Results 28,901-28,920 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Animal Welfare (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I would really like to see that happen but I cannot pay for it. My job under the Control of Horses Act is to provide the finance to allow local authorities to deal with stray horses. However, I strongly encourage local authorities to try to find the resources to allow for managed settings to permit the Traveller community, in particular, to interact with and own horses. Its members have a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Animal Welfare (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I was anxious to come here to answer the question myself because this is a serious matter. The issue costs a lot of money and resources but it is one that I, as a Minister, am personally committed to. We need to change attitudes towards the welfare of horses among some communities in Ireland and we are taking action to ensure that happens at present. Rather than read my answer, which the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea Fisheries Sustainability: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The points made on the mackerel fishery are important. Depending on where one comes from, different fisheries are important. In value terms, the mackerel fishery is significantly important, particularly to the north west and the south west. We are in the process of negotiating on the north-east Atlantic waters, a mackerel fishery shared by the EU, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea Fisheries Sustainability: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department, BIM and the Marine Institute have ongoing discussions with the industry and non-governmental organisations in this area. For example, today there was a discussion between my Department and BirdWatch Ireland on the forthcoming Council meeting. We meet industry representatives at the Council meeting to update them on progress.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea Fisheries Sustainability: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is all the various representative bodies such as Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, KFO, and Irish Fishermen’s Organisation. I cannot meet every single fisherman in the country so I have to meet through the representative bodies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea Fisheries Sustainability: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have experience of only two Council meetings, those of last year and the year before. It is true that the recommendations in advance of Council meetings are sometimes more stark than the actual results because the Commission takes a precautionary approach regarding some stocks. If there are insufficient data on which to draw a more accurate conclusion, it applies a cut of a certain...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea Fisheries Sustainability: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Before saying anything about fishing, I believe it appropriate to note that a fisherman out of Kilmore Quay is missing off the south east coast, namely, Patrick Barry, who is a father. It is a difficult time for that family and it is important for members to recognise that. While I hope this search can be brought to a conclusion soon, as the joint committee is discussing fishing, it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea Fisheries Sustainability: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: That is one down anyway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sea Fisheries Sustainability: Discussion with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Chairman for allowing me to make those remarks. As members are aware, the annual fishing opportunities for the Community’s fishing fleets are traditionally agreed at the December Agricultural and Fisheries Council. This year, the arrangements for 2014 are due to be negotiated at the Council scheduled for 16 to 18 December. The levels of total allowable catch, TAC, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Yes, that is horses-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I can send those details to the Deputy. I happen to have the Horse Racing Ireland fact book in terms of numbers but we can send on the greyhound figures to the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: That is true.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: One of the big differences between greyhound racing and horse racing is that we are under a great deal of pressure in Ireland to maintain prize money in the horse racing sector because the same people race in Ireland as in the United Kingdom, and in some cases as they race in France. What we do not want to see, therefore, is our best horses moving out of Ireland to other countries that have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Yes, very much so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Yes. If this was the horse industry fund and the dogs industry fund there would be a different interpretation. This is about supporting the thoroughbred industry, which is horse racing, as opposed to Horse Sport Ireland, which is very much around eventing and show jumping, which is also a huge industry, and likewise in the dog side.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: In terms of Exchequer contribution to top up the betting duty that is collected, it is important not to be hypocritical. In 2008 the previous Government contributed just under €40 million as a top up. In the following year, approximately €31.5 million was contributed. In 2010, the sum was €28 million. This year the contribution will be less; it will be €27...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Senator Ó Domhnaill should allow me to answer the question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The other point I would like to make is that in terms of consistency we had this discussion last year and the Senator’s party spokesperson in the Dáil had no problem with the horse and greyhound racing fund. In fact, he thought it was a worthwhile expenditure. I am trying to understand what Senator Ó Domhnaill is proposing. Does he propose that we reduce the fund and by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am trying to find out what the Senator is seeking. My point is that we made a minor reduction to the horse and greyhound fund because every part of the Department’s budget must take its fair share in terms of reduced expenditure. I also make the strong point that the allocation represents very good value for money. If somebody else thinks that there should be a different amount...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2013: Motions (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: On the betting tax, at the end of the Government’s last term and since then, the Government and the Department of Finance have been examining how we can collect betting revenue from online betting and remote betting. That is a much more complicated process than one might think. We have a number of different online platforms where betting takes place. We have betting exchanges and...