Results 23,001-23,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Data (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: -----the maximum payment in GLAS plus is €7,000. We want to try to get as many farmers as possible up to those maximums. They have to apply the rules. They get payments for certain actions they do. More than 50% of this is European money. The European Commission will come and audit GLAS to make sure it gets value for money. The scheme we have put together will allow many farmers,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Applications (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am aware that Teagasc has written to some of its clients to advise them that it does not have the capacity to submit their GLAS plans. As this is a matter between Teagasc and its client base, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on it. As a third party, it is not appropriate for me to become involved in matters which are of a contractual nature between the parties involved. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Applications (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I remind the Deputy that the 22 May deadline already represents an extension of three weeks on what the original date was planned to be. We have already provided some extra space. We do not necessarily have a principled reason for not extending the deadline. I am going to be under a great deal of pressure from the Opposition to make sure we get the GLAS payments out this year. The sooner...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Applications (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: People need to understand a very important consideration here. We set 22 May as a deadline because it is a week before people's basic payment applications have to be in.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Applications (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farmers will refer to them as their single farm payment applications. The deadline for applications under the basic payment scheme, as it is now called, is 29 May, which is a week later than the deadline under this scheme. We do not want the same closing date for both GLAS and the basic payment. That would really drive planners over the edge because they would have to try to do everything...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Data (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for giving me an opportunity to clarify this issue. GLAS is a large, flagship scheme which has been open for some time and for which the deadline for the receipt of applications is one week from now. Following successful negotiations with the European Commission, I opened the GLAS online application system on 23 February for the preparation of applications, with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Data (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am only trying to be helpful.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: GLAS Data (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is important that people understand the process. We opened GLAS early in order that planners could get applications onto the system. All of the preparatory work for the scheme takes time. A plan must be put together and planners must work with farmers to ensure they consider all of the options available to them. Planners are involved in GLAS because it is a complex scheme. The farmer...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ash Dieback Threat (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: To date, approximately 693 hectares of ash forestry plantations have been cleared and replanted with alternative species.  A high proportion of the areas cleared were plantations which were associated with infected imported batches but which were not necessarily infected. These associated plantations were destroyed on a precautionary basis. Out of a total of 59 findings in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bovine Disease Controls (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department is aware of moves by certain member states toward the introduction of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) Eradication Programmes. In this regard, I have requested Teagasc to undertake an appropriate cost benefit analysis of the impact of the introduction of an IBR control/eradication programme in Ireland. This analysis will cover a number of areas, including (i) the costs...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The use of ranking for selection has always been a requirement of the GLAS Scheme. The ranking system itself has not changed – it remains the case that Tier 1 receives priority over Tier 2 and Tier 2 over Tier 3.  The Terms and Conditions of the Scheme have always made specific reference to the use of selection criteria in the ranking process and the most recent communications,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has been in communication with the European Commission on this subject since September of last year. The unequivocal advice we have received from them is that a recreational fishery for bluefin tuna is not legally possible in the absence of a national bluefin tuna quota. We do not have such a quota and it is extremely unlikely that we could obtain one as it would involve...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Skills Development (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the Action Plan for Jobs 2014, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs committed to undertaking an assessment of the profile and diversity of the occupations and skills requirements of enterprises in the different sectors that make up the Marine economy. Its April 2015 report – ‘A Study of the Current and Future Skills Requirements of the Marine/Maritime Economy to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The value of the Protected Food Crop Sector in 2014 was estimated at € 85.3 million which was a 4.1% increase on 2013. The main products involved are strawberries, lettuce and tomatoes. Crops which have lower energy and capital requirements, such as lettuce and, in particular, strawberries, continue to expand. Crops, like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, which require more...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Howth is one of six Fishery Harbour Centres managed and operated by my Department. Each centre is a working fishery harbour which has unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an economic and social perspective. This diversity is reflected in the range of properties managed by my Department in each of the Fishery Harbour Centres....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TB Eradication Scheme (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: In my earlier response to Deputy O’Sullivan, I outlined the underlying reason for introducing the badger removal programme, which was in response to research, which showed that badger removal had a significant beneficial impact on the risk of future breakdowns, with areas where badgers were not removed being some 14 times at greater risk than badger removal areas. Capturing of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres, which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.  All six Fishery Centres are first and foremost working fishery harbours.  However each centre has unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an economic and social...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farm Safety is a critical issue facing farming today and is something that I am seriously concerned about. The current Safety Scheme has been designed to overcome some of the particular hazards which may be present on farms. A total of €12.2m has been allocated to this scheme offering a 40 per cent rate of aid, up to a maximum eligible investment ceiling of €20,000, i.e. a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: In the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes and Rural Development measures my Department is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections covering such issues as eligibility under the Scheme and compliance with Cross Compliance requirements, as set down in EU legislation, and the standards for Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC), in the areas of the environment,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Remit (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following the publication of the Indecon Report in July, 2014, Bord na gCon submitted an action plan with timelines for implementing the 27 recommendations in the Indecon Report dealing with governance, finance, regulation and welfare.Bord na gCon has assured my Department that it has diligently followed up on the undertakings included inits response to the Indecon Report. Indecon suggested...