Results 27,781-27,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: Market conditions in the cattle sector are analysed and examined on an ongoing basis by my Department and Bord Bia. Despite continued slow demand from some key export markets, prices for prime steers and heifers have remained relatively stable even though the combined kill for these categories has increased by 10% in the first eight weeks of 2014 compared to same period in 2013. While the...

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

Simon Coveney: The data requested by the Deputy in respect of payments under the Single Payment Scheme is set out in tabular form. Single Payment Scheme Year Single Payment Scheme Modulation Refunds Total Paid 2007 €1,244,995,905.45 €24,471,358.64 €1,269,467,264.09 2008 €1,248,846,752.18 €24,354,145.18 €1,273,200,897.36 2009 €1,257,799,266.76 Nil...

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

Simon Coveney: The new Direct Payment Regulation governs the implementation of the new regime for the period 2015 to 2019. During this period Ireland will receive a fixed annual amount of funds that will constitute our national ceiling under Pillar I for each year of the scheme as follows; 2014 €1,216,547,000 2015 €1,215,003,000 2016 €1,213,470,000 2017 €1,211,899,000 2018...

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. In light of additional funding made available by the Government as a result of the recent unprecedented weather conditions my Department...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together. When the Single Payment Scheme was introduced in 2005, land afforested under an EU funded, or an equivalent nationally funded, Afforestation Aid Scheme was not eligible for payment. Therefore, lands afforested during the period 2005 to 2008 were not and cannot now become eligible for payment under the Single Payment Scheme. However,...

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

Simon Coveney: Owners are responsible for the welfare of their animals and the security of their property, including protecting their animals from any threats from vermin such as mink. Advice is available to farmers on the Teagasc website and for their advisors on vermin control.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TB Eradication Scheme (4 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The TB Eradication Scheme contains a wildlife strategy implemented under licence from and in co-operation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Where an epidemiological investigation on restricted holdings rules out other immediate causes as the source of TB infection and where evidence of badger activity has been found, they may be captured under license...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (27 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The application under the Native Woodland Establishment Scheme was refused in November 2013 because the site was considered unsuitable for growing broadleaves due to its high elevation, exposure and shallow soil depth. However, it was also considered that the more productive and sheltered parts of the site may be more suited to the Afforestation Scheme where an alternative species may be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (27 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The conditions for the in-spec Quality Assurance bonus, under the Quality-based Payment System, are a matter for industry and were agreed between Meat Industry Ireland and the IFA in December 2009. The conditions are: - Quality assured cattle, slaughtered under 30 months of age, receive a bonus, - Animals must satisfy a 70-day residency period on the final farm and must not have more than...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Eligibility (27 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 to 224, inclusive, together. 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 farm families,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (27 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Payment under the 2013 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 April 2014 and, therefore, payments will commence in June 2014 to those farmers who have met all of the Scheme requirements.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Issues (27 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Market conditions in the cattle sector are analysed and examined on an ongoing basis by my Department and Bord Bia. Despite continued slow demand from some key export markets, prices for prime steers and heifers have remained relatively stable even though the combined kill for these categories has increased by 11% to date in 2014 compared to same period in 2013. While the young bull trade is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheepmeat Sector (27 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am well aware of the role played by the blackface mountain breed of sheep in the Irish sheep industry especially in our hill regions such as those in Co. Kerry. From a maternal point of view the characteristics of the blackface breed has made, and continues to make a significant contribution to the national breeding flock. Over many years various strains of the blackface breed have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Fleet Protection (27 Feb 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. As the catching sector is by definition dependant on being able to go out and catch fish, and crews earn their living through a share...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farms Data (27 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Mindful of the benefits to farmers, particularly the reduction in paperwork, but also the reduction in the level of clerical errors that ultimately delay payments, my Department has concentrated on the ongoing roll-out and improvement of online services for farmers. My commitment is to reduce the level of paperwork, the time needed to fill in applications and as the same time to reduce errors...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Slaughtering Data (27 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Under EU legislation (EU Directive 2001/82 and Regulation 504/2008), horses which have been treated with prohibited substances or whose passport has been stamped out of the food chain for any other reason, such as not having been identified within the mandatory period set down in EU legislation, cannot be slaughtered for human consumption. The exclusion of such horses from the human food...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Farming (27 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Irish Sea Fisheries Board, is the Irish State agency with responsibility for developing sustainableIrish Sea Fishing and Aquaculture industries. BIM was established under the Sea Fisheries Act 1952. The powers and functions of the Board of BIM are enumerated at paragraphs 15 (a) - (u) of Section 15 and the first schedule to the 1952 Act. The specific powers...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Meetings (27 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: On 30 January I met with representatives of the company referred to by the Deputy. The meeting was chaired by an Taoiseach, Minister of State McGinley and Deputy Joe McHugh were also present. Officials from the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department were also in attendance. The meeting was held at the request of the company to discuss licensing and industry development issues...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 201 together. 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. As the catching sector is by definition dependant on being able to go out...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (26 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in May 2009 and received payments for the first four 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 an On Farm Inspection in September 2013 issues were...