Results 22,221-22,240 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Plant Protection Products (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: That is the reality. Deputy Wallace is seeing a conspiracy around the corner before we even get a result.

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

Simon Coveney: According to the most up-to-date figures available from my Department's animal identification and movement system, the total number of herds that have ten or less beef-breed female cows on their holding is 38,171 and this represents 52% of all herds with female beef-breed cows. Of course, these figures refer to farmers with significantly varying demographic profiles and include thousands of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Horse Racing Industry Development (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am glad that the Deputy has asked this question. I have met a number of people interested in developing the sport of harness racing in Ireland to match the standard in other countries. It could be a big sport and industry in Ireland, if managed properly. Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, is the commercial State agency charged with responsibility for the development and administration of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Horse Racing Industry Development (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Harness Racing Association requested permission from Horse Racing Ireland to stage a number of harness racing fixtures at Dundalk racecourse, one in July 2015, one in December 2015 and three in January 2016. The association's intention is that the first of these events would enable the French and European authorities to conduct an audit which would guide their consideration of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Horse Racing Industry Development (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: In defence of Horse Racing Ireland, it has a job to do in ensuring all authorised racetracks for horse racing are properly run and regulated. It also provides a lot of finance for many tracks. It does, therefore, have significant involvement in these matters, although it does not own all of the tracks. Having said that, the position is that harness racing takes place in very different ways...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Investment Bank (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I think we will have good news. The need for continued investment and support in the agrifood and forestry sector is well-established, and the recent approval of the forestry programme and the rural development programme are key supports in this regard. As a complement to the traditional grant-based approach to our schemes, the European Commission has announced that it plans to double the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Investment Bank (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The level of detail in terms of minimum and maximum amounts is not yet available. What is under discussion and quite close to agreement is a product involving large Irish dairy processors. They have been negotiating with the Commission and the EIB to try to make available a new finance product for loans for dairy expansion. Such loans would involve long-term repayment conditions at...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: European Investment Bank (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: They are very fair questions. It would be irresponsible of me to start outlining the terms of what will be, in effect, a commercial loan facility for farmers. The idea would be that they would be made available at more competitive rates than are currently on offer. I have said many times that if one considers the current volume of lending by Irish banks into agriculture, in particular...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota Cessation (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: As requested by the Deputy I append a table to this reply which will set out the volumes of milk purchased by registered milk purchasers in Ireland for the months of January to May in both 2014 and 2015. My Department does not collect the data on a county or regional format, because most milk purchasers collect milk across many different counties. During the period from January to May 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Slaughtering Data (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The numbers of horses slaughtered for human consumption at approved equine slaughter establishments during the years in question are as follows: YEAR NO. OF HORSES SLAUGHTERED 2012 24,362 2013 10,711 2014 7,602 2015 (to 31st May) 2,234 An agreement between Ireland, the UK and France allows for free movement of horses between these countries. My Department does not maintain a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farm safety is one of the most important issues facing farming today. Statistics show that accidents on farms cause more workplace deaths than all other occupations combined. Last year was a particularly difficult year with 30 deaths on Irish farms and already there have been eight fatal farm accidents in 2015. The Farm Safety Scheme, with a budget of €12.2m, was open for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Data (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I welcome the fact that nearly 27,000 applications were submitted in the first tranche of GLAS applications, which is very much in line with the projections I made when launching the scheme.  Farmers have shown a keen interest in the Scheme and have worked along with their advisors to apply in significant numbers. In doing so they have committed to actions and farming prescriptions which...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I assume the Deputy is referring primarily to the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP). As the Deputy is aware the BDGP forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and allocates funding of some €300 million over the next six years to suckler farmers in Ireland. The BDGP builds on the large strategic investment in data recording and genomics which has been made in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Live Exports (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I attach an enormous importance to the live export trade and my Department, along with Bord Bia, has been extremely proactive during my tenure as Minister in encouraging and facilitating both the cross border live trade and shipments overseas. Live exports serve a vital purpose as a means of both satisfying market demand for live animals and providing essential alternative market outlet,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Bodies (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Each year, my Department, through advertisements in the national press, invites applications from animal welfare bodies who wish to be considered for ex-gratia funding to assist their work in caring for animals. In addition, my Department emails application forms to previous recipients of funding and to persons/bodies working in animal care who may have contacted the Department during the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Development (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Ros an Mhíl and Killybegs. This Department is also responsible for North Harbour at Cape Clear Island and for maintaining a range of piers, lights and beacons around the coast in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The new Common Fisheries Policy negotiated to conclusion during the Irish Presidency of the EU, included a number of radical changes that I believe will be to the long term benefit of coastal communities in Ireland and throughout Europe including a discards ban and a commitment to set quotas in line with scientific advice. One of the other key changes is the introduction of Regional...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Administration (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following on from the publication of the Indecon Report in July 2014, Bord na gCon submitted an action plan in October 2014 with timelines for implementing the 27 recommendations in the Indecon Report dealing with governance, finance, regulation and welfare. This action plan has been published on the Bord na gCon website. In this context Bord na gCon has informed me that it is continuing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Protection Areas Designation (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: At the outset, I would like to welcome the fact that almost 27,000 applications were submitted in the first tranche of GLAS applications, which is very much in line with the projections I made when launching the scheme. The prioritisation of farms with clearly identified priority environmental assets is a key component of GLAS, and one which has been broadly welcomed by farmers,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Applications for Aquaculture Licences for the cultivation of finfish in the marine environment are considered by my Department under the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 and the Foreshore Act 1933. Determinations in respect of individual applications are only made following completion of the procedures set down in the applicable legislation and the consideration of all...