Results 22,201-22,220 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: I can give the Deputy the figures.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: There were late applications.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: I will give the Deputy the updated figures.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: Small farmers are being looked after under Pillar 2, but they have to apply to participate in the schemes. We deliberately designed this scheme in favour of small farmers. That is why for the first ten animals a farmer receives nearly €100 per head. The figure is €80 per head after this. We deliberately tilted the scheme in favour of small farmers for the very reasons about...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: The figure is 27% for farmers who have ten animals or fewer. The figure is 34% for farmers with between 11 and 20 animals; 19% for those with between 21 and 30 animals; 10% for those with between 30 and 40 animals; 5% for those witt between 40 and 50 animals; and less than 2.5% for those with between 50 and 60 animals. The biggest cohort, therefore, comprises those with between ten and 20...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: As this is an area based payment, the same rules have to apply to everybody. On the first portion of a farm, 6.6 ha, a farmer receives the higher payment. That was deliberately changed by me to ensure we would favour small farmers.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: The big guy does get it, but, on average, he receives less per animal the more animals he has.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: The reason the Deputy is uncomfortable is the scheme is starting to work.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: A significant proportion of applicants either have fewer than ten or 20 animals. That amounts to two thirds of applicants. The Deputy does not like the reality because, like others, he said farmers would not apply to participate in the scheme, but they have done so and in huge numbers. Some 30,000 have applied and we are writing to all of them. In time the scheme will work, as people will see.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: The only way to compare it is by comparing percentages of applicants.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: This is a voluntary scheme and farmers choose to apply. It not mandatory.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: The reality is that two thirds of those who have decided to apply to participate in the scheme have fewer than 20 animals. That is a good result.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Plant Protection Products (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: In truth, it is being looked at all the time. Decisions on the authorisation of an active substance, such as glyphosate, are made at EU level following advice from the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA. Member states have competence to authorise products containing EU-approved active substances. Glyphosate is a non-selective systemic herbicide that is applied directly to plant...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Plant Protection Products (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: First, cancer rates are clearly linked to what we eat and drink, and what we smoke as well. There is a series of reasons for cancer and we need to be aware of that, and we need public health campaigns to try and address it. However, we also need to have faith in the European systems that have been put in place. I have faith in the European Food Safety Authority to ensure that reviews and,...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Plant Protection Products (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: That is nonsense.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Plant Protection Products (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: Of course, there are.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Plant Protection Products (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: The Government always puts the health of Irish people before the profits of anybody.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Plant Protection Products (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: That is what the European Food Safety Authority is there for. Any organisation gets lobbied. Deputy Wallace gets lobbied.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Plant Protection Products (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: Deputy Wallace should let me answer his question. I did not interrupt him. Whether it is TTIP or any other policy consideration, there will be lobbyists from all sides, from NGOs, industry, health organisations and stakeholders, because many people, including the Deputy, have different vested interests in different decisions.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Plant Protection Products (1 Jul 2015)
Simon Coveney: That is the way it should be. We need to have institutions that can balance and prioritise within those considerations. I am saying human health comes first. That is why we have a food safety authority and a world health organisation. It is why we are having a re-review here on the back of a review. It is why it will be fully peer tested. It is why Ireland and other European countries...