Results 18,641-18,660 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are looking for that too but we have to ensure the tenants will be people who will pay their rent and will have accessed the tenancy arrangements under a fair and transparent competitive process. We need to ensure we have businesses that are in the interests of the broader community, in terms of development and employment in Howth, which, of course, we need to do. That takes time. We...

Other Questions: Bovine Disease Controls (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I was relieved when we got the final results of our tests last week because it was confirmation of what we had suspected to be the case. This was a once-off, isolated case. Obviously we would rather it did not happen. Last year we had no cases. The year before we had one. The year before that there were three cases. These one-off cases seem to happen. They happen in other countries as...

Other Questions: Bovine Disease Controls (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Its grandmother was imported but tested negative for BSE.

Other Questions: Bovine Disease Controls (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am glad to clear up this matter. The animal had four calves. All four progeny were alive. They have all been slaughtered and they have all tested negative. There is a very tenuous link, if a link at all, between a mother and a calf as regards the passing on of BSE. Some scientists suggest it is possible; others say it is very unlikely. We know, however, that it is a non-issue here....

Other Questions: TB Eradication Scheme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will answer both of the Deputy's questions but the first one relates to TB generally. The bovine TB eradication programme has delivered considerable success, particularly in recent years. The number of reactors has fallen from under 30,000 in 2008 to 16,000 in 2014. The decline in the number of reactors has continued in 2015 with the result that reactor numbers are likely to fall below...

Other Questions: TB Eradication Scheme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Coonan is aware of how the system works. We have a responsibility to ensure that the rules are kept. We have spent time on two or three questions talking about the BSE issue that we have had to deal with in recent weeks. We have programmes dealing with bovine viral diarrhoea, TB and Johne's disease. Obviously, we must ensure farmers farm in a way that is consistent with the...

Other Questions: TB Eradication Scheme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are not putting any farmers out of business. We have to make decisions on the basis of the information that is available as a result of the inspections that take place. As I said, I have no wish to discuss the detail of any individual case. We work with An Garda Síochána in many instances and we send a file to An Garda Síochána when appropriate. We have done that in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota Cessation (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: As requested by the Deputy I append a table to this reply which will set out the volumes of milk purchased by registered milk purchasers in Ireland for the months of January to May in both 2014 and 2015. My Department does not collect the data on a county or regional format, because most milk purchasers collect milk across many different counties. During the period from January to May 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Slaughtering Data (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The numbers of horses slaughtered for human consumption at approved equine slaughter establishments during the years in question are as follows: YEAR NO. OF HORSES SLAUGHTERED 2012 24,362 2013 10,711 2014 7,602 2015 (to 31st May) 2,234 An agreement between Ireland, the UK and France allows for free movement of horses between these countries. My Department does not maintain a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farm safety is one of the most important issues facing farming today. Statistics show that accidents on farms cause more workplace deaths than all other occupations combined. Last year was a particularly difficult year with 30 deaths on Irish farms and already there have been eight fatal farm accidents in 2015. The Farm Safety Scheme, with a budget of €12.2m, was open for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Data (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I welcome the fact that nearly 27,000 applications were submitted in the first tranche of GLAS applications, which is very much in line with the projections I made when launching the scheme.  Farmers have shown a keen interest in the Scheme and have worked along with their advisors to apply in significant numbers. In doing so they have committed to actions and farming prescriptions which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I assume the Deputy is referring primarily to the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP). As the Deputy is aware the BDGP forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and allocates funding of some €300 million over the next six years to suckler farmers in Ireland. The BDGP builds on the large strategic investment in data recording and genomics which has been made in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I attach an enormous importance to the live export trade and my Department, along with Bord Bia, has been extremely proactive during my tenure as Minister in encouraging and facilitating both the cross border live trade and shipments overseas. Live exports serve a vital purpose as a means of both satisfying market demand for live animals and providing essential alternative market outlet,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Bodies (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Each year, my Department, through advertisements in the national press, invites applications from animal welfare bodies who wish to be considered for ex-gratia funding to assist their work in caring for animals. In addition, my Department emails application forms to previous recipients of funding and to persons/bodies working in animal care who may have contacted the Department during the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Development (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Ros an Mhíl and Killybegs. This Department is also responsible for North Harbour at Cape Clear Island and for maintaining a range of piers, lights and beacons around the coast in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The new Common Fisheries Policy negotiated to conclusion during the Irish Presidency of the EU, included a number of radical changes that I believe will be to the long term benefit of coastal communities in Ireland and throughout Europe including a discards ban and a commitment to set quotas in line with scientific advice. One of the other key changes is the introduction of Regional...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Administration (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following on from the publication of the Indecon Report in July 2014, 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 has been published on the Bord na gCon website. In this context Bord na gCon has informed me that it is continuing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Protection Areas Designation (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: At the outset, I would like to welcome the fact that almost 27,000 applications were submitted in the first tranche of GLAS applications, which is very much in line with the projections I made when launching the scheme. The prioritisation of farms with clearly identified priority environmental assets is a key component of GLAS, and one which has been broadly welcomed by farmers,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Applications for Aquaculture Licences for the cultivation of finfish in the marine environment are considered by my Department under the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 and the Foreshore Act 1933. Determinations in respect of individual applications are only made following completion of the procedures set down in the applicable legislation and the consideration of all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility (1 Jul 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...