Results 20,581-20,600 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: Payments under the Basic Payment Scheme may only be made where the Department is satisfied that the applicant is a farmer engaged in an agricultural activity during the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme year. Section 1.7 of the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme Terms and Conditions covering land eligibility stipulates that in order to be eligible for payment each land parcel must have an agricultural...

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

Simon Coveney: To be eligible under the Basic Payment Scheme applicants must declare all eligible land on an application form. An official from my department has been in touch with the person concerned regarding the submission of an application. Upon receipt of an application form, the case will be examined, and any mitigating circumstances will be considered at that stage.

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

Simon Coveney: To establish Basic Payment Scheme entitlements under the new CAP reform, the eligible land declared under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, the 2014 value of owned entitlements and the 2015 eligible hectares declared under the Basic Payment Scheme needs to be taken into consideration. The person named submitted a 2015 Private Contract Clause application to my Department. This application has...

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

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint application to my Department on 02 May, 2015. This application has been fully processed and payments under both schemes will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

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

Simon Coveney: The ‘Scottish Derogation’ measure of the Basic Payment Scheme was introduced in 2015 under the new CAP reform. Under EU Regulations governing the Scheme an applicant must have been actively farming in the Beef, Dairying, Sheep or Arable sectors on 15 May 2013 whereby s/he produced, reared or grew agricultural products including through harvesting, milking, breeding animals or...

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

Simon Coveney: To establish Basic Payment Scheme entitlements under the new CAP reform, the eligible land declared under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, the 2014 value of owned entitlements and the 2015 eligible hectares declared under the Basic Payment Scheme needs to be taken into consideration. As the ownership of this herd number changed from the persons named to a farm partnership in 2014, it was...

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

Simon Coveney: I commissioned Indecon International Consultants to conduct “A Review of Certain Matters Relating to Bord na gCon"in order to assess the suitability of the legal, governance and regulatory framework supporting the greyhound industry. Arising out of the resulting report, my Department is at present preparing the heads of a Bill to respond to some of the recommendations of Indecon,...

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

Simon Coveney: The new TAMS measure will make €395m available to Irish farmers for investing in on-farm infrastructure, facilities and equipment. All TAMS schemes have been opened and the applications received under the first tranches of both the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme and the Dairy Equipment Scheme are now being processed. The first tranche for the Pig and Poultry Scheme closed on...

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

Simon Coveney: An application under Basic Payment / Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes was received from the person named on 13 May, 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Teagasc operates as a separate non-commercial state agency and the arrangements for internal appointments is an operational matter, subject to adherence to all general directives concerning appointments or conditions of employment issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Teagasc has agreed and documented grievance procedures which include the right to appeal by any staff...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 125 and 130 together. The main targets set out in the Food Harvest report published in 2010 were, by 2020, to increase the value of primary output by 33% and agri-food exports by 42% (both from a 2007-09 average baseline); and to increase value added production by 40% (from a 2008 baseline). In addition to these value increases, the dairy industry...

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

Simon Coveney: Primary responsibility under EU law for the safety and traceability of food placed on the market lies with food business operators. The role of National Competent Agencies is to verify compliance with this requirement. This is done via a combination of inspecting establishments and auditing the food safety management systems which operators have in place. These controls are applied at...

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

Simon Coveney: The 2013 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy was a useful and progressive reform making the CAP fit for purpose to 2020. It provided Irish farmers and the agri-food sector with policy certainty for the years to come and with strategic financial support to increase sustainability and enhance competitiveness. I will continue to work with my EU colleagues to ensure that we engage in...

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

Simon Coveney: In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments began issuing in Ireland on 16 October, 2015.   This is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations.  In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment was set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%.  The...

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

Simon Coveney: The seas around Ireland (ICES Sub Areas VII and VI) are among the most productive and biologically sensitive areas in EU waters. All of the fisheries resource within the area comes under the remit of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework for the long term conservation and sustainability of fish stocks around our shores...

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

Simon Coveney: I am fully satisfied that farm families in Ireland will continue to benefit in a fair and equitable manner from the ongoing reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. This imperative informed my approach to the negotiations in 2012 and 2013, and it continues to inform the process by which the various elements of CAP reform are now being delivered. Taking the direct payments system as an...

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

Simon Coveney: At the time that the new Animal Welfare Regulations were being introduced, Pig and Poultry producers were able to avail of grants designed to improve the standards of animal welfare in sow housing and for poultry production. These schemes were co-funded by my Department and the EU under the Rural Development Programme . Pig farmers were able to convert loose housing for sows and poultry...

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

Simon Coveney: A strong global demand for meat exists and my role as Minister is to facilitate market access so that Irish exporters can take advantage of market opportunities as they arise. My Department engages on an ongoing basis with many third countries, in collaboration with Bord Bia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Irish embassy staff, the meat industry and the European Commission on...

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

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, I attach huge importance to the food and drink industries exports and their contribution to our economic recovery. Agri food exports account for 7% of GDP and continue to grow year on year. My colleague, the Minister for Health, has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation and new EU food information regulations which were adopted by the...

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

Simon Coveney: While the state provides significant support for the beef sector, the volume of production is ultimately a function of commercial factors such as the price of beef, the cost of farm inputs, market demand, consumer preferences, disposable income and the demand for other meats and sources of protein . The average price received by producers for an R 3 steer in 2015 to date is €4.01, over...