Results 25,861-25,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: I will arrange to have that done. With regard to the agri-environment schemes, budget 2015 provides for the introduction of GLAS - the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme. As older schemes run their course, the associated financial requirement continues to reduce. A total of €52 million will be paid to nearly 17,000 farmers under the rural environment protection scheme, REPS,...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: I propose to deal with the two Departments for which I have responsibility. I will deal first with the Department of Defence before moving to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The defence organisation which encompasses the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces has a proud track record of reform. This has been a critical factor in the maintenance of a broad range...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sugar Industry (15 Oct 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. I understand from figures published by the interested groups who are investigating the possibility of building a new facility, that the overall capital cost costs involved could range from €250million to €400million,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Dogs (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: Under the Control of Dogs Act 1986, as amended by the Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act 1992, local authorities are responsible for all matters relating to dog control and dog pounds. Subsequent to my reply to a Question from the Deputy in July 2014, I referred this matter to the relevant local authority who informed me that the practice of euthanizing dogs in the manner described would no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: Processing of the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application of the person named has recently been finalised, with payment due to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named. I can confirm that 50% advance payments under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme will commence on 16 October 2014 as is provided for in the relevant EU Regulations. The application of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: This concerns an application under AEOS III. There is no record of any payment due to the person named under the Rural Environment Protection Scheme. The person named commenced in AEOS III on 1 May 2013. However, on 26 July 2013 a request was received by my Department to amend his 2013 Single Payment Scheme application, which in turn underpins the AEOS payment. Unfortunately, no...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Cases (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: The issue referred to by the Deputy is still under consideration by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Irregularities (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: As stated in my reply given on 18 September, the ownership of each beef processing plant is a commercial matter for individuals or companies who wish to invest in the industry. Currently there are 32 beef slaughtering plants approved to export from Ireland to local, EU and third country markets and over 195 local authority approved plants that may export locally or to the EU. The details...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Procurement Contracts (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that the person named is currently listed on a panel of service providers for the collection and delivery of reactors and other animals from farms in the area concerned. Service providers are placed on this panel on the basis of an open public procurement competition which provided for the provision of the service in all regions of the country. Under the tender process, it was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Imports (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Agriculture records details of companies that request licences for the import of beef from outside the European Union. Meat products imported from outside the EU must come from plants approved under the European Union veterinary inspection regime and have equivalent standards as that within the EU. Meat products entering the EU from a third country are subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Remuneration (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: No performance related pay has been paid to staff in my Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 24 March 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 Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: Milk production in Ireland was 0.65% over quota in the 2013/2014 milk quota year and as a consequence a super levy fine of €10.0m was incurred. The due amount, having been collected from the milk producers who contributed to the oversupply, will be paid to the EU Commission, in accordance with the procedures set out in the EU Regulations, before end November 2014. All indications are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Regulations (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the administration of the Single Farm Payment and Disadvantaged Areas’ 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 person named in the 1 stcase submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: Processing of the application of the person named has recently been finalised, with payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 10 October 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Data (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: In the context of the current fiscal position, the necessity to have a civil service that operates efficiently and effectively is more important than ever and my Department has been very focused on reorganising our work practices with the objective of driving efficiencies and realising savings. Our staff numbers have reduced by over 1,600 between 2004 (4,800FTE) and the end of December 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department recognises the importance of prompt removal of persistently infected (PI) animals to prevent further spread of infection within and between herds and encourages herd-owners to remove PI animals immediately. To encourage the early disposal of PI calves infected with BVD, I recently announced a re-focusing of financial supports available to farmers who dispose of their calves in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: Animal Health Ireland (AHI) are currently exploring the introduction of an Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) eradication programme. This is in line with a number of European countries who have established programmes which allows them to seek guarantees in relation to the IBR status of animals imported into their territories. I welcome this initiative by AHI.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Scheme Eligibility (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: All GLAS applications received (Tier One, Tier Two and Tier Three) by the closing date in 2015 will be put through a series of eligibility checks and all eligible applications will then be scored and ranked in order of merit. I am providing for up to 30,000 farmers to join GLAS in 2015 and envisage that the bulk of these will be drawn from Tier One. The estimated potential pool of farmers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (15 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy may be aware my Department is currently examining land parcels declared under the Single Payment Scheme and other area-based Direct Payment Schemes. As part of this review ineligible areas were identified and removed from a number of parcels declared by the person named. The person named claimed 18.53ha on their 2013 Single Payment application, and the removal of the...