other implications of a potential sale of the harvesting rights to Coillte's forests have been examined by NewERA, Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department. As part of the process, a number of detailed financial, technical and other specialist reports were prepared for Coillte, by external specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that the proposal on internal convergence I made to the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers at the March meeting of the Council was accepted by Ministers as one of the options that should be available for the distribution of direct payments. As such it forms part of the General Approach of the Council agreed at that meeting. This issue is now the subject of further...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am acutely aware of the difficulties being experienced by some farmers across the country at the moment. I recently announced that the transport fodder scheme will now run until Friday 10th May and clarified that maize silage is eligible under this scheme. The weather has improved which in turn has led to improved grass growing conditions. However, there are farmers in parts of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Investigations (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The report on the ‘Equine DNA and Mislabelling of Processed Beef Investigation’, which I published on 14th March, includes details of the companies that came to my Department’s attention during this investigation and the actions taken by the Department. As a result of the investigation activities were temporarily suspended by my Department at two plants. The plants in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for co-ordinating the enforcement of food legislation in Ireland rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). The FSAI is an independent body under the aegis of the Minister for Health. The FSAI carries out its enforcement function through “service contracts” with official agencies. These official agencies include the Sea Fishery Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Division (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Commonage lands form an important part of the farming enterprises of many farmers, particularly along the West Coast. They also form an important part of the local environment from the point of view of bio-diversity, wildlife, amenities and economic returns e.g. tourism. However, there is a substantial risk of land abandonment as under-grazing becomes more of a problem. Under-grazing leads...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Payments under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced, on target, on 26 September 2012 and, to date, payments worth in excess of €207 million have issued to 94,671 of the total of 102,072 who applied. In any event, as demonstrated below, no undue delay currently exists in processing cases and payments continue to issue twice weekly, as individual cases are confirmed eligible. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am acutely aware of the difficulties being experienced by some farmers across the country at the moment. My Department has been working with the industry on this and in a collaborative effort, a comprehensive range of measures has been put in place to assist the sector during this difficult period. The Deputy will be aware that my Department has put in place a €1m fund to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The bays referred to by the Deputy are designated as Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and/or Special Protection Areas under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 sites). In 2007 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) declared in Case C418/04 that by failing to take all measures necessary to comply with Article 6.3 of the EU Habitats Directive in respect of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Neonicotinoid Insecticides (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission proposed a partial ban on the use of 3 neonicotinoids over concerns for bees. The European Commission proposals to restrict the use of neonicotinoid insecticides was discussed at the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on 14/15 March 2013 and the resulting vote was inconclusive, with 14 Member States refusing to support the measures proposed by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Funding (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the current approved financial plan in the Rural Development Programme 2007 - 2013 [RDP] close on €4.8Bn is allocated at programme level. This amount includes an allocation of EAFRD funding of €2.49Bn. Since the launch of the RDP expenditure under the programme up to the end of March 2013 amounted to €3.8Bn. This represents close on 79% of the total value of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The credit arrangements referred to in the question are of course a matter between the supplier and the processor. However, I am delighted that the Dairy Co-ops have introduced a number of extremely helpful initiatives such as interest free credit for fertilizer purchased during the month of May and reduced prices in respect of feed supplies of meal. I also pay tribute to the farmers and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences Applications (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay was received by my Department last year. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement is being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. A determination in respect of the application...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU Regulations governing the scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Successive EU audits have made it absolutely clear that compliance with the Regulations must be strictly adhered to and that all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Application Numbers (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Payments under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced, on target, on 26 September 2012 and, to date, payments worth in excess of €207 million have issued to 94,671 of the total of 102,072 who applied. I must emphasise that at this stage all applicants that were eligible for payment under the 2012 Scheme have received their payment under the Scheme. Therefore, it is clear that no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Expenditure (8 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: In line with its budgetary proposal to limit the level of direct income support that large agricultural holdings could receive, the Commission’s original CAP reform proposals contained a mandatory cap of €300,000 on the amount of direct payments that could be paid to an individual farmer, together with provision for further cuts in payments between €150,000 and...