Results 13,361-13,380 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: This will be applied in other countries also. It is not being applied to Ireland and not to other countries. There is a Council regulation that every country is required to implement. Had we not implemented this, there would have been consequences in that the Commission would have taken a case against Ireland. The Commission made very clear that it would do so. It will also take cases...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Regarding the current difficulties between farmers and processors, the Deputy will appreciate that, ultimately, price and market specification are matters to be determined between purchasers and the sellers of cattle. For obvious reasons it is neither appropriate nor possible for me to intervene directly in setting prices. My Department monitors the kill figures from Irish meat plants and I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: They are generally not producing 18 month old beef.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy has asked three questions. On whether farmers were advised badly, I have never advocated a significant increase in the production of bull beef in Ireland. On all of the trade missions I have undertaken, particularly in the markets in which we sell beef in Europe, including the United Kingdom, people have been telling me since I became Minister that they want marbled beef, steer...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: -----but there is no market outlet for that animal. Therefore, they are not getting the price that, to be fair, they deserve for what is a good animal. We are trying to resolve that issue. I will come back to the Deputy on the Northern Ireland issue-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry Issues (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am trying to give full answers.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I acknowledge that we have had a particularly difficult winter for many fishermen around the coast, with the exception of some of those with the very large pelagic boats. However, in the whitefish sector and the case of the inshore fleet it was virtually impossible to fish, particularly in the months of January and February. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is not true to say nothing has happened. I have spoken to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, who has assured me that social welfare offices in and near fishing ports will prioritise fishermen in what is a very difficult period for them. She has assured me that if fishermen can show they have had no income for ten weeks they will get income support. Many fishermen have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: That is not true.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is right that that is the perception, but-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: ----- there is an immediate income-support payment they can and will get.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: My understanding is that there is an emergency income-support payment available to fishermen.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Severe Weather Events Response (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: If they have had no income for 12 weeks they can get an emergency income payment immediately from their social welfare office, if they qualify. They should go to their social welfare office to discuss that. The Minister, Deputy Burton, has told me that priority is being given to fishermen and there is considerable sympathy for them given the kind of winter they have been through. I will...

Other Questions: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The TSE fallen animal subsidy scheme ensures primarily that fallen bovine animals over 48 months, which must be BSE-tested in accordance with EU legislation, are disposed of in accordance with all animal, public health and environmental regulations. As the Deputy will be aware the scheme is an integral part of the infrastructure underpinning Ireland’s successful livestock and meat...

Other Questions: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have spoken to them about this and we have made it clear why we made the changes we did. We had good reason to do that. There was concern that there would be a significant reduction in the number of rendering facilities which would not have been good for Ireland particularly if that location was not even in the State. Of course we want competition but we also want to ensure there are...

Other Questions: Animal Welfare (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I was not sure the circus issue would arise. I do not have a strong view on this, but I will think about it now that the Deputy has raised it. I understood the Deputy was asking about the assistance we are giving the Irish Seal Sanctuary from a funding point of view. The Irish Seal Sanctuary has received funding in the past from the Department of the order of €10,000 in each of the...

Other Questions: Animal Welfare (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is probably no secret that I am not a fan of animals in circuses, but that does not mean I will outlaw it. This is an animal welfare issue that the Deputy has raised. Of course, I will meet with representatives of the Irish Seal Sanctuary and we can be helpful to them in terms of funding through ex gratia payments, as we are with many other animal welfare organisations. We spend almost...

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is one of the priorities of this Government to use our links at EU level to engage actively with the EU institutions and other member states to ensure that EU policies on bilateral and multilateral trade agreements do not place the Irish agri-food sector at a competitive disadvantage. Since I took office in 2011, I have proactively pursued this agenda, most recently at meetings of the EU...

Other Questions: Trade Agreements (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: This is an ongoing issue. With regard to agri-food, we have offensive interests too. We want to access markets. We export 85% of all the agri-food and drink products we produce, so it is in Ireland's interest to have a platform for international trade that is as wide as possible. However, we have some concerns. Ireland is, effectively, the only large exporter of beef in the European...