Results 16,721-16,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am confident that the industry developed targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 are attainable and can be met. As the deputy is aware, the main targets in the Food Harvest report are, by 2020, to increase the value of: - Primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 33% - Value added production by 40% - Agriculture, food (including seafood) and drink exports by 42%...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Comptroller and Auditor General published a Special Report on the Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres on 8th July 2014. While the report noted that improvements had taken place with regard to the Financial Management arrangements at the Fishery Harbour Centres, it highlighted areas where further improvements could be achieved. My Department has accepted the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the EU Regulations governing the Young Farmer Scheme and National Reserve, a young farmer is defined as a farmer aged 40 years or less who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting the Basic Payment Scheme application. This definition of young farmer was agreed by EU Council and Parliament as part of the CAP reform agreement of June 2013....

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

Simon Coveney: A robust shellfish biotoxin monitoring regime is essential in order to protect consumers and safeguard the good reputation of the Irish seafood industry. I am aware that a number of bays in the Southwest have experienced temporary suspensions of harvesting over the Winter as the level of biotoxins exceeded the regulatory limits. Such harvesting suspensions are not unusual and all...

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

Simon Coveney: While my Department legislates for and implements a control regime in relation to all veterinary medicines (animal remedies), the focus of this is not specifically aimed at ensuring that products comply with Bord na gCon guidelines. 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...

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

Simon Coveney: All applications for aquaculture licences for the cultivation of fin fish are considered by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and (in the case of marine aquaculture) the 1933 Foreshore Act. The assessment process takes full account of all National and EU legislative requirements and reflects the full scientific, environmental, legal,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grassland Sheep Scheme Applications (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Applications under the 2013 and 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme were received from the person named on 15 May 2013 and 12 May 2014 respectively. Payment has not issued to the person named as the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme minimum eligibility requirements namely, the inclusion of breeding ewes on the annual sheep census.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from the 1stSeptember 2011 and payment has issued in respect of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from the 1stSeptember 2011 and payment has issued in respect of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. Remedial action was undertaken by the person named following issues identified in an on-farm inspection which was carried out on 16thSeptember 2014. Both the first payment of 75%...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from the 1stSeptember 2011 and payment has issued in respect of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. Both the first payment of 75% and the second payment of the balancing 25% for 2014 were processed on 12thFebruary 2015. Both payments will issue to the person named this week.

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

Simon Coveney: Energy policy and regulation falls within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Alex White TD. Renewable energy policy and use within the European Union is covered by a number of Directives including the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, the Fuel Quality Directiveand the Biofuels Directive 2003. As the grain and feed market is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2014. Following initial processing, over-claims were discovered in respect of three land parcels, one of which was a commonage parcel which required further investigation. This investigation has now been completed and processing of the application has recently been finalised. Payments will...

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

Simon Coveney: Lowland farmers in marginal lands can qualify for GLAS in any one of the three tiers planned. If they have a priority environmental asset, such as one of the identified bird species, Natura land, high-status water or keep rare breeds of cattle, sheep or horses, or farm organically, they will qualify for Tier 1 access to GLAS. If they have a vulnerable water course on their land and commit...

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 (BnG). The welfare of greyhounds involved in coursing is provided for in the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 whichinter aliarequires that persons who course greyhounds must have regard to the...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department maintains a close working relationship with the Local Authorities on dog welfare matters. I am informed that regular inspections of dog pounds are carried out by the Local Authority veterinary officers and, in addition, that all pounds have regular services of private veterinarians to deal with sick animals and emergency cases. The Department of the Environment, Community and...

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

Simon Coveney: The appeal by the persons named is currently under review. Every effort will be made to expedite the review and to notify the appellants of the outcome.

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

Simon Coveney: My Department, as successor to the former Irish Land Commission, still holds some non-agricultural land but is not engaged in renting or leasing turbary at the present time. In the case of certain bog areas my Department has allocated the lands to the National Parks and Wildlife Service as the appropriate custodian, particularly in the case of special areas of conservation.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2013 Single Payment (SPS)/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 3 May 2013. Under the SPS Scheme, the advance payment of €802.68 was issued on 16 October 2013 with the balancing payment of €802.69 issuing on 2 December 2013. The applicant was also paid €707.63 under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme on 20 September 2013. ...

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

Simon Coveney: In order to be eligible under the priority category of New Entrant under the National Reserve, the applicant must: - Be participating in the Basic Payment Scheme in the year in which s/he applies to the National Reserve; - Have commenced the present agricultural activity in the 2013 calendar year or any later year; - Not have had any agricultural activity in his/her own name and at his/her...

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

Simon Coveney: The person named registered 30 animals under the Beef Genomics Scheme for 2014. Under the Terms and Conditions of this Scheme all animals must be tested for BVD within 27 days of birth and if the test is positive, or inconclusive, then the animal must be removed to a knackery within 7 weeks of the test result. If the BVD requirements are not complied with then the whole herd is ineligible for...