Results 13,221-13,240 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (11 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 484 together. The agreement reached under the Irish Presidency on the Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy incorporated the following three greening measures as part of the Direct Payment Regime: - Crop Diversification; - Maintenance of Permanent Grassland; - Ecological Focus Areas. The provisions governing Ecological Focus Areas...

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

Simon Coveney: Any farmer who was entitled to receive 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 status of entitlements held in 2013, whether leased or owned, has no impact on the establishment of such an allocation right. The value of...

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

Simon Coveney: On 15 May 2008 the person named made an application for Single Farm Payment. This application was subsequently selected for on farm inspection. The inspection took place on 9 September 2008. At that time the inspector found that the person named had over claimed by 5.11 hectares. As the over declaration was more than 2 hectares the payment was reduced by twice the area over declared. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Appointments to State Boards (11 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Since May 2011, a notification has been placed on my Department’s website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. On 20 December 2013 last, I placed an advertisement in the National Newspapers inviting expressions of interest. In making any board appointments, I am not necessarily...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1 September 2011 and full payment has issued in respect of the 2011 Scheme year. There were issues identified in relation to the Traditional Stonewall Maintenance and Laying of Hedgerows actions during an on-the-spot inspection. The application is currently being processed on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Expenditure (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department devotes considerable resources to issues relating to the welfare of animals, including horses. In 2013, my Department paid €3.054m to Local Authorities to assist with their work under the Control of Horses Act, 1996 in managing stray, abandoned or unwanted horses. My Department in an effort to ensure that scarce resources are managed in an efficient manner agreed a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named has applied to take-over the REPS Agri-environmental Plan of a deceased participant. The previous participants commenced REPS 4 in October 2009 and received payments for the first three 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 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 accordingly is subject to EU Regulation which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. The administrative checks have now been completed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Landings (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I regret the delay in having the SFPA provide these figures, this was due to an oversight in my Department. I have asked the SPFA to provide the figures at the earliest opportunity.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Vessel Licences (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: A 'Scheme for the Licensing of Traditional Pot Fishing Boats in the Irish Inshore Fleet' was introduced in 2003 with a closing date of 18 June 2003, following approval from the European Commission, in order to regularise the position of a substantial number of under 12 metre vessels engaged in commercial fishing by means of pots. These vessels had been in the fleet but, for various reasons,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: As indicated in a previous reply to the Deputy, my Department was reviewing an appeal from the person named regarding the late submission of his 2013 Single Payment application. That review was recently completed. My Department has now accepted the 2013 application of the person named and I expect that payment will issue in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that several of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. As the person named has applied for a review of my Department's decision, a visit by a Department official to verify the position is necessary to resolve the matter. This verification visit will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Issues (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department is aware of the importance of conserving and maintaining the genetic resources which are native to Ireland and as a result has put in place a number of measures to assist the keepers of rare and native breeds, including Kerry Cattle. My Department has given support to breeders of these breeds through a range of different schemes. The main support mechanism in 2013 and 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Customer Services (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department is constantly examining ways of improving service to our customers. In this regard my Department's online application facility for certain payments has been developed over the last number of years to incorporate new features including a tracking system for certain elements of applications for the Single Farm Payment. My Department will continue to build on and enhance existing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Meetings (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Neither I nor my Department's officials have had any meetings with the named company or their representatives.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Final prepayment checks are currently being carried out for AEOS 1 and AEOS 2 participants who have received 75% of their 2013 payment. The balancing payments due will commence issuing this week. The checking process for the AEOS 3 Scheme is well underway and I expect payments to commence shortly, with a 75% payment issuing first and the balancing 25% payment following.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Fleet Protection (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: In my response to Question No. 228 on 27 February 2014, I advised the Deputy that many (not all) vessels that were harbour bound due to the severe weather were able to return to fishing during some breaks in the weather during February. My response was based on the information on fleet activity available to my Department, which is derived from the EU vessel monitoring systems fitted to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table. With regard to the State Bodies under my Department’s remit, any reports/reviews/studies are an operational matter for the State Bodies concerned. 2011: March- December - - - - Consultant Title of Report Date of Commission Date or Expected Date of Publication Payments € University College Dublin EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota Applications (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The closing date for receipt of applications to the second stage of the 2014-2015 Milk Quota Trading Scheme was 7 February 2014. An application from the named person was received in my Department before that date. The processing of the applications is now at an advanced stage, and I expect to be in a position to announce the results of the scheme at the end of March. At that time my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Management (12 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The recent storms have indeed been damaging to Irish forests particularly in the south of the country. Early indications suggest however that less than 1% of the forest area and approximately 1% of the forest volume was blown down in the storm of 12 February. Whilst direct financial support is not being provided to those whose forestry was destroyed in the storm, a taskforce, chaired by Mr...