Results 29,681-29,700 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes Administration (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am glad this question has been tabled because it gives me the opportunity to clarify an issue about which I suspect many farmers will ask me tomorrow at the ploughing championships. 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 Irish farmers. My...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: They are easy questions to answer. First of all, there will be a minimum payment. One of the big negotiating issues with the Commission during the six months of our Presidency was around this mandatory minimum payment; it is not voluntary. In any country, whatever the average payment, if that country is not going to go to a flat rate payment model, as the Commission would like, and if that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Stocking Densities (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The straight answer is "yes" that it is unfair and we will change it. However, I am not sure we will change it to the extent that the Deputy would like. We must work within the parameters of the rules that have been agreed under the CAP. At yesterday's meeting the Council of Ministers made a final decision on the capping of payments. Some very large member states have taken a very strong...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Stocking Densities (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is important for people to know what is possible and what is not possible. We have previously discussed putting a ceiling on payments of €100,000. In principle I agreed with that and I am on the record as having said that. We now have an agreement with other Ministers. Some countries, in particular Germany and the UK, wanted no capping at all and have only agreed to a 5%...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The European Council on 7 and 8 February agreed the multiannual financial framework for the period 2014 to 2020. The overall EU budget was cut by about 7% compared with the Commission’s original proposals, and by 3.5% compared with the current MFF for the period 2007 to 2013. By the way, that was seen as a triumph at the time given the fact that a year ago many people were talking...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Stocking Densities (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has used stocking density as one measure of agricultural productivity. While stocking density does not represent all the elements of agricultural productivity, it is a tangible and precise measurement of activity for which data from my Department are readily available. I am aware that Deputies have received these data. Previous analysis by my Department has found that, using...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy's questions are all very relevant. I, too, hope we can conclude the discussions and finalisation of the agreement with the European Parliament today. What is currently being finalised relates to multi-annual financial framework decisions by Heads of States in terms of issues such as transfer between pillars and a number of other issues around capping, in which I know Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: I do not propose to make any absolutes today in terms of commitments because I believe that would make a farce of the consultation process. Deputies will be aware of my views on most of these issues, which may or may not change following conclusion of the consultation process. I would be very slow to introduce a reduction coefficient to parts of the country. The reason Ireland fought hard...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Political agreement between the three European institutions on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy was reached under the Irish Presidency in June, with final details expected to be agreed with the European Parliament, hopefully this afternoon. There is a final trialogue between the Parliament, the Commission and the Council which finalised its position yesterday in terms of those...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ash Dieback Threat (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The serious issue of Ash dieback has been raised on several occasions in this house and I must report that it continues to be of major concern to my Department. The disease is relatively new to science and has spread rapidly in continental Europe over the past 10 years and is now widespread in several countries, including parts of Great Britain where it was first detected in 2012. Special...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Equine Passports (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The identification and registration of equidae is governed by EU Council Directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 of 6 June 2008. Regulation 504/2008, in effect since 1 July 2009, provides that an equine animal cannot be admitted to the food chain if it has not been identified within six months of the date of its birth, or by the 31st of December in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The total number of applications on hand in my Department for payment of grants and premiums for planting forestry is 468. Of this total number, 72 are on hand for more than 3 months, 22 for more than 6 months, 18 for more than 9 months, 16 for more than 12 months and 75 for more than 15 months. There are a number of reasons for the time taken to process applications and I will set out the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences Applications (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay was received by my Department last year. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. A determination in respect of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Equine Passports (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The detailed report on the ‘Equine DNA and Mislabelling of Processed Beef Investigation’, which I published on 14th March 2013, provides extensive details on the investigation and the actions taken by my Department. Operations in a total of four plants were suspended (in some cases on a voluntary basis) for varying periods arising from the investigation. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Payments under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will begin issuing, on target, tomorrow, 25 September. While there is no regulatory date by which payments must commence, it is generally recognised and indeed acknowledged in the Farmers’ Charter, that the third week in September of any given year is the earliest feasible payment date, given the volume and complexity of processing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: At my request, together with a number of Ministers from other Member States, the EU Commission proposed, as an exceptional measure, a 50% advance of the 2013 Single Farm Payment commencing on 16 October, the first day of the new EU financial year. This proposal was supported by all Member States and adopted at the Direct Payment Management Committee meeting on 11th September 2013. As...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Application Numbers (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has received 122,271 applications under the Single Payment Scheme from applicants who already have entitlements or have applied for the transfer of entitlements under the Scheme. In the case of the Single Farm Payment, the earliest payment date under the governing EU rules is 1 December. However, earlier this year, in recognition of the difficult financial situation faced by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: After an in-depth process of consultation and negotiation that was initiated in 2011, the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament and the Commission reached agreement on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy under the Irish Presidency on 26 June 2013. The agreement provides a framework for the continuing application of the CAP for the period 2015 to 2019, ensuring uniformity...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The provision to limit convergence in the form of the 'approximation' model was proposed by me throughout the negotiation process and was adopted by the Commission, European Parliament and Council as part of the final CAP agreement reached under the Irish Presidency on 26 June 2013. While certain elements of this Irish convergence model are fixed, the Regulation also allows for a degree of...