Results 16,961-16,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon submitted the 2013 Annual Report and Accounts for the Bord na gCon Group, to my Department for consideration on 20thFebruary 2015. This material is currently being examined by officials within my Department as a precursor to my bringing the 2013 Annual Report and Accounts to Government. After they are noted by Government the 2013 Annual Report and Accounts will be laid before...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Inland Fisheries (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The European Fisheries Areas Network (FARNET) brings together Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) and Member State representatives responsible for FLAG schemes under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF). Through information exchange and a dedicated support unit, this network aims to assist the different stakeholders involved in the sustainable development of fisheries areas at local,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Technology Adoption Programme Payments (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was a participant in the 2014 Beef Technology Adoption Programme (BTAP). In addition to other requirements, participants must attend and sign an attendance sheet at six BTAP discussion group meetings each year orattend four meetings and two national events. The validation process prior to payment includes a check on attendance sheets for BTAP groups. Anomalies in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the 2015 National Reserve provide that young farmers and new entrants are deemed to be priority categories. 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. Therefore young farmers who commenced their farming activity since 1 January 2010...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the 2015 National Reserve provide that young farmers and new entrants are deemed to be priority categories. 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. The Regulations governing the National Reserve also include an optional provision...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2014 and of other relevant regulations, Member States may decide that land which can be grazed and which forms part of established local practices where grasses and other herbaceous forage are traditionally not predominant in grazing areas is to be considered to be permanent grassland. The areas as described, excluding established...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: No severance payments have been made by my Department to the persons listed by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have not appointed any special advisors in my role as Minister for Defence. Similarly no special advisors were appointed by my predecessor, Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D. However, former Minister Alan Shatter, T.D. engaged the services of a personal assistant who assisted him in constituency matters. A severance payment of €10,958.47, which was in accordance with Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ s cheme application on 6 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a ground...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Organic Farming Scheme payment to the person named is currently being processed and will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU Regulations governing the establishment of the National Reserve, Member States can use up to 3% of the financial ceiling allocated to the Basic Payment Scheme to establish a National Reserve. I decided to opt for the 3% maximum available in order to provide a National Reserve fund of €24.79 million in 2015. The closing date for receipt of applications under the two...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TB Eradication Scheme (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The main compensation scheme for farmers whose herds are affected by TB is the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme. Under these arrangements, compensation is payable for cattle removed as reactors. This compensation is based on “Market Value” being the equivalent price that might reasonably have been obtained for the animal, at the time of determination of compensation, from a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive establishes a framework for European Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides by setting minimum rules to reduce the risks to human health and the environment that are associated with pesticide use. It also promotes the use of integrated pest management. The Directive is designed to further enhance the high level of protection...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The results of the 2 014 Cross Compliance inspections continue to be finalised by my Department. On completion of this process the detailed range of data requested will be forwarded directly to the Deputy. The table below sets out the information to hand in relation to the Agri Environment Options Scheme. A more detailed breakdown will not be available until later in the year when the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: All applicants under the Basic Payment Scheme and other area based schemes are obliged to comply with the land eligibility requirements of the Direct Payments regime. Under the Cross Compliance provisions an applicant must also comply with the Statutory Management Requirements and the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) standards. GAEC provides for compliance with seven...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 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 Identification...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Eligibility (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: In a situation such as this, a contract can be transferred to a son provided the son is willing to continue the contract to its natural end. However, the son must hold a herd number in his own right and would also have to submit a new acceptable REPS plan to the local Office. If the new plan was deemed acceptable to the Department then the contract would be allowed to continue under the son.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 15 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of the Single Payment Scheme requires that in order to activate payment under the scheme an applicant must have one eligible hectare of land to accompany each entitlement held. As the person named does not currently hold any...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Correspondence (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that correspondence was recently received from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association on the issue of land eligibility under the Direct Payment Schemes. My Department makes payments in excess of €1.5 billion annually to over 130,000 farmers in Ireland under EU funded or partially funded Direct Aid Schemes. Therefore, it is important that the provisions of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The fodder production system referred to is currently being promoted as an economically viable system of producing fodder or overcoming fodder shortages on organic livestock farms. The economics and application of such a production system, however, have to be carefully examined. I am advised by my Department that the accepted comparison of feed is based on dry matter equivalents. A feed...