Results 22,261-22,280 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: Under the Control of Dogs Act 1986, as amended by the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act 1992, local authorities are responsible for all matters relating to dog control and dog pounds. My Department maintains a close working relationship with the Local Authorities on dog welfare matters. I am informed that regular inspections of dog pounds are carried out by the Local Authority veterinary...

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

Simon Coveney: The development of a dairy and agri-food export market for Irish produce in China has been a priority for me since becoming Minister. I strongly believe that progress to date can only be viewed as very positive, with the added bonus of a huge latent potential remaining to be developed on an ongoing basis, as we increase production following quota abolition. As Minister for Agriculture, I...

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

Simon Coveney: The Indecon report (“Review of Certain Matters relating to Bord na gCon”) which was published in July 2014 contained 27 recommendations, including a recommendation that a plan for asset disposals should be implemented. In accordance with the provisions contained in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and in accordance with the Horse and Greyhound Racing...

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: Fish Discards (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has been to the forefront for many years in the drive to reduce and eliminate discards in order to prevent waste, to protect young fish, to rebuild and conserve fish stocks and to ensure a sustainable future for the fishing industry. The new Common Fisheries Policy, negotiated to conclusion during Ireland’s Presidency in 2013, provides for a practical and phased discards...

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

Simon Coveney: I welcome the fact that 26,935 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 are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: Funding of €1 million has been provided in this Department’s 2015 Vote for pilot innovative projects which progress the CEDRA remit. The provision for 2016 will be determined as part of the annual budgetary process A strong framework work programme for this fund has been developed and will be progressed over the remainder of this year. The proposed work programme includes...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government included a commitment to publish a Climate Change Bill to provide certainty surrounding Government policy on this topic. My colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, has primary responsibility for the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill, which was published on 19 January this year. The Bill provides for the submission of...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 117, inclusive, together. My Department launched the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) on 5 May and just under 30,000 applications had been received by the extended closing date of 5 June. The Programme forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP) and over the next six years will allocate funding of some €300 million...

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

Simon Coveney: I can inform the Deputy that An Garda Síochána have instigated Operation Irene, a policing plan designed to address the sorts of issues referred to. This plan commenced on 1 June 2015 and will run until 30 August 2015. In relation to Howth Fishery Harbour Centre, I am informed that Operation Irene will provide an increased Garda presence over the summer months. Gardaí will...

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

Simon Coveney: The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (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 Programme builds on the large strategic investment in data recording and genomics which the country has made in recent years. It will ultimately bring about fundamental and...

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

Simon Coveney: Almost 27,000 GLAS applications submitted will now be assessed and approved in line with the priority environmental assets and pre-determined selection criteria. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application and I anticipate contracts will commence in October and run until the end of 2020. Based on the total value of applications received, I expect that the...

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

Simon Coveney: I am very pleased that over half of all commonages in the country are represented in the first tranche of GLAS applications. Further analysis is needed to determine exactly the average number of farmers per commonage in GLAS, as some farmers operate on several commonages. What is clear is that there are commonage farmers who have not yet applied for the Scheme. Some of these are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Framework Plans (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: A total of 3,934 farmers applying for GLAS have commonage land and have already committed to joining a commonage management plan as a precondition of approval into the new Scheme. Just under 2,700 commonages will be covered by these new plans. The drawing up of these plans marks a significant development in terms of Ireland’s uplands, with trained commonage advisers walking and...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 130 together. Targets for agri-food growth were set out in Food Harvest 2020 and I am confident that they are fully achievable over the next five years. As the Deputy is aware, the main targets in the Food Harvest report are, by 2020, to increase the value of: - Primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 33% from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bovine Disease Controls (1 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: As demonstrated by the recent single case of BSE, my Department has robust notification and traceability systems to ensure the early detection of diseases. It is a legal requirement to notify my Department of any suspicion of all relevant diseases, including those affecting bovines. Vigilance against the introduction of 'Class A' disease, including foot and mouth disease, avian influenza,...

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

Simon Coveney: Beef- I am pleased to note that net prices at the end of last week have increased 15% since last September and are now 12.5% higher than in the same point in 2014. Current beef prices in Ireland stand at 107% of the EU15 average. As of the end of last week, the average prices paid (excluding VAT) for an R3 steer stood at €4.15/kg and an R3 Heifer at €4.26. The Deputy will...

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

Simon Coveney: 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 Ireland in recent years. It will ultimately bring about fundamental improvements to the...

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

Simon Coveney: The CSO's recently published Quarterly National Household Survey (Quarter 1 2015) showed that employment in the agri-food sector overall, and in its component parts, has reached 163,000 up from 145,500 at end 2009. Based on the latest data, this sector represents circa 8.4% of national employment. The CSO figures are based on sample surveys and some stability in their figures has been...

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

Simon Coveney: The new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework for the long-term sustainability of fish stocks around our shores and the continued economic viability of our fishing fleet and fish processing industry while supporting our families and communities that depend on the sea for their livelihood. A key element of the new CFP is the setting of fishing levels on the basis of MSY...