Results 23,041-23,060 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Natura 2000 (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the Direct Payments Schemes and other area-based schemes requires my Department to ensure that all eligibility requirements are complied with. The regulations require that a minimum of 5% of applicants must be inspected each year to ensure that the land declared for aid, including commonage type land, is eligible for payment. My Department has a dedicated Inspection...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The number of entitlements to be allocated to any one farmer under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015 is based on the number of eligible hectares declared in 2013 or 2015, whichever is lesser. The value of those entitlements is based on the total value of entitlements owned by the farmer in 2014 plus the value of any payment received under the Grassland Sheep Scheme in that year. As with all...

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

Simon Coveney: The recent announcement by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank refers to planned and ongoing cooperation between those two bodies in relation to financial instruments programmed through co-funded Rural Development Programmes (RDP) and funded accordingly through RDP budgets. Financial instruments are defined in the relevant EU regulation as measures of financial support...

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

Simon Coveney: Fuarthas iarratas faoi na Scéimeanna Aoníocaíochta/na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste ón duine atá ainmnithe an 14 Márta 2013 agus eisíodh íocaíochtaí an 16 Deireadh Fómhair 2013 agus an 2 Nollaig 2013 faoi Scéim na hAoníocaíochta Feirme agus eisíodh íocaíocht an 20 Meán Fómhair 2013...

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

Simon Coveney: It is not possible to provide this information in the time available. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Dairy Equipment Scheme forms one part of a suite of new on-farm investment schemes which are being introduced under the TAMS II heading, as part of the new Rural Development Programme. In this regard, I am pleased to announce that theTAMS II Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme is being launchedtoday, and that the Terms and Conditions of the scheme will be available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2013 Single Farm Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2013. A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that a number of the parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. On this basis, processing was finalised and the 2013 a dvance and balancing payments under the...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together. The milk quota regime ended on March 31st. The abolition of milk quota presents a massive opportunity for the Irish dairy sector and one which we should look forward to with confidence. The fact that producers will face a super-levy bill in relation to the final year of the system is obviously unwelcome. However, the rules governing...

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

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to say that a second tranche for the submission of GLAS applications will open in the autumn.  As I have also extended the closing date for the completion of Commonage Management Plans under Tranche 1 to end-August, the opening of the second tranche will most likely be after that date. Farmers intending to apply under the second tranche should bear this in mind when...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) has been approved as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme. Its legal basis is Article 28 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. This Article provides for agri-environment and climate change measures and requires that commitments under this measure be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Inspection Service Remit (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: There are no plans to close any of my Department’s Regional Veterinary Laboratories. A working group has been established to review the best way to provide laboratory diagnostic services to farmers and this continues to be our priority. As would be expected they are looking at a range of options on how best to do this and will make their recommendations in due course. However, as I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota Applications (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I presume the Deputy is referring to a case where super levy is being withheld by the milk purchaser pending finalisation of the new instalment facility recently introduced by the Commission to assist milk producers who have a super levy liability. This new arrangements allows Member States to facilitate the payment by milk producers of this super levy liability in three annual instalments,...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 109 together. The continued development of a sustainable agri-food sector is a priority for my Department. However, there will be challenges along the way. Nevertheless, it is independently and internationally recognised that ours is one of the most climate and resource efficient agri-food production systems in the world and we are working with all...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 115 together. Rules on the labelling of meat and meat products are laid down in EU legislation. For beef, compulsory labelling rules have been in place for many years, and require food business operators to label fresh, frozen or minced beef with specific information to enable the product to be traced back to the animals from which it was...

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

Simon Coveney: I am constantly seeking to develop relationships in new and expanding international markets for all Irish meats and dairy products, raising the profile of Ireland and increasing international confidence in Irish production and control systems. My aim is to build long-term trading relationships into the future in these sectors, particularly in new and emerging markets and since taking office...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 113 together. I believe that a successful conclusion of the trade negotiations between the EU and US for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will be good for the Irish agri-food sector and will increase our exports. Ireland has strong offensive interests in these trade negotiations, particularly in the agri-food sector. We are seeking...

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

Simon Coveney: The facilities at the central laboratory complex in Backweston and at regional laboratories are capable of meeting the vast majority of my Department’s analytical and diagnostic requirements. While DAFM Laboratories have the capability to carry out most of the tests in these areas, for cost efficient reasons, some low volume, highly specialised reference test methods that are...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 120 together. BEEF I am pleased to note that prices at the end of last week have increased 15% since last September and are now 8% higher than in the same point in 2014. Current beef prices in Ireland stand at 106% of the EU15 average. As of the end of last week, the average prices paid (excluding VAT) for an R3 steer stood at €4.08/kg and an...

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

Simon Coveney: The milk quota regime ended on March 31st. Planning for the post-quota period has been ongoing amongst all stakeholders for a number of years and I believe we have the right balance of measures in place to ensure that Irish dairy farmers can enter the new era with full confidence. With respect to the impending super levy, flexibility has been secured from the European Commission for farmers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (14 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: One of the main policy changes agreed in the 2013 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy was to give Member States the flexibility to redistribute EU direct payments between farmers with a view to ensuring a fairer and more equitable distribution of these payments. This flexibility allowed Member States to even out anomalies in payment levels while ensuring that the level of redistribution...