Results 22,161-22,180 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon is a commercial State body, established in 1958 under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. The list of prohibited substances requested by the Deputy with current thresholds can be found on the National Greyhound Laboratory website - www.inab.ie/FileUpload/Testing/Bord-na-gCon-Irish-Greyhound-...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Funding (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department administers the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. In addition to funding for Department owned harbours the Programme provides funding for Local Authority owned piers and harbours subject to available funding. I have allocated €1.6m, under the 2015 programme for the development and repair of 25 Local Authority owned piers and harbours. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Applications (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The application referred to by the Deputy is currently under examination by the Marine Engineering Division of my Department in respect of its technical and engineering elements. Every effort is being made by Department to expedite this application and a determination will be made as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the Direct Payment Schemes and Rural Development measures requires my Department to carry out inspections annually to ensure compliance with Cross Compliance requirements as laid down in EU legislation and the standards for Good Agricultural and Environment Condition (GAEC). The rate of inspection for Cross Compliance is a minimum of 1% of applicants to whom the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Plant Protection Products (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Decisions on the authorisation of an active substance, such as glyphosate, are made at EU level following advice from the European Food Safety Authority. Member states have competence to authorise products containing EU-approved active substances. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide that must be applied directly to plant foliage for activity. It was first commercialised in the mid 1970s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tuberculosis Incidence (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together. I also refer to my replies to the Deputy on this subject last month (21973/15 on 9 June and 25344/15 on 24 June). My Department has emphasised at all times that the research the findings of this research project refer only to the Calary area of Co. Wicklow and there is no suggestion or evidence to support any claim that these...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme Eligibility (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the Direct Payments Schemes and other area-based schemes together with supporting guidance material provide clear direction to member states on all eligibility requirements which must be complied with. The regulations require that a minimum of 5% of applicants must be inspected each year to ensure that the land declared for aid, including commonage type land, is in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 213, inclusive, together. Under the initial Financial Plan for the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 (RDP) an indicative amount of €528m was originally allocated to Natura 2000. The Natura 2000 measure provides for compensation to farmers for disadvantages in their farming activities arising out of 3 Directives – the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and will provide suckler farmers in Ireland with funding of some €300 million over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the investment in data recording and genomics in recent years, and will ultimately bring about long-term improvements to the sector by fundamentally improving the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 218 together. The water supply to the Curragh Camp is taken from underground wells which are vested in the Minister for Defence and operated by the Defence Forces. The supply to Orchard Park is taken from the Curragh Camp supply. With effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. The Water Services (No. 2) Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: As already indicated by me to the Deputy on 25th June last, the health, welfare and safety of Defence Forces personnel is a priority. Malaria is a very serious disease. It kills approximately 1 million people per year in sub-Saharan Africa alone. It is a grave threat to any military force operating in that area. Let me be clear to the Deputy in relation to previous statements regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military authorities that it is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy in the time available. I shall provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (7 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military authorities that the person in question is one of several applicants for the 28th Infantry Battalion Reserve Defence Force competition that have successfully completed the medical phase of recruitment. The security clearance process for this individual, along with each of the other applicants, is ongoing. It is important that the Reserve Defence Force...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Meetings (2 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will appreciate, in view of the range of my remit as Minister, I receive representations, including requests for meetings from a broad range of sources, including members of the Oireachtas, local and voluntary groups, private individuals, companies and representative associations. While my Office does not maintain a register of all such requests for meetings or invitations...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme (2 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The new Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving a more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. The RDP has been developed on the basis of extensive preparatory analyses and stakeholder consultation, and while it does not include a measure...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (2 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Commonage payments have increased significantly from €75 per hectare under AEOS to €120 per hectare under the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) and are calculated on the basis of income foregone and the cost of compliance with delivery of the GLAS action. Payments are advanced on the basis of the land being farmed to environmentally sustainable standards for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (2 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: At the outset I wish to acknowledge the number of commonage farmers, 3,934 in total, who have applied to join GLAS. They farm on nearly 2,700 commonages, which represents more than half the commonages in the country. This shows a healthy interest in the scheme, which I expect will grow as subsequent tranches are opened. Commonage lands are recognised as valuable farmed habitats and as such...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (2 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: At the outset I wish to acknowledge the number of commonage farmers, 3,934 in total, who have applied to join GLAS. They farm on nearly 2,700 commonages, which represents more than half the commonages in the country. This shows a healthy interest in the scheme, which I expect will grow as subsequent tranches are opened. Commonage lands are recognised as valuable farmed habitats and as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The information regarding my expenses incurred and paid since 2011 is set out in the followng table. My travel expenses are calculated on the basis of rates approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and as such are not vouched.  All other expenses I have incurred were paid on foot of receipts verifying the actual costs incurred. Year Travel Expenses...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (2 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: As part of the screening process prior to deployment on a mission to a malarious area, an individual’s G6PD status is checked. As a matter of policy, those found to be deficient in G6PD are deemed unsuitable for deployment to a malarious area. While G6PD deficiency is not a contraindication to the use of Lariam (Mefloquine), if the individual is not found suitable for overseas...