Results 11,221-11,240 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: In the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes my Department is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms covering such issues as eligibility under the Scheme, compliance with EU legislation in the areas of the environment, food safety, animal health and welfare and plant health and ensuring that the farm is maintained in good agricultural and environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The annual fisheries quotas for Ireland for the following year are determined each year as part of the TAC and Quota negotiations at the Fisheries Council in December. Once the Irish national quotas for the year are fixed the arrangements for the management of the fisheries and for the allocation of the quotas over the year and across the various fisheries participants commence. Each month...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Technology Adoption Programme Payments (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Approved 2012 Beef Technology Adoption Programme participants were required to attend a prescribed number of discussion group meetings or approved national events, in addition to completing two Tasks, chosen from a menu of eight, designed to enhance on-farm efficiency. The broad range of available Task options allowed participants to choose those best suited to the business needs and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Farming (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: In responding to the case referred to by the Deputy my Department forwarded all relevant material to the EU Commission, including material supplied by Inland Fisheries Ireland. In addition, the EU Commission arranged for Inland Fisheries Ireland to make a direct oral presentation of its position at a meeting with the Commission on 19 December 2011 at which my Department was also present....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Suckler Welfare Scheme Payments (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered twelve beef breed calves during 2011, payment in respect of eight of these calves is currently being processed. The remaining four animals are deemed ineligible as three were sold before the required measures were completed, and one was rejected during an on farm inspection. The person named registered thirteen beef breed animals under the 2012 Suckler Cow...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted an application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme on 21st May 2013 and was the subject of a 4% late penalty. The closing date for the receipt of applications under the 2013 scheme was 15th May with applications received after the 15th May accepted up to 9th June 2013 subject to a 1% penalty per working day. The person named submitted an appeal and following...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Staff (24 Sep 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 participation in community employment schemes, are the responsibility of the company. The matter was, however, raised with the company. The company advised it does not engage in any form of community employment scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Agri-Environment Options Scheme has had a very positive uptake, which is why I was more than happy to open AEOS 3 in 2012, despite fiscal constraints. I secured funding of €20 million per annum for the Scheme and 6,000 applicants received approvals in May this year. The maximum payment is €4,000 per annum, with a minimum 5 year contract. The Scheme was oversubscribed, with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Issues (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 470, 476 and 477 together. Data on the national herd is published twice yearly by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and categorises cows as either dairy or non-dairy cows with the latter kept for beef production. The mid-year statistical trend for beef cows in the period from 1999 to 2012 is presented in the table below. Year Beef Cow Herd '000 head 1999...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Retirement Scheme Eligibility (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: There are a range of tax measures applicable to the agricultural sector announced in recent Budgets which reflect the Government’s commitment to supporting younger farmers through encouraging earlier inter-generational transfer of farm holdings and minimising the costs associated with transfer of farm holdings. These measures have created a positive environment for structural change to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences Applications (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: A General Felling Licence, number GFL13868, was issued in the post to the above applicant on 20 September 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Reopening (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Agri-Environment Options Scheme has had a very positive uptake, which is why I was more than happy to open AEOS 3 in 2012, despite fiscal constraints. I secured funding of €20 million per annum for the Scheme and 6,000 applicants received approvals in May this year. The maximum payment is €4,000 per annum, with a minimum 5 year contract. The Scheme was oversubscribed, with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The agriculture and food sector is vital to the European Economy, with an EU agriculture trade surplus of €7 billion in 2011. I believe that Europe needs to continue to ensure that the food that it produces is safe and that agricultural methods are environmentally sustainable. But it is also necessary to ensure that the Union’s agriculture sector is competitive, particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota Cessation (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 479 together. Market analysis predicts that medium term prospects for global dairy markets are good, with growth in world population and wealth expected to stimulate strong levels of demand for dairy products. More than 85% of Irish dairy production is exported and Ireland has access for dairy products to over eighty countries worldwide....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Beef Over the past decade, the profile of Irish beef exports has changed from reliance on volatile international markets to targeting higher-value consumer markets in the UK and Continental Europe. While international markets provide valuable options for Irish traders, the preponderance of Irish beef exports consists of chilled boneless product destined for other EU member states. According...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Development (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am confident that the industry developed targets set out in Food Harvest 2020, our comprehensive plan for the development of the sector, are achievable and can be met. This planned expansion of the sector will contribute to Ireland's economic recovery. The main targets in the Food Harvest report are by 2020 to increase the value of - Agriculture, food (including seafood) and drink...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 482 together. I have had no discussions with my UK counterpart on this issue. In the event of the UK deciding on a different form of relationship with the European Union, negotiations would be undertaken at EU level on the form of trading relationships that would apply and whether this would include a free trade area. Ireland and the UK have strong...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Minister for Health has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation at both EU and domestic level, with The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) under the aegis the Minister for Health responsible for the enforcement of food safety and labelling requirements in Ireland. It carries out this remit through service contracts with my Department and other agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme Payments (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Following a recent on-farm inspection it was established that the size of the sow house currently under construction by the person named is in accordance with the specifications submitted with the application and for which an approval has already issued. The person named is an approved applicant under the TAMS Sow Welfare Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Minister for Health has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation at both EU and domestic level, with The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) under the aegis the Minister for Health responsible for the enforcement of food safety and labelling requirements in Ireland. It carries out this remit through service contracts with my Department and other agencies...