Results 23,321-23,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Premium Payments (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: Between 2010 and 2014 payments on this contract were made on 9.57 hectares. As part of the Second Instalment grant process, which was completed on this contract in 2014, a full check of the file was carried out by the Department. The boundaries of the plantation were checked against the visible ground features, resulting in small adjustments and a reduction in area to 9.45 hectares. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in August 2009 and received payments for the entire duration of their contract which was terminated on the 31stDecember 2014. Following an on-farm inspection in 2011 areas of non-compliance under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were discovered which resulted in the application of penalties amounting to 50% and 19% respectively. Following an appeal to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from the 1st September 2010 and payment has issued in respect of the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: Any farmer who was eligible to receive a direct payment in excess of €100 under the 2013 scheme year holds an automatic right to receive entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015. A direct payment is defined as any payment received under the Single Payment Scheme, the Grassland Sheep Scheme, the Burren Conservation Scheme or the Beef Data Programme. It is presumed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: Every EU Member State, including Ireland, is subject to EU audits to ensure that all scheme applicants meet the requirements of both governing EU legislation and scheme Terms and Conditions. Following such audits Member States are issued with a letter of findings as required by regulation. This letter highlights the findings of the audit and requests the comments and observations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Agriculture Appeals Office received 334 Single Farm Payment penalty appeals in 2014. To date, 9 appeals have been allowed, 29 appeals partially allowed and 122 appeals disallowed. 78 appeals were revised by the Department some times after significant involvement with the Appeals Office. 44 appeals were not valid, out of time, or withdrawn. 52 appeals are ongoing.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Agriculture Appeals Office received 29 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme penalty appeals in 2014. To date one appeal has been allowed, 11 appeals disallowed, four appeals have been revised by the Department, seven appeals were not valid, out of time or withdrawn, and six appeals are ongoing.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of the delivery of the Direct Payments Scheme and other area-based schemes, must ensure that all applicants meet the requirements of the applicable EU governing legislation. Applicants must ensure that scheme application forms are submitted within prescribed deadlines, that the land declared for aid is eligible and that ineligible features have been excluded,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of the delivery of the Direct Payments Scheme and other area-based schemes, must ensure that all applicants meet the requirements of the applicable EU governing legislation. Applicants must ensure that scheme application forms are submitted within prescribed deadlines, that the land declared for aid is eligible and that ineligible features have been excluded,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 107, inclusive, together. Under the provisions of the Basic Payment Scheme, farmers need to declare an eligible hectare for each payment entitlement held in order to benefit from payment. The hectares declared must be eligible and must have an agricultural activity carried out on them. The situation in Ireland has not changed since the Single...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the provisions of the Basic Payment Scheme, farmers need to declare an eligible hectare for each payment entitlement held in order to benefit from payment. The hectares declared must be eligible and must have an agricultural activity carried out on them. The situation in Ireland has not changed since the Single Payment Scheme was replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme at the beginning of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: The 2000 White Paper on Defence and the earlier Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan both identified the requirement to address the age profile in the Defence Forces. A key element in military life is the need for personnel to maintain a level of fitness for combat readiness. This requirement must be balanced with the need to retain experience and expertise, particularly at managerial...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Honours (16 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: There are currently two medals, under the provisions of Defence Force Regulations A.9 (New Series) – Dress and Medals, that mark the service of personnel with either the Permanent Defence Force or the Reserve Defence Force. The medal known as “The Service Medal” may be awarded to an officer, non-commissioned officer or private of the Permanent Defence Force, or a member...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Expenditure (15 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the fees being paid to board members. The Government approved the application from 1 May 2009 of revised fees for the non-executive chairpersons and members of the boards of State bodies. The revised fees are 10% lower than the fees which applied until 30 April, 2009. The following revised rates of fees are payable to Bord Na gCon Board members:...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Development (15 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: I said in my response to Question No. 293 of 10 March 2015 that no radical change in the aquaculture sector was to be expected as a result of the modest investment supported through the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013. Clearly a larger programme of supports would have incentivised more productive investments. Despite that, and the particular issues faced by the sector over the period,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Seirbhísí Farantóireachta (15 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: Tá Ionad Iascaigh Cuain Ros an Mhíl ar cheann de shé Ionad Iascaigh Cuain shannta atá faoi úinéireacht, bainistiú agus cothabháil mo Roinne faoi Reacht. Tá an úsáid a bhaineann muintir Árann as Carrchlós na nOileánach ag Ionad Iascaigh Cuain Ros an Mhíl éascaithe faoi cheadúnas. Coimeádfar soláthar...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (15 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Single Farm Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2014. Following initial processing, a dual claim was identified in respect of one of the land parcels declared by the person named. The person named subsequently confirmed that they did not have the right to claim the parcel in question. This resulted in an area over-declaration of between...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (15 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that two of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. However, while t he person named was notified of this decision and of his right of appeal on 11 September 2013 and again on 12 June 2014, his appeal was only received on 26 January 2015. Following the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy (15 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: The right of consultation for stakeholders the Deputy refers to is indeed part of the new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) which I negotiated to conclusion in 2013. The stakeholders referred to are those who are members of Advisory Councils established under the CFP. Environmental stakeholders are active members of the North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) and the Pelagic Advisory...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Supply (15 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: Records in my Department indicate that the person named by the Deputy was disqualified from selling milk due to breaches of regulations governing the sale of raw milk. I have no reason to consider that the case was not properly handled by Department officials at that time.