Results 26,201-26,220 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Other Questions: Commonage Framework Plans (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: On the first question, I suspect that a GLAS commonage plan would be required to include management of scrub, some limitations on burning, maintaining land in reasonable agricultural condition and so forth. These are the kinds of things that ensure that a commonage is protected in terms of its biodiversity and natural condition.

Other Questions: Commonage Framework Plans (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I will leave that to the planners. I do not want to exactly prescribe a GLAS commonage plan but these are the kinds of things that could be included. In order for farmers to draw down their payment of up to €5,000 under the terms of GLAS - based on €120 per hectare - or more than €5,000 under the GLAS plus scheme, at least half of the active farmers on that commonage...

Other Questions: Commonage Framework Plans (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I understand the question.

Other Questions: Commonage Framework Plans (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am well aware that commonage farming does not operate in such a way that everybody contributes the exact same level of stocking rate. That would be a nonsense. There are some very active farmers in commonage areas and some less active farmers. However, in order for farmers to qualify for a single farm payment, they will have to have some stock in the commonage area for which they are...

Other Questions: Commonage Framework Plans (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I hope the public meetings will involve workshop-type sessions, rather than a group of people lecturing from the stage. The idea underpinning the commonage areas implementation group is that a group of experienced people, who are farmer-friendly, speak a language everybody understands and have an appreciation of commonage farming, will sit down and work out with farmers what they need to do...

Other Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Absolutely.

Other Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: It was positive. I had a two hour meeting with Tesco when we discussed a series of issues, mainly around beef. This was one of the key requests. Until a few weeks ago, the trade for live beef animals was significantly down. Ironically, live cattle exports to Northern Ireland are significantly up this year. The kind of animals we are looking for in the beef trade has been down somewhat....

Other Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: That is if they get the information. They are not supposed to.

Other Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: None of that should happen because factories do not have access to the database. If they get access to it they are doing so in ways that they should not, whether from a vet in the factory, or whatever. Factories should not have access to a database that gives them information about the numbers of animals that farmers in their region have to sell, and so on. We have put systems in place to...

Other Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Ireland's trade with Britain accounts for 53% of our beef export volumes, worth €1.1 billion per year, at approximately 250,000 tonnes in 2013. It is equivalent to approximately 750,000 cattle, so there is much trade between Ireland and Britain. The British retailers’ long-standing policy is to market British and Irish beef separately so as to avoid any perceived confusion for...

Other Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Unfortunately, it is not as simple as that, although I wish it were. I cannot agree a label for a product in Northern Ireland. It is outside my jurisdiction. The Irish Food Safety Authority has no jurisdiction there. Following conversations with the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Northern Ireland Assembly, Michelle O'Neill, I have made clear to her in writing that I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The idea that we can just ignore this because farmers think they are being unfairly treated is simply not going to work. Other countries have been fined huge sums of money, amounting to more than €1 billion in a number of cases, because of this issue. We are trying to address the issue with as much accuracy as we can in order that farmers who have over-claimed, either by accident or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I assure the Deputy we are trying to accommodate farmers as best we can. I have spent many hours speaking to my officials, farming organisations and farmers to figure out how we can do this in a way that satisfies the Commission in terms of returning public moneys that should never have been drawn down in the first place, while also managing any penalties that may be imposed in a way that is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: For what its worth, I appreciate the Deputy's help on this because we need to be realistic with farmers in terms of what is possible. I am trying to deliver GLAS as quickly as I can but there will be teething problems opening a scheme which accepts 25,000 to 30,000 in the first tranche. There will be problems and issues which will need clarification. Some farmers will get paid early,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Yes, it would be that kind of figure. I do not want to commit to hard and fast figures because that would be wrong but given the indications we are getting, I suspect it will not be a million miles away from that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware of the value of the EU-funded direct payment schemes to Ireland. Each year, farmers in Ireland benefit from funding of more than €1.5 billion under schemes such as the single farm payment scheme, the disadvantaged areas scheme, agri-environment schemes and so on. This comprises the entire net income of many thousands of Irish farmers. The European...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have not yet received the EU's observations on the rural development plan. Our applications were required to be submitted by 22 July and we managed to get them in by 3 July or thereabouts. They are being considered by the Commission at present and we are due to receive from it a formal observation on the draft RDP on 3 October. Thereafter, depending on the Commission's concerns, comments...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I will have to clarify it, but that is my understanding of how it will work.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is important to note that we cannot legally pay a farmer for a time period in which he or she is not in the scheme. The answer to the Deputy's first question is "Yes"; I am confident we can get this done by the end of the year. In fact, I hope we can get it done before the end of November, so that we can open up the GLAS in December and farmers will have the four to five-month period...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Beef Industry (23 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is important to bring clarity to this discussion because we have done everything we can to facilitate a new compromise label approach if someone wishes to pursue that course of action. However, that label must come from a processor in Northern Ireland and I cannot force that action. I have made it clear to the Minister, Ms Michelle O'Neill, that we have no problem with that to try to...