Results 16,361-16,380 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Regulations (22 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 of the European Parliament and the Council on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications for spirit drinks included Irish Poteen/Irish Poitín for the first time in the list of geographical indications of spirit drinks “originating in the territory of a country or region where a given quality,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (22 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department is working with the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to achieve full compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives through a multi-annual work programme. This programme required the gathering of the necessary baseline data appropriate to the Conservation Objectives of aquaculture sites located within designated Natura...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (22 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013 and full payment has issued in respect of the 2013 Scheme year. 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, must be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (22 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in March 2008 and received payments for the first five years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. This process has now been completed and the 2014 75% payment...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota (22 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The rules governing the imposition of a super levy fine are set by regulations agreed at EU level. Under these regulations each Member State is allocated a volume quota of milk, above which a super levy fine (of 28.6 cents/litre) has to be paid to the EU Commission by producers who contribute to the over production. It is not possible for me on a unilateral basis to adjust super levy rules....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (22 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: GLAS is an agri-environment measure under the proposed Rural Development Programme and as such aims to deliver overarching benefits in terms of the rural environment and address issues of climate change mitigation, water quality and the preservation of habitats and species. It is designed to specifically target environmental priorities, but it also has provision for farmers with no such...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (22 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: A 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Area Application was received in respect of the person named on 9 May 2014. Processing of this application revealed over-claims in respect of two commonage land parcels. The person named was recently notified of this error by letter. The person named is now required to confirm his entitlement to claim the commonage parcels and submit documentary...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (22 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the Direct Payment Schemes require my Department to operate a Farm Advisory System (FAS) to provide advice to farmers on a range of issues relating to land and farm management. The regulations require that advisors are suitably qualified and regularly trained. In order to be approved as a GLAS Advisor, an advisor must also be an approved FAS advisor. In...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (22 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 102, inclusive, together. When serving personnel leave the Defence Forces, or otherwise vacate a married quarter property that had been assigned to them, they are required under military regulations to return vacant possession of that property. Over the years, the vast majority of serving personnel have returned vacant possession of married...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Plan (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The draft Rural Development Plan (RDP) 2014-2020 was formally submitted to the European Commission on 3 July 2014, a number of weeks in advance of the regulatory deadline. The Commission’s formal observations on the draft RDP were received on 20 October 2014 with a total of 266 observations, incorporating a range of informational, technical and policy matters. Negotiations in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Retirement Scheme (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Farmers’ Early Retirement Scheme was suspended in 2008 due to budgetary constraints. It was reopened briefly in September, 2009, with limited additional funding, to accommodate farmers who had applications completed or close to completion at the time of suspension. I have no plans to re-open this scheme or introduce another similar scheme at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 30 March 2014, processing of which has recently been completed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is due to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 1 April 2014. Following the processing of this application issues relating to the verification of compliance with the minimum stocking density were identified. Under 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, there are two criteria to be satisfied in relation to those applicants availing of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Native Woodland (Establishment) measure is now an integral part of the recently opened Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme. It has a separate Grant and Premium Category (GPC) under the Scheme and applicants can either apply for approval to plant solely within that GPC or in combination with a mix of other GPCs. As regards native woodland conservation, my Department is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: While statutory responsibility and funding for the CEDRA actions remains with the relevant lead Departments, implementation of the CEDRA report is underway and is currently being directed through the CEDRA Interdepartmental Group (CEDRA IDG) which was established last August. There have been three meetings of this group which is chaired by Minister Ann Phelan. The initial evaluation and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: This REPS 4 contract commenced in May 2009 and payments were made for the first five years of the contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Following a request to the Department for a change of name to the REPS...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: In the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes and Rural Development measures my Department is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms covering such issues as eligibility under the Scheme and compliance with Cross Compliance requirements, as set down in EU legislation, and the standards for Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC), in the areas...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2014, processing of which has recently been completed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is due to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Eligibility (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The detailed requirements for the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme form part of the Rural Development Programme, which is currently under negotiation with the EU Commission. Under 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, there were two criteria to be satisfied in relation to those applicants availing of equines to meet the minimum stocking density requirement Firstly, the holding itself must...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (27 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted an application for the 2014 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Areas Schemes on 14 May 2014. My Department informed the person named on 21 July 2014 that unused Standard Single Payment Entitlements at a value of €207.98 each were reverting to the National Reserve as per the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. The remaining Single Payment Entitlements held were...