Results 13,741-13,760 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: My understanding is that it is possible to apply retrospectively or to apply for hardship supports retrospectively. We need to do that in the context of a discussion with people in the industry about how best to spend a limited amount of money under a fisheries fund, as it will be called. When I know the budget we have - we are trying hard to increase the fisheries fund for Ireland despite...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: No, as we must first know how much money we have and then we must prioritise how to spend it. The industry and stakeholders will be part of the discussion. We should know how much money we have to spend by the middle of the year and we will then put in train a process to decide how we spend it by the end of the year. It would be irresponsible of me to start making commitments before I even...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: I am not ruling that out.
- Other Questions: Farms Data (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: One of the major challenges facing the agriculture sector is its age profile. Central Statistics Office, CSO, data indicates that the average age of farmers rose from 50 to 54 between 2000 and 2010. More than half were aged 55 years or older, whereas more than a quarter were aged over 65 years. The number of farmers under 35 years more than halved to less than 6% of farmers. There are a...
- Other Questions: Farms Data (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: Both the need for generational change and more land mobility are key challenges as part of the Food Harvest 2020 plan. This relates to improving productivity and getting younger farmers who are in many cases more dynamic, better educated, more ambitious and with a better understanding of the complex challenges surrounding food security, climate change, animal welfare and a series of other...
- Other Questions: Farms Data (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: Yes, that is the intention. We will not rush the process for the sake of getting it done. The intention is to have the review for the upcoming budget.
- Other Questions: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: The scheme was launched on 15 October 2012 with a closing date for receipt of applications of 30 November 2012, subsequently extended by me to 7 December 2012. These payments are subject to very stringent EU audit standards, which is to be expected given that these are co-funded schemes. All area-based schemes under the existing rural development programme are subject to EU regulations...
- Other Questions: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: I have explained why there is a delay. The Deputy has been a Minister and he has a pretty good understanding of how the schemes work. There is an application process after which the applications are validated and a series of checks are required before payments can issue. This is because a significant portion of the payments come through the European Commission. We simply cannot pay when...
- Other Questions: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: The Deputy is a great man to try to sow worry into farmers' minds. We will give more detail of the GLAS scheme next week when we have further publication of the details of the rural development programme. When the GLAS scheme is up and running it will spend approximately €250 million or €260 million a year. It is a huge scheme. We will try to get as many farmers into it as...
- Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: It is a very fair question. We are in the process of finalising Pillars 1 and 2 at present. The more complex element is Pillar 2 with regard to rural development funding, which is approximately €4 billion, 46% of which comes from the Exchequer. We hope to have it finalised so we can send a package for approval by the Commission for Pillars 1 and 2 by the end of June. I believe the...
- Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: We have had more consultation with farmers and other stakeholders on this CAP reform than on any other agriculture reform. I have spent much time meeting farming organisations and meeting farmers who are not members of farming organisations. We have had a written submission process as well as multiple consultation processes. Next week we will publish a very close to final document as a...
- Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: He has raised a hope that we can fundamentally change direction at the last minute-----
- Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: -----which we cannot do.
- Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: We will not see a whole series of very public stakeholder meetings in the weeks before we finalise a document. We will publish what we have next week and stakeholders, farmers and farming organisations will have an opportunity, if they wish, to express concerns about it. We are at the 11th hour in finalising a comprehensive submission. This has been a two-year process, and my officials...
- Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: That is not true. People are very clear on it.
- Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: No; the Deputy said that, not me.
- Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: The consultation process has been ongoing for well over one year. The Deputy only decided to engage in the last few months. That is his problem.
- Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: No, the Deputy has not.
- Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: The Deputy has engaged only in the last few months.
- Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (8 May 2014)
Simon Coveney: Does he want me to answer his question?