Results 24,661-24,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Aircraft Landings (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: Primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland rests with the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade in accordance with the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952. Whilst occasionally observations may be sought from my Department by the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade in relation to logistical or technical...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: No change to the State's policy on military neutrality is intended in the White Paper on Defence. Ireland’s policy of military neutrality is defined by non-participation in a military alliance or mutual-defence arrangements. Irish Governments have never interpreted neutrality as meaning that Ireland stands aside from international engagement. Rather, participation strengthens our...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: At the request of the United Nations, a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force has been deployed to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights in Syria since September 2013. The current Defence Forces contingent, the 46th Irish Infantry Group UNDOF, comprises 130 troops and consists of a Force Reserve Company and support elements. Their role includes the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Pesticide Use (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive establishes a framework for European Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides by setting minimum rules to reduce the risks to human health and the environment that are associated with pesticide use. It also promotesthe use of integrated pest management. The Directive is designed to further enhance the high level of protection...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Threat Response Plan (TRP) is examining the impacts of various activities including forest development, agricultural intensification and wind farm development on the conservation of Hen Harrier, which is one of Ireland's rarest species of bird, and which is protected at a European level under the EU Birds Directive. I understand that the TRP will set out necessary measures for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the new Rural Development Plan 2015-2020, it is proposed that under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme 2015, holdings of eligible applicants will be required to maintain a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock unitsfor a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: There are two species of dogfish of interest to commercial fishermen in Irish waters. In relation to Spurdog, the EU Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is set at zero and the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) has advised that the stock is depleted. Spurdog spawning biomass is currently at the lowest observed level, although stable in recent years. Spurdog is a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Equipment Scheme (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Dairy Equipment scheme is a priority scheme to be launched as part of the TAMS II Measure under the new Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. EU approval is awaited and the process is well underway, but it is not possible at this stage to fix definitive dates for the introduction of the scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Nursing (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: As I indicated in my reply to Question No 287 of 2 December, under the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, either a veterinary practitioner or a veterinary nurse may apply for and be granted a certificate of suitability in respect of a veterinary premises. Implementation of the process is vested in the Veterinary Council of Ireland. To enable the Council to effectively discharge its statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Single Farm Payment scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2014. Processing of this application was finalised with the balancing payment issuing to the nominated bank account of the person named on 16 December 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Expenditure (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The application for ex-gratiafunding submitted by seal Rescue Ireland has been approved and an amount of €6,500 was awarded to the organisation in December last. The organisation was informed of the allocation on 18thDecember 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 292 together. Swaps of quota with other Member States are discussed in advance with the Industry at the monthly Quota Management Advisory Committee (QMAC) meeting and also through e-mail with the QMAC. In almost all cases, the advice of the industry representatives are followed in respect of swops. The monthly whitefish meetings are organised in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The details requested by the Deputy are set as follows. The quota is allocated to the State in a Total Allowable Catch and Quota Council Regulation published in January each year. Year Quota (Tonnes) Swapped to Belgium (Tonnes) 2011 200 130 2012 197 130 2013 197 125 2014 202 150

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Regulations (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: There has been a long standing ban on the tail docking of cattle. The current legal basis for this ban is S.I. No. 225/2014 - Prohibition on Tail-docking (Bovines) (No. 2) Regulations 2014, which replaced regulations made under the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984. This SI prohibits the removal of the tail, or part of the tail of cattle. An exception is allowed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in August 2009 and received payments up to the end of 2013 for 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. This process has now been completed and the 75% 2014 payment...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The application was originally made in the name of another individual who passed away on the 09/06/11. The person named took over the contract wef 15/05/2012. Application was approved for participation in the AEOS 2 Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2011 and payment has issued for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 scheme years. A 75% payment for the 2014 scheme year also issued on the 12th...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named w as approved for participation in the 2012 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1stMay 2013. 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 System, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Eligibility (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 7thDecember 2012. The process of ranking and selecting all AEOS applicants was clearly set out in the scheme documentation. Acceptance into the scheme was established using pre-determined selection criteria, which included farm-size and which prioritised smaller holdings....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The application under the Afforestation Scheme by the person named was refused because it was outside the scope of the Scheme for the following reasons:   1. The land the subject of the application is incapable of producing a commercial crop (Yield Class14); 2. Highly exposed sites (2 small blocks close to the Atlantic Coast and west of Louisburgh Co. Mayo) and poor quality land. 3....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies Data (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has neither established nor abolished any agency, quango or other body, since March 2011. Of the forty six bodies listed as candidates for critical review by end June 2012 in the Government’s Public Service ReformPlan, published in November 2011 by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) three from this Department were reviewed for possible abolition or...