Results 26,461-26,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases Issues (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Earlier this year, African Swine Fever (ASF) was detected in wild boar in Lithuania and Poland, and since then the disease has spread to pigs in Lithuania, Poland, Latvia and Estonia. ASF has never occurred in Ireland. Arising from these outbreaks the European Commission brought forward a number of regulations with a view to contain the spread of ASF. My Department has advised pig...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Projects (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Rural Development Programme for the 2014-2020 period was submitted to the EU Commission for approval in July 2014. In the case of the pig sector, it is proposed to provide funding in the initial stages of TAMS II for investments in relation to energy, water meters and medicine dispensers. TAMS II will subsequently be expanded to provide grant-aid for investments in relation to farm...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 520 together. I would start by saying that Ireland is very supportive of an EU/US trade deal. An agreement between the world’s two major trading blocs has the potential to increase growth and grow jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. In the agri-food sector we have strong offensive interests, both in terms of market access and in eliminating...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The land declared by the person named was subject to the comprehensive review of all land parcel data maintained on my Department’s Land Parcel Identification System. The review , which took place in 2012, revealed that two of the land parcels declared by the person named had been over-claimed, involving an a total over-claim of 1.92 hectares, which represented in excess of 20% of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Meetings (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: On 30thJanuary I met with representatives of the company referred to by the Deputy. The meeting was chaired by an Taoiseach.Officials from the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department were also in attendance. The meeting was held at the request of the company to discuss licensing and industry development issues associated with the company’s operations in Ireland. As is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Funding (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: EU Regulations governing the Scottish Derogation measure of the new Basic Payment scheme provide for an allocation of payment entitlements in 2015 to persons who never held entitlements, either owned or leased, under the Single Payment Scheme. Such farmers must provide verifiable evidence that they produced , reared or grew an agricultural product in the beef, dairying, sheep or arable...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Direct Payment Scheme Eligibility (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The persons named did not receive a direct payment in 2013 and consequently do not hold an automatic right to receive an allocation of entitlements under the new Basic Payment Scheme in 2015. EU Regulations governing the new schemes which will be introduced in 2015 provides for an allocation of entitlements to ‘new entrants’ and ‘young farmers’. If the son of the...

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

Simon Coveney: The Rural Development Programme for the 2014-2020 period was submitted to the EU Commission for approval in July 2014. I have already identified the area of investment in relation to energy, water meters and medicine dispensers in existing pig units as a priority area under TAMS II. The dates of introduction of any new investment schemes will be dependent on a number of factors, including...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Recruitment (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The total number of new hires, broken down by grade, for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine between March 2011 and August 2014 is outlined in the following table. Description Staff Number Administrative Officer 3 Asst Agricultural Inspector 12 Civilian Driver 6 Clerical Officer 7 Craftsman 3 Harbour Master 3 Industrial Foreman 1 Laboratory Analyst 7 Executive...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Staff Increment Payments (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Staff Career Breaks (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The information sought by the Deputy in respect of civil servants in my Department is as follows. An officer wishing to resume duty following a career break will be assigned to the next appropriate vacancy to be filled following the expiry of the career break, with a guarantee of re-employment in a relevant grade, not necessarily in his/her existing Department, within twelve months of expiry...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The UN reimburses some personnel and Contingent Owned Equipment costs in respect of contributions of personnel to UN led operations. Rates of reimbursement, fixed in accordance with UN categories of equipment and personnel, are agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the UN for each mission. The only missions, for which Ireland is currently entitled to reimbursement of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The military advise that this person was discharged from the Defence Forces on the 22nd of June 1989 at his own request after 12 years service. The discharge documents (LA89) were issued to him at this time. The LA 89 is an original document and cannot be replaced. However, the military authorities have agreed to issue a Certificate of Service and a copy of the testimonial that was contained...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Army Reserve (previously known as An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil) and the Naval Service Reserve are the component parts of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). It is essentially a part-time force in which service is given on an entirely voluntary basis. Service in the RDF is therefore fundamentally different in nature from service and employment in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF),...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Arms Trade (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The primary purpose for the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to enhance the capability of the Irish Defence Forces on overseas Peace Support Operations and to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops whilst on such missions. A number of Israeli companies have won orders for defensive equipment over the last decade as a result of tender...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Intelligence Sharing (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces has not had any involvement with the organization referred to and has no plans to do so. Furthermore, my Department and the Defence Forces do not have any information in relation to instances of illegal surveillance or where information held about Irish citizens or other nationalities has been illegally intercepted or accessed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces are committed to the principles of equal opportunity in all employment policies, procedures and regulations. The Defence Forces operate in an environment which is free from discrimination as provided for by the Equality Acts. However, the Defence Forces have a derogation from the provisions of the Employment Equality Acts, 1998 to 2011 in respect of criteria of disability...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Data (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 531 and 532 together. As the Deputy will be aware, there is a moratorium in place on recruitment across the civil and public service since 2009. Against this backdrop my Department continues to source staff to fill vacancies arising from retirements and transfers through a combination of redeployment, the lateral transfer of staff from other Government...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Contracts (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The unsatisfactory age and fitness profile of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) was an issue of serious concern during the 1990’s and was the subject of severe criticism by a series of external reports, mainly Price Waterhouse Consultants and the Efficiency Audit Group (EAG). One of the key areas identified for urgent action by the EAG was the development of a manpower policy with an...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: NATO Membership (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: As Ireland is not a member of NATO, the question of attendance at the NATO Summit did not arise. In accordance with usual practice, an invitation was extended to the Taoiseach to attend a meeting which took place on 4 September between NATO Heads of State and Government and non-NATO countries that contribute to the UN mandated and NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)...