Results 12,861-12,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the relationship between Coillte and the Irish Forestry Unit Trust (IForUT), are the responsibility of the company. It should also be noted that IForUT is a private entity. I am advised by Coillte that IForUT is a unit trust that was established in 1994...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 114 together. As the Deputy will appreciate it would not be possible for me to reply individually to the large volume of correspondence received in relation to the Castlerea Trust. I have however taken due note of the concerns expressed in that correspondence. Castlerea Public Trust was originally created as a cowpark trust, where local landless...

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

Simon Coveney: Food production and labelling rules in the European Union operate in accordance with harmonised rules and member states controls are subject to audit and supervision by the EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the EU. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) under the aegis the Minister for Health has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food safety and labelling...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences Application Numbers (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department's records indicate that 90 applications for aquaculture licences were received in 2013. This includes 70 new applications and 20 renewal applications. I made 137 determinations in relation to outstanding aquaculture applications in 2013, most of which relate to applications received prior to that date. A significant number of licence applications await determination; this...

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

Simon Coveney: The seafood sector has very significant potential to grow revenues and employment in the coming years. Both Food Harvest 2020 and Action Plan for Jobs 2012 recognise that most of the potential for increased employment in the seafood industry is in the areas of processing and aquaculture. Food Harvest 2020 aims to increase employment in the seafood sector as a whole, from 11,000 to 14,000 by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The House will be aware that I have been considering introducing a charge for parking facilities within Howth Fishery Harbour Centre for some time, for the following reasons:- to assist in operating Howth Fishery Harbour Centre on a financially-sound basis, - to provide a source of revenue for further investment in Fishery Harbour Centre facilities, - as part of an overall traffic...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department devotes considerable resources to issues relating to the welfare of animals, including horses. The Department paid some €3m to the Local Authorities under the Control of Horses Act in 2013 to enable them to deal with stray and unwanted horses. This enabled the Local Authorities to remove almost 4,000 stray or unwanted horses last year and thereby resolve a number of...

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

Simon Coveney: I have noted the contents of the IFA's Farm Income Review 2013, much of which is based on data from my Department, Teagasc and the CSO. The outlook for the development of the agri-food sector is positive, and I am confident that the industry developed targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 are achievable and can be met. The third Milestones report of the Food Harvest High Level Implementation...

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

Simon Coveney: While Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of the State's forestry estate, are the responsibility of the company, oversight in relation to its performance and management is achieved in a number of ways. The company is subject to the legislation under which it was established,...

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

Simon Coveney: The provision of funding for the forestry programme in the 2014 Budget at more than €111million will allow, inter alia, for approximately 7,000 hectares of new planting which is roughly in line with current demand. The current Afforestation Scheme provides a range of grants that cover the full cost of establishment of the plantation and payment of annual premiums to both incentivise...

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

Simon Coveney: An application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr 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 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. A determination in respect of the application...

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

Simon Coveney: 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 which also have a wider sectoral perspective. Further to the Deputy raising this subject in this House and at Oireachtas Committee meetings, I asked the Deputy at the time if he has evidence on...

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...

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, to ensure adherence with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of public, animal and plant...

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

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2013 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named in my Department on 7 May 2013. Following processing, dual claims were identified in respect of four land parcels declared on the application as well as an overlap in respect of one land parcel. My Department has written to both parties regarding this matter, and an official from my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grassland Sheep Scheme Payments (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The application of the person named under 2013 Grassland Sheep Scheme was the subject of a ground sheep eligibility inspection in accordance with the provisions of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009. The processing of the results of the inspection has recently been finalised, thereby allowing payment to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: As processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was recently completed, payment is due to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: A review of the land declared by the person named under the Single Payment Scheme revealed that several of the land parcels declared contained ineligible features resulting in a deduction of 5.84 hectares which resulted in a penalty of €3,575.66. A letter and a set of maps of the land parcels in question have issued to the person named. However, the applicant has sought a review...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Equine Identification Scheme (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: As previously indicated to the Deputy, the identification of equidae is governed by EU Council Directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 of 6 June 2008, which have been transposed in into national legislation via S.I. No. 357 of 2011 - European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2011 (as amended). This legislation imposes an obligation and, as a corollary,...

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

Simon Coveney: As far as credit availability to farmers is concerned, I have recently met the CEOs of the three main banks, and all have emphasised that the banks are willing and anxious to lend to farmers seeking to expand. If a farmer has had an application for credit refused or reduced and feels that the bank's decision is unjustified, he/she can seek to have the issue reviewed by the Credit Review...