Results 27,501-27,520 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Job Creation Data (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I do not think the Deputy's assertion is true. I suggest that he speak to the CSO about it, which is what we have done. The CSO is standing over its figure of an extra 61,000 jobs in the economy. What it says is that we should look at the figure in individual sectors with some caution when the make-up of the sample changes somewhat. The overall figure is clear. When one has a sample as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheepmeat Sector (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The broad outline 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 in achieving this objective is to drive the development of the industry at home and increase Ireland`s market share of the world market. This will ensure that producers and processors can plan for the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Policy (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department is engaged in ongoing consultations with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the design of the new agri-environmental schemes under the terms of the Rural Development Programme. These new schemes will offer farmers the opportunity to undertake enhanced environmental actions to protect important habitats and species on agricultural land. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Drainage Schemes Status (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The new EU policy framework setting out the broad principles in relation to rural development for the 2014-2020 period has now been finalised. My Department is currently considering the comments received from the various stakeholders in response to the consultation paper which was published by my Department in January 2014. The consultation paper sets out a number of priorities in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Eligibility (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is widely recognised that the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is a very important one for this country, as the total area designated as disadvantaged is almost 75% of Ireland’s total land area. From an economic perspective, the Scheme is particularly significant, contributing to the support of some 95,000 Irish farm families, whose ability to farm is restricted by the physical...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Food Harvest 2020 strategy for Ireland’s agri-food industry is the result of a collaborative approach to policy making and includes as it does for all sectors of the industry, a vision for the beef sector developed and agreed by stakeholders, including farm bodies and processors. With regard to prices, it should be noted that Irish beef prices were...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sugar Industry (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I wish to confirm that in 2011 I met with two separate groups which had conducted feasibility studies into the possibility of establishing a new sugar/bioethanol facility in the country. I understand from figures published by the interested groups who are investigating the possibility of building a new facility, that the overall capital cost costs involved could range from €250...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The planning of the conference is still in the early stages but at this point I can say that it will focus on many of the changes being made to the animal welfare regime, including those introduced by the new Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013. The issue of animal welfare is broad and the welfare of horses will undoubtedly be one of the topics discussed. With regard to animal...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department devotes considerable resources to the area of animal welfare and, in particular, to the welfare of horses. In December 2013, I announced funding of €1.8m to 136 organisations involved in animal care and welfare services throughout the country to support their activities in 2014. The level of funding provided to the organisations was increased for the third year in a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Gougane Barra Forest Park, County Cork is managed by Coillte Teoranta. Day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company. In relation to this matter, the company has advised that on Friday 3rd of January 2014, Phytophthora ramorum had been confirmed on Japanese larch trees in Gougane Barra Forest Park, County Cork. Samples...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Natura 2000 Issues (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: In 2007 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) declared in Case C418/04 that by failing to take all measures necessary to comply with Article 6.3 of the EU Habitats Directive in respect of the authorisation of aquaculture programmes, Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations under that Directive. As most aquaculture activity takes place in 'Natura 2000' areas (i.e. areas protected under EU...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department monitors the price paid for cattle in Ireland on a weekly basis and reports these to the European Commission in accordance with Regulation 1249/2008. The Deputy will appreciate that ultimately questions of price and market specification are matters to be determined between the purchasers and the sellers of cattle and it is neither appropriate nor possible for me to intervene...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Despite the challenging budgetary constraints facing my Department, in 2012 I allocated €20 million annually to fund the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) and on foot of this I announced the re-opening of the scheme as AEOS 3. On the basis of previous experience in implementing agri-environmental schemes, I decided on a maximum payment of €4,000 per annum. This represents...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The TAC and Quota Regulation EU No. 43/2014 sets out the quotas for each stock available to Member States. In addition to the fishing opportunities allocated in the Regulation, Lithuania may exchange quota with another Member State under the normal arrangements for exchanging quotas. All fishing vessels must also comply with all EU Regulations relating to the Common Fisheries policy,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Staff (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988. There are currently two Pension Funds in Coillte, namely, the Coillte No. 1 Fund which exists to finance superannuation benefits in respect of service of Coillte employees since vesting day, 1 January 1989, and the Coillte No. 2 Fund for Pre-Vesting Day Service, that is, pre 1 January 1989....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Activities on the public road, including sulky racing are governed by the Road Traffic Acts and are enforced by the Gardai Siochana. These Acts impose an obligation pursuant to these acts on persons engaged in this activity to drive their vehicles with due care for other road users and not to indulge in dangerous driving of the vehicles. Officials of my Department in conjunction with the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Severe Weather Events (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I recognise the difficulties and the hardship that have been experienced by both the farming and fishing communities as a result of the recent severe weather conditions. In response to this particularly bad spell of weather my Department put in place a number of supports to assist farmers who were adversely affected. For farmers who had concerns over animal welfare or were unable to feed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Administration (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The 2014 scheme year is the last year in which the Single Payment Scheme will operate and all entitlements held under that scheme will expire on 31 December 2014. Any farmer who was entitled to receive a direct payment in 2013 (Single Payment, Grassland Sheep Scheme, Burren Life Scheme, Beef Data Scheme) is automatically eligible to receive an allocation of new entitlements under the Basic...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: A three party agreement on the management of the mackerel stock in the North East Atlantic involving the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands was agreed on the 12th of March in London following lengthy discussions over many months and indeed years. Iceland, despite being involved in all of the negotiations is not party to this agreement. The key elements of the agreement are as follows: -...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (26 Mar 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...