Results 26,061-26,080 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Report on Review of Commonage Land and Framework Management Plan: Motion (3 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: We talked to the other participants. This is about trying to get a practical solution.

Report on Review of Commonage Land and Framework Management Plan: Motion (3 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: We cannot push ahead with something that the Commission will not accept. That is the reality.

Report on Review of Commonage Land and Framework Management Plan: Motion (3 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: The overall gain is €38 million or an increase of 66% in their current payment.

Report on Review of Commonage Land and Framework Management Plan: Motion (3 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: The average increase per applicant is €3,141. Unfortunately, it is not convenient for Deputy Ó Cuív to accept these figures.

Report on Review of Commonage Land and Framework Management Plan: Motion (3 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Ó Cuív will have his opportunity to speak. Under the new CAP, a farmer with 42 ha of commonage can benefit by over €14,600 per annum if he or she participates under the single farm payment, ANC and GLAS schemes, and €16,600 if he or she benefits from GLAS plus. Such an applicant could satisfy the requirement of all schemes by grazing approximately 40 sheep....

Report on Review of Commonage Land and Framework Management Plan: Motion (3 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: If the House is agreeable, because the Chairman of the committee has been delayed on his way here, I would like to respond to the motion now. I expect the Chairman will be present by the time I have concluded.

Report on Review of Commonage Land and Framework Management Plan: Motion (3 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: I thank the committee for doing a great deal of work on this issue. It is unfortunate that there are no Opposition spokespersons or Members present, although I see that one Independent Deputy has just entered the Chamber. It would be helpful if Opposition spokespersons who have asked questions in respect of commonage areas and who have sought to understand the Government's approach to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that one of the land parcels in question contained ineligible features. Following the review of my Department’s decision, sought by the person named, a visit by a Department official to verify the position on the ground is necessary. The person named will be informed of the outcome...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Appeals (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Agriculture Appeals Office is in receipt of an appeal in respect of the above-named person. As part of the appeal process the person named requested an oral hearing which was held on 17 September 2014. The appellant will be notified, in writing, of the decision in this case in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Appointments to State Boards (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: Since May 2011, a notification has been placed on my Department’s website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department.  This notification is updated periodically with a list of board vacancies. Also I have placed advertisements in the national newspapers inviting expressions of interest....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: Payments under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme began issuing, on target, on 24 September; as processing of the application of the person named has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is understood that the person named has yet to submit an application under the Afforestation Scheme. The reference quoted may refer to a Land Registry application. Where there are constraints on ownership, such as turbary rights, the Department cannot give approval to plant until such time as documentary evidence is submitted showing that all such rights have been extinguished. Once these...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: Payment in respect of the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 20 December 2013. Payments under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme began issuing, on target, on 24 September. Payment has not yet issued to the person named as, at this stage, the holding of the person named has not yet satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Appointments to State Boards (2 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: The State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Defence when the Government took office were the Civil Defence Board, the Board of Coiste an Asgard and the Army Pensions Board. The Civil Defence Board was identified in the Public Service Reform Plan as a body to be abolished. The then Minister for Defence appointed a 14 person interim Board as a temporary measure in 2011 and in this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (1 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department received an application to transfer 2.26 entitlements to the person named from another herd owner by way of sale on 24 April 2013. The application was rejected as the herd owner transferring the entitlements did not hold sufficient entitlements to proceed with the transfer. In this case , the entitlements were leased out to another herd owner. A letter was issued to both...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (1 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: A review of the land parcels declared by the person named revealed that some ineligible areas had been declared – farm roadway, farm building – which reduced the eligible area for Scheme payment purposes by 0.19 hectares, resulting in an overpayment of €19.02, which was recouped from the DAS payment which issued on 23 September; the full payment due was €3,349.03,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Costs (1 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: The legal costs associated with legal proceedings initiated by my Department as a result of the investigations carried out by the Unit are, in general, borne by the CSSO and are a matter for that body. However, since 2004, my Department has paid €126,057 in respect of legal proceedings arising from investigations by the Special Investigation Unit. Such costs have to be seen in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Costs (1 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: Within my Department, functions relating to investigations and the bringing of cases to court are carried out in conjunction with other work and it is not possible to quantify the cost of individual investigations. No legal costs have been incurred by my Department to-date in respect of this case. Such costs are generally borne by the Chief State Solicitors Office and are a matter for that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Legal Cases (1 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the case referred to by the Deputy, the Fannin case arose from an investigation that took place in 2009 and came before the Courts in 2013. The charges related to the alleged interference with the TB test. The investigation in this case was a joint investigation between my Department and the Gardai. Following the investigation, a file was submitted to the DPP who directed that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Budgets (1 Oct 2014)

Simon Coveney: The total allocated budget for my Department in the years 2011-2013 is set out in Table 1 below. Budgets are not formally allocated to periods within calendar years, rather the annual allocation is profiled on a monthly basis for internal financial management purposes. Accordingly the allocation for full year 2014 and the profile for 2014 to end September are also included in the Table 1....