Results 25,361-25,380 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbour Fees (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: While Ros An Mhíl Fishery Harbour Centre is first and foremost a working fishery harbour there are commercial and other users of the harbour including passenger vessel operators. The Fishery Harbour Centres (Rates & Charges) Order, 2012 (S.I. 214 of 2012) came into effect on 1 July 2012 and sets out the fee schedule for the use of the facilities at each of the six Fishery...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application on 3 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-2013 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 is nearing completion and arrangements are well advanced to issue payments in respect of 2014. I expect that these payments will commence shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Farmers Charter Review Group is chaired by an Assistant Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and comprised of senior Department officials and representatives of the main farmer representative organisations. The aim of the Review Group is to agree standards and delivery targets for the schemes and services including on-farm inspections, provided by the...

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

Simon Coveney: Kilcummin Pier is in the ownership of Mayo County Council and responsibility for its development, repair and maintenance rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. On 20 March this year, as part of the Governments overall co-ordinated response to the damage caused by the winter storms, I approved funding of €63,000 in respect of storm damage at Kilcummin Pier. To date my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named did not receive a direct payment in 2013 under the Single Payment Scheme, Grassland Sheep Scheme, Burren Farming for Conservation Programme or the Beef Data Programme and therefore does not have an automatic allocation right to receive an allocation of entitlements under the new Basic Payment Scheme which takes effect in 2015. Based on the date on which the person named...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Single Payment /Disadvantaged Areas scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2014. Processing of this application has recently been finalised and payment under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme will issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person shortly. The 50% advance payment under the Single Farm Payment was issued to the applicant on 16...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named first made an application under the Scheme in 2008 under reference CN48539. This application was refused on appeal because of its location, the potential negative impact of a development on the landscape, and the elevated and exposed nature of the site. The person named submitted a further application in 2010 (CN53154) and again he was notified that the application could...

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

Simon Coveney: The measures I announced as part of Budget 2015 send a clear signal of the importance I attach to the agri-food sector and its contribution to the economy as a whole. Next year, the budget allocation for Bord Bia, which has a central role to play in improving the profitability of the beef sector across the range of its activities, will increase to almost €30 million. The Government...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in February 2009 and received payments for the first five years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-2013 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 is nearing completion. Arrangements are well...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the administration of the Single Farm Payment, Disadvantaged Areas’ Schemes, and other area based schemes, require that full and comprehensive administrative eligibility checks, including in some cases either Ground or Remote Sensing (satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. Eligibility checks are required to ensure that the actual area...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 14 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Rehiring (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Organisation includes civil servants, military personnel and civilian employees attached to military installations. In the period since March 2011, my Department has engaged 2 retired public servants as civilian drivers to the Minister of State, Mr. Paul Kehoe T.D. These appointments are to temporary unestablished positions in the Civil Service on a fixed term contract basis. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (18 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The former barracks in Mullingar is currently used by Westmeath GAA Board under a short term licence. The former barracks is also currently used by An Garda Síochána and the Customs Service for training purposes and it is intended that these arrangements will remain in place. A number of other organisations and individuals have also made enquiries and suggestions in the recent past...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure I agree with the Deputy's assessment. Ireland has participated in the NATO–led UN mandated International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, in Afghanistan since 5 July 2002. Seven members of the Permanent Defence Force are currently serving in the mission headquarters. The ISAF mission is due to conclude on 31 December 2014 when Afghani National Security Forces will take...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am not saying the war in Afghanistan was a success.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am saying that I do not agree with the Deputy’s full assessment of it. There have been and continue to be huge challenges in Afghanistan. Ireland’s view has always been that we would make a limited contribution to sharing an expertise that we have from a training perspective. Our people are in headquarters there, and are not involved on the front line. It is not akin to...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy seems to suggest that Ireland should have nothing to do with Afghanistan and abandon the new government which faces challenges. I am saying that we are considering requests for assistance, given all the complexity of Afghanistan and the nation-building programme that needs to proceed there now.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: Yes because the nation has been destroyed.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I listened to the Deputy’s statements, by and large, and am trying to respond to them. I will bring a recommendation to Government for approval and we will be totally open about it. That decision has not yet been finalised but it will need to happen shortly if we are to make even a limited contribution on the follow-on mission to ISAF. We are considering that in some detail at the...