Results 15,321-15,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Transport (11 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) provides the Government and the President with an independent and flexible air transport service to assist in meeting national and international obligations. This flexibility was particularly valuable during Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union last year. The Service has been provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (11 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: In September 2013, a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force was deployed to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) at the request of the United Nations. UNDOF was established on 31 May 1974 under UN Security Council Resolution 350 (1974). The current Defence Forces contingent, the 46th Irish Infantry Group UNDOF, comprises 130 troops and consists of a Force Reserve...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (11 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The primary purpose for the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Irish Defence Forces on overseas Peace Support Operations and to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops whilst on such missions. Tender competitions for defensive equipment for the Defence Forces are conducted by the Department of Defence in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Programmes (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I ask the House to indulge me before I answer that question. I wish to pay tribute to the former Deputy Joe Walsh, who died in recent days. I think he was Ireland's longest serving Minister for Agriculture and he made a very significant contribution to modern agriculture in this country. He is someone I knew well and respected very much. I wish to pass on my condolences to his colleagues...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Programmes (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The direct answer to the Deputy's last question is "No". We will still be pushing for the adoption of the RDP and the opening of GLAS before the end of the year. That said, there are some things that are outside of my control. The Department had a very quick turnaround time following receipt of the questions from the Commission because we are very anxious to expedite this process and get...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Programmes (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I believe the Deputy is referring to the calculation that some people have made if the Commission had implemented what it was proposing for a flat rate payment across the country.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Programmes (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: It would never have happened, because the country would have been broken up into different regions, with different flat rate payments for different regions. That is a spin some people have been putting on this-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: EU Programmes (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: -----and it is not based on fact. As the Deputy knows, we have held meetings regarding the concerns of commonage and hill farmers about qualification for single farm payment, stocking rates, problems of destocking and under-grazing, eligibility for GLAS and the process of applying for GLAS payments. We have spoken about that a number of times. Deputy Kyne has also raised it with me...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Scheme Eligibility (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: On the timing of it, I hope to get approval from the European Commission before the end of the year to enable us to open GLAS before the end of the year. I have spoken to farming organisations about the process by which farmers will apply. We are trying to let approximately 30,000 farmers into GLAS in one go. That means there could potentially be 35,000 to 40,000 applications. Each...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Scheme Eligibility (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The last quarter of next year.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Scheme Eligibility (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is important to clarify that regardless of how many shareholders are in the commonage, if a commonage area is to qualify for payments under the GLAS scheme, there must be an expectation, indeed a reality, that certain actions will be taken on that land that go beyond what is required under the basic payments scheme. Under the regulations there must be some added value environmentally from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Scheme Eligibility (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: Everybody who applies for GLAS must pay the planner for their GLAS plan.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Scheme Eligibility (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: There will be an individual commonage GLAS plan for each commonage. There is no same overall plan for all commonage areas. There was an idea, and we have moved away significantly from it, that the overall commonage framework plan would implement and force a commonage framework plan on each commonage area. We have instead moved towards a basic stocking rate requirement on disadvantaged lands...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for asking this question and I am very pleased to have an opportunity to outline what I think beef producers in Ireland can do. As the Deputy knows, as Minister I cannot get involved in influencing price directly. I have received two letters from the Competition Authority, which made very clear how far the beef forum can go on a series of issues and where it cannot go in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I and others totally disagree with the assessment of the Deputy. That is why everybody in the sector, including farming organisations, is willing to facilitate the introduction of producer organisations. The processing industry is willing to consider the proposal. It has no choice, because we are going ahead with it. The process is about increasing and improving farmer representation. It...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: There is no need for me to call the Competition Authority, although we have spoken to it, because it contacted us about the beef forum to understand what is going on. It is very plugged in and engaged on beef issues and has examined the beef market. I could quote statistics on beef prices all day in terms of average EU prices, EU 15 prices, the comparison between Ireland and Britain and so...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fish Farming (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: 10 o’clock I have had many discussions with various players and stakeholders in the area of aquaculture as this is something Deputies and Ministers do all the time. I speak of discussions with non-governmental organisations, people with concerns relating to licensing systems and companies. This is part of my job as the Minister with responsibility for the marine, aquaculture,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fish Farming (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I think Deputy Ó Cuív is trying to create smoke where there is none. I understand Deputy McHugh attended the meeting because the headquarters of Marine Harvest, where many people are employed, is in his constituency. I do not remember the details but I suspect Marine Harvest requested a meeting with the Taoiseach and me through Deputy McHugh. I believe such a request was also...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fish Farming (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: No, Deputy McHugh was appointed as a Minister of State with responsibility for areas relevant to his constituency. This applies to the promotion of the Irish language and his other responsibilities. Regardless of who is Minister of State, my job is to ensure there is a robust and legally sound system whereby my Department considers applications in conjunction with the relevant agencies and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Fish Farming (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is also consulted.