Results 14,141-14,160 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry out an annual round of inspections covering both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure adherence with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of public, animal and plant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: Considerable resources are being devoted to enforcing the new Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 which brings together and modernises many existing laws in the area of animal health and welfare. My Department’s network of regional offices throughout the country, together with the Animal Welfare helpline, are valuable resources and provide a reporting mechanism for any person concerned...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The new Direct Payments Regulation that will come into force in 2015 provides for a Young Farmers Scheme to assist young farmers in the initial stages of establishing a farming enterprise. Qualifying “Young Farmers” will be eligible to apply to the National Reserve for an allocation of new entitlements or a top up on the value of existing entitlements and also to participate in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Scheme (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: I announced details of the new GLAS (Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) on the 14 of January 2014 as part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme. GLAS will provide significant funding to farmers who undertake environmental actions in line with national and EU environmental objectives. It will contribute to the overall public good and will build on...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Supply (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The fresh milk market is the largest consumer market for milk and milk products in the State with an estimated retail value of €513m in 2013. National consumption of fresh liquid milk in 2013 was 552 million litres. Average per capita consumption in the State of 0.34 litres per day was the second highest in the EU. The National Milk Agency, which operates under the aegis of my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Income Data (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The table below shows family farm income estimates from Teagasc’s National Farm Survey for the last three years, by system of farming. Family Farm Income by system of farming, 2011 to 2013 Family farm income by system of farming € Dairying Cattle Rearing Cattle Other Sheep Tillage All farms 2011 67,847 12,827 19,183 19,050 37,092 30,095 2012 49,290 12,186 17,896...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: As a small open economy dependent on trade, Ireland favours ambitious and balanced trade agreements. We have a number of offensive interests in the current negotiations that are taking place with Japan, India, Vietnam, Thailand and of course the United States. Like others we have defensive interests as well. The current negotiations with MERCOSUR come to mind in that regard. The recent...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: When formulating the shape of Direct Payments in Ireland, I based my decisions on some key fundamental principles. In particular, it is my clear objective that any disruption to our current levels of production arising from the Reform should be minimised. There was a distinct danger for Ireland that the Commission proposal to move to a ‘flat-rate’ would redistribute funds away...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: Under EU law there can be no discrimination on the grounds of nationality. In practice, almost all aquaculture licences for oyster production have been granted to Irish registered companies or Irish operators. My Department is examining its records and will revert to the Deputy if further information comes to light.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Eligibility (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: Under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, applicants are required to maintain 0.15 livestock units for a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months, applicants are also required to maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the 12 months of the scheme year. Payment under the 2013 Scheme has not issued to the person named as their holding has not satisfied...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Retirement Scheme Applications (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Early Retirement Scheme, in conjunction with the Young Farmers’ Installation Scheme, aimed to encourage older farmers to pass their land on to younger, qualifying farmers. There was no specific scheme that catered for farmers retiring due to ill health, although someone in that situation could well have availed of the provisions of the Early Retirement Scheme. The scheme was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Remit (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the authority responsible for the registration and identification of greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon under Section 26 (2) of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958. Bord na gCon is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Retirement Scheme Issues (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named is in receipt of an Early Retirement Scheme pension with effect from 23 September, 2008. The first payment under the scheme was made to them, with arrears, on 31 May, 2009. Payment of the pension will cease with effect from 3 September, 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: Under the Single Payment Scheme the value of the entitlements was allocated on the basis of agricultural activity during the Reference Period of 2000 to 2002, and largely reflected the productive capacity of each farm during that period and gave rise to wide variations in the unit value of entitlements held by individual farmers. It is no longer possible to justify the significant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department has currently received approximately 40 appeals relating to applications with no proof of postage. No appeals have been received where the applicant had a swiftpost or registered post receipt. The Terms and Conditions of this Programme specifically state that a swiftpost receipt is required as proof of postage where it is claimed that an application had been submitted. This...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: Under the terms of the EU legislation governing the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme, the enhanced 60 per cent grant-aid for on-farm investment may only be paid to young farmers who meet certain conditions, including the requirement that they have been set-up in farming within a period of five years from the date of application of support. It is quite conceivable, therefore, that many of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (19 Jun 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, have to be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks a query...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Equipment Scheme Applications (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: Final decisions have not yet been taken in relation to the application process or eligibility criteria which will be applicable under the proposed new Dairy Equipment Scheme in TAMS II. I can confirm, however, that the new Scheme will be extended to farmers who do not have milk quota at the time of application.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: Subsequent to the agreement reached at EU Council on 26 June 2013, my Department entered into a comprehensive process of consultation with the farming community and farming organisations in the summer of 2013. Detailed submissions were received from a wide variety of groups and individuals including the main farming representative bodies, a number of regional groups and from individual...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The core issue arising from the reform of the Direct Payments related to the redistribution of available funds between those who historically held high value entitlements and those who held low value entitlements. This issue has been resolved in a fair and equitable manner through the development of the ‘Internal Convergence Model’ which has been widely advertised and explained....