Results 24,861-24,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Development (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has responsibility for the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Ros an Mhíl and Killybegs. The Centres are first and foremost working fishery harbours and their primary objective is to provide for the needs of fishermen and the fishing industry generally. Each Centre has unique features...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Development (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Beef Price volatility in the beef sector has perhaps never been more evident as it has been over the last three years. 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, but declined to €3.51 in September of 2014 before recovering to the current prices of €3.77. In looking at these...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Development (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Beef As the Deputy will appreciate, questions of price are ultimately matters to be determined between the purchasers and the sellers of cattle. It is neither appropriate nor possible for me or any other Minister for Agriculture in the EU, to intervene directly on these issues. Indeed, the new Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has emphasised this point again in recent weeks...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Development (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Beef My Department engages on a daily basis with many countries, in collaboration with Bord Bia and Irish embassies’ personnel on market access issues. These initiatives have led to a number of notable successes over the past four years in securing agreement to import from authorities in Japan, Singapore, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Namibia, The Philippines and New Caledonia. Following a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sugar Industry (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: In 2011 I met with two separate groups which had conducted feasibility studies into the possibility of establishing a new sugar/bioethanol facility in the country. The figures published by the interested groups who are investigating the possibility of building a new facility, indicated that the overall capital costs involved could range from €250million to €400million,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department is in the process of implementing the Schemes that form part of the reformed CAP regime following the agreement reached during the Irish Presidency in June 2013. The Schemes include the Basic Payment Scheme, Greening Payment, the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, GLAS and many other measures, which will be implemented with effect from 1 January 2015. I can confirm that all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), under the aegis the Minister for Health, has overall responsibility for the enforcement of food safety and labelling requirements in Ireland. It carries out this remit through service contracts with my Department and other agencies including the Health Service Executive (HSE), Local Authority Veterinary Service and the Sea Fisheries Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Designations under the Habitats (and Birds) Directives are the responsibility of my colleague, Minister Humphreys, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Such designations are put in place by the Minister to fulfil the necessary legal obligations to protect these important areas for biodiversity as required by EU legislation. From an agri-food sector viewpoint, it is critical...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am satisfied that farm families in Ireland will benefit from the reformed CAP. Data from Teagasc’s National Farm Survey shows that direct payments accounted for 77% of family farm income on average in 2013, and are even more significant as a source of income for drystock farms, particularly those in disadvantaged areas. The environmental focus of supports under CAP reform, with a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Equine Industry Issues (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department currently approves 7 organisations to maintain 11 studbooks for registered equidae in the non-thoroughbred sector which covers the following breeds: Irish Sport Horse, Irish Draught Horse, Irish Sport Pony and Irish Cobs maintained by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI); Connemara pony maintained by the Connemara Pony Breeders Society; Irish Piebald and Skewbald and Irish Donkey...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The seafood sector provides employment for approximately 11,000 people around the coast of Ireland. This comprises in the region of 4,980 full and part time fishermen, 1,760 fish farmers, 2,860 in seafood processing and 1,400 in a range of ancillary activity. Food Harvest 2020 has recognised the potential of the seafood sector to increase employment by 3,000 to 14,000 by 2020 , while Bord...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The reformed CFP which was finalised last year under the Irish presidency will result in real meaningful reform to how EU waters are fished in the future. The agreement is designed to ensure the long term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters, utilising best scientific advice as a key determinant in setting annual fishing quotas in the future. It will provide the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The reply is as follows: Baseline 2007/2009 €m Target 2020 €m Target % 2020 Latest 2013 €m Latest 2013 Primary Total (2013) 4,596 6,275 +33% 6,166 +34% Exports Total (2013) 8,298 12,000 +40% 10,204 +23% GVA Total (2012) 6,053 8,568 +40% 7,450 +23% Food Harvest 2020, published in 2010, set out a strategy for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry Development (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The CSO’s recently published Quarterly National Household Survey (Quarter 3 2014) showed that employment in the agri-food sector overall, and in its component parts, has 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Discards (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The new CFP, which was negotiated to completion under the Irish presidency, will ensure real meaningful reform to how EU waters are fished in the future. The agreement is designed to ensure the long term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters, utilising best scientific advice as a key determinant in setting annual fishing quotas in the future. A key element of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The position is that it is a matter for the Military Authorities to select candidates based on specific criteria and in accordance with Defence Force Regulations for positions in the Defence Forces. In relation to this particular case, the Military Authorities have advised that the individual referred to did not satisfy the requirements for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force. I...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Reports (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: As I previously informed the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 535 on 15 July 2014, the Department of Defence and Defence Forces Annual Report 2013 was published on 4 July 2014. The Report was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the same date. The Report is available for viewing on the Department of Defence website at www.defence.ie .

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP), assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Teams respond when a request is made by An Garda Síochána for assistance. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 to 255, inclusive, together. Explosive Ordnance Disposal is the military term used to refer to what is commonly called ‘bomb disposal’. Explosive Ordnance Disposal is a task assigned to the Defence Forces by Government and is provided in Aid to the Civil Power. Within the Defence Forces the Explosive Ordnance Disposal function is assigned...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Contracts (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: As I have outlined previously to the House, a claim has been received from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) in relation to this matter and it is being dealt with under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. Discussions have been taking place with the Representative Association, with regards to their...