Results 22,741-22,760 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Applications (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: A Department review of the non-productive capital investment claims submitted by applicants under AEOS was undertaken in 2014.  This review identified irregularities with documentation submitted for reimbursement in some of these claims. A full Department investigation was then initiated, which in turn led to the matter being referred to the Gardaí.  Payments to applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Waste (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 461 and 474 together. Retail legislation on the lines proposed does not come within the remit of my Department. I am a ware of the success of voluntary initiatives by organisations such as BiaFood and FoodCloud together with large retail outlets to offer edible food to charities in a safe, efficient and responsive way.  I recently visited the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Remit (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: This is an operational matter for Bord Na gCon. The Control Committee and the Control Appeals Committee of Bord na gCon were established under the Greyhound Industry (Control Committee and Control Appeal Committee) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No 301 of 2007). When an adverse analytical finding is returned from the Analytical Laboratory, a file on the matter is sent to the Independent Control...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Remit (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: This is an operational matter for Bord Na gCon. BNG has confirmed that no greyhound returned a positive result following laboratory analysis for the finals of 2013 Oaks and the 2013 Saint Leger finals.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Administration (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I appointed Mr Phil Meaney as chairman of Bord na gCon in April 2011, following extensive consultation with those with in-depth knowledge of the industry, and an assessment of his background and experience. As the deputy is aware it is Government policy in the case of those being proposed for appointment as chairpersons of state boards, that such persons will be required to make themselves...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Administration (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is responsible for the identification and registration of greyhounds in the Irish Greyhound Studbook. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon (BNG) under Section 26(2) of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 (the Act). BNG is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Remit (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon is commercial State body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, charged with the regulation and development of the greyhound racing industry. This is an operational matter for BNG. I understand from BNG that an independent review of an internal investigation into the running of a winning greyhound at Dundalk Track in 2009 has concluded that there were breaches of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Administration (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Indecon report which was published in July 2014 contained 27 recommendations, including a recommendation that a plan for asset disposals should be implemented. The Indecon report included Harolds Cross greyhound racing facility in the list of potential asset disposals. The report also stated that the timing of these asset sales should be made in a manner which maximises the value for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon operate both a Defined Contribution (PRSA) and a Defined Benefits Scheme. In the 2013 audited annual report and accounts of Bord na gCon the Net Pension Liability is €6.839 million. Bord na gCon has informed me that the 2014 annual report and accounts are due for Board approval and sign off by the Comptroller & Auditor General by June 30th2015. Bord na gCon accepts...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Funding (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon is a statutory body responsible for the regulation of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958. It has specific powers conferred on it by the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations 2007, S.I. 302 2007, which set out the detailed rules under which greyhound racing is conducted. Bord na gCon has informed me that all their private stadia are working within agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Administration (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: This is an operational matter for Bord nag Con, which is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. It has specific powers conferred on it by the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations 2007, S.I. 302 of 2007, which set out the detailed rules under which greyhound racing is conducted. Bord na gCon have informed me that they...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TB Eradication Scheme (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department applied for and was granted a licence by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to shoot deer out of season from an area of County Wicklow, south of the Sugar Loaf and north of Roundwood in October, 2014. The sampling of 103 deer was completed in January 2015. The study revealed that some 4.8% deer had visible lesions and 15.5% cultured positive overall.  A...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Suckler Welfare Scheme Payments (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Due to an administrative error this case was not cleared for payment in any of the previous payment runs. I have arranged that payment will issue to the person named in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The control and administration of greyhound racing, including the matters referred to by the Deputy, are a matter for Bord na gCon. The Control Committee and the Control Appeals Committee of Bord na gCon were established under the Greyhound Industry (Control Committee and Control Appeal Committee) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No 301 of 2007). Under that legislation, full details of any laboratory...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme Eligibility (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with EU Regulations, a review of all land declared on applications for payment under the various Direct Payment Schemes was undertaken to ensure that ineligible features have been excluded from the land declared. During the review of the land declared by the person named it was identified that ineligible features, namely building, roadways and scrub, had been included on the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted applications to participate in both the 2014 Beef Data Programme and Beef Genomics Scheme on 27 March 2014. Payment under the 2014 Beef Data Programme will commence for eligible applicants in the coming weeks. Additional processing under the 2014 Beef Genomics Scheme has recently been finalised and payments under this Scheme will also issue in the near future.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Cases (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: As outlined in my previous response to the Deputy, m y Department is in the process of implementing the terms of the Supreme Court Order in this case. In accordance with these terms, payment of salary arrears can only be made to the persons named in the Schedule of continuing claimants attached to the Order. The names of the persons mentioned are not included in this Schedule.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the EU regulations governing the National Reserve, priority under the Reserve must be given to ‘young farmers’ and ‘new entrants to farming’. Under the Regulations a ‘young farmer’ is defined as follows: - S/he is aged no more than 40 years of age in the year in which s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme;...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Farming (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy was previously advised my Department sought legal advice concerning the possible release of the operator’s reports dealing with this issue. Legal advice has since been received and it is understood that, subject to certain redactions in relation to commercially sensitive information, release of these reports is permissible. My Department will issue the relevant reports to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) was launched on the 5thMay and my Department has received almost 29,000 applications to participate in the programme.The Programme forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and allocates funding of some €300 million over the next 6 years to suckler farmers in Ireland. The BDGP utilises the large strategic investment in data...