Results 18,541-18,560 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Payments under the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) are calculated on the basis of income foregone and the cost of compliance with delivery of the GLAS action selected. Some actions do not require stock. However all farmers claiming payment on commonage must by the end of 2016 have animals actively grazing the land in question as part of a commonage management plan in order...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The information requested is not yet available but is currently being compiled. It will be forwarded to the Deputy directly as soon as it is finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Eligibility (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme, which I recently launched, provides assistance for an extensive range of on-farm investments, including the construction of animal housing and other facilities. Where such works require the submission of planning permission or a certificate of exemption, prospective applicants under this Scheme will be able to lodge their applications immediately,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farmers' Charter (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to advise that negotiations between my Department and the main farming organisations on a new Farmers Charter concluded on 11th June 2015. I welcome the achievement of consensus on the Charter and commend all parties involved for their positive engagement over the last number of months. The Charter is effectively an agreement between my Department and the main farming...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Teagasc Rationalisation Programme (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I very much appreciate the important contribution that the Teagasc Advisory Service is making in providing research-based advice and support to farm families. We continue to require a strong input from Teagasc advisers to optimise farm incomes and meet national output goals in a sustainable way. My Department has been actively working with Teagasc to ease staffing difficulties in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Development (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: On the 3rd of June the Local Authorities were advised of the projects approved for funding under this Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2015. The projects approved will have to be completed within the calendar year as per the terms and conditions of the programme. The offers of funding are accepted by the Local Authorities on that basis.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The Racing Regulatory Body (Irish Turf Club) is a private body charged under legislation with responsibility for the integrity and the reputation of Irish racing in Ireland and Internationally. The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together. In excess of 36,000 applications were received to participate in the Beef Data Programme (BDP) 2014. The processing of applications under the BDP is at an advanced stage with 80% advance payments under the Programme amounting to €7.75 million issuing to the bank accounts of approximately 32,300 applicants in the coming days....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 325 together. Almost 30,000 applications to participate in the BDGP were received in my Department by the June 5th closing date. To be eligible for payment in this first year of the Programme participants must provide the required survey data, genotype all of the specified animals and send test samples to the laboratory. Data can be provided...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 to 324, inclusive, and 326 together. The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) was launched on the 5 May and my Department received just under 30,000 applications by the extended closing date of 5 June. The Programme forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP) and allocates funding of some €300 million over the next six...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TB Eradication Scheme (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is very considerable scientific evidence of a link between badgers and cattle in the context of the spread of bovine TB. Research conducted over the years by the Department and others has demonstrated that the eradication of bovine TB disease is not a practicable proposition until the issue of the reservoir of infection in badgers, which is seeding infection into the cattle population,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to confirm that, earlier this month my Department was granted delegated sanction for pay and staffing for 2015 by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The terms and conditions of the sanction require the Agriculture Group (the Department and its Agencies) to comply with binding multi-annual pay ceilings. My Department is in the process of putting procedures in place...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon submitted an action plan in October 2014 with timelines for implementing the 27 recommendations in the Indecon Report dealing with governance, finance, regulation and welfare. This action plan is published on the Bord na gCon website. Bord na gCon has updated my Department as follows with regard to implementation of the action plan. - In relation to governance, a Risk...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Beneficiaries under the Agri-Environmental Options Scheme (AEOS) may make a case to withdraw from the scheme for reasons beyond their control under the Force Majeureprovision as set out in Section 19 of the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. However, the Department does not have any record of a request from the person named to withdraw from the scheme. If the person named wishes to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The RDS-Forest Service Irish Forestry Awards recognise and reward farmers and woodland owners who are employing the principles of sustainable forestry management on their properties. The Awards competition is organised by the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) with financial support from my Department on foot of requests by the organisers in each year. The most recent year in respect of which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Plant Diseases (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is not clear from the question to which disease in alder the Deputy is referring. As a general rule European alders are largely free from quarantine pest and disease problems. Although not a regulated disease under the EU Plant Health Directive, one disease has gained particular prominence. A disease of the Phytophthora species, known as alder Phytophthora (Phytophtoraalni), which is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Penalties (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: In 2014, 33,447 farmers declared 534,000 hectares of land designated as Natura 2000 for the purposes of the Single Payment Scheme and other Direct Payment Schemes. These lands are designed as required under the provisions of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1) and Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Lands (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Coillte Teoranta was established under the Forestry Act, 1988. Section 39 of the Act provided inter aliathat all of the State's forest estate, other than land designated by the Minister, stand vested in the company. The land designated by the Minister under the Forestry Act 1988 (Designated Land) Instrument, 1988 was accordingly retained by the Minister.  The retained lands consisted...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The case referred to by the Deputy, relating to a milk quota issue, was the subject of an agreed High Court mediation process in early 2012. However the Plaintiff has subsequently failed to sign up to the terms of the mediated solution. The Chief State Solicitor is acting on behalf of my Department in this case. My Department has on a number of occasions informed the person concerned that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Development (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: One of the measures introduced in the reformed Common Fisheries Policy, agreed in 2013, is the requirement for each Member State to implement a multi-annual national strategic plan for aquaculture. As the Deputy is aware, the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development has been published by my Department and is currently the subject of public consultation. It would not be...