Results 27,741-27,760 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Landings (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Fishing through the winter is difficult in normal circumstances but I am acutely conscious that the severe weather has caused the fishing fleet to be tied up for quite an extended period, a longer period than would be the norm with more typical winter weather. The white fish and inshore fleets have been particularly affected. As the catching sector is by definition dependant on being able...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Retirement Scheme Eligibility (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department issued a letter to the above named on 27th February, 2014 confirming that the date of his final payment under the Early Retirement Scheme from Farming was 30th April, 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Payment under the Beef Data Programme cannot be made until all of the data required has been received. It is anticipated that complete data will have been received from most participants by the end of March and so payments will commence in late May 2013 to those farmers who have met all of the Scheme requirements.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards Regulation (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 to 333, inclusive, together. The detection of pathogenic bacteria in food, including raw (unpasteurised) milk cheeses, is an important element of the food safety framework. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is currently the most technologically advanced test for initial detection of verotoxigenic E.coli , known as VTEC. PCR is a rapid screening...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Eligibility (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I understand the Deputy’s question refers to the maintenance of areas listed as habitats in REPS farm plans. There are two issues here: (1) If a farmer had an area designated in his REPS plan as a habitat he is required to leave it intact for the duration of the REPS contract. This area is eligible for a payment under both REPS and SPS. When the REPS period of a farmer, who had...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Appeals (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and has received payments for the full six years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme, 2007-2013, and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before payments can issue. Following the discontinuation of a Rental Agreement in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European School Fruit Scheme (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Commission report to the European Parliament and the Council on 18th December 2013, on the European School Fruit Scheme notes that there are various approaches and conceptual designs for implementing a well-run scheme, that schemes may differ even within a Member State or region and that the external evaluation established that there is no easy way of calculating the most efficient scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The verification visit in question will be conducted shortly by a Departmental Inspector. The necessity for this visit follows the appeal of the person named against the findings of the review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, which revealed that one of the land parcels declared the person named contained ineligible features. As the person...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheepmeat Sector (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Given the range of issues raised by Comharchumann Uan Chiarraí Teo, my intention is that a comprehensive written response be prepared, addressing all the matters raised, which will issue shortly to the named representatives and copied to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Projects (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The designation of land under the Birds Directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. However, under the new GLAS Scheme which I announced on the 14th of January 2014 as part of a suite of proposed measures under the new Rural Development Programme, a range of options will be available for farmers who wish to enhance the biodiversity value...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware to support the beef sector I recently announced the operational details of an investment package worth up to €40m to beef farmers in 2014. Among the measures in this investment package are €23m for a Beef Genomics Scheme, €10m for the Beef Data Programme, €5m for the Beef Technology Adoption Programme and €2m in residual payments...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Early indications suggest that less than 1% of the forest area and approximately 1% of the forest volume was blown down in the storm of 12th February. Whilst direct financial support is not being provided to those whose forestry was destroyed in the storm, a taskforce, chaired by Mr Tom Hayes TD, Minister of State, has been established to assess the damage nationally and to quickly...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in May 2008 and received payments for the first five years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. Following the administrative check an area discrepancy was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2010 and has received full payment in respect of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. The holding of the person named was selected for ground inspection which took place on 30th September 2013 and was further selected for a re-performance inspection which was carried...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Funding (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department administers the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. In addition to funding for Department owned harbours the programme provides funding for Local Authority owned piers and harbours subject to available funding. As the Deputy will be aware, a significant amount of damage has been caused to the national piers and harbour infrastructure by recent...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Imports (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Rules on the labelling of meat and meat products are laid down in EU legislation. For beef, the current rules require compulsory origin labelling, with place of birth, rearing and slaughter specified. In the context of the European Union single market, trade between member states in beef is of course permitted, but mandatory country of origin labelling rules apply. In this regard audits of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a State Body, established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. HRI’s remit is confined exclusively under legislation to the development, promotion and welfare of the thoroughbred horse. The Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, Section 8 (e) states that the general functions of HRI include "the provision of any financial and other support it deems...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The allocation of resources of my Department, whether regional or central, to any particular animal welfare incident depends upon a variety of factors in each individual case. Decisions about which personnel of my Department are tasked with particular investigations of breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act is an operational matter for management of my Department. It is worth noting,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Policy (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: No final decisions have yet been made on the measures to be included in the new Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The new (RDP) will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. As you are aware I have recently published a consultation document...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Fisheries Local Action Groups, FLAGs, are funded under the Fisheries Local Area Development Scheme, a community led local development initiative, administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara as part of the Seafood Development Programme 2007-2013. The Scheme aims to support the diversification of the economies of traditional fishing communities to help maintain people and jobs in these areas. The...