Results 12,661-12,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy and Rural Development Programme: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: No, farmers will be obliged to provide DNA samples each year. We cannot provide money for nothing.

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy and Rural Development Programme: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: We are trying to build up a picture of the national herd in terms of the DNA and performance of the animals in it. We will pay farmers to assist us in doing that. We are increasing the payment involved significantly up to €80 per animal. We need to ensure matters are managed in the context of the green low carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, and commonage areas. GLAS is quite...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy and Rural Development Programme: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: There will have to be a commitment from those who farm in commonage areas to do the jobs to which I refer because otherwise we will not be able to pay them. This is not about income support, rather it relates to people being paid for doing something positive with regard to the environment and sustainability. The idea that we should focus GLAS payments on low income farmers misses the point...

Seanad: Common Agricultural Policy and Rural Development Programme: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: Yes, absolutely, sheep are doing well. The island communities are another case in point. I wanted to include this issue in the programme but it needs a little more thought. I suspect that the way in which we support island communities will be similar to the way in which we support disadvantaged areas. We have what one could describe as a disadvantaged "plus" payment, under which a set...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Fund (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund which was established under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. In accordance with the provisions of the Act monies from the Fund are distributed 80% to Horse Racing Ireland and 20% to Bord na gCon. My Department does not provide funding to the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Consultancy Contracts Data (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department uses private contractors, consultants and agencies to provide certain services when such an approach is more cost effective. This can include services such as specialised laboratory services, computer services, legal advice or independent auditing services. The information requested can be found in the following table. Consultant/Consultancy Company Nature of Work...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department has no record of the person named having lodged an application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme. An official from my Department will be in direct contact with the person to clarify the situation.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 28 November 2012. The process of ranking and selecting all AEOS applicants was clearly set out in the scheme documentation. Acceptance into the scheme was established using the pre-determined selection criteria as follows: 1.farmers in the Boora region of Co. Offaly who chose...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first five years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. This process has now been completed for 2013 payments and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Research Programmes (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department funds research undertaken collaboratively by Teagasc and the higher education institutes, through a competitive Call for Proposals process primarily under our agricultural production (Stimulus) and forestry (CoFoRD) research funding programmes. Grant award announcements I made under this process in 2013 included the provision of €504,115 for a project entitled...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: Under the outline Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Bill, which have been published by the Minister of the Environment, Community and Local Government, it is provided that (inter alia) a sectoral roadmap for agriculture will be developed as part of a process leading to a National Low Carbon Roadmap. My Department has initiated work on the preparation of the agriculture sectoral roadmap...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Prices (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department is anxious to ensure the continued viability of the maximum number of vegetable producers in the country. However my Department has no role in the setting of prices which is a matter between the producer and the retailer. Nonetheless work is underway in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on including an enabling provision in legislation in the Consumer...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: As part of the decisions associated with the Direct Payments I recently announced, I have decided that the payments received under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme will be incorporated into the calculation of an individual’s entitlement value in 2015. Further support for this vital sector is maintained in the overall CAP package, including the following measures under the RDP: -...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: Decisions on the GLAS scheme including access to the extra €2,000 will be made as part of the consultation process with stakeholders which is currently underway. In order to facilitate this consultation process details of the proposed GLAS scheme have been published in the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 -2020 Draft Consultation Programme. Following that process, formal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Issues (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: The national suckler herd provides the raw material for our quality beef industry and underpins an export trade estimated to worth over €2 billion in 2013. While improved farm efficiencies and productivity are essential to producer profitability, price is a major contributor in increasing returns to beef farmers. Cattle prices have reached historically high levels in recent years...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: Area-based schemes under the Rural Development Programme, 2007-13, are subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications, including cross checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, to be completed before payments can issue. These rigorous procedures, together with on-farm inspections, apply to a number of scheme payments including the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in May 2009 and received payments for the first four years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Following the administrative check an issue was discovered in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2013, processing of which has recently been finalised. Payments under the Single Payment Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on the 16 January 2014, with payment in respect of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme due to issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (28 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: Decisions on the GLAS and GLAS+ scheme will be made following the consultation process with stakeholders which is currently underway. In order to facilitate this consultation process details of the proposed GLAS scheme have been published in the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 -2020 Draft Consultation Programme. Following that process, formal proposals will be submitted to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (28 Jan 2014)

Simon Coveney: Payment of the 2nd Instalment grant under the above afforestation contract cannot be made until the applicant has had the plantation re-surveyed and a revised map has been submitted to my Department. The applicant’s forester has stated that the revised map will be submitted in the week beginning 27th January 2014. Once that map has been received, the 2nd instalment grant application...