Results 11,961-11,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Company Closures (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department first became aware on 8 November that the live cattle exporter, TLT (International) Ltd, had gone into receivership and informed me of that fact on the same date. As the company is now in the hands of a receiver, it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment on the commercial or financial dealings of that company with my Department. As a general principle, it would not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 550 and 551 together. An application under 2013 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 8 May 2013. Processing of the application has recently been finalised and payments of SPS and DAS have issued, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 25 November.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application on 13 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/cross...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: As processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/ Disadvantaged Area Scheme is now completed, payments under both Schemes will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application on 10 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/cross...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Penalties (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The 2012 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection identified discrepancies between the area declared and the area found, resulting in an over-declaration in area of between 3% and 20%. Based on the Terms and Conditions of the schemes, this resulted in the 2012 payments being based on the found...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards Regulation (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under EU law primary responsibility for the safety and traceability of food placed in the market place lies with food business operators. The role of my Department is to verify compliance by the food business operators with this requirement. Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002, which sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law, stipulates, among other things, that food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Feedstuffs (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have no plans to establish a working group to promote the production of compound feed. There are some 100 compound feed manufacturers in the State producing in excess of 4 million tonnes per annum. It is important to the Irish feed industry that there is a consistent supply of quality feed, especially the pig and poultry industry and those rations requiring a high protein content....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Waste Management (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The use of biogas from agricultural waste through Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is an area that has been supported by my Department. A Scheme of Investment Aid for Demonstration of On-Farm Waste Processing Facilities was introduced by my Department in June 2006, with funding of €4m. In 2007, grant-aid was approved under the Scheme for the development of ten on-farm anaerobic digestion...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Redeployment (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have received a request to meet with a deputation in relation to the transfer of the administrative functions out of the Roscommon regional office. As I have indicated in response to previous Parliamentary Questions on this issue, there has been a significant reduction in the number of administrative staff required in regional offices arising from the reduction in the incidence of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Following direct contact by an official of my Department with the person named, the issue regarding one land parcel declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, identified at validation, has been resolved. Payment will shortly issue, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Projects (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Work on the design of the next Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020 is well underway. In designing the new RDP, my Department must take account of the range of requirements set out in the draft Rural Development Regulation and the need to support key policy aim for the agri food sector in light of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. As part of this process a number of ex-ante...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Animal Welfare (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I was anxious to come here to answer the question myself because this is a serious matter. The issue costs a lot of money and resources but it is one that I, as a Minister, am personally committed to. We need to change attitudes towards the welfare of horses among some communities in Ireland and we are taking action to ensure that happens at present. Rather than read my answer, which the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Animal Welfare (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I would really like to see that happen but I cannot pay for it. My job under the Control of Horses Act is to provide the finance to allow local authorities to deal with stray horses. However, I strongly encourage local authorities to try to find the resources to allow for managed settings to permit the Traveller community, in particular, to interact with and own horses. Its members have a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The most recent estimates available suggest that the horse and greyhound racing industries combined underpin in excess of 24,000 jobs and stimulate approximately €1.6 billion in economic output. The industries receive financial support from the State through the horse and greyhound racing fund under section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. Payments are made from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I will answer some of those many questions at this point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Members have asked valid questions which I will answer. Senator Ó Domhnaill makes a comparison between general sports funding to the Irish Sports Council and the funding for the sports of horse racing and greyhound racing. It is important to reinforce the message that horse racing and greyhound racing are not just sports - each is an industry. Some 90% of horses are bred on farms with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Unlike Deputy Heydon, I avoided taking the political bait. People just need to consider the records of different Governments in respect of these issues. The important issue is that we should ignore what happened in the past and instead consider what now constitutes value for money. We must ask whether this is a good way to spend €54 million in the context of all of the pressures...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I said that we are doing that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: In terms of Exchequer contribution to top up the betting duty that is collected, it is important not to be hypocritical. In 2008 the previous Government contributed just under €40 million as a top up. In the following year, approximately €31.5 million was contributed. In 2010, the sum was €28 million. This year the contribution will be less; it will be €27...