Results 10,621-10,640 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Data (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Payments under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced, on target, on 26 September and, to date, payments worth in excess of €208 million have awarded to 95,449 farmers. Payments continue to issue twice weekly, as individual cases are confirmed eligible. No funding has been returned unspent to the Exchequer in respect of the 2012 Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Data (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled at present and a further reply will issue to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota Application Numbers (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Scheme for the Allocation of Milk Quota to New Entrants To Dairying invites applications from interested parties under three New Entrant categories, namely: - Category A - Brand New Entrant to Dairying - Category B - Purchaser of Quota as a New Entrant through the Milk Quota Trading Scheme - Category C - Purchaser of Quota as a Successor through the Milk Quota Trading Scheme The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Potato Sector (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Teagasc is the main potato breeder in Ireland. Its breeding programme originally focused on the breeding of varieties for the home market but since the inception of its partnership with Irish Potato Marketing, (IPM) in the 1970’s, the scope of the breeding programme expanded very successfully to include breeding for the export market as well as to producing a suitable processing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Premium Payments (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: A remedial works letter issued to the applicant in March 2013 because his plantation was not up to the required standard. A report confirming that works have been completed has been received from the applicant's forester and the Forest Service District Inspector has been notified. A site inspection is scheduled for the week ending 28th June 2013. The subsequent premium for 2013 cannot be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Eligibility (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The situation in relation to the participation in and payment under REPS 4 to the person named is under review by my Department and a written reply will issue directly to the deputy in the next few days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the Table below: REQUESTED SICK LEAVE STATISTICS 2009 – 2012 IN RESPECT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE - 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total number of uncertified sick days taken in Year 2,700 2,259 2,168 1,861 Average number of uncertified sick days per employee in Year 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.5 Total number of certified...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department makes available substantial resources to deal with equine related issues. In particular, funding is provided to Local Authorities under the Control of Horses Act, 1996, to enable these bodies implement their extensive powers relating to the control and welfare of stray or abandoned horses. In keeping with advice on humane disposal of horses from the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The aims of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme are: - Ensuring continued agricultural land use, thereby contributing to the maintenance of a viable rural society; - Maintaining the countryside; - Maintaining and promoting sustainable farming systems, which, in particular, take account of environmental protection requirements. Given the restrictions faced by those farming in recognised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have regular contact and discussions with Commissioner Cioloş concerning reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. I spoke to him by telephone as recently as last week and I will be meeting him later this week. In these negotiations, I have always robustly defended the principles and objectives of the CAP and have made it clear that Ireland’s aim in this reform is to maintain...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Stocking Densities (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I would consider that the output of organic nitrogen per hectare, NPH, on livestock farms is a good indication of stocking density on those farms. In response to a previous question from the Deputy, I provided data on NPH based on payment per hectare categories as follows: Payment per hectare category Number of farms Average NPH per Category < 250 Euro 49,804 61 > 250...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: As you will be aware, the Irish EU Presidency recently concluded its work on securing agreement on CFP reform, which had been identified as a priority for the Presidency. The agreement, concluded after months of complex negotiations with the European Parliament, will be of significant benefit to all fisheries groups as it places the concept of long term sustainability at the core of European...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rights of Way (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as land transactions, are the responsibility of the company. The company has, however, advised that a grant of a right of way from Coillte at the location mentioned by the Deputy was completed on 28th May 2013. It is noted that the grant was not to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: As stated in my response to previous Parliamentary Questions on this case on 16th April 2013, the decision of the Independent Agriculture Appeals Office, which was to disallow the appeal and uphold the Department's original decision, was notified to the applicant on 12th March 2013. The Appeals Office also set out the further avenue available to the applicant, involving reference to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: An appeal was received in the Agriculture Appeals Office from the person named on 14 March 2013. The case is currently being examined and a decision will be made as soon as possible and communicated to the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (18 Jun 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 examined the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte's forest assets. This examination included the identification of the forestry assets involved, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was secured after many months of extremely complex negotiations with the European Parliament and is a significant achievement of the Irish EU Presidency. This radical reform will support the rebuilding of fish stocks in our waters as Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas are set to deliver maximum sustainable yield by 2015, where...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Agencies Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: My officials have clarified that Deputy Naughten’s question refers to regulators such as the Financial Regulator under the Department of Finance, Taxi Regulator under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport or Energy Regulator under the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. There are no such regulators accountable to me.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: There are currently 12 semi-State organisations that fall under the aegis of this Department: 1. Bord Bia 2. Bord na gCon 3. BIM 4. Coillte 5. Horse Racing Ireland 6. Irish National Stud 7. Marine Institute 8. National Milk Agency 9. Sea Fisheries Protection Authority 10. Teagasc 11. Veterinary Council of Ireland 12. Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board (ALAB).

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies Establishment (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: No new semi-State organisations have been established since March 2011 under the aegis of my Department.