Results 22,481-22,500 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (25 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Department is engaged in an ongoing Building and Engineering (B&E) Programme designed to maintain, modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities required by the Defence Forces. In addition to the major capital projects, there are ongoing minor works required to ensure the upkeep and repair of buildings and provide facilities generally for personnel....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (25 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: As of 31 May, 2015, there are 32 whole-time equivalent posts filled by women serving in the Air Corps. The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. A number of specific initiatives have been implemented to increase female participation in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (25 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The following table sets out the number of women in the Naval Service at all ranks as on 31 May 2015, which is the latest date for which figures are available. The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. A number of specific initiatives have...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel Data (25 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The extent and diversity of skills, both technical and academic, throughout the Defence Forces is extensive, matching the roles assigned to the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. There are numerous different job descriptions depending on the particular appointment held. These descriptions range from trained soldiers, sailors, airmen, cooks, drivers, mechanics, paramedics, plumbers,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alternative Farm Enterprises (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has had a Bio-Energy Establishment Scheme in place since 2007, and this Scheme specifically provides support for the establishment of willow plantations. The Scheme has been variously funded at different times solely by the Exchequer or by a combination of national and EU funds. At present, the scheme is wholly Exchequer-funded. The 2015 Scheme focuses exclusively on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Alternative Farm Enterprises (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has had a Bio-Energy Establishment Scheme in place since 2007, and this Scheme specifically provides support for the establishment of willow plantations. In fact, the 2015 Scheme focuses exclusively on the growing of willow and provides establishment grants to farmers of up to 40% of the crop establishment costs subject to a maximum grant of €1,040 per hectare. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Records (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has email filtering software in place which deletes incoming emails which are definitively categorised as being viruses, malware or spam. In cases where there is a doubt over the provenance of an email, the email is quarantined and the intended recipient is notified. They can then request the email administrator to release the email - if it is not deemed to be a threat....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has already received a request for a review of the land parcels in question under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (Islands) from an agent acting on behalf of the person named. My Department will be in direct contact with both the person named and his agent as soon as this review is complete.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Applications (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s records do not indicate receipt of an application for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of oysters corresponding to the name and PPS number referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department operates an Animal Welfare Helpline for members of the public to report suspected cases of animal neglect and or abuse. Calls received in 2013, 2014 and 2015 are broken down as follows: Year Calls 2013 212 2014 652 2015 to date 350 Where it is considered appropriate, follow up action is arranged by Inspectors from my Department or with the assistance of ISPCA/DSPCA...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) Programme 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 recent years, and will ultimately bring about fundamental improvements to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The processing of applications under the Beef Data Programme is at an advanced stage. Payments under the Programme will commence before the end of June. Under the Programme, farmers who participate are required to submit the required data on suckler cows and their calves after birth and again after the calves are weaned. The Deputy will be aware that elements of the Beef Data Programme and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Data (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to veterinary staff employed by my Department is contained in the table below on a Full Time Equivalent (FTE) basis. Since 2005 my Department has been engaged in a major programme of re-organisation at all levels. This has been facilitated by changes in the schemes administered by the Department, reductions in disease levels, the advanced...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TB Eradication Scheme (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The holding in question was restricted under the TB Eradication Scheme on 9 April 2015 following the disclosure of a suspect lesion in an animal which the herdowner had sent for slaughter. Such lesions are sent for laboratory testing to confirm or otherwise the presence of TB. In cases of this nature, the holding from which the animal originated must be restricted until a negative laboratory...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Beef Data and Genomics Scheme closed for applications on the 5thJune. Approximately 30,000 applications were received by the closing date. Initial processing has been completed and I expect that approval letters will issue shortly. The information requested is not yet available but is currently being compiled. It will be forwarded to the Deputy directly as soon as it is finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 15 May 2014. The application was processed and an advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued on 16 October 2014 with the balancing payment issuing on 1 December 2014. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued on 5 June 2015. These payments issued direct to an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TB Eradication Scheme (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I refer to my reply to Question No. 471 on 9 June to the Deputy in connection with the survey conducted by my Department on the incidence of TB in deer in Wicklow. In that reply, I explained that further laboratory analysis of cultures is ongoing in relation to tissue taken from the deer to identify linkages between the TB found in deer, badgers and cattle. This work has not been completed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Remuneration (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Based on introducing a minimal threshold hourly rate of €11.45, the estimated additional annual cost in relation to staff employed by my Department would approximately be €120,000. The parallel information in respect of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Bodies themselves.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Records (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not use any system software for the auto-deletion of email messages.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reorganisation (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The current organisational structures of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) ensure that it can operate efficiently and effectively within a strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel. Within that strength ceiling, the return to the previous three Brigade structure would cause a range of inefficiencies arising from under-strength Units and an unnecessary increased administrative burden. This would...