Results 26,741-26,760 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020 (RDP) will be co-funded from the National Exchequer and the EU’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The agreement reached on the Multiannual Financial Framework provides for a total allocation of EU funding of €2.19 billion (€313m per annum over 7 years) to Ireland for a new RDP. A sum of €2.037...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grassland Sheep Scheme Payments (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The current Grassland Sheep Scheme is based on Article 68 of EU Regulation 73/2009 which governs direct payments in the form of the Single Payment Scheme. As of 1 January 2015 that Regulation is superseded by EU Regulation 1307/2013 and consequently there is no longer any legal basis for the continuation of the Grassland Sheep Scheme in its present form. In developing the shape of the new...

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

Simon Coveney: While there is no option to apply an amnesty in the case of those adversely affected by the ongoing land eligibility review, I can reassure the Deputy that every effort is being made to protect the interests of all Irish farmers during the process, including the interest of the majority of farmers, who were fully compliant in the declarations they made on an annual basis under the Schemes. ...

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

Simon Coveney: GLAS (the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) is part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme (RDP). Prior to any roll-out of the scheme the RDP must be submitted to the European Commission for approval and I expect to be in a position to do this shortly. The European Union approval procedure will involve a detailed analysis of our proposals and will...

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

Simon Coveney: Hare coursing is a matter for my colleague the Minster for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht who has responsibility under national and EU wildlife law to ensure the conservation of the populations of certain species, including the hare. However, my Department is represented on a Monitoring Committee on Coursing, which was established in 1993/94, to monitor developments in coursing. This...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department is acutely aware of the need to identify cost effective abatement options that can reduce carbon emissions while at the same time improving farm profitability. We are currently developing a low carbon agriculture sectoral roadmap under the Heads of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2014 and this roadmap will take into account the targets in the...

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

Simon Coveney: There is an ongoing review at EU level of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS) – this Scheme, to be known as Areas of Natural Constraint, is to be delineated by Member States using soil and climatic criteria, as proposed by the Commission, as follows: - Climate, including Low Temperature and Heat Stress; - Soil, including Drainage, Texture & Stoniness, Rooting Depth and...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry out an annual round of inspections covering both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure adherence with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of public, animal and plant...

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

Simon Coveney: Considerable resources are being devoted to enforcing the new Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 which brings together and modernises many existing laws in the area of animal health and welfare. My Department’s network of regional offices throughout the country, together with the Animal Welfare helpline, are valuable resources and provide a reporting mechanism for any person concerned...

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

Simon Coveney: The new Direct Payments Regulation that will come into force in 2015 provides for a Young Farmers Scheme to assist young farmers in the initial stages of establishing a farming enterprise. Qualifying “Young Farmers” will be eligible to apply to the National Reserve for an allocation of new entitlements or a top up on the value of existing entitlements and also to participate in...

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

Simon Coveney: I announced details of the new GLAS (Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) on the 14 of January 2014 as part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme. GLAS will provide significant funding to farmers who undertake environmental actions in line with national and EU environmental objectives. It will contribute to the overall public good and will build on...

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

Simon Coveney: The fresh milk market is the largest consumer market for milk and milk products in the State with an estimated retail value of €513m in 2013. National consumption of fresh liquid milk in 2013 was 552 million litres. Average per capita consumption in the State of 0.34 litres per day was the second highest in the EU. The National Milk Agency, which operates under the aegis of my...

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

Simon Coveney: The table below shows family farm income estimates from Teagasc’s National Farm Survey for the last three years, by system of farming. Family Farm Income by system of farming, 2011 to 2013 Family farm income by system of farming € Dairying Cattle Rearing Cattle Other Sheep Tillage All farms 2011 67,847 12,827 19,183 19,050 37,092 30,095 2012 49,290 12,186 17,896...

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

Simon Coveney: As a small open economy dependent on trade, Ireland favours ambitious and balanced trade agreements. We have a number of offensive interests in the current negotiations that are taking place with Japan, India, Vietnam, Thailand and of course the United States. Like others we have defensive interests as well. The current negotiations with MERCOSUR come to mind in that regard. The recent...

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

Simon Coveney: When formulating the shape of Direct Payments in Ireland, I based my decisions on some key fundamental principles. In particular, it is my clear objective that any disruption to our current levels of production arising from the Reform should be minimised. There was a distinct danger for Ireland that the Commission proposal to move to a ‘flat-rate’ would redistribute funds away...

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

Simon Coveney: Under EU law there can be no discrimination on the grounds of nationality. In practice, almost all aquaculture licences for oyster production have been granted to Irish registered companies or Irish operators. My Department is examining its records and will revert to the Deputy if further information comes to light.

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

Simon Coveney: Under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, applicants are required to maintain 0.15 livestock units for a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months, applicants are also required to maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the 12 months of the scheme year. Payment under the 2013 Scheme has not issued to the person named as their holding has not satisfied...

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

Simon Coveney: The Early Retirement Scheme, in conjunction with the Young Farmers’ Installation Scheme, aimed to encourage older farmers to pass their land on to younger, qualifying farmers. There was no specific scheme that catered for farmers retiring due to ill health, although someone in that situation could well have availed of the provisions of the Early Retirement Scheme. The scheme was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Remit (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the authority responsible for the registration and identification of greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon under Section 26 (2) of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958. Bord na gCon is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing. ...

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

Simon Coveney: The person named is in receipt of an Early Retirement Scheme pension with effect from 23 September, 2008. The first payment under the scheme was made to them, with arrears, on 31 May, 2009. Payment of the pension will cease with effect from 3 September, 2014.