Results 28,721-28,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: As it is not possible to compile the full information requested in the available timescale, I am arranging for it to be provided directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Framework Plans (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: The report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate regarding the issues surrounding commonage lands, the views of the various stakeholders having being sought and considered by the Committee. As I have indicated previously, while it is generally accepted that this is a very complex matter and requires a very detailed action plan to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 192 together. The European Council agreement on the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) provides a total of €2.19bn, or some €313m per year, for Ireland under Pillar 2 of the CAP for the period 2014 - 2020. The development of a new Rural Development Programme (RDP) under Pillar 2 will be a key support in enhancing the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Data (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: A total of 120,551 have received the first payment of their 2013 SPS and 117,716 have received the second instalment. To date, 9,187 farmers have had a penalty applied. The figures for those who applied and those paid in each county are set out in the following table. County Number Eligible Number Paid Amount Paid CARLOW 1,615 1,568 €23,171,056.49 CAVAN 4,684 4,599...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Data (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together. The statistics requested by the Deputy are contained in the following tables. Each scenario is based on the 2012 Payments Model and relates to the application of mandatory measures and minimum convergence thresholds under the Direct Payment Regulation. This model of Internal Convergence results in the transfer of €103.783m to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: In respect of the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, 120,551 cases have received payment thus far. This represents 98.04% of eligible applicants. The total amount paid to date is €1,164,127,448.10. Payments under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced, on schedule, on 25 September and, to date, payments worth €186.5 million have issued nationally to some 87,713 applicants,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Market Access (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have been very active in developing relationships in new and expanding markets for beef, lamb and pigmeat, raising the profile of Ireland and guaranteeing confidence in Irish production and control systems; this provides a platform for long-term trading relationships into the future. Since my appointment, I have led trade missions to China, the US, Algeria and the Gulf Cooperation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Disease Controls (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: The laboratory facilities at Backweston are capable of meeting the vast majority of my Department’s analytical and diagnostic requirements. Amelioration works in one area, the category 4 containment laboratories, are in progress with a view to bringing that laboratory into operation. The initial phase of these works will be completed in January of 2014. These preliminary works will be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Labelling (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 to 191, inclusive, together. Food production and labelling rules in the European Union operate in accordance with harmonised rules and member states controls are subject to audit and supervision by the EU Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) of the EU. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) under the aegis the Minister for Health has overall...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Transport Costs (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: In light of the difficulties experienced by farmers in sourcing fodder supplies, earlier this year I announced the allocation of funding for an imported fodder transport scheme, designed to reduce the cost to farmers of imported forage (hay, silage, haylage) from outside the island of Ireland. The aid substantially covered the cost of transport into the country, thus reducing the cost to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: The new EU animal welfare rules for the pig sector came into force on 1 January 2013. Grant-aid was made available under the TAMS Sow Welfare Scheme in order to assist farmers to bring their facilities up to the standards required by the new rules. As a small number of farmers were unable to complete the investment works concerned by the previous closing date of end-September 2013, I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: The new Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) will provide the framework for the long term sustainability of fish stocks around our shores, the continued economic viability of our fishing fleet and fish processing while supporting the communities that depend on a vibrant fishing industry. The package agreed will support the rebuilding of fish stocks in European waters and will allow for setting TACs...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fisheries Protection (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: All applications for marine based aquaculture licences are considered by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the following legislation: - Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, - Foreshore Act 1933, - EU Habitats Directive of 92/43/EEC, - EU Birds Directive 79/409/EEC, - Consolidated Environmental Impact Assessment Directives 2011/92/EU. The legislation provides for both statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Harvest 2020 Strategy (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am confident that the industry developed targets set out in Food Harvest 2020 are achievable and can be met. The main targets in the Food Harvest report are by 2020 to increase the value of: - Primary output in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector by 33%; - Value added production by 40%; - Agriculture, food (including seafood) and drink exports by 42%. In addition, a 50%...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards Regulation (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: International trade in agri-food products is a reality with which we must live and as a general proposition, as a country with a strong export focus, it is clearly in Ireland’s broader economic interests to ensure that there is a reasonably liberal, but balanced international trade environment. To protect animal and public health and in accordance with international trade...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Review (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: This Department’s recent Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) summarises the pressure on the 59 stocks dealt with in the 2013 Stock Book and compares with the same evaluation presented last year. While there has been some improvement in the status of some fish stocks, others remain a concern The newly reformed Common Fisheries Policy prioritises conservation measures and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (12 Dec 2013)

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. Administrative checks in respect of the 2013 payments have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: As processing of the appeal received from the person named under the 2013 Disadvantaged Area Scheme has recently been successfully finalised, payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Equine Industry Issues (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department is keeping the horse welfare situation under review and, in particular, the need for additional welfare measures. However, there is no evidence of a major welfare problem in the horse sector at present due to the relatively high level of horse slaughterings this year and the very good weather well into the Autumn, which has created a very favourable fodder situation. My...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Equine Industry Issues (12 Dec 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is not possible to provide the exact number of registered equines resident in the country at present due to the absence of precise figures for exports and unrecorded deaths in the information provided by the Passport Issuing Organisations to my Department earlier this year, in the context of the establishment of a central data base by the Department. However, I understand that a study...