Results 12,801-12,820 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I understand that Deputy Ferris was also part of these two questions.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I will answer these two questions and then, hopefully, come back to the Deputy's questions. I assure Deputy Ó Cuív that there is no laissez-faire attitude coming from me. We are continuing to work as hard as we can to get the best possible price for Irish beef by building its reputation all over the world, particularly in the UK and further afield. Outside of the bull beef story...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I, like the Deputy, wish there was no Border but there is and while there is, we have labelling requirements that inform consumers and buyers of Irish and British beef as to where those cattle have been reared, slaughtered and so on. At the moment, there is a very strong market for British-reared and slaughtered beef. There is also a strong market for Irish beef but it is not quite as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: If I might, I will be fair to the Deputy, as he has not received an answer to his final question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Regarding bull beef and Teagasc, there is a market for bull beef, but it is for young animals that are slaughtered at 15, 16 or 17 months. They are younger, smaller and lighter animals. Our problem is that many farmers have animals that are 23, 24, 27 or 28 months old. They are large animals and do not meet the bull beef specs sought by the supermarkets. I do not blame those farmers for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: For that reason, farming organisations and the industry have tried to work through it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I reject any accusation that Teagasc was a part of manipulating anyone. I do not believe that it was. I recall cautioning people two years ago about the bull beef market. There is a role and a market for bull beef. It is an intensive form of beef production, where animals are slaughtered much younger and fed more intensively. This is what the market wants. In general, however, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: At the outset, I would like to clarify that there were no so-called clawback payments under the 2013 single farm payment scheme. In processing the applications under the single farm payment scheme and other direct aid schemes, my Department is legally obliged to adhere to the requirements set out in the EU regulations governing each of the schemes. It is not possible to deviate from the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The figures I cited are proof that the Department is trying to get through this process with farmers and, where possible, to have successful appeals. I do not want to take money off someone if it is not necessary to do so. However, I must be able to stand over the integrity of this process, which means ensuring that Ireland only draws down direct payments for farmers from European Union...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am also sorry to hear that but it is statement with which I do not agree. People will have their views. As I have clarified previously in response to a question from the Deputy on this subject last June, this matter relates to alleged fraud irregularities which are not specifically about Coillte but have a wider sectoral perspective. Further to the Deputy raising this subject in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is frustrated because he is not getting the answers he wants. We have done what we, as a Department, said we would do. We have examined all of the files available to us. The conclusion of the departmental investigation was that the accusations being made could not be stood up by the facts available. We have given all of that information to the Garda Síochána, which is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: This has got a hearing. The fact that it is not getting front-page newspaper coverage seems to frustrate Deputy Flanagan.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Flanagan raised it. We have already reacted. Our Department has already set up several meetings with the Deputy and the company that has made the complaints. We have already had an internal investigation in the Department, which has not given the Deputy the answers he wants.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: We have now passed on all those files to the appropriate body, the Garda Síochána, in order that it can investigate whether the accusations that are being made are true. Coillte has said that it will co-operate fully with the process. If that is not satisfactory to Deputy Flanagan, then perhaps he does not trust the Garda to do its job on the issue.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: If Deputy Flanagan has anything, he might send it on to the Garda, if he is as certain as he seems to be.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I got a chance to visit Galway and Clare last Friday. It was a useful visit and I met many people over several hours. A good deal of damage has been done. In the case of farmers and inspections, we have been very clear with our inspectors that they must be flexible and take account of the extreme weather that we have had in recent months in the course of their inspections and assessments,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I will mention that issue to her but that is a resource issue on which she will have to make a decision. Coastal protection generally is not under my remit. My portfolio covers the marine and I am responsible for seven fishery harbours. Most of them were not badly damaged. The majority of the projects on which we will work with local authorities are local authority owned and managed...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: It would be difficult for me to provide funding for privately-owned piers.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: In the context of piers, etc., that are publicly-owned and need to be repaired, we have already asked local authorities to indicate what are their priorities in respect of the infrastructure that needs to be put back in place. On the single farm payment, farmers cannot apply for payment in respect of land that no longer exists because it has been washed away. We will need to discuss this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I will, as the Deputy suggested, discuss that matter with my colleague.