Results 17,081-17,100 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Priority access to the GLAS scheme is based on the environmental assets found on individual farms, having regard to the priorities laid down by my Department, following consultation with other stakeholders and the EU Commission. The payment offered on commonage land is justified on the basis of one management plan being put in place for the commonage with shareholders agreeing to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Meetings (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Officials from my Department met the named individual on 17 July 2014 and the issues concern the Celtic Sea Herring Fishery. In 2011, I asked the fishing industry and other interested parties to make proposals on the future management arrangements for all Irish herring fisheries, the Celtic Sea stock, the stocks off the North West coast and the Atlanto Scandian stock. The objective of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with relevant EU Regulations , to be eligible under the Young Farmer priority category of the National Reservean applicant must meet the following conditions: - S/he is participating in the Basic Payment Scheme in the year in which s/he submits an application; - S/he is aged no more than 40 years of age at any time during the calendar year in which s/he first submits an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (10 Mar 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. Issues arose in relation to the splitting of land parcels, which required an amendment to the applicant’s Single Payment Application, and prevented the file from progressing towards administrative check. These amendments have now been completed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Where a farmer currently in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) is admitted to the GLAS scheme no reimbursement of aid paid under the AEOS contract will be required. However any outstanding penalty for non compliance with AEOS requirements in respect of the period prior to transformation to GLAS will remain due.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Designation of lands is a matter in the first instance for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and I have neither sought nor received advice from the Attorney General in this regard. Through GLAS, my Department’s new agri-environment scheme, farmers with designated lands will have an opportunity to access an annual agri-environment payment. This is designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: GLAS will be the main source of support under my Department for farmers with Hen Harrier habitat on their holding. Hen Harrier land is a Tier One Priority Environmental Asset and any farmer with an identified habitat will secure priority access to the scheme . The payment rate for Hen Harrier is €370 per hectare, and this applies all lands notified to my Department by the National...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to say that both Natura and Hen Harrier lands are Priority Environmental Assets under the new GLAS scheme . This means that farmers who manage such assets will receive priority access to the scheme. Where Natura land is also identified as Hen Harrier habitat, the prescription laid down for the bird must be applied. This attracts a payment of €370 per hectare instead of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Plan (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Rural Development Programme (RDP), 2014-2020 will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. EU Regulation No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on support for Rural Development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the Rural Development Programme I have proposed the introduction of a new Organic Farming Scheme to deliver enhanced environmental and animal welfare benefits and to encourage producers to respond to the market demand for organically produced food. The principal support will be an annual area-based payment per hectare over a 5 year contract period.  This rate is comprised of a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Employment Data (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I noted the Central Statistics Office release of the Quarterly National Household Survey for Q4, 2014, on 25 February. My Department monitors these official figures for employment in the sector as a matter of course. I especially noted the statement therein, to which the Deputy refers, that employment in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries dropped by 10,900 or 9.3% since Q4 2013. I would...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the operational programme under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Regulation (508/2014) which is the financial regulation for the Common Fisheries Policy. I will be launching later this year a new €241 million Seafood Development Programme for the period up to 2020 under the EMFF. The new Programme will provide a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the strategic environmental assessment for the new Seafood Development Programme 2014-2020 under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation (508/2014). I will be launching later this year a new €241 million Seafood Development Programme for the period up to 2020 under the EMFF. The new Programme will provide a range of supports for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department received a 2014 Transfer of Entitlements application form on 14 May 2014 requesting the transfer by way of inheritance of 43.02 Single Payment entitlements from the deceased person named to the second person named. As this transfer was by way of inheritance, it was necessary to request testamentary documentation in support of this transfer. My Department has requested the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (10 Mar 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 payment has issued in respect of the 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 System, must be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Administration (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Rural Development Programme for the 2014-2020 period which was submitted to the EU Commission for approval in July 2014, includes provision for a range of on-farm investment schemes. Investments in farm buildings in general have been identified as an area which will be targeted in the TAMS scheme with grant aid for dairy buildings being specifically available for qualifying young farmers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with relevant EU Regulations, to be eligible under the Young Farmer priority category of the National Reserve an applicant must meet the following conditions: - S/he is participating in the Basic Payment Scheme in the year in which s/he submits an application; - S/he is aged no more than 40 years of age at any time during the calendar year in which s/he first submits an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Currency Exchange (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Rather than the Chinese currency devaluing against the euro, in fact the euro has devalued against the Chinese yuan over the last year. The current rate of the euro against the Chinese currency is around 1 euro equal to 6.80 Chinese yuan renminbi, a 22% reduction compared to the highest rate in recent years of almost 8.69 yuan renminbi in May 2014. The euro’s exchange rate with the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 24 March 2014. Following processing of this application issues relating to the verification of compliance with the minimum stocking density were identified. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named regarding this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Applicants under the Direct Payment Schemes and other area based schemes are obliged to carry out an agricultural activity on the land declared for aid. The governing EU regulations define an agricultural activity as the production, rearing or growing of agricultural products, including harvesting, milking, breeding animals, and keeping animals for farming purposes and maintaining an...