Results 29,061-29,080 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: They did not, actually.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have met the North East Pylon Pressure, NEPP, group a number of times. Many good people are involved in it. I was involved in long hearings at committee level that examined the different technologies, potential alternative solutions and the costs involved. This is not an easy issue to resolve. Anyone who pretends it is, that we could put everything underground and that there would be no...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: There is a difference between a direct current line and an alternating current line, which is what the grid must be. If one takes electricity from A to B without needing to take any power from that infrastructure between those two points, one can use a direct current line. It is much easier to put direct current lines underground. We do it all of the time. Alternating current, which is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy knows well what the answer is about the €96 million. That money will be spent before the end of the year.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: There is no penalty involved.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: I will respond to the second question because the Deputy is deliberately trying to cause trouble. He understands exactly what the situation is in the Department, having previously been a Minister. A huge portion of our payments are made in the last third of the year. This year, the date for the budget was brought forward significantly, but we will spend the Department's allocation for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should let me answer the question. He knows the answer but he is trying to be deliberately mischievous.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should judge my Department on whether it has an underspend at the end of the year. We are budgeting for the year and there will not be a significant underspend at the end of it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU-Canada trade agreement initialled last month by President Barroso and the Canadian Prime Minister, Canada was awarded a tariff rate quota for beef of 50,000 tonnes carcase weight equivalent. This equates to a quota of 39,000 tonnes of boneless beef. The quota is split between fresh and chilled beef comprising 31,000 tonnes, plus the existing 4,000 tonnes quota as part of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Yes, in so far as I can, but I rely on the European Food Safety Authority at European level to do that. I doubt that we will not see Canadian beef coming into the Irish market, but Canadian beef might come into other markets in the European Union where we currently sell beef so it will undoubtedly be competition. However, I do not believe this will happen overnight, and there are increased...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: On the control issue, we will insist on veterinary equivalence. That means beef produced in Canada will have to be produced under the same conditions we have here. There will be limitations on hormone use and other practices regarding welfare and so forth and there will have to be an inspection scheme that reassures European consumers that this is the case. This will apply to other parts of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be fully aware of the importance of payments made under the single payment scheme, the disadvantaged areas scheme and other direct payment schemes to the annual income of farmers. To date, my Department has paid €582 million in advance payments to more than 115,143 farmers under the 2013 single payment scheme since payments commenced on 16 October. Some 84,800 farmers...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: They are not fines.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is not a penalty. It is a reimbursement of money that should not have been paid out. The Deputy should not heighten an already difficult situation for many farmers.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Single Payment Scheme Payments (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is not outrageous and I will explain why. On the initial question, this is not penalties for farmers. It is about reimbursement of money that was drawn down on land that was ineligible for payments. We are legally required to collect that money. Unfortunately, we have had, and we continue to have, many corrections in the mapping system which is the basis for farmers' claims of their...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Missions Participation (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Last month, I led the largest ever Irish agri-food trade delegation of 35 companies to the Gulf States of Qatar, United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with representatives from the meat, dairy, seafood, beverages, bloodstock and agri-services sectors and government bodies. The trade mission was organised by my Department, with the assistance of Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry Funding (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Indecon Report Indecon Consultants were commissioned by my Department to undertake a review of certain aspects of the Irish horse racing industry. The terms of reference provided to Indecon did not extend to the greyhound racing industry. The Indecon Review consisted of an in-depth analysis of the legislation, governance structures, funding and management of the horse racing industry in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: 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 under Pillar 2 will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving more sustainable management...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Communications (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: On my appointment as Minister I was struck by the range, variety and complexity of work carried out in this Department and the importance of communicating this important work to a wider public. Corporate Affairs Division of my Department is responsible for the communication of information to the public, and this is done through a variety of methods including speeches by Ministers, press...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (14 Nov 2013)

Simon Coveney: Horses can be slaughtered for human consumption subject to a number of conditions, including that they have been registered within six months of birth or by 31st December of the year of birth whichever is the later, have not have been treated with any prohibited veterinary medicines and are accompanied to the slaughterhouse by the horse passport. This latter requirement is an essential part...