Results 12,821-12,840 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: I did not say they would be penalised.

Other Questions: Fish Farming (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: In 2007 the European Court of Justice, ECJ - in case C418/04 - declared that by failing to take all measures necessary to comply with Article 6.3 of the EU habitats directive in respect of the authorisation of aquaculture programmes, Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations under the directive. As most aquaculture activity takes place in Natura 2000 areas, it is necessary to undertake...

Other Questions: Fish Farming (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Those people need and deserve efficient treatment by the State.

Other Questions: Fish Farming (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I share that frustration. Unfortunately, we are now making policy decisions that should have been made many years ago under previous Governments. The approach to aquaculture licensing was not fit for purpose. The Commission has called us to account and we have to put in place a gold-plated system to the satisfaction of the Commission; otherwise, the consequences for the industry would be...

Other Questions: Fish Farming (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: If the Deputy is saying that BIM has no evidence to suggest there was any escape of salmon-----

Other Questions: Fish Farming (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy told me BIM said there was no evidence to suggest there was any escapage of salmon but then she told me with certainty that 60,000 escaped. Those two things do not tally. I do not have any report of salmon escaping. I specifically asked whether there were any problems with the Clare Island site because it is in deep water. It is not quite in open water, because it has the...

Other Questions: Aquaculture Development (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The application by BIM for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oírr in Galway Bay was received by my Department in 2012. The application and its accompanying environmental impact statement are being considered under the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 and the Foreshore Act 1933, as amended. As the application is under active consideration as...

Other Questions: Aquaculture Development (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is trying to create a problem where there is not one.

Other Questions: Aquaculture Development (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is not unusual for Ministers to aspire to develop an industry and also to have a regulatory function in terms of licensing. Unfortunately, the licensing system introduced by a previous Government, of which Deputy Ó Cuív was part, has caused us a great deal of problems.

Other Questions: Aquaculture Development (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: We are changing the system. We have done so. That is why we now have a template for aquaculture licences, which is something the previous Government could never do.

Other Questions: Aquaculture Development (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: That is why we now have an agreement with the Commission about how this should be done. Unlike the previous Government, we are doing it.

Other Questions: Aquaculture Development (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The system is not a problem. The system can function and will function. I have answered the question about liability. If there is a problem with any fish farm in this country, the operator of that project will need to have liability in place. That will be part of the usual licensing application and delivery process. The same will apply to the project that is under consideration if it...

Other Questions: Aquaculture Development (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: As I have said, this application is under consideration at the moment. I do not intend to debate the intricacies or details of this or any other application. The questions asked by Deputy McGrath must be answered in a very thorough way as part of that process, and they will be. I refer, for example, to the questions that have been asked about the engineering specifications that are...

Other Questions: Aquaculture Development (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I suspect that it will be concluded in about six months time, but I am not sure.

Other Questions: Aquaculture Licences Applications (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Six aquaculture licence applications are awaiting determination in Ballycotton Bay, which is designated as a special protection area - a Natura 2000 site - under the EU birds directive. The European Court of Justice declared in case C418/04 that by failing to take all the measures necessary to comply with Article 6(3) of the habitats directive in respect of authorisation of aquaculture...

Other Questions: Aquaculture Licences Applications (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: There is considerable frustration over aquaculture and nobody is more frustrated than I am. I must be clear, firm and consistent on every application that comes to me, whether it is an application for a very large operation in Galway Bay or for a small operation in Ballycotton. We are obliged to act in a way that is consistent with our commitments to the European Commission and we will do...

Other Questions: Aquaculture Licences Applications (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I will be somewhat vague on this. I believe the potential is significant. Europe views Ireland as probably having the cleanest aquaculture in the world. Our coast to the west and south west is open to the cleanest waters on the planet, in the Atlantic. That is why organic farmed salmon in Ireland commands a premium price on international markets and why Irish shellfish attracts so much...

Other Questions: Single Payment Scheme Administration (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I probably gave the Deputy most of the numbers on that earlier. I can probably read the answer for him again.

Other Questions: Single Payment Scheme Administration (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: That is the number of farmers who want us to reconsider the issue and have sought an appeal. However, more than 4,800 farmers are involved here. I will send the Deputy the detailed answer I have here, rather than reading it out because we would run out of time if I did. Approximately 72% of farmers have no issue with mapping or eligibility. A further 20% approximately have made an...

Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is a reasonable question. During the negotiations at European level I have been very strongly in support of positively discriminating in favour of young farmers because we need generational change in this industry. Fewer than 6% of farmers are under the age of 35 in Ireland and that is no basis for the kind of growth and expansion we want for this sector. Everybody agrees we need more...