Results 24,101-24,120 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Price volatility has been a significant feature of agricultural commodity markets including beef in recent years. In Ireland, average prices rose steadily from €3.22 a kilo at the start of January 2011 to an unprecedented peak of over €4.40 per kilo in June of 2013. They subsequently declined to €3.51 in September of 2014 before recovering to the current price with...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am confident that the industry developed targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 are attainable and can be met. As the Deputy is aware, the main targets in the Food Harvest report are by 2020 to increase the value of: - Primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 33%; - Value added production by 40%; - Agriculture, food (including seafood) and drink exports by 42%;...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The information sought in respect of the various sectors is set out under the headings. Beef The prospects for the beef sector have improved significantly after a difficult year in 2014. Since September, average prices have risen by over 15% and now stand at €4.05, exclusive of VAT, for R3 Steers. This price is 5.5% higher than the same period last year and is also ahead of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework for the long term sustainability of fish stocks around our shores, the continued economic viability of our fishing fleet and fish processing industry while supporting our families and communities that depend on the sea for their livelihood. A key element of the new CFP is the setting of fishing levels on the basis of MSY...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The EU Commission published a report on the performance of fishing fleets in respect of 2012. It reports higher market prices and the recovery of some fish stocks helped the EU fishing fleet to again improve its profitability in 2012. It reports that despite the economic crisis and less fish being landed, economic performance has more than doubled over the last 5 years, from 3.2% net profit...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Discards (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The dumping of 'surplus catch' or 'discarding' as it is most commonly referred to is a complex global problem where unwanted catches are returned to the sea as a result of a number of factors including quota restrictions, high grading, minimum landing sizes, and market conditions. Ireland has been to the forefront for many years in the drive to reduce and eliminate discards in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Scientific information on the state of the fisheries resources exploited by the Irish fleet is compiled by the Marine Institute and is published in the Stock Book each year. The 2014 Stock Book informs us that in relation to stocks of a healthy biological state, there was an improvement in 2014 compared with 2013 on the state of the resource base in relation to pressure indicators. In...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: 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 interests. We are keen to increase our access to the American market...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector Employment (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The CSO's most recently published Quarterly National Household Survey (Quarter 3 2014)showed that employment in the agri-food sector had reached 168,600, up from 145,500 at end 2009. Based on the latest data, this sector represents circa 8.8% of national employment. As the Deputy is aware, the CSO figures are based on sample surveys and some stability in their figures has been evident in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The seafood sector provides employment for approximately 11,000 people around the coast of Ireland. Employment levels have remained broadly stable throughout the recession years. However, employment in the processing sector has been increasing at a rate of on average 100 per year, supported by significant ongoing capital investment by the sector, co-funded by the Exchequer and European...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Climate Change Policy (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department is aware of the need to identify cost effective abatement measures that can reduce carbon emissions while at the same time improve farm profitability. The Food Harvest 2020Environmental Analysis Reportfound that the adoption and use of high technology and best production methodologies at farm production level will yield the best environmental outcomes and result in the most...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Development (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Long term global trends - population increases, urbanisation, a growing middle class and increasingly affluent new markets, particularly China and India and other Asian countries – are placing huge demands on world food resources and provide opportunities for food ingredients. Global trends in health and wellness, 'naturalness', nutritional awareness and convenience are also driving...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Artisan Food Sector (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The artisan or speciality food sector in Ireland was valued at c €615 million in 2012, with some 350 producers employing more than 3,000 people. Evidence suggests that the sector can have a significant impact on local economies. The emergence of Ireland's artisan food sector, supported by growing consumer demand for niche products and a strong entrepreneurial spirit, has generated many...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following the agreement on the CAP Reform in June 2013 reached during the Irish Presidency of the EU, I initiated a comprehensive public consultation process with all of the relevant stakeholders including the farming organisations. Following the completion of the consultation process, I decided on the detailed rules for the implementation of the various measures in Ireland. Consultations and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Installation Aid Scheme Applications (18 Feb 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. I intend to prioritise their applications under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation scheme (TAMS), with grant-aid payable at 40%, being introduced under the new RDP.  EU Commission approval is awaited...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Taxation policy is primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Finance. However I have on-going contact with the Minister to ensure that taxation policy reflects the Government's commitment to agriculture, as evidenced by our cooperation on the recently published 'Agri-taxation Review'. On this specific question, the Minister informs me that he has been advised by the Revenue...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Fencing-Mobile Equipment Scheme Applications (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The application form submitted by the applicant concerned to join the Sheep Fencing/Mobile Handling Equipment Scheme (SHS) was queried with the applicant in September 2014 and again in November 2014. When all outstanding queries have been resolved to the satisfaction of my Department, processing of the application can re-commence.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Fencing-Mobile Equipment Scheme Applications (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The application form for the applicant concerned to join the Sheep Fencing/Mobile Handling Equipment Scheme (SHS) was queried with the applicant in October 2014 and again in December 2014. When all outstanding queries have been resolved to the satisfaction of m y Department, processing of the application can re-commence.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Communications (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has responsibility for delivering a wide range of schemes and services to its many customers. Many of these schemes are, by their nature, complex. In order to provide the best possible customer service it is important to ensure that participants in these schemes have a good understanding of their terms and conditions. To this end my Department endeavours to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Beef Genomics Scheme was launched in 2014. The person named submitted an application under this Scheme on 19 March 2014. The validation of this application has recently been finalised and any outstanding payment will issue to the applicant as soon as possible.