Results 17,101-17,120 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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...

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

Simon Coveney: In excess of €1.5 billion is paid annually to approximately 130,000 farmers in Ireland under the EU funded or partially funded Direct Payments and Agri-Environment Schemes. Under the governing EU Regulations, all applications must be subjected to verification checks to ensure their accuracy and their adherence to the requirements of the EU Regulations. The Land Parcel Identification...

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

Simon Coveney: Applicants under the Direct Payment Schemes, including the Basic Payment Scheme, are required to comply with the provisions of the EU legislation giving rise to these payments. All applicants are required to comply at all times with the provisions provided for under Cross Compliance for each Statutory Management Requirement, including the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. Applicants are also...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (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. During the processing of this person’s non-productive capital investment claim an issue arose, which has now been resolved. The claim is now being examined in the context of the various other checks required under the EU Regulations, including...

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

Simon Coveney: The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, along with my colleague, Minister of State Tom Hayes T.D., Minister for Forestry, has recently published a report titled, “Deer Management in Ireland – A Framework for Action” and they have announced membership of a Deer Management Forum. This report lists a number of recommendations which will be examined by the Deer...

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

Simon Coveney: There are benefits accruing to young farmers in partnerships under both Pillar I and Pillar II of the Common Agricultural Policy. With regard to Pillar I the following is relevant: Pillar I In accordance with relevant EU Regulations to be eligible under the Young Farmer priority category of the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme an applicant must meet the following conditions: -...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Applications (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Applications for aquaculture licences are considered by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. The assessment process takes full account of all national and EU legislative requirements and reflects the full engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of each application. I can see no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Applications (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Marine Harvest Ireland submitted an application to my Department for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish at Shot Head, Bantry Bay in June 2011. Since then the Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division of my Department has met with the company on 15 occasions. These meetings are part of a long-standing and ongoing series of co-ordination meetings held to discuss general...

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

Simon Coveney: As advised in the previous replies, from time to time I receive allegations or such allegations are sent to the Department in relation to illegal fishing activity. In every instance, these allegations are sent to either the SFPA and/or An Garda Síochána, as appropriate, for investigation. This is the only instruction and/or advice given in respect of any such allegation. In respect...

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

Simon Coveney: As set out in response to Question No. 77 of 11 February, 2015 ex-post evaluation of the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013 is by law a matter for the European Commission The amount of investment in aquaculture under the Programme was modest, so no radical change in the sector was to be expected as a result. However, Bord Iascaigh Mhara advise me that t he value of the sector held...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State, rests with An Garda Síochána. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. On occasions, the Defence Forces are deployed to Shannon...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, arising from the comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 9,500 personnel. Resulting from the revised strength ceiling, a major re-organisation of the PDF was initiated. Key aspects of the reorganisation included the consolidation of three under-strength Army Brigades into...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Uniforms (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: It was not possible to reply to the Deputy in the time available. My Department is making ongoing enquiries into the matter and I will reply directly to the Deputy once a reply comes to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following a re-organisation of the Reserve Defence Force Lahinch Camp closed in March 2013. The property was surplus to my Department’s requirements and in accordance with normal procedure was offered for sale to other Government Departments and Public Bodies. Discussions took place with Clare County Council and local community groups in relation to the property. However, in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Orchard Park Estate in the Curragh has not been taken in charge by Kildare County Council and remains the responsibility of my Department. Officials from my Department are in the process of undertaking a full survey of the Estate to determine the necessary remedial works. It is hoped to commence the works in the near future. However, due to financial restraints the work carried out will be...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Irish Red Cross Governance (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: My attention has been drawn to the media report in question and I am aware of the fact that three senior managers at the Irish Red Cross Society have recently resigned from their positions. However, pursuant to relevant legislation, the Irish Red Cross Society is an independent charitable body corporate with full power to manage and administer its own affairs and accordingly the reasons for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (11 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The process of deciding objective criteria for the National Reserve is carried out in consultation with the Direct Payments Advisory Committee which includes members of the main farming bodies and advisory services. After consultation with this Committee in recent months and in the context of the limited funding available to the National Reserve, it was decided that an off farm income limit...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (11 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme revealed that several of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. Following the review of my Department’s decision, sought by the person named, a visit by a Department official to verify the position on the ground is necessary....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Correspondence (11 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have arranged for an official of my Department to make direct contact with the legal representative of the persons concerned with a view to addressing the issues raised in the correspondence in question.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (11 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: A wide range of investment items, including investments in Dairy Farms and measures to enhance safety on farms, are proposed for inclusion in the new TAMS Schemes under the Rural Development Plan 2014-2020. However, there are no plans at present to include road underpasses in the new farm safety scheme, which forms part of the proposed suite of TAMS schemes.