Results 28,921-28,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: I said that we are doing that.

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

Simon Coveney: Unlike Deputy Heydon, I avoided taking the political bait. People just need to consider the records of different Governments in respect of these issues. The important issue is that we should ignore what happened in the past and instead consider what now constitutes value for money. We must ask whether this is a good way to spend €54 million in the context of all of the pressures...

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

Simon Coveney: I will answer some of those many questions at this point.

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

Simon Coveney: Members have asked valid questions which I will answer. Senator Ó Domhnaill makes a comparison between general sports funding to the Irish Sports Council and the funding for the sports of horse racing and greyhound racing. It is important to reinforce the message that horse racing and greyhound racing are not just sports - each is an industry. Some 90% of horses are bred on farms with...

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

Simon Coveney: The most recent estimates available suggest that the horse and greyhound racing industries combined underpin in excess of 24,000 jobs and stimulate approximately €1.6 billion in economic output. The industries receive financial support from the State through the horse and greyhound racing fund under section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. Payments are made from the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed an over-claim in respect of one of the land parcels declared by the person named. The person named was recently notified in writing of this error. Maps of the relevant land parcels and information on how the person named could seek a review of this decision were included with the letter. Upon...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Banking (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Payment by debit or credit card is accepted as a means of payment for all services charged to customers by my Department. In 2012, the average charge per card transaction was 0.79%. A total of €1,070.06 was paid to the service provider in 2012 which included terminal rental charges. None of the charges accrued to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2012 Single Payment / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 23 March 2012. Following the processing of this application issues relating to the verification of compliance with the minimum stocking density were identified. Under 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, there are two criteria to be satisfied in relation to those applicants availing of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application from the person named under both the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received on 14 May 2013. In order to meet EU requirements, the application concerned was one of a number which was selected for a Satellite (remote sensing) inspection. After initial processing some over claims on parcels were detected which necessitated a ground inspection. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: While an application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2013, no payment is due as the value due is less than €100. The 2013 Single Payment Scheme Terms and Conditions state that "Under the provisions of Article 28 (1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009, it has been decided that no payment will be made under the Single Payment Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522, 523, 541 and 554 together. The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (Section 16) prohibits the carrying out of procedures that may cause pain or suffering to animals, including certain husbandry related procedures, unless provided for under Regulations to be made under the Act. I propose to commence the Act shortly and, in this context, a number of draft...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has responsibility for the management, control, operation and development of each of the Fishery Harbour Centres under the Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 (as amended). Located at Killybegs, Rossaveal, Dingle, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth the harbours are a valuable and vital resource to the Irish fishing fleet, associated service providers and the marine leisure and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Division (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The commonage lands at Derrygoolin North and South were subject to an eligibility inspection in 2007. During the course of this inspection ineligible areas, comprising roads, scrub, rock and fenced-off forestry, was identified. This resulted in the eligible area of these commonage lands being reduced by some 20%. A further inspection of these commonage lands in 2010, some 3 years later,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: As processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/ Disadvantaged Area Scheme is now completed, payments under both Schemes will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Penalties (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: In order to be eligible under the Single Payment Scheme and other area based schemes, an applicant must ensure that all agricultural land is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC). Issues relating to control of scrub and rushes must, therefore, be seen in this overall context. Farmers can keep grassland in GAEC by conducting an agricultural activity on it, such...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme application on 15 May 2013. EU Regulations governing the administration of the schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Horses (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department provides funding under the Control of Horses Act, 1996 to assist local authorities with expenses incurred by them in implementing the provisions of the Act. The Act empowers the local authorities to deal with stray or wandering horses. The amount of funding provided by my Department varies between local authorities because of a range of factors, including the number of horses...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Data (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The details requested by the deputy are set out in tabular form below. This information relates to applicants who declared an arable parcel(s) in 2012. Range No. Paid Paid less than €150/ha 697 between €150/ha and €264/ha 2327 between €264/ha and €400/ha 7474 between €400/a and €500/ha 3109 between €500/ha and €600/ha 1324...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sheep Fencing-Mobile Equipment Scheme Applications (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The TAMS Sheep Fencing/Mobile Handling Scheme closes for applications at the end of this year (2013) and the final tranche is now open for the receipt of such applications. I have therefore no plans to alter the provisions of the Scheme. I do not accept that there is an undue level of bureaucracy associated with the Scheme. To date, my Department has received almost 2,500 applications for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (26 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 537 together. As processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is now completed, payments under both Schemes will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.