Results 10,941-10,960 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Training (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Details outlined in tables below of Training Programmes and third level courses and costs for employees of Department for academic year 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013. In addition, my Department incurred expenditure in this period in Health and Safety training to the sum of €22,440.56. A further sum of €17,424.40 was spent in the provision of Internal Audit Training courses....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Using my Department’s 2012 outturn of €8,614,233 for Travel and Subsistence expenses as a base, the following table sets out the projected savings if the various percentage reductions were applied: % Reduction Annual Saving € 1% 86,142 5% 430,712 7% 602,996 10% 861,423 12% 1,033,708 15% 1,292,135 17% 1,464,420 20% 1,722,847 In the period 2008...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Total Savings for Training and Development in 2012 if they were reduced by the percentage indicated by the Deputy are as follows: 5% = €38,541; 7% = €53,958; 10% = €76,893; 12% = €92,499; 15% = €115,624; 17% = €131,040; 20% = €154,166.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy, following implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement, is set out in the following table: Special Adviser Annual Salary on 01/07/2013 € Annual saving if capped at 1st point of P.O. Scale € Ross MacMathuna 103,200 27,553 Aine Kilroy 81,676 6,029 Total annual saving 33,582

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: REPS4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. The person named has made an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office in relation to his Single Farm Payment and Department officials are currently awaiting the outcome of that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named received 75% of his REPS4 2012 payment on 27th June 2013 and he received the balancing payment of 25% on 2nd July 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Programme for Government Implementation (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have provided, in the schedule beneath, details on the implementation status of the commitments in the 2011-2016 Programme for Government for which my Department has primary responsibility. The timeline for delivery of these commitments is the lifetime of this Government but the Deputy will be aware that the nature of these commitments is such that ongoing development and progress is the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Consultancy Contracts Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not employ external public relations communications consultants or organisations. Public relations advice, where required is provided by my Department’s Press Office. It is not possible to provide costs for this service, as the work is carried out as part of the standard duties of the staff involved.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sugar Industry (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that in 2011 I met with two separate groups who had conducted feasibility studies, into the possibility of establishing a new sugar/bioethanol facility in the country. I clearly stated at both meetings and on many occasions since both in the Dáil and elsewhere, that any venture to develop a combined sugar/bioethanol production facility would have to be a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Decentralisation Programme Staff Transfers (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: In answer to the Deputy's question, I can confirm that no staff from my department's office in County Galway transferred to Government Departments in counties Mayo or Sligo since March 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Breeding Industry (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) was established in 2007 following extensive consultation with the main sectoral interests in the sport horse industry. The establishment of HSI brought together the breeding and sport sides of the Irish Sport Horse Sector. HSI, a 32 county body, is a limited company run by a board of directors representative of various affiliate bodies. My Department transferred...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have already posted on the website of the Department preliminary details of the CAP reform package on which political agreement was reached between the three EU institutions last month. Over the coming days I will be adding to that information. One of the main features of this agreement on the CAP is the amount of flexibility it gives to Member States to implement the common policy in a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Technology Adoption Programme Payments (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that the payment due under the 2012 Beef Technology Adoption Programme issued by my Department to the person named on 8 July 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Authority Investigations (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: The report on the 'Equine DNA and Mislabelling of Processed Beef Investigation', which I published on 14th March, provides extensive details on the investigation and the actions taken by my Department. Operations in a total of four plants were suspended (in some cases on a voluntary basis) for varying periods arising from the investigation. My Department is considering legal proceedings...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is important that we do as much as we can over the next few months to ensure that Irish farmers are not faced with the same issues and difficulties next Winter as experienced earlier this year in sourcing adequate fodder for their animals. Accordingly, Teagasc’s Interagency Fodder Committee is currently monitoring the fodder situation while also examining and co-ordinating the next...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: During the fodder situation, concerns regarding access to credit and flexibility around loan repayments were significant issues for many farmers. My Department has been in contact with the banks, co-ops and feed merchants to urge flexibility and co-operation. Both banks and co-ops have asked farmers to contact them to discuss the terms that are available and have indicated that they will show...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is largely finalised, with a small number of residual cases continuing to be processed as further supporting documentation and information is submitted by applicants. To date, payments worth in excess of €210 million have issued to 95,590 beneficiaries compared to €223 million paid under the 2011 Scheme. The level of savings...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Of the five applications for approval of ships outstanding at the 29th May, four of the ships involved have now undergone inspections by an independent marine surveyor and a Department Veterinary Inspector. All four were deemed not to meet the standards laid out in the legislation in their current state. Detailed reports have issued to the ship owners on foot of these inspections. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Slaughter Statistics (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 987 and 990 together. Horses can be slaughtered for human consumption subject to a number of conditions, including that they have been registered within six months of birth or by 31st December of the year of birth whichever is the later, have not have been treated with any prohibited veterinary medicines and are accompanied to the slaughterhouse by the horse...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Costs (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Legal advice was sought outside of the Office of the Attorney General three times in 2011, none in 2012 and three times to date in 2013. The total costs for this service was €10,820.50 in 2011 and €19,907 in 2013.