Results 26,761-26,780 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: Under the Single Payment Scheme the value of the entitlements was allocated on the basis of agricultural activity during the Reference Period of 2000 to 2002, and largely reflected the productive capacity of each farm during that period and gave rise to wide variations in the unit value of entitlements held by individual farmers. It is no longer possible to justify the significant...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department has currently received approximately 40 appeals relating to applications with no proof of postage. No appeals have been received where the applicant had a swiftpost or registered post receipt. The Terms and Conditions of this Programme specifically state that a swiftpost receipt is required as proof of postage where it is claimed that an application had been submitted. This...

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

Simon Coveney: Under the terms of the EU legislation governing the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme, the enhanced 60 per cent grant-aid for on-farm investment may only be paid to young farmers who meet certain conditions, including the requirement that they have been set-up in farming within a period of five years from the date of application of support. It is quite conceivable, therefore, that many of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1stMay 2013. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, have to be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks a query...

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

Simon Coveney: Final decisions have not yet been taken in relation to the application process or eligibility criteria which will be applicable under the proposed new Dairy Equipment Scheme in TAMS II. I can confirm, however, that the new Scheme will be extended to farmers who do not have milk quota at the time of application.

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

Simon Coveney: Subsequent to the agreement reached at EU Council on 26 June 2013, my Department entered into a comprehensive process of consultation with the farming community and farming organisations in the summer of 2013. Detailed submissions were received from a wide variety of groups and individuals including the main farming representative bodies, a number of regional groups and from individual...

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

Simon Coveney: The core issue arising from the reform of the Direct Payments related to the redistribution of available funds between those who historically held high value entitlements and those who held low value entitlements. This issue has been resolved in a fair and equitable manner through the development of the ‘Internal Convergence Model’ which has been widely advertised and explained....

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

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s overarching goal, when negotiating the revised Common Fisheries Policy, was to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to safeguard fish stocks for future generations. I strongly believe that...

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

Simon Coveney: As I have stated previously achieving political agreement on CAP reform was a major success for the Irish Presidency of the EU Council and it provides a well-balanced package of measures for our largest indigenous industry. These measures enhance the possibility of achieving Ireland’s ambitious growth strategy for the agri food sector, as envisaged in Food Harvest 2020. In particular...

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: State Laboratory Facilities (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The laboratory facilities at Backweston are capable of meeting the vast majority of my Department’s analytical and diagnostic requirements in relation to the bovine, pig, poultry, lamb and equine sectors. While DAFM Laboratories have the capability to carry out most of the tests in these areas, for cost efficient reasons, some low volume, highly specialised reference test methods that...

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

Simon Coveney: One of my priorities since taking office has been the continued development of the beef sector. I have sought to ensure that beef farmers have the necessary supports to enhance the profitability and sustainability of their livestock enterprises. The broad outline for developing the beef industry in Ireland was set out in my Department’s Food Harvest 2020 (FH2020) strategy. The Beef...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to report that that the industry developed targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 remain on course. The following table illustrates the progress achieved on the three headline targets as well as the current position in each of the main agricultural sectors. Headline Targets Baseline (2007-2009 Average*) FH2020 Target Latest Position Primary €4.596 billion...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: From the outset of the Common Fisheries Policy revision process, Ireland’s overarching goal was to ensure a sustainable, profitable and self reliant industry that protects and enhances the social and economic fabric of rural coastal communities dependent on the seafood sector, while balancing these objectives with the need to safeguard fish stocks for future generations. The new CFP,...

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

Simon Coveney: Dumping of ‘surplus catch’ or ‘discarding’ as it is more usually referred to is a complex global problem where unwanted catches are returned to the sea as a result of a number of factors including quota restrictions, high grading, minimum landing sizes, and market conditions. Levels of discards in the EU vary depending on the size and nature of the fishery....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Remuneration (19 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that no unapproved salary top-up payments are paid to staff in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is not possible to provide this information in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (18 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 contained ineligible features. The person named was notified of this in April 2014. Following resolution of the outstanding issues, payment was recently processed. Payment totalling €16,140.19 issued dated 16 June and I expect it to be in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (18 Jun 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2011 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. During a 2013 inspection, the person named was found to be non-compliant in respect of the Coppicing of Hedgerows, Laying of Hedgerows and Alternative Water Source for Bovines...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jun 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. On 21 May 2014 an updated list of board vacancies was placed on my Department’s website. I have also advertised the State Board vacancies in the national newspapers....