Results 23,161-23,180 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Eligibility (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The proposed new Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme introduced under the provisions of Rural Development Regulation (EU 1305/2013), requires applicants to maintain 0.15 Livestock units per forage hectare of the holding calculated over the twelve months of the calendar year 2015. The eligibility requirement under the former Disadvantaged Areas Scheme to meet 0.3 livestock units per forage...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is a condition of payment of grant and premiums under the Afforestation Scheme that the applicant must, inter alia, be the registered owner of the lands the subject of the application. In the case of the person named, a portion of the site the subject of his application is not registered in his name and as a consequence payment of the application cannot be made. A check by my Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Development (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department is presently finalising a draft National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture. I expect to publish the draft Plan for public consultation in the coming weeks. The draft Plan will examine all issues affecting the aquaculture industry, including the oyster farming sector, and make policy proposals to address those issues. Any financial assistance for the development of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Applications (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department is working with the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to achieve full compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives through a multiannual work programme. This programme requires the gathering of the necessary baseline data appropriate to the Conservation Objectives of aquaculture sites located within designated Natura areas....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Additional modifications to the AEOS IT System to allow payments in a number of cases where penalties have been incurred are currently being tested. The procedure in question is required to ensure full compatibility with all EU regulations and to provide an enhanced audit trail. Following successful testing, the processing of remaining payments will be made.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Community Development Projects (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has met with the Community Development group on two occasions in relation to this issue, which by in large is a Tourism centred initiative. I have indicated my support for the overall objective of the proposal, which would, if successful facilitate increased tourism, economic activity and job creation in the South Donegal area. With regard to the availability of a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The announcement by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in Budget 2014 in relation to delegated sanction for staffing arrangements will provide greater discretion to Government Departments and state agencies over staffing levels, but strictly within an overall pay framework. In this regard my Department has submitted a Pay and Staff Numbers Strategy to the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences Applications (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Two Limited Felling Licences (FL15842 and FL15843) issued to Coillte on 8 August 2014 for various townlands in Co. Roscommon in connection with Sliabh Bawn Wind Farm. Both licences are valid for 2 years from the date of issue. FL15842 carries an obligation to replant alternative specified sites in counties Limerick, Leitrim, Galway and Mayo, while FL15842 carries an obligation to replant the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The GLAS online system is a very powerful computer system which provides advisors with the tools to prepare detailed and accurate farm-plans for their clients. The system has no difficulty in accommodating applications from farmers with joint herd numbers. However, all farmers intending to join the GLAS scheme, including those with joint herd numbers, must first be linked to a GLAS...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (6 May 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 Garda. Payments to applicants under review have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The tillage sector makes a key contribution to the agri-food industry directly through provision of high quality, native grown ingredients to support the development of the livestock, food and drinks sector. Indigenous production of cereals is of course, an important part of primary agriculture production. In addition to generating an income for our tillage farmers, the cereals sector is a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Malting barley production is a valuable and important sector within the agri-food industry. Current production of malt in Ireland is in the region of 120,000 tonnes from 160,000 tonnes plus of contracted malting barley.  Future prospects are very positive, primarily due to the growth of Irish Whiskey exports and interest in craft beers which is driving growth in micro-breweries. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Whilst the moratorium impacted on staff levels, Teagasc retain a complement of over 1,150 staff who deliver research, advisory and education services to the agriculture and food sectors. The distribution of staff is an operational matter for Teagasc. In light of the constraints on recruitment, Teagasc is re-configuring the way in which it delivers services to farmers through greater use...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Spring testing period by the Marine Institute, in accordance with the Control Protocols for the management of sea lice, indicated elevated lice levels at salmon cultivation sites in Mannin Bay, Inver Bay, Kilkieran Bay and Killary Harbour. In all instances appropriate action has been taken by the operators on foot of Management Cell interventions as provided for by the Control Protocols....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Stocks (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The unexpected health challenge to the stock in 2012 was caused by a bloom of a naturally occurring single celled marine amoeba organism. This organism which is not a pathogen as such caused severe irritation to the gills of the farmed fish concerned. There were severe stock losses of the smaller sized fish as a result. This phenomenon had been observed previously in 1999 in Ireland but had...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I agree with the Deputy that the implementation of the landing obligation will have an impact on the environment through the ending of the wasteful practice of discarding carried out by all EU fleets fishing on stocks of interest to the Irish fishing industry. The new landing obligation will greatly help over time to underpin the sustainability of the Irish fishing industry and the coastal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The financial resources to cover the operating expenses of the Marine Institute and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority are made available to those agencies by the Oireachtas through my Department’s Vote. The function of my Department in relation to this matter is to ensure funds voted by the Oireachtas are used for the intended purpose and in accordance with the functions of those...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2014. Payment has not issued to the person named as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements. The person named was informed of this decision in writing on 4 February 2015 and advised of the option to appeal the decision to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy has been advised previously my officials and I, in the normal course of official business meet with representatives of the aquaculture industry and individual companies on an ongoing basis to discuss licensing and industry development issues. There is always a strict separation between my Ministerial role as decision maker in respect of licence applications and my Ministerial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (6 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following successful negotiations with the European Commission, I opened the GLAS online application system on 23 February, 2015 for the preparation of applications, with the intention of activating the submit-facility once formal approval of the Rural Development Programme as a whole was notified. This has now been received, in the form of a ‘letter of comfort’ from the EU...