Results 21,781-21,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 35 - Army Pensions and Vote 36 - Defence (30 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will try to be a little more brief than usual. There are many good questions there, to be fair. On the Mediterranean mission, the LE Samuel Beckettis due to be back on 5 December. It is another rotation of approximately eight weeks. The plan now is that at that point we will not replace the vessel because the anticipation is there may not be much traffic at that time of the year because...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 35 - Army Pensions and Vote 36 - Defence (30 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy raises the issue of Custume Barracks in Athlone with me on an almost weekly basis, and she is right to do so, as it is her town. We do have a lot of activity there in terms of a permanent Defence Forces presence. That will be maintained and probably enhanced in the future. Mullingar presents a more challenging situation because there is no longer an operational barracks there....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 35 - Army Pensions and Vote 36 - Defence (30 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will now turn to the important issue of PTSD. I understand the Deputy has contacted my office about one case, which we are concerned about, and we are acting upon this. There are strong social, personal and medical supports within the Defence Forces, but if there is a problem that is not being addressed appropriately within the Defence Forces, we will address it. It is not acceptable...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Feedstuffs (30 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The EU Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 on the placing on the market and use of feed requires that manufacturers of feed ensure that the product is sound, genuine, unadulterated, fit for purpose and of merchantable quality. In addition, Article 11 of this Regulation provides that the labelling and presentation of feed shall not mislead the user as to, inter alia, its composition, properties,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (30 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named is not a participant in AEOS. However, he was a participant in REPS 4 up to the end of December 2014, when his REPS contract was completed. He has been paid his full REPS entitlements and no further payments are due.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (30 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the difficulties that have been created for many forest owners as a result of the storms of 2014. The frequency and ferocity of these storm events, compounded by waterlogged soils on many forest sites, led to extensive damage on both private and State owned forest lands. While estimates indicate that less than 1% of the national forest area (approximately 8,000 hectares) has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (30 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is no change to the rare breeds eligible for support under the GLAS scheme. Priority entry is available to those who were registered with a relevant breed society and had registered livestock with the relevant breed society in 2012 and/or 2013. In the case of the Galway sheep and the Kerry Bog Pony,registration with the relevant breed society and registration of livestock in 2014 will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (30 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is no change to the rare breeds eligible for support under the GLAS scheme. Priority entry is available to those who were registered with a relevant breed society and had registered livestock with the relevant breed society in 2012 and/or 2013. In the case of the Galway Sheep and the Kerry Bog Pony, registration with the relevant breed society and registration of livestock in 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Administration (30 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: A Young Farmer who is farming on a joint herd number with a parent can qualify for the higher rate of aid under TAMS 2 if they form a partnership to farm together, or a company for that purpose. In addition and in order to fulfil the EU requirements for the scheme, a declaration is required that in such circumstances the Young Farmer in question exercises effective and long term control over...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Regulations (30 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 107, inclusive, together. Regulation 8 of Statutory Instrument No. 466 of 2008 imposes an obligation on all aquaculture operators to maintain and make available for inspection, records which relate to their licensed aquaculture operations. There is no legislative requirement on my Department to keep these documents on file as a matter of routine....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Severe Weather Events (29 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the difficulties that have been created for many forest owners as a result of the storms of 2014. The frequency and ferocity of these storm events, compounded by waterlogged soils on many forest sites, led to extensive damage on both private and State owned forest lands. While estimates indicate that less than 1% of the national forest area (approximately 8,000 hectares) has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (29 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: My understanding is that this matter relates to two horses that were withdrawn from races ‘not fit to run’ as reported in the Irish Field in June 2015. The Turf Club have advised that in the case of one horse there was evidence of skin disease and soreness and in the case of the other animal there was also an issue with soreness. My Department has authorised the Turf Club...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (29 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department operates an animal welfare helpline (telephone number 076 1064408). Animal cruelty reports are investigated by authorised officers of my Department and by authorised officers of the ISPCA and DSPCA. An Garda Siochana may also be involved in these investigations where this is considered necessary or desirable. Where there is sufficient evidence, cases are prosecuted by my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Fund (29 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, established under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. In accordance with the Act, 80% and 20% of the monies paid into the Fund each year are distributed between Horse Racing Ireland(HRI) and Bord na gCon, respectively. The amounts provided under this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme (29 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 29 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Funding (29 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 to 327, inclusive, together. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is the Managing Authority for Ireland’s RDP. The Programme is co-funded by the EU’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the national exchequer. EU support for the RDP via the EAFRD will average €313 million annually, or an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (29 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is currently grant aid available for Horse Stocks in the TAMS II Scheme but no grant aid is available for roofing sand arenas for horses and I have no plans to introduce such a measure.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (29 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: A review of the lands declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that a number of the land parcels declared contained ineligible features. In order to clarify the position regarding the area of any ineligible features my Department arranged for a ground verification check to be undertaken. This check confirmed the 2013 area over-declaration as 90.26% in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (29 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing inspection. A follow-up field inspection to determine the eligibility of commonage land s declared identified ineligible lands/features resulting in discrepancies between the area declared and the area determined. As the over-declaration in area was greater than...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (29 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing inspection. A follow-up field inspection to determine the eligibility of commonage lands declared identified ineligible lands/features resulting in discrepancies between the area declared and the area determined. As the over-declaration in area was greater than...