Results 10,661-10,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: In this session. The Bill is well advanced.

Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The heads of both Bills have been discussed and both Bills should be seen before the end of the year.

Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: While this pertains to the enforcement of the existing Charities Act rather than to new legislation, I accept the Deputy has raised a significant issue in respect of the manner in which much street selling takes place, particularly if one is dealing with large utilities, whereby people are signing under inappropriate circumstances on the street when they are thinking of something else. I...

Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I agree with the Deputy. The Government published this last summer and my understanding is the Department of Finance has made some changes to it and essentially will republish a new Bill. This will be in this session and the Government greatly desires to have this legislation being brought forward at the same time as the horse racing legislation, which the Government also has prepared,...

Visit of Governor of Maryland (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Before answering Question No. 1, I welcome Governor O'Malley. I spent probably my most enjoyable summer ever as a student working in Maryland as a lifeguard on a beach. He brings back nice memories of good weather and much enjoyment in a great state. He is very welcome here.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is right to ask for an update on CAP reform. We have reached the end game in a decision-making process that we commenced in January at the start of our Presidency. I am flying to Brussels this afternoon which is one of the reasons I will need to leave questions a little earlier than normal - I also have a Cabinet meeting. I will meet the Commissioner tomorrow and the Chairman of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: We are on schedule for a decision next week, I hope. We cannot take that for granted as much work remains to be done. However, we are on schedule and I would be hopeful we can get the job done before the end of next week.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I would be hopeful.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I will not give the Deputy any certainties now in terms of the outcome, but I believe the final compromise is likely to have a minimum payment. The negotiation is on the level of that minimum payment, which obviously has an impact on the level of redistribution between farmers in terms of the internal convergence model that Ireland has essentially designed and has been accepted by the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I would not agree with that, which is no surprise. The figures I have given to the Deputy I have also seen regarding stocking rates. There is no justification for a farmer being on €900 or from €1,000 to €1,300 per hectare. Although the stocking density increases as the payment increases, in other words, there is a correlation between the most productive farmers and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I will not allow that to happen, I have not allowed that to happen and the final result next week will not allow that to happen either.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has no plans to close down any more local offices, the Deputy will be glad to hear. However, following a successful restructuring of my Department's local office network, the number of local offices was reduced from 58 to 16. This was an impressive exercise and the civil and public servants working in my Department did a fantastic job in this regard. My Department has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Perhaps I will come back to it if Deputy Ferris asks a supplementary question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I probably should have come to that particular issue earlier. The decision to centralise administrative functions is already being implemented. Administrative work has already been transferred out of several regional offices successfully, notably those in Ennis, Clonakilty, Limerick and Tipperary, without any negative implications for the provision of services to farm clients. I realise...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: We are trying to do that while, at the same time, introduce the necessary changes to reduce the cost of running the Department and maintain services in order that we can spend more money on farmers, farming schemes, supporting agriculture and so on. That is what we are trying to do and in so doing we are not asking anyone to step aside and no one will lose their jobs. Their jobs are safe...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Let us wait and see what the Labour Relations Commission process brings up and we will certainly take it into account.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Point taken.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry Development (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am committed to continuing the path set out in the report of the high-level group on the Killybegs jobs initiative, which reported in October 2011. The report identified the potential for establishing Killybegs as a centre for research and innovation. Recommending an integrated approach, the report seeks to position Killybegs as the premier fisheries port of the north-west Atlantic....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fishing Industry Development (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I did not know that, and I am pleased the Deputy informed me of it. I will inquire about the matter. It does make sense to have a presence in Killybegs, as that is where the fish are landed. Killybegs is by far Ireland’s largest fishing port, certainly for the pelagic industry. I must be careful not to get into the decision-making process LYIT must make in terms of where it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Fisheries Policy Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Browne, a former Minister of State in the Department, for raising the matter. It gives me an opportunity to update the House on the result the Irish Presidency has achieved, along with the European Parliament and the Commission, on finalising a Common Fisheries Policy, CFP, reform process that is radical, hugely progressive and will ensure that we still have a fishing industry...