Results 14,581-14,600 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am satisfied that the level of resources available to the Defence Forces, including training resources and equipment enables them to carry out their roles, both at home and overseas. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The unsatisfactory age and fitness profile of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) was an issue of serious concern during the 1990’s and was the subject of severe criticism by a series of external reports, mainly Price Waterhouse Consultants and the Efficiency Audit Group (EAG). One of the key areas identified for urgent action by the EAG was the development of a manpower policy with an...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 July 2014, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,019, comprising, 7,270 Army, 755 Air Corps and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 31 July 2014, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,019, broken down into 7,270 Army, 755 Air Corps and 994 Naval Service. 554 (or 6.14%) are women. The following tables contain the above mentioned strength, broken down into Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by gender and rank groupings. The Government is committed to a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Coast Guard has primary responsibility for the provision of search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region. A Service Level Agreement is in place with the Irish Coast Guard which sets out, inter alia, the search and rescue support that the Air Corps and Naval Service can provide to the Coast Guard. The provision of onshore assistance by Air Corps helicopters...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Records (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Military archivists are assigned to Military Archives which has the role of acquiring, preserving and making available to the public, the documentary heritage of the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence. The Military Archives also provides advice and other services to the Defence Organisation, assisting in the administration and management of its records. From as early as 1924, the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Records (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Military Archives is the place of deposit for the archives of the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the Army Pensions Board under the terms of the National Archives Act 1986. The total cost for the storage of Departmental records and archives that are ultimately intended to be forwarded to the Military Archives is set out in the following table:- Costs 2012 2013...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for the question. This is an issue of concern to many hill farmers. The preservation and restoration of commonages, and the continuation of suitable and environmentally friendly farming practices on the hills, is a core element of GLAS and part of Ireland’s overall plan for halting biodiversity loss. In recognition of the importance of commonages, hill farmers...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: We have had many discussions with farmers concerned about this and certain issues have been raised. Farmers told me they cannot all work with the same planner because they have different planners and would like to be able to apply using their own planners. That is acceptable as long as they comply with a commonage GLAS plan implemented by a planner. If other planners are involved, that is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I fixed the rate of payment at €120 per hectare and this is a major increase on what was payable under the previous programme - €75 per hectare. There is an overall ceiling of €5,000 per annum under GLAS so the rate proposed is payable to that point. When a commonage farmer has other priority environmental assets on his or her privately owned land, he or she may qualify...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: It went to the Commission in the first week in July and we expect a draft response on 3 October. If the Commission has any problems, there will be negotiations. This is with regard to the overall rural development programme and not just GLAS. GLAS is a big part of it but it is only one part because it also includes island communities, disadvantaged area payments, targeted agriculture...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I will respond, to give Deputy Ó Cuív a chance to deal with Question No. 5. Of course we are responding to all types of challenges to agriculture this year. There has been much pressure on the beef industry, as Deputy Fleming knows. There may well be pressure on dairy prices over the next six or eight months. There is pressure on some arable farmers, although they have had great...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: No problem.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: This has undoubtedly been a difficult year for the beef sector. Prices are down by about 10.5% on last year, which saw an all-time high. So, even though historically the prices at the moment do not look that bad when compared with the prices two or three years ago, certainly the prices that many farmers paid for store cattle last year on the back of very high prices has meant that this year...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have spoken to my colleague in the North about the matter on numerous occasions at this stage and I will meet her again on Friday. I have also met representatives of supermarkets and written to retailers about it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: We are also opening up new markets for Irish beef and are facilitating an increase in live cattle exports. We are working intensively on all the things I control in terms of policy and structural change whereby we can influence in the industry. I cannot, in a market-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have a final comment. We are producing 15% more beef in volume terms this year and every market into which we are selling is either stagnant or reducing its consumption of beef. There are market forces here that have weakened prices.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I cannot change that with policy decisions.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is important to bring clarity to this discussion because we have done everything we can to facilitate a new compromise label approach if someone wishes to pursue that course of action. However, that label must come from a processor in Northern Ireland and I cannot force that action. I have made it clear to the Minister, Ms Michelle O'Neill, that we have no problem with that to try to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: While the Department will support and facilitate it, ultimately I cannot force a label in another jurisdiction and this must happen in Northern Ireland.