Results 24,901-24,920 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: In July of 2013 I initiated a process of consultation with all farming organisations and other relevant stakeholders to ascertain their views on the most appropriate application of the Direct Payment Regulation in light of Ireland’s unique agricultural profile and circumstances. The results of this consultation process were taken into account when formulating the final shape of direct...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: My role in relation to the beef sector is to create a policy and support environment that will allow it to flourish in line with normal market principles. As the Deputy will appreciate, questions of price are ultimately matters to be determined between the purchasers and the sellers of cattle. Cattle prices are determined by supply / demand dynamics which are in turn influenced by the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Whilst traditional markets such as the UK and the EU will naturally remain critically important for Irish dairy sector exports, it is abundantly clear that significant market opportunities also exist for the sector in new markets outside the EU in the medium to long term horizon. An examination of the export statistics in the sector gives a real sense of the emerging opportunities in new and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Advisory System (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the Direct Payment Schemes requires 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 addition, in order to be approved as a GLAS Advisor, an advisor must also be an approved FAS advisor....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Scheme Eligibility (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Firstly I would like to point out that my priority is to put in place requirements for commonages that will deliver real and measureable environmental benefits and will fit within the framework of the Rural Development Regulations, which require that farmers are only paid for actions which exceed the baseline for the Basic Payment Scheme. At recent meetings with the Commission it was made...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from the 1 stSeptember 2010 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2010, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: In July of 2013 I initiated a process of consultation with all farming organisations and other relevant stakeholders to ascertain their views on the most appropriate application of the Direct Payment Regulation in light of Ireland’s unique agricultural profile and circumstances. The results of this consultation process were taken into account when formulating the final shape of direct...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The full list of the recommendation in the CEDRA report are set out it following attached link:An examination of these recommendations will illustrate that, in the majority of instances, additional resources are not required to implement CEDRA proposals. Instead the major and consistent message of the report is that a more focused and integrated delivery of the existing services is required...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Organic Farming Scheme Applications (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department has given careful consideration to the proposal made by the above-named body to increase the payment rate for the first ten hectares under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS). I am advised that the proposals are not cost neutral. My Department already proposes increased rates of payment under the new OFS, including a significantly increased maintenance rate which will be payable...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Island Communities (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The details provided with the Parliamentary Question include reference to a number of schemes and supports delivered by my Department via the Rural Development Programme. The new Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving a more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Plan (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s draft Rural Development Programme (RDP), 2014-2020 was submitted to the European Commission on 3rdJuly, 2014. The draft RDP has been available on my Department’s website since that time. The formal observations of the EU Commission were received on 20thOctober, and a reply issued from my Department on 11thNovember. In relation to the observations received from the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Scheme Eligibility (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Firstly I would like to point out that my priority is to put in place requirements for commonages that will deliver real and measurable environmental benefits and will fit within the framework of the Rural Development Regulations, which require that farmers are only paid for actions which exceed the baseline for the Basic Payment Scheme. At recent meetings with the Commission it was made...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sugar Industry (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: By way of explanation I would like to give the Deputy a short note on the background to this issue. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: While rabies is still very widespread in the world with two-thirds of all countries affected, there are thankfully very few cases of rabies in humans reported in the EU, and most EU Member States including Ireland, have not had any indigenous cases for decades. Cases of rabies in wildlife have reduced considerably with the help of EU co-funded control and eradication programmes and western...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (17 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: International Agreements (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: As I am sure that the Deputy is aware, the Istanbul Convention refers to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence. My colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality announced, on 25th November 2014, her intention to publish draft heads of a consolidated and reformed Domestic Violence Bill in the New Year to address all...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (17 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. Up to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (17 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. At the request of An Garda Síochána, to-date in 2014 the Defence Forces have carried out 1,299 armed escorts for certain cash movements...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: I chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, which includes senior officials of Government Departments, senior officers of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces and officials of other key public authorities, which have a lead or support role in Government emergency planning. The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning meets on a regular basis. The next meeting...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (17 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The tables below set out the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 October, 2014, the latest date for which figures are available, across all three services and ranks, broken down by gender. The figures provided are for whole time equivalent posts. Army Rank Male Female Total Lieutenant General 1 0 1 Major General 2 0 2 Brigadier General 6 0 6 Colonel 32 0...