Results 16,701-16,720 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Other Questions: Beef Exports (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am not going to get into making judgments on issues that were subjects of tribunals in the past as I do not believe it is helpful. As I said, I am very comfortable that we have regulatory systems that allow us to produce the safest and highest quality beef in the planet. It is not just me saying that. We are the only European country allowed to export beef to the United States because of...

Other Questions: Aquaculture Licences (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is a fair concern to outline that there have been some challenges with aquaculture licensing. Before I came into office, no aquaculture licence had been granted for five years. The European Commission took Ireland to court because its licensing system was not fit for purpose. As a result, we have put a licensing system in place that would be required as gold standard, which involves...

Other Questions: Aquaculture Licences (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: On the first question, in 2011 two applications were received; in 2012 two applications were received; and in 2013 and 2014 no applications were received for new licences for fin fish farms. On renewal of licences, eight applications were received in 2011; nine applications in 2012; two applications in 2013; and two applications in 2014. It is important to say that in the case of renewals,...

Other Questions: Aquaculture Licences (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Just to be clear, as I said earlier, we made positive determinations in respect of two renewal applications and both of those were trout farms, nothing to do with salmon at all. I am not going to give a timescale for the Galway Bay application because I have to wait to get recommendations on my desk. I have put those who are considering this application under some pressure to try to get...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Vulnerable Water areas scheduled for support under GLAS have been identified in the first instance from maps and advice provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), refined on the basis of contiguity to the watercourse in question, wet-soil characteristics and presence of bovines on the holding in question. These sites have been mapped on my Department's new online application...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: At the time of the imposition of the ban, Russia was the second most important destination for agri-food exports from the EU, valued at some €12 billion in 2013. Almost half of this trade is subject to the ban. Across the EU, fruit and vegetables and dairy are the sectors most affected, although the loss of such a significant commercial market has had repercussions for the entire EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Establishment (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: GLAS (the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) is part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme (RDP). Ireland's draft RDP for the period 2014-2020 was submitted to the European Commission for approval in July last year and approval for the Scheme is still awaited. My officials are involved in negotiations with the Commission to expedite that approval...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am very supportive of the negotiations for a trade and investment agreement between the EU and the United States. An agreement between the world's two major trading blocs has the potential to enhance growth and increase jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. Of course we also have some red lines in these negotiations. One of these relates to the EU ban on the use of hormones in meat...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Vulnerable Water areas scheduled for support under GLAS have been identified in the first instance from maps and information provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), refined on the basis of contiguity to the watercourse in question, wet-soil characteristics and presence of bovines on the holding in question. These sites have been mapped on my Department's new online...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Strategy (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The development of a dairy and agri-food export market for Irish produce in China has been a priority for me since becoming Minister. I strongly believe that progress to date can only be viewed as very positive, with the added bonus of a huge latent potential remaining to be developed on an ongoing basis, as we increase production following quota abolition. As Minister for Agriculture, I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I understand that the Deputy is referring to a report arising from a review that I asked to be carried out following a Circuit Court case in November 2013, where the Judge directed that a defendant be found not guilty by direction of the court. In the course of summing up at the end of the case, the trial Judge advised that matters surrounding the case should be examined by my Department. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I believe that a trade and investment agreement between the European Union and the United States will be good for Ireland and good for Europe. Such an agreement has, in my view, the potential to enhance growth and increase jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. In the agriculture sector, Ireland has substantial offensive interests. We are keen to increase our access to the American market...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Administration (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Single Payment to Farmers forms a significant component of farmer income in Ireland. This EU measure recognises the importance of ensuring that sufficient numbers can derive a worthwhile livelihood from farming, which in turn helps to ensure food security as well as contributing to the overall Irish and EU economies. There are basic obligations attached to the receipt of the Single...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farm Safety is a critical issue facing farming today and is something that I am seriously concerned about. It has been identified as a priority area for investment under TAMS II and it is proposed that a new Farm Safety Scheme will be introduced in 2015, subject to EU Commission approval of Ireland's Rural Development Programme. The Knowledge Transfer measure proposed under the new RDP will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Administration (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon has statutory responsibility under the Greyhound Industry Acts 1958 and 1993 for the control, development and improvement of the greyhound racing industry. The issue to which the Deputy refers is an operational matter for Bord na gCon. That organisation is specifically empowered under Section 16 (1) of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, to provide loans for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: GLAS (the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) is part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme (RDP). Ireland's draft RDP for the period 2014-2020 was submitted to the European Commission for approval in July last year and approval for the Scheme is still awaited. My officials are involved in negotiations with the Commission to expedite that approval...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is quite an amount of misinformation circulating at present about the impacts of the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on the European Union and Ireland in particular. My colleague and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, is the lead Irish Minister on international trade negotiations but I would like to set the record straight about...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Drugs in Sport (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. It has specific powers conferred on it by the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations 2007, S.I. 302 2007, which set out the detailed rules under which greyhound racing is conducted. Bord na gCon has informed my Department that more than 6,000 samples were taken from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing. The ICC has confirmed to my Department that it has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Drugs in Sport (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department's role in relation to combating the selling of illegal substances is not limited to the greyhound industry but embraces all animal species, with a particular focus on food-producing animals in order to protect consumers. Bord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. In addition Bord na gCon has...