Results 23,781-23,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Programme (11 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The legislation enacted during the period in question is as follows: Defence (Amendment) Act 2011; Civil Defence Act 2012; Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Act 2013. It has not been possible in the time available to compile the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the total number of amendments tabled by the Minister for Defence for each of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department is making arrangements for any monies due, as a result of the outcome of the Agriculture Appeals Office appeal, to be issued to the person named shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department makes payments in excess of €1.5 billion annually to over 130,000 farmers in Ireland under EU funded or partially funded Direct Aid Schemes. This level of funding is vital for the maintenance of the rural economy. Therefore, it is important that the provisions of the governing EU Regulations are adhered to in the application of these Schemes. I can also confirm that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: In order to benefit from payment under the Single Payment Scheme (now replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme) farmers must declare an eligible hectare for each payment entitlement held. The EU Regulations do, however, provide for issues that impact on the area declared, which arise and are outside of the control of the farmer. This is known asforce majeure or exceptional circumstances. These...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Administration (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Applicants under the Direct Payment Schemes, including the Single Payment Scheme, are required to conduct a sufficient level of agricultural activity on all lands declared for aid. Such activities include the production, rearing or growing of agricultural products, including harvesting, milking, breeding animals, and keeping animals for farming purposes and maintaining an agricultural area...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Applications (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am aware that there is a group of young farmers who established their holdings in 2008 and 2009 and who missed out on the Installation Aid scheme which closed to applications in 2008. The person-named may fall into this category but in any case as he was set up in farming more than 5 years ago, he would not qualify under EU rules for the increased rate-of-aid being proposed for eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Applications (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish in Galway Bay was received by my Department in 2012. The application is under active consideration by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. A determination in respect of the application will be made following...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Job Retention (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has no statutory responsibility for the issues raised in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following the adoption of the CAP Reform proposals during the Irish Presidency in June 2013, work commenced immediately in Ireland on the implementation of the various Pillar I and Pillar II Schemes, which had to be introduced by January 2015. The main Pillar I Schemes are the Basic Payment Scheme and the Greening Payment. The two measures replaced the Single Farm Payment. Each year over...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 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: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named is an applicant under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme 2010. A Department review of the non-productive capital investment claims submitted by applicants was undertaken in 2014. This review identified irregularities with documentation submitted for reimbursement in some of these claims. A full Department investigation is now underway into this matter and the application...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Priority access to the GLAS scheme is based on the environmental assets found on individual farms, having regard to the priorities laid down by my Department, following consultation with other stakeholders and the EU Commission. The payment offered on commonage land is justified on the basis of one management plan being put in place for the commonage with shareholders agreeing to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Meetings (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Officials from my Department met the named individual on 17 July 2014 and the issues concern the Celtic Sea Herring Fishery. In 2011, I asked the fishing industry and other interested parties to make proposals on the future management arrangements for all Irish herring fisheries, the Celtic Sea stock, the stocks off the North West coast and the Atlanto Scandian stock. The objective of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with relevant EU Regulations , to be eligible under the Young Farmer priority category of the National Reservean applicant must meet the following conditions: - S/he is participating in the Basic Payment Scheme in the year in which s/he submits an application; - S/he is aged no more than 40 years of age at any time during the calendar year in which s/he first submits an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (10 Mar 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. Issues arose in relation to the splitting of land parcels, which required an amendment to the applicant’s Single Payment Application, and prevented the file from progressing towards administrative check. These amendments have now been completed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Where a farmer currently in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) is admitted to the GLAS scheme no reimbursement of aid paid under the AEOS contract will be required. However any outstanding penalty for non compliance with AEOS requirements in respect of the period prior to transformation to GLAS will remain due.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Designation of lands is a matter in the first instance for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and I have neither sought nor received advice from the Attorney General in this regard. Through GLAS, my Department’s new agri-environment scheme, farmers with designated lands will have an opportunity to access an annual agri-environment payment. This is designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: GLAS will be the main source of support under my Department for farmers with Hen Harrier habitat on their holding. Hen Harrier land is a Tier One Priority Environmental Asset and any farmer with an identified habitat will secure priority access to the scheme . The payment rate for Hen Harrier is €370 per hectare, and this applies all lands notified to my Department by the National...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to say that both Natura and Hen Harrier lands are Priority Environmental Assets under the new GLAS scheme . This means that farmers who manage such assets will receive priority access to the scheme. Where Natura land is also identified as Hen Harrier habitat, the prescription laid down for the bird must be applied. This attracts a payment of €370 per hectare instead of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Plan (10 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Rural Development Programme (RDP), 2014-2020 will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. EU Regulation No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on support for Rural Development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural...