Results 13,801-13,820 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: The identification of all horses including non-sporting horses (and all other equines) 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 came into effect on 1 July 2009. The legislation requires all keepers of equines to identify horses in accordance with the legislation. The process of identification includes...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Identification Schemes (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is assumed that Deputy is referring to ‘sport horses’ in his query rather than ‘non-sporting horses’. In 2012, a study commissioned by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) and carried out by UCD entitled "Economic Contribution of the Sport Horse Industry to the Irish Economy", estimated the total population of sport horses in Ireland to be 124,368 equines across the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Discards (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: Dumping of ‘surplus catch’ or ‘discarding’ as it is more usually referred to is a complex global problem where unwanted catches are returned to the sea as a result of a number of factors including quota restrictions, high grading, minimum landing sizes, and market conditions. Levels of discards in the EU vary depending on the size and nature of the fishery. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: The latest data from the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey (Q4 2013), showed that 52,100 people were employed in the Food & Beverage processing sector.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: Food production and labelling in the countries of the European Union operates in accordance with harmonised rules and member states controls are subject to audit and supervision by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the EU. The FVO also audit the controls of the importing countries for equivalent standards before that country is authorised to import meat into the EU. Such products are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: Direct payments received under the Single Payment Scheme in 2014 continue to be based on the reference period of 2000 to 2002 and reflect production at that time. However when making the transition to the new Basic Payment Scheme in 2015, it is no longer possible to justify the significant differences in the level of support per hectare granted to farmers based on the use of such historical...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am constantly seeking to develop relationships in new and expanding international markets for all Irish meats and dairy products, raising the profile of Ireland and increasing international confidence in Irish production and control systems. My aim is to build long-term trading relationships into the future in these sectors, particularly in new and emerging markets and since taking office...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together. My Department collates the prices paid for domestic cattle on a weekly basis and reports this data to the European Commission in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1249/2008 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 148/2014. To ensure price transparency, results for Members States are published on the DG Agriculture...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to report that the industry developed targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 continue to be achieved. The table illustrates the progress achieved on the headline targets as well as the current position in each of the main sectors. Headline Targets Baseline (2007-2009 Average*) FH2020 Target Latest Position Primary €4.596 billion €6.27 billion €6.13...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards Regulation (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: Food production in the European Union operates in accordance with harmonised rules and member states controls are subject to audit and supervision by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the EU. The rules governing food production in Ireland are managed by my Department and the Department of Health. Primary responsibility under EU law for the safety and traceability of food placed on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: The new Common Fisheries Policy reform agreement, negotiated to completion under the Irish Presidency will mean real meaningful reform to how EU waters are fished in the future. The agreement is designed to ensure the long term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters, utilising best scientific advice as a key determinant in setting annual fishing quotas in the future. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: More than 85% of Irish dairy production is exported and Ireland has access for dairy products to over ninety countries worldwide, with one third of the value of dairy exports going outside the EU. In 2013, the value of dairy exports increased by 15 per cent to some €3 billion for the first time. The Central Statistics Office provides a detailed annual breakdown of the volume and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cereal Sector (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: The maintenance of an efficient and viable cereals sector in Ireland is clearly very important to the well being of the agri-food industry. Indigenous production of cereals is of course, an important part of primary agriculture production. In addition to generating an income for our tillage farmers, the cereals sector is a key source of grain for the milling and malting industry and feeding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that one of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. As the person named applied submitted an application for a review of my Department’s decision, a visit by a Department official to verify the position was necessary to progress the matter. This...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (8 May 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. The person named was advised of this in a letter in October 2013. He subsequently sent in a letter of appeal in November 2013 but did not offer any substantive information regarding the ineligible...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences Applications (8 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: The applications referred to by the Deputy are in respect of sites located within Kenmare Bay which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 site). An Appropriate Assessment has to be carried out before any aquaculture licensing determination may be made in respect of aquaculture applications for sites in the bay. The European Court of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Semi-State Bodies (13 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: The four commercial semi-State companies under the aegis of my Department are Bord na gCon, Coillte, Horse Racing Ireland and Irish National Stud. The current value of the pension fund assets and the latest funding position held by each commercial semi-State company is an operational matter for the companies themselves.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (13 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is independent in the exercise of its functions and operational matters concerning sea fisheries control are a matter for the SFPA. I have received letters over the recent past which have made allegations regarding illegal fishing activity. I asked my Department to forward the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Retirement Scheme Applications (13 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: Under the terms and conditions of the Early Retirement Scheme, persons who participated in that Scheme are contracted not to return to farming. Such persons may only return to farming if they agree to repay all moneys received under that Scheme. The person named participated in the Early Retirement Scheme at which time he leased out his entire holding and all entitlements for a period which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (13 May 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1stMay 2013. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. These checks have been...