Results 24,541-24,560 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (22 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the Direct Payment Schemes require my Department to operate a Farm Advisory System (FAS) to provide advice to farmers on a range of issues relating to land and farm management. The regulations require that advisors are suitably qualified and regularly trained. In order to be approved as a GLAS Advisor, an advisor must also be an approved FAS advisor. In...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (22 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 102, inclusive, together. When serving personnel leave the Defence Forces, or otherwise vacate a married quarter property that had been assigned to them, they are required under military regulations to return vacant possession of that property. Over the years, the vast majority of serving personnel have returned vacant possession of married...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farmers opting for the traditional hay meadow action under the proposed new GLAS scheme will be required to respect the management requirements set out in the Agri-Environment Specifications. One of the requirements is that parcels declared for this action must not be topped after the 15th March. As has been my practice in the past, should adverse weather conditions occur I will consider the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in April 2008 and received payments for the first five years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. During the SPS cross-checks in 2013 an issue arose in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2014. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 9 January 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: On 3 June 2011, I announced a pilot jobs initiative for Killybegs, following the launch of an economic report for the European Commission, which assessed the status, development and potential diversification of Killybegs as a fisheries dependent community. The aim of this initiative was to create 250 cross sectoral jobs in the Killybegs area by 2014. To drive forward the initiative, I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The position regarding this case is that the Agriculture Appeals Office received an appeal from the above named on 15 December 2014. The Department file and statement were requested and were received on 8 January 2015. The case has been assigned to an Appeals Officer who will be in direct contact with the above named regarding the appeal. A written decision will issue when a full examination...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Applications (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The aquaculture licence referred to by the Deputy is in respect of mussel farming located in Kenmare Bay. Kenmare Bay is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 site). My Department is constrained by European law from issuing or renewing aquaculture licences for sites located within Natura 2000 areas (areas protected under the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grassland Sheep Scheme Payments (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2014. Processing of this application has recently been completed and the payment due will issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2014 and the advance and balancing payments issued on 16 October and 1 December 2014 respectively. An issue arose during the processing of the applications by the person named under the 2013 Beef Data Programme and 2014 Beef Genomics Programme. This issue has now been resolved and payments under...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Technology Adoption Programme Eligibility (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was initially cleared for participation in the Sheep Technology Adoption Programme on the basis of flock size. However, payment validation identified a breach of Section 8(c) of the Terms and Conditions for the 2013 Sheep Technology Adoption Programme which states: “Herd owners who are participants in the new Development Programme for Dairying or who received payments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the EU Regulations governing the Young Farmer scheme, eligibility for payment is limited to farmers under 40 years and is payable for a period of no more than five years following the commencement of the young farmer’s farming activity. The scheme is intended to provide financial assistance to young farmers during the period immediately following the setting up of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the relevant EU Regulation governing the National Reserve, Member States have the option of applying objective criteria in the allocation of entitlements. The application of an off farm income limit has been included as objective criteria since the introduction of the National Reserve in 2005. The process of deciding objective criteria for the National Reserve is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: Total Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 direct payments to farmers by my Department over the last eight years are outlined in the table. 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 (est) €m €m €m €m €m €m €m €m 1,995.3 2,067.3 1,997.2 1,798.9 1,968.0 1,862.0 1,723.0 1,710.4Source: DAFM The initial estimate for 2015 is €1,735m; EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Expenditure (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I expect 25,000 – 30,000 farmers to be approved into the GLAS scheme in 2015 and the estimated expenditure for the year is €20 million. Given the level of interest in the scheme I believe this estimate is realistic and I expect payments to commence in the last quarter of the year.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The rules governing the imposition of a super levy fine are set by regulations agreed at EU level. Under these regulations each Member State is allocated a volume quota of milk, above which a super levy fine (of 28.6 cents/litre) has to be paid to the EU Commission by producers who contribute to the over production. It is not possible for me on a unilateral basis to adjust super levy rules....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Pensions (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The position in this case is that judicial review proceedings were taken against the decision of the then Minister to reduce the applicant’s disability pension under Section 13(2) of the Army Pensions Acts. The Minister’s decision to reduce the pension was based on him taking into consideration compensation received by the applicant under a court settlement in respect of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Recruitment (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service.Targeted recruitment has taken place so as to maintain the level of 9,500 personnel and to ensure the operational capacity of the Defence Forces. As the Permanent Defence Force is currently below the agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: When serving personnel leave the Defence Forces, or otherwise vacate a married quarter property that had been assigned to them, they are required under military regulations to return vacant possession of that property. Over the years, the vast majority of serving personnel have returned vacant possession of married quarter properties when required to do so. Those who fail to return vacant...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (21 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: As outlined in my response to the previous question referred to, deployments of members of the Defence Forces to Shannon Airport occur as a consequence of Aid to the Civil Power requests from An Garda Síochána. The reasons for such requests being made are an operational matter for An Garda Síochána, who have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State.