Results 26,721-26,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Administration (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: Work on the development of the GLAS Scheme is well advanced and detailed proposals will be submitted to the European Commission in the near future for consideration and approval. The new Scheme adopts a tiered approach to applications, giving priority access to certain actions which address specific environmental issues. These priorities are targeted towards actions which mitigate climate...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Administration (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: GLAS is a voluntary Scheme and one of the requirements is that applications be prepared by approved planners. The choice of approved planner is a matter for individual farmers, or in the case of commonages is a matter to be decided by the active shareholders. Over the minimum five year contract period a farmer can achieve €25,000 in payment and it is not unreasonable to expect the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Framework Plans (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The preparation of a GLAS plan by one planner will ensure a consistent standard of intervention is delivered across the entire area of the commonage. GLAS is a voluntary agri-environmental scheme. Discussion amongst potential applicants, including the choice of approved planner, will be a matter for the active shareholders to consider in the context of their collective approach to commonage...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (24 Jun 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 declared by the person named contained ineligible features. Following an appeal from the person named, a visit by a Department official to verify the position was necessary to progress the matter. The person named was recently advised of the outcome of this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Russian authorities undertook an inspection audit from 10-21 May 2014 of Irish beef plants exporting or intending to export product to Russia. This was part of a wider audit including dairy and seafood plants as well as private and State laboratories. The inspection was carried out by the Government Agency Rosselkhoznadzor and is a regular feature for EU member states who export food to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: On-farm Investment Schemes (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department published a consultation paper on the new Rural Development Programme in January 2014. In the case of TAMS II, the consultation paper set out a number of priorities for on-farm investment schemes under the new Programme. These included, in the pigmeat sector, the upgrading of facilities in the areas of renewable energy, water and medicines. I intend to include further details...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department is bound, under EU Regulations, to maintain the accuracy the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) which underpins the direct payments. At the start of each year, my Department issues colour maps of all land parcels declared by farmers in the previous year together with a covering letter. In that letter, farmers are clearly informed of the need to carefully examine each map...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (24 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: In the Food Harvest 2020 Strategy the target for the pig sector is to increase output value by 50% over the baseline period 2007-09. The attainment of this target is underpinned by a number of policies and initiatives; notable amongst these was the establishment of the Teagasc/IFA pig Joint Programme in May 2013. Funded by a levy on each pig slaughtered and/or exported, this has enabled...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The current Afforestation Scheme provides a range of grants that cover the full cost of establishment of the plantation and payment of annual premiums to both incentivise planting and to compensate for the loss of agricultural activity on the land that is planted. The Afforestation Scheme is a voluntary scheme and is one of a number of land-use options open to landowners. A number of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Inland Fisheries (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: On 14 May I launched a package of measures aimed at supporting and developing Ireland’s inshore fisheries. As part of the package of measures, I announced the introduction a maximum landing size for lobster of 127mm due to the importance of very large lobsters to the reproductive potential of the stock. The decision to introduce this new conservation measure followed on from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheepmeat Sector (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The industry wide strategy for developing the sheep industry in Ireland was set out in the Food Harvest 2020 document which envisages a 20% increase in value terms of the sector by 2020. My approach to building on the significant achievements of the strategy up until now is to drive the development of the industry at home and increase Ireland`s market share of the world market. This will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The EU Regulation establishing the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund was published on 20 May 2014. Following months of intense lobbying and negotiation, I announced on 12 June 2014 that I had secured €148 million from the new Fund for the period 2014 to 2020 for the development of the Irish seafood industry and the coastal communities that depend upon it. This funding is more than...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The 2008 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) formed part of the EU Climate and Energy Package in 2008 for the post-Kyoto period 2013-2020. Under the Effort Sharing Decision, Ireland’s target is to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions by 20% compared to 2005 emission levels by 2020. The ESD does not set individual sectoral targets. My Department along with the Department of Environment,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: I announced details of some of the measures under consideration in the in the new Rural Development programme (RDP) on 13thMay last. I expect to be in a position to submit the draft RDP to the European Commission for evaluation and approval shortly. The proposed Beef Data and Genomics Programme is, subject to Commission approval, intended to deliver an accelerated improvement in the quality...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Management (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The draft Forestry Programme for 2014-2020 does include a measure for agro forestry. Agro-forestry under EU rules means land use systems in which trees are grown in combination with agriculture on the same land. The measure will be targeted at silvopastoral agro-forestry systems which combine forestry and pasture. Key objectives of the scheme will be to: - produce high quality hardwood timber...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Assist Scheme Eligibility (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Farm Assist scheme is the responsibility of the Minister for Social Protection. The changes to the Farm Assist scheme were made in order to bring the scheme into closer alignment with the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed persons, and were part of the overall package of measures agreed by the Government in Budget 2013. There were 10,300 recipients...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Local Enterprise Offices Remit (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy is aware the development, operation and funding of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) throughout the country is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. These newly established offices are charged with promoting entrepreneurship and micro-enterprise development. They have been specifically developed to provide the first-stop-shop for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: Horticulture is a hugely important sector to Ireland and my Department has worked tirelessly on increasing the output and value of this sector. In fact, in 2013, Ireland’s horticultural industry, excluding potatoes, had a farm-gate output value of €314m. This represented a 6% increase on the value of output for the sector in 2012. Mushrooms represent over one third of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Employment Data (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) shows that there was an annual increase in employment of 2.3% or 42,700 in the year to the first quarter of 2014, bringing total employment to 1,888,200. Employment increased in nine of the fourteen economic sectors over the year and fell in five. The increase recorded in Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing was 14.3% or 14,300,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department owns, manages and maintains the six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Dingle, Rossaveel and Killybegs. Properties located in the Fishery Harbour Centres are, when appropriate, offered for tenancy under lease agreement by means of an open competitive tendering process in accordance with good practice and public procurement guidelines. In...