Results 11,121-11,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (19 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The file in question has been provided by my Department to the Agriculture Appeals Office.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (19 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The National Dairy Council (NDC) is a private company owned by its member dairy processors/co-operatives. As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I have no ownership, planning or operational role in relation to the organisation. I have been made aware of a case brought by the Dairy Council of Northern Ireland against the NDC with the European Commission DG for Competition. It...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Farming (19 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The application for an aquaculture and foreshore licence submitted to my Department by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are currently under active consideration in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and 1933 Foreshore Act. The preparation of the EIS is a matter for the applicant. It would not be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (19 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: All afforestation grants are paid to enable an applicant to establish a forestry plantation and the applicant gains an asset as a result of these grants. The applicant employs a forestry company to do the establishment work and, as with any service provided, he/she must pay the company for the work completed. The plantation owner may pay the contractor directly or he/she may sign a mandate...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (19 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Where debts arise on afforestation contracts, each liability is assessed on a case by case basis. As the Statute of Limitations Act 1957 and the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991 legislate for debt recovery and related matters, this legislation may apply to some afforestation contract debt cases.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (19 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: There are no plans to defer any commitments within REPS plans and the commitments as set out in the REPS 4 Plans must be delivered in accordance with the agreed schedule.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (19 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: A report on land availability for afforestation is being compiled by a COFORD Council group and is currently at a draft stage. It will be submitted to the Council, and subsequently for consideration by the Minister of State with responsibility for forestry, in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (19 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Because of the proximity of the proposed planting to a national monument, a detailed archaeological examination of the area was required. This examination is now complete and the application is currently with the Forestry Inspectorate for consideration and recommendation in relation to the project. This should be complete within the next few weeks and a decision on the application will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Political agreement between the three European institutions on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy was reached under the Irish Presidency in June, with final details expected to be agreed with the European Parliament, hopefully this afternoon. There is a final trialogue between the Parliament, the Commission and the Council which finalised its position yesterday in terms of those...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy's questions are all very relevant. I, too, hope we can conclude the discussions and finalisation of the agreement with the European Parliament today. What is currently being finalised relates to multi-annual financial framework decisions by Heads of States in terms of issues such as transfer between pillars and a number of other issues around capping, in which I know Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: I do not propose to make any absolutes today in terms of commitments because I believe that would make a farce of the consultation process. Deputies will be aware of my views on most of these issues, which may or may not change following conclusion of the consultation process. I would be very slow to introduce a reduction coefficient to parts of the country. The reason Ireland fought hard...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Stocking Densities (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has used stocking density as one measure of agricultural productivity. While stocking density does not represent all the elements of agricultural productivity, it is a tangible and precise measurement of activity for which data from my Department are readily available. I am aware that Deputies have received these data. Previous analysis by my Department has found that, using...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Stocking Densities (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The straight answer is "yes" that it is unfair and we will change it. However, I am not sure we will change it to the extent that the Deputy would like. We must work within the parameters of the rules that have been agreed under the CAP. At yesterday's meeting the Council of Ministers made a final decision on the capping of payments. Some very large member states have taken a very strong...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Stocking Densities (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is important for people to know what is possible and what is not possible. We have previously discussed putting a ceiling on payments of €100,000. In principle I agreed with that and I am on the record as having said that. We now have an agreement with other Ministers. Some countries, in particular Germany and the UK, wanted no capping at all and have only agreed to a 5%...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The European Council on 7 and 8 February agreed the multiannual financial framework for the period 2014 to 2020. The overall EU budget was cut by about 7% compared with the Commission’s original proposals, and by 3.5% compared with the current MFF for the period 2007 to 2013. By the way, that was seen as a triumph at the time given the fact that a year ago many people were talking...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: They are easy questions to answer. First of all, there will be a minimum payment. One of the big negotiating issues with the Commission during the six months of our Presidency was around this mandatory minimum payment; it is not voluntary. In any country, whatever the average payment, if that country is not going to go to a flat rate payment model, as the Commission would like, and if that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Consequently, while I do not propose to use that, the Department will implement the mandatory minimum payment.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: As I stated, this has been the topic for many debates nationwide that I have attended, as have other Deputies. However, there are more winners than losers in this regard because of the way in which money is distributed at present. As farmers who get less than the average payment get a smaller payment than do those who are above the average, there are more farmers in the former category and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Unless one is in receipt of an extremely high payment, one will not see significant losses in any single year. Moreover, even if one is in receipt of a very high payment, it still is staged over a seven-year period. However, the majority of farmers are in or around the average, that is, somewhere between €200 and €400 per hectare. These farmers will not see a significant...