Results 13,341-13,360 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (25 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: An application for Single Farm Payment was received from the above named on the 8 May 2013. This application was selected for inspection. As a result of that inspection five parcels were found to have been over claimed. The claimed area of these parcels was reduced in accordance with the inspection findings. As the named person applied for more land than he held entitlements for he did not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is not possible to provide this information in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation Data (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The CSO's quarterly national household survey, QNHS, shows that there was an annual increase in employment of 3.3% or 61,000 in the year to the fourth quarter of 2013, bringing total employment to just over 1.9 million. Employment increased in ten of the 14 economic sectors over the year and fell in four. The increase recorded in agriculture, forestry and fishing was up 29% or 26,800,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation Data (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Correct.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation Data (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I do not think the Deputy's assertion is true. I suggest that he speak to the CSO about it, which is what we have done. The CSO is standing over its figure of an extra 61,000 jobs in the economy. What it says is that we should look at the figure in individual sectors with some caution when the make-up of the sample changes somewhat. The overall figure is clear. When one has a sample as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation Data (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am answerable for many things, but I am not answerable for the CSO.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation Data (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The CSO is an independent body that compiles and publishes the numbers. They are the numbers we use. If I am asked how many jobs have been created in the economy in the past 12 months, I must go on the numbers of the CSO. They are the numbers I quoted and it is perfectly reasonable for me to do so. The CSO is entirely independent of my Department and the Government.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation Data (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Of course I have done it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation Data (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have done it today. The Deputy should not try to undermine what clearly is growth in this sector. Of course, there will not be an increase in the number claiming the single farm payment because the number of farms in the country, approximately 130,000, is not going to change overnight.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation Data (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: However, if there are more people deriving income from these farms and in full-time employment on these farms because income thereon has increased, that is not a bad thing.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: That is a very reasonable question. There are difficulties in the beef market, particularly in the case of bull beef. We need to consider and are considering alternative outlets for farmers to try to ensure they get full value for their animals. I am aware of the difficulties being experienced in the beef sector by farmers with regard to certain categories of animals. However, exports of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Live exports have increased significantly this year. Almost 42,000 animals have been exported live this year. Live exports are really important in providing price competition among the factories and processors in Ireland. However, that is what they should be seen to be doing; we should not be seeking to have a huge volume of live exports because we want to try to keep the processing jobs...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: As long as the price is right.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: We are trying to do that. We are also trying to put pressure on factories to kill more bulls. In this regard, I have met with officials from the factories and farming organisations and have received assurances that the factories will continue to kill a sufficient number of bulls the deal with the over-supply. Approximately 6,000 bulls per week have been killed over the past number of weeks.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Live Exports (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: There is a problem in that the market does not want this type of meat. There is an issue in relation to meat from bulls over 20 months. The markets are looking for steers and heifers from Ireland, generally. That is the view not only of the processors but of the buyers to whom I have spoken about this issue. We have an issue in that there is over-supply of a product that the markets are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Statutory Instruments (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: SI No. 3/2014 gives effect to the requirements of Article 92 of EU Council Regulation 1224/2009 and Commission Implementing Regulation 404/2011. In accordance with the EU regulations, the statutory instrument gives full effect to a points system for the licence holder of a sea-fishing boat. The points system applies where a serious infringement of the Common Fisheries Policy by a fishing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Statutory Instruments (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The levels of burden of proof in a criminal case versus this particular statutory instrument are different.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Statutory Instruments (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I put the same question the Deputy is asking of me to the Attorney General and officials in my Department - namely, whether we do could that and remain consistent with the Council regulation. It was made clear to me, under a point of law, that what we are dealing with in this regard is two parallel systems. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority, SFPA, will apply penalty points in respect...