Results 24,181-24,200 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farm Safety is a critical issue facing farming today and is something that I am seriously concerned about. It has been identified as a priority area for investment under TAMS II and it is proposed that a new Farm Safety Scheme will be introduced in 2015, subject to EU Commission approval of Ireland's Rural Development Programme. The Knowledge Transfer measure proposed under the new RDP will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Administration (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon has statutory responsibility under the Greyhound Industry Acts 1958 and 1993 for the control, development and improvement of the greyhound racing industry. The issue to which the Deputy refers is an operational matter for Bord na gCon. That organisation is specifically empowered under Section 16 (1) of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, to provide loans for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: GLAS (the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) is part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme (RDP). Ireland's draft RDP for the period 2014-2020 was submitted to the European Commission for approval in July last year and approval for the Scheme is still awaited. My officials are involved in negotiations with the Commission to expedite that approval...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is quite an amount of misinformation circulating at present about the impacts of the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on the European Union and Ireland in particular. My colleague and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, is the lead Irish Minister on international trade negotiations but I would like to set the record straight about...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Drugs in Sport (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. It has specific powers conferred on it by the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations 2007, S.I. 302 2007, which set out the detailed rules under which greyhound racing is conducted. Bord na gCon has informed my Department that more than 6,000 samples were taken from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing. The ICC has confirmed to my Department that it has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Drugs in Sport (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department's role in relation to combating the selling of illegal substances is not limited to the greyhound industry but embraces all animal species, with a particular focus on food-producing animals in order to protect consumers. Bord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. In addition Bord na gCon has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (17 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: Fishery Harbour Centres (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Comptroller and Auditor General published a Special Report on the Financial Management and Reporting for Fishery Harbour Centres on 8th July 2014. While the report noted that improvements had taken place with regard to the Financial Management arrangements at the Fishery Harbour Centres, it highlighted areas where further improvements could be achieved. My Department has accepted the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the EU Regulations governing the Young Farmer Scheme and National Reserve, 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. This definition of young farmer was agreed by EU Council and Parliament as part of the CAP reform agreement of June 2013....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Development (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: A robust shellfish biotoxin monitoring regime is essential in order to protect consumers and safeguard the good reputation of the Irish seafood industry. I am aware that a number of bays in the Southwest have experienced temporary suspensions of harvesting over the Winter as the level of biotoxins exceeded the regulatory limits. Such harvesting suspensions are not unusual and all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Drugs in Sport (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: While my Department legislates for and implements a control regime in relation to all veterinary medicines (animal remedies), the focus of this is not specifically aimed at ensuring that products comply with Bord na gCon guidelines. Bord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. In addition Bord na gCon has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Development (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: All applications for aquaculture licences for the cultivation of fin fish are considered by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and (in the case of marine aquaculture) the 1933 Foreshore Act. The assessment process takes full account of all National and EU legislative requirements and reflects the full scientific, environmental, legal,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grassland Sheep Scheme Applications (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Applications under the 2013 and 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme were received from the person named on 15 May 2013 and 12 May 2014 respectively. Payment has not issued to the person named as the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme minimum eligibility requirements namely, the inclusion of breeding ewes on the annual sheep census.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from the 1stSeptember 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from the 1stSeptember 2011 and payment has issued in respect of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. Remedial action was undertaken by the person named following issues identified in an on-farm inspection which was carried out on 16thSeptember 2014. Both the first payment of 75%...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from the 1stSeptember 2011 and payment has issued in respect of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. Both the first payment of 75% and the second payment of the balancing 25% for 2014 were processed on 12thFebruary 2015. Both payments will issue to the person named this week.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Energy policy and regulation falls within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Alex White TD. Renewable energy policy and use within the European Union is covered by a number of Directives including the Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, the Fuel Quality Directiveand the Biofuels Directive 2003. As the grain and feed market is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2014. Following initial processing, over-claims were discovered in respect of three land parcels, one of which was a commonage parcel which required further investigation. This investigation has now been completed and processing of the application has recently been finalised. Payments will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (17 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Lowland farmers in marginal lands can qualify for GLAS in any one of the three tiers planned. If they have a priority environmental asset, such as one of the identified bird species, Natura land, high-status water or keep rare breeds of cattle, sheep or horses, or farm organically, they will qualify for Tier 1 access to GLAS. If they have a vulnerable water course on their land and commit...