Results 16,021-16,040 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: That is tier 1.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: There is. We introduced the option for a more intensive level of stocking rate for tier 1 because we wanted a mix of farmers. The Commission indicated a wish for many different farmers in the new environmental scheme rather than it solely being for commonage and Natura lands or small, disadvantaged farms. Intensive farmers also need to be thinking about the environment with respect to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Programme Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am more than willing to come before the committee but it is about finding the time to do so, given everybody's schedule. I expect we will have that discussion early in the new year. I hope I have demonstrated that I am not shy about coming before the committee to answer questions. The rural development programme has been a frustrating process for me as we had our plans in early and we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Programme Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: What farmers want is to have a new scheme open as soon as we can open it, and that is what we will try to deliver. Whether it requires a letter of comfort to achieve it or not, farmers are not interested in that type of detail. They want a date from me for when they can apply to the scheme and put their plans in place so we can assess them, make decisions as to who is in and lock people...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Programme Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: We are seeking a letter of comfort on all the schemes, not just GLAS. We want to have negotiated and agreed the detail of our RDP with the Commission, but the formal process of approval takes time. In many countries, there are multiple RDPs in operation. In the United Kingdom, for example, there is a separate programme for each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am satisfied we got the best deal possible for Irish fishermen. It is not the perfect deal, but it is a very significant improvement on where we were three days ago. In terms of fish landed value, we went into the negotiations standing to lose more than €18 million in the whitefish sector alone, which accounts for the vast majority of fishermen. We have come out of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Yes. Just for next year.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Every December we renegotiate.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Celtic Sea fishery is a really complex one. There are species other than cod, haddock and whiting caught in the Celtic Sea on which we have had good news, but the cod, haddock and whiting fishery is a big one, particularly in respect of the whiting element as we have a bigger quota than France and the United Kingdom, who share the fishery with us. The industry took the initiative here...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: I did not get a chance to mention the discards issue for next year. We are about to change fundamentally the way in which we fish, for the better. This was negotiated, I am glad to say, by Ireland during the Irish Presidency in a new Common Fisheries Policy. We are introducing, from 1 January, which is in a few weeks, an obligation to land all pelagic fish. This time next year, we will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Fisheries Policy Negotiations (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is trade.

Other Questions: Land Parcel Identification System (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that there is currently no delay with the digitising of maps. The majority of farmers, 98%, have been paid. Each year, my Department receives over 130,000 applications from farmers under the direct aid schemes, which are funded or partially funded by the European Union. The schemes involved include the single payment scheme, the disadvantaged areas scheme, REPS and AEOS....

Other Questions: Land Parcel Identification System (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Some of them require inspections to back up the maps.

Other Questions: Land Parcel Identification System (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: I can understand why that would be the perception because there were significant delays in digitisation a couple of years ago relating to the agri-environment options scheme. There has also been concern for a number of farmers in regard to the LPIS review and the accuracy of maps and so on. The mapping and digitisation and the change of system that has been in place for a year has caused...

Other Questions: Land Parcel Identification System (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: I will, of course. I will come back to the Deputy if there is a problem.

Other Questions: Bord na gCon Administration (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should welcome it.

Other Questions: Farm Household Incomes (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: If one adds up all of the direct payments, there has been a fall for several years. Next year, however, there should not be. Between now and 2020, there will be an effective increase in payments because of a very strong rural development programme, with increased expenditure each year. When one looks at the amounts of direct supports going into farming, rather than the number of schemes...

Other Questions: Beef Industry (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Exports of all Irish offal to Russia have been suspended following an audit inspection by officials from the Russian Federation in May this year. It also resulted in the suspension of exports of other prime beef cuts from a number of meat plants supplying to Russia at the time. In late June the Russian Federation also introduced an EU-wide ban on beef trimmings owing to alleged adulteration...