Results 20,321-20,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Household Incomes (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The following table shows average family farm income from Teagasc’s National Farm Survey for the years 2011 to 2014, by system of farming. Dairying Cattle Rearing Cattle Other Sheep Tillage Mixed Livestock All farms % of farms represented 20% 23% 30% 16% 8% 3% 100% 2011 68,570 10,453 14,573 16,805 35,296 34,902 24,461 2012 49,290 12,186 17,896 18,243...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named has not submitted an application for the 2015 Basic Payment and Greening Scheme. An official from my Department has been in direct correspondence with the Deputy’s office to advise him of the appeals procedure.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: In Ireland fish quotas are a public resource and managed on that basis. Demersal species are managed by way of Fisheries Management Notice under Section 12 of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. The periodic allocations for demersal (whitefish and prawn) stocks, usually monthly, are made, following consultation with the industry. A notice is placed in the Irish Independent...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department provided a ‘ready-reckoner’ calculator to facilitate advisors in calculating the score of GLAS clients when preparing applications on the online system. I can confirm that there was no fault in the software provided by the Department and that the software has operated successfully for all other advisors. However, rounding issues did emerge in a very small number of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 14 May 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes was received from the person named on 26 May, 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes has been finalised, and payment has issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 9 April 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Hoof Wall Separation Disease (HWSD) is caused by a genetic defect that appears to occur only in the Connemara pony breed and the carrier frequency has been estimated to be about 14.8%. For a foal to be affected by the disease both sire and dam must be carriers. The Connemara Pony Breeders Society has been approved by my Department to maintain the Studbook for Connemara Ponies and in this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Heather can be overgrazed. All farmers must comply with the cross compliance requirements under the relevant GAEC and the Natura provisions. Overgrazing can lead to soil erosion and or the destruction of habitats both of which can lead to penalties under cross compliance.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme Eligibility (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: In order to be eligible a land parcel must be maintained in a state suitable for grazing or cultivation. Areas not in this state must be deducted as ineligible. Agricultural areas with heather can be eligible provided they are maintained in a grazable state. It is open to the farmer to decide how this is achieved.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme Eligibility (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Agricultural activity is defined under Article 4.1.(c) of EU 1307/2017 as follows:"agricultural activity" means: (i) production, rearing or growing of agricultural products, including harvesting, milking, breeding animals, and keeping animals for farming purposes, (ii) maintaining an agricultural area in a state which makes it suitable for grazing or cultivation without preparatory action...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme Eligibility (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The applicant is required to maintain land as shown in the photograph referred to in an eligible state suitable for grazing or cultivation. It is a matter for the farmer to choose which option he or she wishes to employ to achieve this objective. Should the applicant so wish, he/she can consult a FAS Adviser on an appropriate course of action to take to maintain it in an eligible state.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme Eligibility (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The photo as referenced shows ineligible heather. The Department recommend that the applicant seeks professional advice as regards the management of such areas. The Department maintains a database of all approved FÁS (Farm Advisory System) Advisers, who can provide advice on an appropriate remedial course of action.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme Eligibility (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The implementation of the Direct Payment Schemes under the new CAP saw some changes to the requirements governing the eligibility of land and other related matters. Officials from my Department worked closely with the EU Commission in March/April of this year with a view to establishing a set of requirements which are clear and workable from the point of view of individual farmers as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Reports (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: In December 2014, I appointed former High Court Judge, Mr. Roderick Murphy, to conduct an independent review of the investigation of the death of Private Hugh Doherty and the disappearance of Private Kevin Joyce (Caomhán Seoighe) on 27 April 1981 while serving as members of the Irish Battalion with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Privates Doherty and Joyce were...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Meetings (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have received no requests for meetings from private external lobby groups in my capacity as Minister for Defence.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The total costs for photography paid by the Department in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 to date is set out in the following table. Date Company Cost 25/3/2011 Maxwell Photography €393.25 (Including VAT) 9/11/2011 Maxwell Photography €849.42 (Including VAT) 21/11/2012 Fennell Photography €116.85 (including VAT) 10/07/2013 Maxwell Photography...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Relations Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on external public relations since March 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Relations Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to external consultant reports commissioned by my Department since March 2011 is set out in the following table. Report Cost Company Publication Date An independent review of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) fatalities in 1989 €51,660 Mr. Frank Callinan, S.C. 19th September 2011 Review of the Air...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have not appointed any special advisers in my role as Minister for Defence. Similarly no special advisers were appointed by my predecessor, Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D.