Results 23,441-23,460 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (2 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: In advancing the long standing policy of withdrawing from the provision of married quarter accommodation the Department assists in whatever way it can in order to resolve cases of overholding of Departmental property without recourse to legal action. The case referred to however is one of a number of cases of overholding presently being dealt with where the Department has been obliged to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: During last December’s Fisheries Council I worked closely with the fishing industry and other stakeholders to deliver quotas for Ireland that involve reductions only where justified and ensured that a rational and prudent account is taken of the available scientific information to inform the Council’s decisions. After intensive negotiations, we successfully managed to turn an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Maintenance (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not have responsibility for the pier at Maharees, which is owned by Kerry County Council. The responsibility for its development, repair and maintenance rests with that Local Authority. I would therefore direct the deputy to contact the Local Authority in the first instance with regard to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013. During the checking process in respect of the 2013 Scheme year, a query arose in respect of land parcels declared, which required digitisation. A request to digitise the parcels concerned was received by my Department in February 2015, however the information...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013 and payment has issued in respect of the 2013 Scheme year. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: To be eligible for the 2014 Single Payment Scheme (SPS), or the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS), claimants must have submitted an application on or before the closing date of 15 May 2014. Late applications were accepted, with penalty, up to and including 9 June 2014. My Department’s records do not provide any record of the person named either submitting or attempting to submit an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Administration (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the EU Regulations governing the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme, a young farmer is defined as a farmer aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme and who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting that application. Priority under the National Reserve is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named is cooperating with officials of my Department and the ISPCA to ensure that appropriate standards of animal welfare and animal husbandry are being maintained on the person's holding. Matters relating to disqualification or having control of animals are set out in the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and are for the courts to determine.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Premium Payments (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: An on-site inspection was carried out by the Forest Service Inspector and based on his inspection report, grant aid has been refused for this application as Shell Marl permeates the site. This decision was notified to the applicant by letter dated 29 January, 2014 offering her the option of lodging an appeal within 30 days but no further correspondence has been received from the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under 2014 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 7 May 2014. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has not issued to date, as the holding concerned has not yet satisfied the Scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named with a view to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 to 79, inclusive, together. I believe that a trade and investment agreement between the European Union and the United States will be good for Ireland and good for Europe. Such an agreement has, in my view, the potential to enhance growth and increase jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. In the agriculture sector, Ireland has substantial offensive...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named first submitted a Single Payment application form in 2011. This application comprised two plots of commonage land. In the 2012 application of the person named additional lands were added to the claim, including a plot of mountain land and more commonage plots. Officials in my Department are carrying out an investigation into the right to claim these lands by the person named....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: Processing of the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application submitted by the person named has recently been completed with payment due to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the applicant shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Vessels (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: LÉ Aoife was decommissioned from the Naval Service fleet earlier this year following 35 years of service. The intention was to sell the decommissioned ship at a public auction. However, following a formal expression of interest from the Maltese authorities in acquiring LÉ Aoife, and subsequent discussions with my counterpart the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (1 Apr 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military authorities that as of 30 March, 2015, there are 10 foreign military personnel undergoing training with the Defence Forces in Ireland. The personnel in question come from Malta, Germany and the United States of America. 7 Maltese students are in training as cadets and 1 Maltese student is studying on the Junior Command and Staff Course. 1 German student and 1...

Other Questions: GLAS Applications (31 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure how the Deputy proposes I prioritise them.

Other Questions: GLAS Applications (31 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Many farmers in the Deputy's area will be finalising commonage GLAS plans after they have applied and after the deadline. They might be finalising those plans into July. Is the Deputy suggesting that we discriminate against those people in terms of the opening date? I hope he not suggesting this. The point I am making is that we will get this system approved as soon as we can but we will...

Other Questions: GLAS Applications (31 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy can do the numbers.

Other Questions: Single Payment Scheme Administration (31 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: In respect of the finance issue, we had a very successful engagement with the Department of Finance last year from a taxation perspective. As the Deputy might remember, that resulted in a very comprehensive tax package on budget day. I think there were 23 measures, many of which were new. The total tax package was worth about €300 million for farmers. We did some very strategic...

Other Questions: GLAS Applications (31 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is actually but we will wait to see how it goes. I acknowledge the importance of the role of agricultural advisers in GLAS, the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme. Their professional expertise and experience are vital to the preparation of reliable GLAS applications that fully comply with regulatory and scheme requirements. That is why I have made it mandatory for all GLAS...