Results 16,661-16,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Native/Indigenous breeds are regarded as those that originate in a certain country. In Ireland, for Bovines this includes Kerry, Dexter & Irish Moiled. The Shorthorn is not regarded as a native breed and accordingly cannot be included in the Irish list of native breeds in danger of being lost to farming.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Applications (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The National Reserve and Young Farmers Schemes opened for applications on Monday 5th January 2015 in respect of the two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Entrant as set down in the EU Regulations governing the operation of the Scheme. Applicants who meet the definition of ‘young farmer’ may apply to both the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme. Up to Monday...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Eligibility (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Rural Development Programme for the 2014-2020 period was submitted to the EU Commission for approval in July 2014. The following investments have been identified as priority areas which will be targeted in the TAMS scheme:(i) dairy equipment, (iii) low emission spreading equipment, (iii) animal welfare and farm safety (specifically beef and sheep handling facilities) farm nutrient...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Projects (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The draft 2014-2020 Rural Development programme proposes the establishment of Knowledge Transfer Groups across a range of sectors, including Beef and Dairy, that will see farmer meetings facilitated by highly qualified advisors and will involve the transfer and exchange of information and best practice. All participating farmers will be required to develop a Farm Improvement Plan in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farm Safety is a critical issue facing farming today and is something that I am seriously concerned about. Statistics show that accidents on farms cause more workplace deaths than all other occupations combined. It is important for everyone to continually highlight the need for farmers to think safety first in all tasks they perform - simple behavioural changes may be all that it takes to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The detailed consideration of Ireland’s Draft Rural Development Programme (RDP) by the EU Commission is now at an advanced stage and the new Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) is a key component of that programme. I intend to open GLAS as soon as agreement is reached with the EU Commission. GLAS+ provides for a ‘top-up’ of up to €2,000 per annum,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Applications (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The detailed consideration of Ireland’s Draft Rural Development Programme (RDP) by the EU Commission is now at an advanced stage and the new Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) is a key component of that Programme. I intend to open GLAS as soon as agreement is reached with the EU Commission.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Responsibilities (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: On 15 July 2014 Minister Phelan was appointed to be Minister of State at the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Transport, Tourism and Sport with special responsibility for rural economic development, rural transport and, in particular, the implementation of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Area(CEDRA) Report. The thirty four CEDRA recommendations are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Mental Health Awareness (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I welcome this worthwhile initiative which aims to encourage schools, colleges, clubs, societies and organisations to promote and actively bring about a culture of change in the promotion of positive mental health. While I welcome the Amber Flag Initiative, the flying of flags at Government Departments is governed by protocol.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I too pass on my congratulations to Deputy Martin Ferris. It is not true to say we are going to have to pay an LPIS fine of €180 million. That is what the Commission has proposed but we are very much opposing it. It has gone to conciliation and is still in process. It is important to put that on the record. The rules governing the imposition of a superlevy fine are set by...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I answered the Deputy - it is €88 million.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I did not; I said it was at the end of January.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will come back to the Deputy on that point.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am a little surprised that the Deputy has not informed himself on the issue. He is the main Opposition spokesperson on agriculture and I would have thought he would have been on top of the numbers. Last May the anticipated super levy fine, based on trends at that stage, was 9%. In August the figure was approximately 7% but it then dropped to 6% and is now 5.5%. By the time we get to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: We have had debates on this issue on many occasions and the Deputy knows only too well what is possible and what is not. It would require agreement across 28 EU member states to secure a change in the approach to a soft landing. Ireland led an effort to introduce a butterfat adjustment which was supported in increasing numbers by many other countries, but it was not possible to get over the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: That is a fair question.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: We have not failed in Europe. If we can get agreement from the Commission on a schedule of payments over a number of years, that will make an enormous difference to cashflow demands on farmers and on co-ops. We already have an agreement in principle from the Commission that the relationship between farmers and their co-ops could be such that it would allow for a schedule of payments that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: This schedule has been the topic of discussion for about a year now. I sat down with all the farming organisations and asked them what their priority was for the new agri-environment scheme, namely, GLAS, which is replacing REPS and AEOS for many farmers. I told them we could allow a small number of farmers in for the first phase, go through the application process quickly because numbers...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farmers apply for and receive payments under many schemes, although it is correct that in respect of environmental schemes, they have been waiting for some time for a major scheme to replace the rural environment protection scheme. The agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, was introduced as a stop-gap measure by the previous Government and maintained by this Government. While the scheme...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: A number of questions have been tabled on young farmers, old-young farmers and so forth which I will answer as we reach them. We worked hard during the negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy to ensure young farmers would be given preferential treatment. As a result, they will receive a top-up on the single farm payment and priority in the national reserve which will increase their...