Results 17,881-17,900 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TB Eradication Scheme (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: In my earlier response to Deputy O’Sullivan, I outlined the underlying reason for introducing the badger removal programme, which was in response to research, which showed that badger removal had a significant beneficial impact on the risk of future breakdowns, with areas where badgers were not removed being some 14 times at greater risk than badger removal areas. Capturing of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres, which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.  All six Fishery Centres are first and foremost working fishery harbours.  However each centre has unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an economic and social...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farm Safety is a critical issue facing farming today and is something that I am seriously concerned about. The current Safety Scheme has been designed to overcome some of the particular hazards which may be present on farms. A total of €12.2m has been allocated to this scheme offering a 40 per cent rate of aid, up to a maximum eligible investment ceiling of €20,000, i.e. a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: In the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes and Rural Development measures my Department is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections covering such issues as eligibility under the Scheme and compliance with Cross Compliance requirements, as set down in EU legislation, and the standards for Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC), in the areas of the environment,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Remit (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following the publication of the Indecon Report in July, 2014, Bord na gCon submitted an action plan with timelines for implementing the 27 recommendations in the Indecon Report dealing with governance, finance, regulation and welfare.Bord na gCon has assured my Department that it has diligently followed up on the undertakings included inits response to the Indecon Report. Indecon suggested...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the EU Regulations governing the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme, a young farmer is defined as a farmer aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme and who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting that application. Priority under the National Reserve is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TB Eradication Scheme (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Bovine TB Eradication Programme, as is the case with any programme of its nature, is not static and has and will continue to be revised in light of developments in the disease situation, improvements in scientific knowledge and so on. However, annual round testing of animals, restriction of affected herds and removal of reactors will continue to be central elements of the Programme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Production (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: No fertilisers are now manufactured in Ireland, resulting in indigenous fertiliser companies being price-takers, dependent on global supply and demand and subject to Euro exchange rates against the US dollar and other currencies. Fertilisers (as with crude oil and gas) are mainly traded in US dollars and are thereby subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. A weak euro means...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farmers Charter (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Farmers’ Charter Review Group is chaired by an Assistant Secretary General from my Department and comprises senior Department officials and representatives of the main farming organisations. The aim of the Review Group is to agree standards and delivery targets for the schemes and services, including on-farm inspections, provided by my Department to all its clients including...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Applications (14 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: Agricultural Production (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: No fertilisers are now manufactured in Ireland, resulting in indigenous fertiliser companies being price-takers, dependent on global supply and demand and subject to Euro exchange rates against the US dollar and other currencies. Nitrogen, in the form of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN), Phosphorous and Potash constitute the vast majority of fertiliser nutrients used in Ireland and since...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Drugs in Sport (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The control and administration of greyhound racing, including the matters referred to by the Deputy, are a matter for Bord na gCon. The Control Committee and the Control Appeals Committee of Bord na gCon were established under the Greyhound Industry (Control Committee and Control Appeal Committee) Regulations 2007 (S.I. Number 301 of 2007). Under that legislation, full details of any...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have been a strong proponent of providing consumers with clear and transparent information about the food they consume, including as regards the origin of that food. The rules on origin labelling are determined at EU level and I recently signed into law an SI to give effect to the new European Regulations for country of origin labelling of meat from sheep, pigs, poultry and goats. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am satisfied that a trade agreement between the EU and the US will be good for the EU and good for Ireland. We have significant offensive interests in relation to the agrifood sector. We are keen to increase our access to the American market for dairy products, pig-meat, beverages and food ingredients. Now that we have gained access to the US beef market, we want to grow that trade by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have no plans to restrict live exports from Ireland. My Department maintains an environment in which live exports can continue in an economic and sustainable manner with due regard for the welfare of animals. In this context, Ireland has a comprehensive legislative framework in place for some time to ensure that vessels authorised for the carriage of livestock by sea are designed and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Marine Plan (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs committed to undertaking an assessment of the profile and diversity of the occupations and skills requirements of enterprises in the different sectors that make up the Marine economy. Its April 2015 report – ‘A Study of the Current and Future Skills Requirements of the Marine/Maritime Economy to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Production (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: No fertilisers are now manufactured in Ireland, resulting in indigenous fertiliser companies being price-takers, dependent on global supply and demand and subject to Euro exchange rates against the US dollar and other currencies. Nitrogen, in the form of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN), Phosphorous and Potash constitute the vast majority of fertiliser nutrients used in Ireland and since...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Knowledge Transfer is one of a suite of measures included under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and will involve the formation and administration of knowledge transfer groups across the Beef, Dairy, Equine, Poultry, Tillage and Sheep sectors. Funding of €100m under the Rural Development Programme has been allocated for this measure. The measure involves Department approved...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ash Dieback Threat (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The movement of ash plants and wood into Ireland from infected countries is regulated by the Destructive Insects and Pest Acts 1958 and 1991 (Chalara Fraxinea) Order (No. 2) 2012 [SI No. 431 of 2012]. The legislation controls the importation and movement of ash seeds, plants and wood.  Imports are monitored at ports of entry. Imports from several non EU countries require a documentary,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: One of the main actions for grazing land under GLAS is ‘Low Input Permanent Pasture’, which is designed to preserve and enhance old permanent pasture-lands. It is an attractive option for extensive farmers who may choose up to 10 hectares at a payment rate of €314 per hectare. As with all options under GLAS, farmers are required to respect the management requirements set...