Results 18,221-18,240 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Offences (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together. The wide-ranging nature of the information requested by the Deputy will require a detailed examination of my Department’s records as well as possible consultation with other Departments and relevant agencies. The relevant information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958. It has specific powers conferred on it by the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations 2007, S.I. 302 of 2007, which set out the detailed rules under which greyhound racing is conducted. Bord na gCon has advised me that as part of its on-going communication with the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: A number of fisheries which involve the use of sea-bed impacting gear, including dredges, are under active regulation through legislation under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006 and, in the case of protected Natura 2000 sites, the European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats) (Sea-fisheries) Regulations 2013. These fisheries primarily target bivalve shellfish including...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: As I have previously stated, the purpose of the Discards Implementation Group (DIG), chaired by Dr Noel Cawley, is to implement the agreed rules surrounding the phasing in of the landing obligation. Its role is not to agree those rules in the first place; that is the responsibility of the Regional Group of Member States, the North Western Waters Group. That Group has, only last week,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Strategies (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is no provision in EU regulations requiring simultaneous consultation on these two separate documents. The new Seafood Development Operational Programme is being prepared in accordance with Regulation 508/2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and Regulation 1303/2013 (Common Provisions Regulation). The final consultation on the draft Operational Programme ended on 1 May...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: As I said in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 218 of 6 May, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Premium Payments (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was in contact with my Department recently in relation to a transfer of payment of forestry premiums to his wife. He was advised that the Afforestation Scheme is based on ownership of the land and of the information requirements for change of ownership. New ownership documentation has now been received showing the applicant’s wife as the registered owner of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The issue of the negotiations on a possible trade agreement between the EU and the US comes up as a very regular item for discussion at meetings that I, my Ministers of State and my Department officials have with the farming organisations, the representative bodies for the agri-food sector, Oireachtas members, Members of the European Parliament, the EU Commission and other Member States. Few...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Staff (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy can be found in the Bord na gCon accounts which are available on the Bord na gCon website. The 2013 annual report and accounts for Bord na gCon have been noted by Government and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and will be published shortly by Bord na gCon. Bord na gCon have informed me that the 2014 annual report and accounts are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: This is an operational 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. No 301 of 2007). Bord na gCon have informed me that when an adverse analytical finding is returned from the analytical Laboratory, Bord na gCon refer...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Information on the rules governing the movement in trade or for non-commercial purposes of young unvaccinated pet animals is available at the following link on Commission website: The Member States which have indicated that they will accept young unvaccinated pet animals are Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Croatia, Lithuania and Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commissions of Investigation (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 to 503, inclusive, together. My Department has not established any Commissions of Investigation since the Commission of Investigation Act 2004 came into effect. With regard to State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, this is an operational matter for the bodies themselves.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: On 9 December 2014, the Government approved the participation of seven members of the Defence Forces in the new NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, which commenced on 1 January 2015, following the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission from Afghanistan. Resolute Support Mission is a non-combat training and advisory mission. It is designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Seirbhísi trí Ghaeilge (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Tá mo Roinn tiomanta chun seirbhísí den chaighdeán is airde a chur ar fáil don phobal ar bhonn dátheangach. Cuirtear baill den phobal ar a n-eolas faoi na seirbhísí atá ar fáil i nGaeilge ón Roinn agus ó Óglaigh na hÉireann tríd an gCairt Chustaiméirí a roinneann an Roinn Cosanta agus Óglaigh na...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The primary purpose for the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Irish Defence Forces on overseas Peace Support Operations and to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops whilst on such missions. Tender competitions for defensive equipment for the Defence Forces are conducted by the Department of Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: UN Missions (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: At the request of the United Nations, following Government and Dáil Éireann approval, a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force has been deployed to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights in Syria since 2013. The current Irish contingent, the 48th Infantry Group, comprising 130 personnel, is based in UNDOF Headquarters in Camp Ziouani. It...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Vessels (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: At a special meeting of the European Council on 23 April 2015, the Taoiseach announced that Ireland was prepared to allocate a fully crewed Naval vessel to assist in the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean once the legal clarifications were received.  Following Government approval and agreement with the Italian authorities, the L.É. Eithne arrived in the South Central...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Fatalities (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The matter to which the Deputy is referring is the case of the deaths of Private Thomas Barrett and Private Derek Smallhorne who were murdered, and Private John O'Mahony who was seriously injured while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on 18 April 1980. In July 2014 the alleged perpetrator, Mr. Mahmoud Bazzi, who had been residing in the United States was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Easter Rising Commemorations (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Overall responsibility for the 1916-2016 Centenary Programme rests with my colleague the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Following the formal launch of the Programme in March of this year by the Taoiseach and Minister Humphreys, my Department has been engaged in ongoing discussions in relation to the involvement of the Defence Forces in the various State events that are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Irish Red Cross Governance (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Arising from legislative changes made by this Government in 2012, Government may nominate up to 10% of the membership of the General Assembly of the Irish Red Cross Society. On 20 May last, I received Government approval for the nomination of Ms Mary Flaherty and Mr. Darren Ryan to the Society's General Assembly for a three year term. The maximum number of Government nominees is three...