Results 19,001-19,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Identification Schemes (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The issues raised concerning the above named herd keepers, which date back to 2001 have been the subject of previous correspondence to my Department. The matters have also been extensively examined by the Agriculture Appeals Committee and the Office of the Ombudsman and the decisions taken by this Department have all been upheld by the aforementioned offices. In relation to bovine tags I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 23 April 2014. Full payment issued in the respect of this application, the first instalment issuing directly to his nominated bank account on 16 October 2014 and the balancing payment issuing on 1 December 2014. Unlike in previous years there was no modulation reduction applicable to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which was commenced in March 2014,strengthened laws on the welfare of animals during sale and places clear obligations on persons who have possession of an animal for sale or supply. Specifically, Section 21 of the Act provides that an animal being offered for sale is kept in suitable accommodation, has access to a ready supply of suitable food and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Both I and officials of my Department retain ongoing contact with dairy sector stakeholders with a view to ensuring that all issues that need to be addressed are brought to the fore. More specifically, as the Deputy is aware, earlier in 2015 I announced my intention to establish a forum to address the key issues arising in the dairy sector in a post quota environment. I envisaged that this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The range of investment items included under the various TAMS measures was informed by the SWOT and needs analyses undertaken as part of the development of the new Rural Development Programme, as well as by an extensive consultation process with the various stakeholders. The funding of sheep fencing did not emerge as a priority from that process. However, I will keep the matter under review.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Slaughtering Standards (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Slaughter of animals for meat for human consumption is subject to compliance with relevant EU regulations, which are designed to ensure inter alia that food is safe, to protect human health and to safeguard animal welfare at time of slaughter. Ritual slaughter is carried out under the supervision of my Department. Food business operators who wish to carry out slaughter without pre-stunning...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has provided funding to animal welfare organisations, such as the Blue Cross, since 1995 to assist these organisations in providing a valuable service in the area of animal care and welfare. To date, the Blue Cross has been awarded funding amounting to in excess of €712,000, including an amount of €70,000 awarded in December 2014 to support its work. Applications...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Ownership of animals imposes on the owner a legal responsibility to protect the health and welfare of the animals. It is important that people acquiring animals ensure that they have the capacity to take appropriate care of them. However, I am aware that, occasionally, persons owning animals do not have the means to ensure their health and welfare. Accordingly, since 1995 my Department my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application for payment from the person-named has been processed and is scheduled for payment shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department is currently examining approximately 400 cases that submitted invoices from one particular company to verify and support claims under the non-productive capital investment action of AEOS. It is known that in some cases the invoices submitted were for greater amounts than actually paid by the participants. Funding provided under the scheme comes partly from the EU and partly...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department is currently examining approximately 400 cases that submitted invoices from one particular company to verify and support claims under the non-productive capital investment action of AEOS. It is known that in some cases the invoices submitted were for greater amounts than actually paid by the participants. Funding provided under the scheme comes partly from the EU and partly...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: A claim for payment by the person-named has been processed by my Department and was credited to his bank account on 28 August 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Slaughtering Standards (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: There are no national rules that require animals to be slaughtered under 30 months of age. Specifications applied to beef animals slaughtered in establishments, and the price paid for different categories of animal are a commercial matter. However certain retailers and third countries have a preference for beef derived from animals slaughtered before 30 months of age. I hope that, over...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: To date, some 10,932 appeals have been received, of which 9,927 applications have been finalised or in the final stages of processing. In addition, 1,005 cases are in the process of either ground verification visits or administrative validation. To date, 652 cases have been referred to the LPIS Appeals Committee for consideration. My Department is bound, under EU Regulations, to maintain the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Teagasc Rationalisation Programme (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I very much appreciate the important contribution that Teagasc advisors make in providing advice and support to farm families. My Department has been actively working with Teagasc to ease staffing difficulties in the organisation. We recently secured approval for Teagasc to proceed with four priority appointments in the advisory service including the appointment of a drystock advisor in West...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tuberculosis Eradication Programme Administration (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Herds containing animals in which tuberculosis is suspected at post-mortem examination are restricted in accordance with Directive 64/432/EEC which requires that “Appropriate post-mortem, laboratory and epidemiological examinations shall be carried out on the carcase of the suspect animal. The status of the herd will remain suspended until such time as all laboratory examinations have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Feedback from exporters eligible to export beef to the US indicates that exports to date had reached approximately 330 tonnes by early September. This would have an approximate value of €2.1m. This is a very encouraging start to this trade particularly given that the trade to date is confined to the market for intact cuts as we currently await approval to ex port beef intended for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under European Commission regulations all applications must be administratively checked before any application can be approved into the scheme. Almost 27,000 GLAS application s were submitted and final checks will be carried out in October and farmers will then be notified in writing of the outcome of their application. Until this process is complete it is not possible to determine...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The closing date for the Beef Data & Genomics Programme was 5 June 2015. My Department received 29,531 valid applications. Of these, 724 have subsequently withdrawn from the Programme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to say that GLAS Commonage Advisors have already been appointed to 1,800 Commonages, while appointments to the remainder will be made very shortly. Where Commonage Advisors have been appointed, preparation of commonage management plans can commence and I am aware that fieldwork has already been carried out in many cases. In addition, some 200 applications were in respect of...