Results 12,841-12,860 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: That is because we cannot; the regulation does not allow it.

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

Simon Coveney: The idea that anybody would be trying to sell this as a bad deal for young farmers-----

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

Simon Coveney: -----is not doing justice to the new Common Agricultural Policy deal. There is more being done for young farmers in this Common Agricultural Policy reform than we have ever seen before.

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

Simon Coveney: That is because of a stand Ireland, along with a number of other countries to support the Commission, took to try to get this mandatory measure of positive discrimination in favour of young farmers over the line. It was a success and acknowledged as such-----

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

Simon Coveney: -----by young farming organisations. The Deputy is trying to pick case studies from around the country whereby he wants money to be given to everybody.

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

Simon Coveney: When we have a limited amount of money to spend, we have to prioritise who gets it. We have prioritised young farmers in their first years of farming. They will get priority treatment and that is what they will get under the negotiated Common Agricultural Policy, which has been welcomed by practically everybody except the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in my Department underpins the administration of €2.5bn in EU and Exchequer funds annually and the maintenance and development of award winning animal traceability and health computer systems that process millions of births, movements and tests annually. The ICT infrastructure and systems underpin the huge range of farming and industry...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Funding (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: As you will be aware, on 14 January I announced a number of decisions in relation to the implementation of the new CAP. This included details in relation to proposed measure outlines for inclusion in the new Rural Development Programme (RDP) for the period 2014-2020 as well as an outline of the National Exchequer funding for the new RDP. The agreement reached on the Multiannual Financial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Administration (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Any farmer who received a direct payment in 2013 (Single Payment, Grassland Sheep Scheme, Burren Life Scheme, Beef Data Scheme) is automatically eligible to receive an allocation of entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015. The number of entitlements that will be allocated to a farmer under the new Basic Payment Scheme will be based on the number of eligible hectares the farmer...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Government decided on 19 June 2013 that it is not the appropriate time to proceed with the proposed sale of Coillte Harvesting Rights. It was also decided, at that time, that the current focus will be on the restructuring of Coillte, overseen by NewERA and the relevant stakeholder Departments. This decision was made on the basis of a comprehensive analysis by NewERA, Coillte, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Newsletters (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Ministerial newsletter is issued on a regular basis in order to update the agricultural sector on new developments in the sector. The newsletter is prepared at no extra cost to the taxpayer and is issued electronically. The next date for issue of the newsletter is not yet decided.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Funding (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Pier at Courtown, County Wexford is owned by Wexford County Council and responsibility for its repair and maintenance rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. Under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme my Department has, in previous years, provided funding for the development and repair of Local Authority owned harbours, piers and slipways...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Severe Weather Events Response (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Along with all my colleagues in Government I am acutely aware of the ferocity of the recent storms, combined with the exceptionally high tides, which in combination have resulted in widespread damage right around the coast. I have been actively assessing the damage to the many small Local Authority piers and harbours right around the coast. I am aware of the critical importance of this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme Eligibility (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I announced details of the new GLAS (Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) and GLAS+ Scheme on the 14th of January 2014 as part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme. The GLAS Scheme will provide significant funding to farmers who undertake environmental actions in line with national and EU environmental objectives. It will contribute to the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The LPIS Review process initiated by my Department consisted on a review of all of the eligible land parcels in the LPIS database, which was declared by farmers under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other Direct Payment Schemes. In total, the Review covered in excess of 132,000 applicants and the land parcels declared by them as eligible for payment under...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Farm Assist scheme is the responsibility of the Minister for Social Protection. The changes to the Farm Assist scheme were made in order to bring the scheme into closer alignment with the Jobseeker's Allowance scheme's treatment of self-employed persons, and were part of the overall package of measures agreed by the Government in Budget 2013. There were over 10,800 recipients of Farm...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Industrial Disputes (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department has had a number of useful meetings with IMPACT, the trade union which represents agricultural officers. The purpose of those meetings was to agree a process whereby issues of concern to my Department and to IMPACT could be resolved. I am pleased to say that the Labour Relations Commission has agreed to facilitate that process which will commence on 17 February. For its part,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas' Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry out an annual round of inspections covering both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and also cross compliance aspects. This is required to ensure adherence with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of public, animal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Landings (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I assume the Deputy is referring to the Exclusive Fisheries Zone which extends up to 200 miles off the Irish coast. EU fishing quotas are divided amongst Member States based on ICES Zones and it is based on these units that landing data is compiled. The ICES zones in Ireland's Exclusive Fisheries zone covers areas VI off the northern part of the country and Areas VII which covers the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Issues (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Aggregate cattle supplies at Department-approved meat plants to the end of January 2014 are up almost 10% on the corresponding period in 2012 with strong increases recorded in the steer, heifer and cull cow categories. This higher throughput has led to factories giving preference to certain types of stock that are better suited to the requirements of their retail customers. Prices for prime...