Results 17,281-17,300 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (24 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces traditionally has a high turnover rate of personnel. As a result, the public service recruitment embargo had a limited impact on the Defence Force's recruitment processes. Cadet induction took place in all years since 2008 while General Service recruitment took place in all years except 2009. General Service recruitment into the Defence Forces is a continuous process with...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (24 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service. Targeted recruitment has taken place so as to maintain the level of 9,500 personnel and to ensure the operational capacity of the Defence Forces. As the Permanent Defence Force is currently below the agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (24 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces currently operate an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System, commonly referred to as UAVs. These UAVs are, in effect, an information gathering asset which have no offensive capability. They do not carry weapons. The UAV systems were acquired to enhance the capability of the Defence Forces to provide a low cost and low risk means to increase surveillance capabilities and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (24 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 28 February 2015, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,2 77, comprising 7,4 58 Army, 765 Air Corps and 1,054 Naval Service personnel. The following table outlines the establishment, strength and vacancies of the Permanent Defence Force, by Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 28...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Operations (24 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces are continuously seeking new and innovative ways of maintaining and developing defence and security capabilities in order to provide the best value for money and affordable defence and in that context the Naval Service is involved in a strategic partnership with the Irish Maritime Energy Cluster (IMERC) in Ringaskiddy and the NMCI/Halpin Centre for Research and Innovation....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences Applications (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The referral response with observations from National Parks and Wildlife Service in respect of a general felling license application from the person named was received back in my Department on 20thMarch 2015. As the proposed felling site lies within a Freshwater Pearl Mussel habitat, the applicant must submit completed Forms A and B, which have been issued to him, before the file can be processed.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted an application under Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances measure of the Single Payment Scheme on 16th January 2004 on the grounds that he purchased lands after the reference period and requested additional entitlements on this land. My Department having examined the circumstances of this application deemed that it did not satisfy the criteria laid down in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 86 together. To be eligible for participation in the Young Farmers Scheme an applicant must have completed or be currently participating in an agricultural qualification at FETAC/QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) Level 6 or its equivalent. Alternatively s/he must commit to commencing such a course by 30th September 2016. Details of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Plan (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: A wide range of investment items are proposed for inclusion in the new TAMS Schemes under the Rural Development Plan 2014-2020. These include significant investments in dairy farms and measures to enhance safety on farms. However, there are no plans at present to include the construction of road underpasses in any of the proposed suite of TAMS schemes.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The extensive range of data requested by the Deputy is not readily available. In relation to the 2014 cross compliance inspections, my Department continues to finalise the results of these inspections. On completion of this process the data requested in respect of 2014 inspections will be forwarded directly to the Deputy. In relation to the data requested for the 2015 inspections, my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Control of Horses Act, 1996 designates to local authorities responsibility for issues relating to stray and neglected horses in both urban and rural areas. My Department provides funding to the local authorities to assist in implementation of the Act. In 2014, an amount of €2.25m was paid to the local authorities throughout the country to help themin dealing with straying/abandoned...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Breeding Regulations (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: ICBF is approved by my Department under the relevant EU legislation to produce genetic evaluations on Irish dairy and beef breeding animals. A selection index known as the Economic Breeding Index (EBI) was designed by ICBF and Teagasc researchers to help dairy farmers and industry stakeholders to identify the most profitable and environmentally sustainable animals to breed from. The EBI...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (25 Mar 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: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Appeals (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first six years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Following the administrative checks in 2013, issues were discovered...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts Data (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department is not in a position to provide a reply to this question as the details supplied are not sufficient to provide an accurate and complete response to the Deputy. If the deputy would like to provide details of the companies in question I will provide any information available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies Data (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Age is not one of the selection criteria for appointment to a board of any of the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department and therefore my Department has no information in this regard. Of the total number of board members across the twelve State Bodies one member serves on the boards of both Teagasc and Bord Bia. There are a total of nineteen female board members across the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies Data (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: There are a total of one hundred and one chairpersons and non-executive directors on the boards of state bodies under my aegis. The authorised fees to the chairpersons and board members are outlined in the attached table. If no board member waives their fee, the total cost to the state bodies would be €783,572. No fees are payable to serving public servants. The travel and other...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (or G6PD) deficiency is an enzyme deficiency for which all inductees (Recruits and Cadets) are now tested at their induction medical. If the result is normal, then there is no need for these personnel to be tested again. Defence Forces personnel who are to deploy to a malarious area and who have not previously been tested for G6PD...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts Data (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: In order to provide a considered reply, the Deputy will need to provide clarity as to what information is required. If the Deputy wishes to be more specific as to which particular companies are the subject of the information being sought, my Department will arrange to have such information made available. The Deputy may wish to note that my Department publishes on a quarterly basis details of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Bodies Data (25 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together. The only body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act, 1927. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners of...