Results 11,781-11,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is not outrageous and I will explain why. On the initial question, this is not penalties for farmers. It is about reimbursement of money that was drawn down on land that was ineligible for payments. We are legally required to collect that money. Unfortunately, we have had, and we continue to have, many corrections in the mapping system which is the basis for farmers' claims of their...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy knows well what the answer is about the €96 million. That money will be spent before the end of the year.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: There is no penalty involved.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I will respond to the second question because the Deputy is deliberately trying to cause trouble. He understands exactly what the situation is in the Department, having previously been a Minister. A huge portion of our payments are made in the last third of the year. This year, the date for the budget was brought forward significantly, but we will spend the Department's allocation for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should let me answer the question. He knows the answer but he is trying to be deliberately mischievous.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should judge my Department on whether it has an underspend at the end of the year. We are budgeting for the year and there will not be a significant underspend at the end of it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU-Canada trade agreement initialled last month by President Barroso and the Canadian Prime Minister, Canada was awarded a tariff rate quota for beef of 50,000 tonnes carcase weight equivalent. This equates to a quota of 39,000 tonnes of boneless beef. The quota is split between fresh and chilled beef comprising 31,000 tonnes, plus the existing 4,000 tonnes quota as part of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Yes, in so far as I can, but I rely on the European Food Safety Authority at European level to do that. I doubt that we will not see Canadian beef coming into the Irish market, but Canadian beef might come into other markets in the European Union where we currently sell beef so it will undoubtedly be competition. However, I do not believe this will happen overnight, and there are increased...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: On the control issue, we will insist on veterinary equivalence. That means beef produced in Canada will have to be produced under the same conditions we have here. There will be limitations on hormone use and other practices regarding welfare and so forth and there will have to be an inspection scheme that reassures European consumers that this is the case. This will apply to other parts of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I will not rise to the bait to create some kind of political-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: First of all, this question should really have been directed to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Grid 25 represents a more than €3 billion investment programme to develop and upgrade the electricity transmission network across the country. Of course this will involve a network crossing rural areas. We already have a considerable electricity network crossing farmland all over the country without any significant negative consequence of which I am aware. Perhaps the Deputy can...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: We need to provide sufficient information and supporting evidence to reassure people, but I do not accept that putting electricity infrastructure around the country, thereby improving our grid, a move from which everyone will benefit in terms of energy prices, as this is not just a question of big and small business-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is a question of putting a modern electricity infrastructure across the country so that we can do what me must in terms of renewables and move electricity around the country. We need to do this properly, which is EirGrid's statutory obligation.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: This is not about big and small business.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: This is about trying to put modern infrastructure in place-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: -----that everyone will benefit from in terms of more affordable electricity and a more efficient mechanism for transporting energy around the country. It will also allow us to put new types of energy generation in place in parts of the country. We are in the middle of a process, but the Deputy is suggesting that I-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: -----get involved in that process. We have a State-owned company, EirGrid, the responsibility of which is to roll out infrastructure across the country. As part of that, it is going through a legal process involving planning applications and public consultation. This process will take its course. EirGrid is obliged to put infrastructure in place in a way that is responsible, takes account...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: When I was in opposition, I was involved in this debate. We did not promise to put everything underground.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: They did not, actually.