Results 11,841-11,860 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases Issues (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The regime which my Department operates to assist farmers in removing their reactor cattle is designed to ensure that this is achieved in as timely a fashion as possible, not least, to avoid risk of disease spread within the affected herd. Comparative data for 2012 and thus far in 2013 indicate that, overall, there has been a slight improvement in terms of removal within 30 days of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Poultry Industry (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: My officials and I have had a number of meetings with the IFA Poultry Committee, and a Poultry Council was one of a several matters discussed. I agree that a collaborative approach between farmers and processors, where possible and appropriate, is likely to serve the best interests of the poultry sector. Of course, such an initiative would require consensus among the main players on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme Applications (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Following initial processing of the application of the person named, dual claims were identified in respect of a number of land parcel declared. Query letters have recently issued to both applicants regarding their entitlement to claim the disputed land. To date no reply has been received by either applicant. An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Development (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Food Harvest 2020 identified the potential of the speciality and artisan food sector and advice and support have been developed by the development agencies and my Department to assist the development of food businesses in this area. In September I launched Food Academy, a joint initiative by Bord Bia and the County Enterprise Boards to provide a consistent level of food marketing knowledge...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Imports (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), under the aegis of the Department of Health is the competent authority with overall responsibility for the enforcement of food legislation in Ireland. Controls on the import of food are implemented by a number of agencies, including my Department, through service contracts with the FSAI. In relation to traceability, EU Food Hygiene Regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Imports (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: International trade in agri-food products is a reality with which we must live and as a general proposition, as a country with a strong export focus, it is clearly in Ireland’s broader economic interests to ensure that there is a reasonably liberal, but balanced international trade environment. To protect animal and public health and in accordance with international trade...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Development (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The new CAP is marked by three major advances: - First there is a greater emphasis on environmental sustainability through the greening of direct payments and the requirement to support agri-environment measures in rural development programmes. - Second, concerted efforts are being made to tackle the problem of generation renewal through new and enhanced supports for young farmers; - Third,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Development (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Output and exports are relevant indicators of growth for these sectors and the data for beef, lamb, pigmeat and poultry over the past five years is shown in the table. - - - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011 - 2012% Change 2008-2012 - Output* €m Exports €m Output €m Exports €m Output €m Exports €m Output €m Exports €m Output ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The scope of the new Common Fisheries Policy is the conservation of marine biological resources and the management of fisheries and fleets exploiting such resources. The reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) was secured during the Irish Presidency following many months of complex negotiations involving the European Commission, the European Parliament, all European Member States and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Achieving political agreement on CAP reform was a major success for the Irish Presidency of the EU Council. The CAP reform deal that I negotiated is a well-balanced package of measures that provide policy certainty for our largest indigenous industry up to 2020 and is consistent with the smart, green, growth path laid out in Food Harvest (FH) 2020. Member States are afforded a considerable...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The new Common Fisheries Policy puts fishermen at the core in developing technical and conservation measures to protect juvenile fish and vulnerable fish species with a completely new regionalised decision making approach. This is a significant change as up to now fisheries decision making was centred in Brussels. The new CFP has moved away from the old system of EU wide development and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Issues (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Given the high export dependence of the beef and dairy sectors, their future prospects will be determined in the first instance by demand and supply developments in the marketplace. The dairy industry in Ireland has been constrained by the milk quota system which was introduced in 1984. A Teagasc analysis of the post-quota situation anticipates an extra yield per cow and an increase in dairy...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cereal Sector (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The maintenance of an efficient and viable cereals sector in Ireland is clearly very important to the well being of the agri-food industry. Indigenous production of cereals is of course, an important part of primary agriculture production. In addition to generating an income for our tillage farmers, the cereals sector is a key source of grain for the milling and malting industry and feeding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The new EU animal welfare requirements for the poultry and pig sectors entered into force on 1 January 2012 and 1 January 2013 respectively. My Department maintains regular contact with the relevant local authorities regarding issues which arise in relation to planning permission for the construction of animal housing which is required in order to comply with the new EU animal welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Household Incomes (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Teagasc’s National Farm Survey 2012, which represents 79,000 farms, estimated that: - 38% of farms were economically viable. An economically viable farm is defined as one that has the capacity to pay family labour at the average agricultural wage, and also to provide a 5% return on non-land assets. - 29% of farms were sustainable. A sustainable farm is not economically viable but it...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Food production and labelling in the countries of the European Union operate in accordance with harmonised rules and member states' controls are subject to audit and supervision by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the EU. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) under the aegis the Minister for Health has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food safety and labelling...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Application Numbers (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Payments under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced, on schedule, on 25 September and, to date, payments worth €180.3 million have issued nationally, to some 84,782 applicants, with payments continuing to issue on a twice weekly basis, with individual cases being paid as they are confirmed eligible. The details in respect of payments which have issued to farmers in County...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Application Numbers (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Payments under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced, on schedule, on 25 September and, to date, payments worth €180.3 million have issued nationally, to some 84,782 applicants, with payments continuing to issue on a twice weekly basis, with individual cases being paid as they are confirmed eligible. The details in respect of payments which have issued to farmers in County...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application on 15 May 2013. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: As processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme and 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has recently been completed, payments under both schemes will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.