Results 20,541-20,560 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Land (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Regarding an independent inspection of the lands which the petitioner has sought through the European Petitions Committee, it should be noted that my Department is the competent authority for the implementation of the regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme. As the competent authority, it is the only body which is lawfully authorised to carry out any inspections of lands....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The main targets set out in the Food Harvest report published in 2010 were, by 2020, to increase the value of: - Primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 33% (from a 2007-09 average baseline), - Agriculture, food (including seafood) and drink exports by 42% (from a 2007-09 average baseline), - Value added production by 40% (from a 2008 baseline). In addition to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farmers in these areas who manage Natura land or have commonage already have automatic access to GLAS and are guaranteed priority entry to the scheme as Tier One candidates. Destocking of commonage land in the Twelve Bens/Maumturk complex and the Owenduff/ Nephin Beg complex commenced in the year 2000 when all shareholders were required to reduce sheep numbers by 30% due to serious...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 is a major updating of our laws in this area going back to 1911. The provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 are designed to encourage the development of a climate which supports the optimum protection of the health and welfare of all animals, irrespective of species, whether kept for commercial, domestic, sport, show or for other purposes....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Applications (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has received approximately 121,000 applications under the 2015 Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) from applicants who currently hold entitlements. In addition, over 102,350 applications have been received under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC ) scheme from applicants with eligible designated lands. Under EU Regulations, all these applications are subject to robust...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: An EU-US deal under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is of significant importance for Ireland. The US is one of our leading trading partners, and we have a large and growing agri-food trade surplus with them (exports of €570m last year, compared to imports of €268m). We have significant offensive interests in these negotiations. We see worthwhile...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Waste (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department recognises the need to encourage the utilisation of agricultural waste as an alternative source of energy. In collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Environmental Protection Agency, we have sought to encourage the use of animal by-products as "valuable by-products not waste". Electricity and heat produced from anaerobic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon (BnG). The welfare of greyhounds involved in coursing is provided for in the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 which inter alia requires that persons who course greyhounds must have regard to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Colleges Places (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Teagasc is the main provider of education programmes in agriculture, food, horticulture, forestry and equine studies. In excess of 3,500 learners participate annually in Teagasc further education programmes and higher education programmes which are jointly delivered with various Institutes of Technology and Universities. Typically, over two-thirds of learners attend the 7 agricultural...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: In early September I presented a six point plan to address difficulties in the dairy and pig sectors to the EU Commissioner and my EU ministerial colleagues. This Plan suggested utilising the provisions of Article 219 of the CMO Regulation to temporarily increase the threshold prices, with particular reference to skimmed milk powder. I also called for the restoration of Aids to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I previously responded to the Deputy on this matter on the 7th of October. The property portfolio in Howth, one of six Fishery Harbour Centres managed and operated by my Department, encompasses a range of diverse properties reflecting its remit as a working fishery harbour and its unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Exclusive Fisheries Zone (25 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 Maritime...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the provisions of the Basic Payment Scheme, farmers need to declare an eligible hectare for each payment entitlement held in order to benefit from payment. The hectares declared must be eligible and must have an agricultural activity carried out on them. The governing EU regulations define an agricultural activity as the production, rearing or growing of agricultural products,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Control of the vessel within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone is as 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 Maritime...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Land (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: While the shareholders may have submitted additional documentation including the materials referred to by the Deputy in relation to their 2015 BPS application, my Department, as the competent authority for the implementation of the relevant governing EU regulations for this scheme maintains its position in regard to the eligible areas of this particular commonage.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry Funding (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001 and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The current Foal Levy scheme, which was introduced in 2000 on a statutory basis, applies to all thoroughbred foals registered in Ireland. The Foal Levy is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (25 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 Maritime...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Development (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. While first and foremost a working fishery harbour, Howth similar to the other five Fishery Harbour Centres, has its own unique features which is home to a broad range of diverse economic and social activities. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Dogs (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Persons sourcing or seeking to have dogs trained as Assistance Dogs should ensure that their supplier is accredited to an International standards body such as Assistance Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation. Both these organisations set excellent professional standards by which training programmes are evaluated and accredited, taking account of, among other things,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The definition of the Young Farmer is set out in the EU Regulations and establishes the criteria for increasing the grant aid to 60%. This is confined to farmers who have met the requirements of set-up for the first time within five years of the receipt of an application under the Young Farmer Scheme. I do not have scope to extend this criteria. However, I am aware that there are a number...