Results 14,161-14,180 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s overarching goal, when negotiating the revised Common Fisheries Policy, was to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to safeguard fish stocks for future generations. I strongly believe that...

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

Simon Coveney: As I have stated previously achieving political agreement on CAP reform was a major success for the Irish Presidency of the EU Council and it provides a well-balanced package of measures for our largest indigenous industry. These measures enhance the possibility of achieving Ireland’s ambitious growth strategy for the agri food sector, as envisaged in Food Harvest 2020. In particular...

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: State Laboratory Facilities (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The laboratory facilities at Backweston are capable of meeting the vast majority of my Department’s analytical and diagnostic requirements in relation to the bovine, pig, poultry, lamb and equine sectors. While DAFM Laboratories have the capability to carry out most of the tests in these areas, for cost efficient reasons, some low volume, highly specialised reference test methods that...

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

Simon Coveney: One of my priorities since taking office has been the continued development of the beef sector. I have sought to ensure that beef farmers have the necessary supports to enhance the profitability and sustainability of their livestock enterprises. The broad outline for developing the beef industry in Ireland was set out in my Department’s Food Harvest 2020 (FH2020) strategy. The Beef...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (19 Jun 2014)

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

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: From the outset of the Common Fisheries Policy revision process, Ireland’s overarching goal was to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to safeguard fish stocks for future generations. The new CFP,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Discards (19 Jun 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: Departmental Staff Remuneration (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that no unapproved salary top-up payments are paid to staff in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Technology Adoption Programme Payments (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: In order to qualify for payment under the 2013 Beef Technology Adoption Programme participants were required to attend six meeting and satisfactorily complete two Tasks, chosen from a menu of 10 Tasks. One of the two Tasks chosen by the person named (Task 4, relating to soil sampling) did not comply with the requirements of the Programme, as the person named was also a participant in AEOS 2....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Funding (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The consultation paper prepared by my Department in relation to the proposed measures for inclusion in Ireland’s Rural Development Programme for 2014-2020 includes a commitment to the introduction of an enhanced grant scheme for young farmers who invest in farm infrastructure, with a specific grant rate of 60 per cent compared to the standard grant rate of 40 per cent which will be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: I announced details of the new GLAS (Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) on 14 January 2014 as part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme (RDP). 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: Beef Industry (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: One of my priorities since taking office has been the continued development of the beef sector. The broad outline for developing the beef industry in Ireland was set out in my Department’s Food Harvest 2020 (FH2020) strategy. The recommendations for development of the sector included the identification of “target markets for which access for Irish beef, beef offals and breeding...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: Fairness in commercial dealings is a key ingredient of a sustainable and well functioning food supply chain. I do not have a role in setting prices or the details of commercial arrangements in the food supply chain but I am concerned about fairness and sustainability. The Consumer Protection and Competition Bill published by my colleague Minister Bruton provides for statutory regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am acutely aware of the importance of the beef sector and sensitive to the concerns of farmers at this time. The current downward pressure on Irish beef prices is of course replicated in the UK, which is our main export market, and in other key EU markets. That said beef prices in Ireland remain above the average of the EU-15 MS and the price differential between the Irish and UK markets...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Premium Payments (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The application is being processed and every effort will be made to expedite the processing of the application for payment.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The EU Regulation establishing the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund was published on 20 May 2014. Following months of intense lobbying and negotiation, I announced on 12 June 2014 that I had secured €148 million from the new Fund for the period 2014 to 2020 for the development of the Irish seafood industry and the coastal communities that depend upon it. This funding is more than...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Identification Schemes (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person referred to has an active herd for bovines and ovines. My Department is not aware of any outstanding issues as regards tagging and registration in this herd. If he has concerns about issues relating to the incorrect tagging of animals in his herd, he should contact the DVO.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Equipment Scheme Applications (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS Dairy Equipment Scheme and received approval to proceed with the investment works concerned on 16 May 2014. To date, my Department has no record of having received a payment claim from the applicant in respect of these works.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered 21 animals under the 2012 Suckler Welfare scheme. Payment of €840 in respect of these 21 animals will issue shortly. The 2012 Single Farm Payment issued in two instalments in the name of the deceased husband of the person named, the first instalment issuing on 17 October 2012 and the balance issuing on 3 December 2012. The 2013 Single Farm Payment issued...