Results 22,181-22,200 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: Unfortunately it has not proved possible to compile the full information in response to this question in the time available. I will write to the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Meetings (2 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have received no requests for meetings from private, external, non-State funded lobby groups in my capacity as Minister for Defence.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Strength (2 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service. Targeted recruitment has taken place so as to maintain the level of 9,500 personnel and to ensure the operational capacity of the Defence Forces. A recruitment competition for General Service Recruits for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Expenditure (2 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The expenses incurred in my capacity as Minister for Defence since my appointment on 11 July 2014 are set out in the following table. - 2014 2015 Accommodation € 899.05 € 318.59 Subsistence reimbursed Nil €527.00 Foreign Travel - Air € 2,504.08 € 2,640.25 Ground Transport incl. rail Nil € 1,945.58 Misc Expenses € 5.00 € 386.03...

Other Questions: TB Eradication Scheme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Coonan is aware of how the system works. We have a responsibility to ensure that the rules are kept. We have spent time on two or three questions talking about the BSE issue that we have had to deal with in recent weeks. We have programmes dealing with bovine viral diarrhoea, TB and Johne's disease. Obviously, we must ensure farmers farm in a way that is consistent with the...

Other Questions: TB Eradication Scheme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are not putting any farmers out of business. We have to make decisions on the basis of the information that is available as a result of the inspections that take place. As I said, I have no wish to discuss the detail of any individual case. We work with An Garda Síochána in many instances and we send a file to An Garda Síochána when appropriate. We have done that in...

Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are looking for that too but we have to ensure the tenants will be people who will pay their rent and will have accessed the tenancy arrangements under a fair and transparent competitive process. We need to ensure we have businesses that are in the interests of the broader community, in terms of development and employment in Howth, which, of course, we need to do. That takes time. We...

Other Questions: Bovine Disease Controls (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I was relieved when we got the final results of our tests last week because it was confirmation of what we had suspected to be the case. This was a once-off, isolated case. Obviously we would rather it did not happen. Last year we had no cases. The year before we had one. The year before that there were three cases. These one-off cases seem to happen. They happen in other countries as...

Other Questions: Bovine Disease Controls (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Its grandmother was imported but tested negative for BSE.

Other Questions: Bovine Disease Controls (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am glad to clear up this matter. The animal had four calves. All four progeny were alive. They have all been slaughtered and they have all tested negative. There is a very tenuous link, if a link at all, between a mother and a calf as regards the passing on of BSE. Some scientists suggest it is possible; others say it is very unlikely. We know, however, that it is a non-issue here....

Other Questions: TB Eradication Scheme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will answer both of the Deputy's questions but the first one relates to TB generally. The bovine TB eradication programme has delivered considerable success, particularly in recent years. The number of reactors has fallen from under 30,000 in 2008 to 16,000 in 2014. The decline in the number of reactors has continued in 2015 with the result that reactor numbers are likely to fall below...

Other Questions: Bovine Disease Controls (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy asked many questions so I will try to move through them as quickly as I can. The markets are very calm with regard to this incident. People, governments and veterinary departments which understand BSE and its history understand these isolated one-off cases can happen. The important thing is how they are dealt with, and a number of people outside of Ireland have complimented me...

Other Questions: Bovine Disease Controls (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The farm had a previous incident of BSE in 2002 and unfortunately we have had this one-off incident on the farm again. The honest answer is we cannot pinpoint exactly what caused this, because in all likelihood it was something the animal ingested six or perhaps five years ago. We are sharing our results with other countries in Europe which have had one-off cases in recent years to try to...

Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The property portfolio in Howth, one of six fishery harbour centres managed and operated by the 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 economic and social perspective. The Department’s aim, working within...

Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: More is being done.

Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: More than the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts has commented on this. The committee chose to visit Howth, which it is entitled to do, and was shown around by people who have an interest in these properties and are looking to get access to them. The Department had an opportunity on 20 May to respond the committee's draft report on the financial management of the fishery harbour...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bord na gCon (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is my fault again, is it?

Other Questions: Bovine Disease Controls (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Before I reply to the question, I thank colleagues for taking a very responsible approach to a very sensitive issue last week. We were anxious to get very detailed results, which we did. This has provided a great deal of reassurance to the beef industry and farming and, most important, to people who buy Irish beef. They can be sure this is an industry that is properly regulated, safe and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am sorry; the figure is 27%.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: That may have been the figure under the previous-----