Results 20,441-20,460 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2015 Transfer of Entitlement Allocation Right and Reference Value application to my Department. Since the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application was submitted to my Department the herd number quoted above was transferred into the name of the person named. In order to facilitate the processing of the transfer application it will be necessary for the person named, in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme was received from the person named on 29 May , 2015.Processing of this application is currently ongoing, with a view to finalising for payment at the earliest possible date .

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Basic Payments Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2015.Processing of this application has been completed , and payment has issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: In relation to forestry contracts issued to individual farmers or landowners, such contracts are solely between my Department and the farmer or landowner; the forestry companies are not party to these contracts. Therefore, any recoupment under these contracts was made from the individual landowner and not from the forestry companies.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Applications (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 7 May, 2015. Processing of the application has recently 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: Fishing Industry (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the decommissioning of a sea fishing boat. Ireland secured €147.6 million in EU funds from the European Maritime Fisheries Fund which together with the allocation of national funds provides for a €241 million investment programme as set out in the Seafood Development Programme; formal approval by the EU Commission is expected in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Control of the vessel within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone is a matter for the Irish control authorities who monitor fishing activity of all vessels operating the area.  The Control authorities have on-going information in relation to the vessels operating in the Irish Exclusive Fisheries zone including their activities and characteristics. Under the Sea Fisheries and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Basic Payment Scheme/Area of Natural Constraint Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 29 May, 2015. Following processing, a commonage evidence issue was disclosed in respect of one of the parcels declared by the person named . An official from my Department has written to the claimants concerned and has been in direct contact with the person...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces are committed to the principles of equal opportunity, in all employment policies, procedures and regulations. The Defence Forces operate in an environment which is free from discrimination as provided for by the Equality Acts. The Military Authorities have confirmed that when applicants are contacted regarding the Psychometric tests, they are advised to submit...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Chairman. We are addressing two issues, are we not - the Supplementary Estimate and the UN motion?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: There will be an opportunity if members wish to ask broader questions about UN service, our current plans and so on. The issue is topical. I will try to be as open as I can, but we need to get through the Supplementary Estimate first. It is largely a budgetary and technical measure and I will answer questions members may have. I thank the committee for giving me the opportunity to...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: There are no initiatives that would have been undertaken that are not being undertaken. One of the problems in calculating an accurate figure for pensions is that it has been very difficult to secure increases in the pension budget at all from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform because it holds a very tight rein and has needed to do so. We have to try to estimate how many will...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy has to factor in pension costs, too.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I do not think that is the case. It is very hard to plan defence expenditure on an annual basis because in terms of much of the equipment used multi-annual planning is involved. We have just spent most of the €199 million for a ship replacement programme which involves three vessels, the third of which will arrive next summer. It is almost a five year plan. At times there is a...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I attended the RACO conference in recent weeks. Of course, we will listen to it, just as we listen to the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA. My job is to make sure we have a clear funding and policy platform for the Defence Forces because they have a complex job to do, particularly now. The nature of defence and threats to Irish interests and people...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I could talk about defence policy all day, but I will give the Chairman an answer to his question.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I was asked a question.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The reason we are here is that personnel are leaving in significant numbers and accessing pensions and we need to bring others in to replace them. There is a gap between the two and there are funding issues in terms of management.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will give the figures for the past few years. A total of 65 officers have left so far this year. Last year the figure was 82; in 2013 it was 60; in 2012 it was 70, while nin 2011 it was 72. A total of 414 enlisted personnel have left so far this year. Last year the figure was 393; it was 400 the year before, 725 the year before that and 600 the year before that. Members will see what...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary) (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: We got it right to within a figure of 3%. It is not that we were 1 million miles away from the figure included in the Estimate.