Results 17,721-17,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: A Department review of the non-productive capital investment claims submitted by applicants under AEOS, was undertaken in 2014. This review identified irregularities with documentation submitted for reimbursement in some of these claims. A full Department investigation was then initiated, which in turn led to the matter being referred to the Garda. Payments to applicants under review have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The tillage sector makes a key contribution to the agri-food industry directly through provision of high quality, native grown ingredients to support the development of the livestock, food and drinks sector. Indigenous production of cereals is of course, an important part of primary agriculture production. In addition to generating an income for our tillage farmers, the cereals sector is a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Malting barley production is a valuable and important sector within the agri-food industry. Current production of malt in Ireland is in the region of 120,000 tonnes from 160,000 tonnes plus of contracted malting barley.  Future prospects are very positive, primarily due to the growth of Irish Whiskey exports and interest in craft beers which is driving growth in micro-breweries. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Whilst the moratorium impacted on staff levels, Teagasc retain a complement of over 1,150 staff who deliver research, advisory and education services to the agriculture and food sectors. The distribution of staff is an operational matter for Teagasc. In light of the constraints on recruitment, Teagasc is re-configuring the way in which it delivers services to farmers through greater use...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Spring testing period by the Marine Institute, in accordance with the Control Protocols for the management of sea lice, indicated elevated lice levels at salmon cultivation sites in Mannin Bay, Inver Bay, Kilkieran Bay and Killary Harbour. In all instances appropriate action has been taken by the operators on foot of Management Cell interventions as provided for by the Control Protocols....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Stocks (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The unexpected health challenge to the stock in 2012 was caused by a bloom of a naturally occurring single celled marine amoeba organism. This organism which is not a pathogen as such caused severe irritation to the gills of the farmed fish concerned. There were severe stock losses of the smaller sized fish as a result. This phenomenon had been observed previously in 1999 in Ireland but had...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I agree with the Deputy that the implementation of the landing obligation will have an impact on the environment through the ending of the wasteful practice of discarding carried out by all EU fleets fishing on stocks of interest to the Irish fishing industry. The new landing obligation will greatly help over time to underpin the sustainability of the Irish fishing industry and the coastal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The financial resources to cover the operating expenses of the Marine Institute and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority are made available to those agencies by the Oireachtas through my Department’s Vote. The function of my Department in relation to this matter is to ensure funds voted by the Oireachtas are used for the intended purpose and in accordance with the functions of those...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2014. Payment has not issued to the person named as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements. The person named was informed of this decision in writing on 4 February 2015 and advised of the option to appeal the decision to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy has been advised previously my officials and I, in the normal course of official business meet with representatives of the aquaculture industry and individual companies on an ongoing basis to discuss licensing and industry development issues. There is always a strict separation between my Ministerial role as decision maker in respect of licence applications and my Ministerial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following successful negotiations with the European Commission, I opened the GLAS online application system on 23 February, 2015 for the preparation of applications, with the intention of activating the submit-facility once formal approval of the Rural Development Programme as a whole was notified. This has now been received, in the form of a ‘letter of comfort’ from the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The recent announcement by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank refers to financial instruments programmed through rural development programmes and funded accordingly through programme budgets. Our draft Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 states, ‘Ireland will keep the possible use of financial instruments under review during the programming period’. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Data (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The details of REPS and AEOS payments for 2010 – 2014 in Cavan and Monaghan are set out in the following tables. AEOS Payments Year - Cavan - Monaghan Number of Participants Amount Number of Participants Amount 2010 239 221,323.14 238 231,273.17 2011 410 922,492.94 334 763,140.04 2012 395 1,243,821.32 325 917,605.66 2013 519 1,501,668.99 386 1,021,798.48...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Expenditure (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department owns, manages and maintains the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at, Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, An Daingean, Ros An Mhil and Killybegs. It also has responsibility for North Harbour Cape Clear, and a limited number of piers, lights and beacons in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board piers, lights and Beacons Act. No significant damage was caused to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: All farmers who declared their lands in 2014 are eligible to submit an application for GLAS. Approval into the scheme, however, is based on predetermined criteria which are outlined in the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. For example, farmers with a Tier One priority environmental asset, such as commonage, Natura, one of the endangered bird species, high status water or who keep rare...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Responsibilities (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: On 15 July 2014 Minister Phelan was appointed to be Minister of State at the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Transport, Tourism and Sport with special responsibility for rural economic development, rural transport and, in particular, the implementation of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) Report. In December 2014, in addition to her...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Recruitment (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: To date in 2015, my Department has recruited 21 new staff following competitive processes conducted by the Public Appointments Service. Information in respect of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Bodies themselves.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The table sets out the number of physiotherapy practices that currently provide services to the Defence Forces: Defence Forces Formation Physiotherapy practices providing services Defence Forces Training Centre 22 1 Brigade 9 2 Brigade 15 Naval Service 3 Air Corps 1 TOTAL 50 I am informed by the military authorities that, following an internal review of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: A competition for the enlistment of instrumentalists in the Defence Forces School of Music is currently underway. The closing date for receipt of applications was 22 April 2015. The 2000 White Paper on Defence and the earlier Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan both identified the requirement to address the age profile in the Defence Forces. A key element in military life is the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Recruitment (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Organisation includes civil servants, military personnel, and civilian employees attached to military installations. There has been no recruitment of Military Personnel or Civilian Employees since the partial lifting of the embargo on recruitment. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is an independent body established under the Public Service Management Act 2004 for the...