Results 23,921-23,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Exports (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The export of beef to third country markets is a commercial matter for individual companies. However, my Department plays a critical role in securing access to markets for Irish beef and in certifying exports. Securing beef access has been a Government priority for some time. Opening the Chinese market has been a particular challenge and the question of access for Irish beef has been raised...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Administration (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under EU legislation, all applicants under the Basic Payment Scheme (formerly the Single Payment Scheme) and other area based schemes are obliged to comply with the requirements of the Cross Compliance regime and my Department is required to carry out annual inspections to ensure compliance with the associated EU regulatory requirements. These inspections are mandatory and there are certain...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has designed and developed a bespoke GLAS online application system which will assist advisors in the preparation of applications. This system presents the advisors with detailed information of the environmental attributes on each farm at individual LPIS parcel level. I am pleased that, following long and complex negotiations with the European Commission, I was in a position to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that correspondence was recently received from the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association on the issue of land eligibility under the Direct Payment Schemes. My Department makes payment in excess of €1.5 billion annually to over 130,000 farmers in Ireland under EU funded or partially funded Direct Aid Schemes. Therefore, it is important that the provisions of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grassland Sheep Scheme Applications (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2014. Payments under this Scheme are based on per hectare basis, calculated from an average of the number of breeding ewes listed on the 2012 and 2013 annual sheep census. Mountain Type Grazing grassland requires 2.5 breeding ewes per hectare. The person named declared an average of 200 breeding...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks Closures (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The former Reserve Defence Force property at Fitzgerald Barracks, Fermoy was sold in 2014 and is no longer under the ownership of my Department. I have been advised by the Defence Forces that there are no surplus portacabins available in Lynch Camp, Kilworth at this time nor are there any surplus portacabins in the Old Barracks in Fermoy. I regret on this occasion my Department cannot be of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: As I have outlined previously, a claim was received from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) in relation to this matter and was referred to third party adjudication in accordance with the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The adjudication hearing took place on 30 January 2015 and the report of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Legal Costs (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Organisation, which includes Civil Servants, Military personnel, and Civilian Employees attached to military installations, has not engaged the services of the solicitor firms named by the Deputy in the period from 2011 to 2014. The State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Defence when the Government took office were the Civil Defence Board, the Army Pensions Board...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (3 Mar 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces do not operate a postal delivery service of light goods or materials sent by families of Defence Forces personnel serving overseas.  Prior to deployment all personnel are provided with the overseas contingent postal address which they may provide to family members wishing to send material to them. The overseas contingent’s National Support Element coordinates...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 2011 and payment has issued in respect of the 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 Identification...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the terms and conditions of the Single Payment Scheme and other area based schemes an applicant, as well as meeting the scheme criteria, is required to comply with EU regulatory requirements relating to Cross Compliance, including requirements under the Nitrates Regulations. Records available to the Department confirm that the person named applied for a Nitrates Derogation in 2011 and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon submitted the 2013 Annual Report and Accounts for the Bord na gCon Group, to my Department for consideration on 20thFebruary 2015. This material is currently being examined by officials within my Department as a precursor to my bringing the 2013 Annual Report and Accounts to Government. After they are noted by Government the 2013 Annual Report and Accounts will be laid before...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Inland Fisheries (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The European Fisheries Areas Network (FARNET) brings together Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) and Member State representatives responsible for FLAG schemes under the European Fisheries Fund (EFF). Through information exchange and a dedicated support unit, this network aims to assist the different stakeholders involved in the sustainable development of fisheries areas at local,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Technology Adoption Programme Payments (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was a participant in the 2014 Beef Technology Adoption Programme (BTAP). In addition to other requirements, participants must attend and sign an attendance sheet at six BTAP discussion group meetings each year orattend four meetings and two national events. The validation process prior to payment includes a check on attendance sheets for BTAP groups. Anomalies in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the 2015 National Reserve provide that young farmers and new entrants are deemed to be priority categories. A Young Farmer is defined as a farmer aged 40 years or less who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting the Basic Payment Scheme application. Therefore young farmers who commenced their farming activity since 1 January 2010...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the 2015 National Reserve provide that young farmers and new entrants are deemed to be priority categories. A Young Farmer is defined as a farmer aged 40 years or less who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting the Basic Payment Scheme application. The Regulations governing the National Reserve also include an optional provision...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2014 and of other relevant regulations, Member States may decide that land which can be grazed and which forms part of established local practices where grasses and other herbaceous forage are traditionally not predominant in grazing areas is to be considered to be permanent grassland. The areas as described, excluding established...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: No severance payments have been made by my Department to the persons listed by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (26 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have not appointed any special advisors in my role as Minister for Defence. Similarly no special advisors were appointed by my predecessor, Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D. However, former Minister Alan Shatter, T.D. engaged the services of a personal assistant who assisted him in constituency matters. A severance payment of €10,958.47, which was in accordance with Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Division (25 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the provisions of Articles 20, 29(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 and Article 28 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1122/2009, Member States are required to carry out administrative checks on all applications for aid. Essentially all applications for aid under EU funded Direct Payment Schemes must be subjected to these administrative checks to ensure their accuracy...