Results 29,701-29,720 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Division (24 Sep 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: Milk Supply (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The National Milk Agency, which operates under the aegis of my Department, was set up in 1994 to ensure an indigenous year round supply of milk for liquid consumption. All farmers supplying milk for liquid consumption in the winter months do so under contracts with processors which must be registered with the Agency. Farmers supplying milk in the winter months are paid a premium over the...

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

Simon Coveney: At all times in the course of the negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy my primary focus has been on the need to ensure a fair outcome for all farmers. Fairness of course informed my approach to perhaps the most high-profile issue in the negotiations, namely, the redistribution of direct payments within Member States. It also underpinned my approach to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Industry Development (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: My remit as Minister is to do all that I can to support a viable and sustainable fishing industry throughout Ireland, including those parts of the industry that operate in Area VIa. One of the key ways in which I do this is by negotiating on behalf of Ireland at the annual December EU Fisheries Council Meeting. As the Deputy is aware, fishing quotas for all EU Member States are set each...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 84 together. I am aware that various interests in the sector, including some animal welfare organisations, have called for measures to be introduced by my Department to deal with surplus horses. While it is the responsibility of horse owners to ensure the welfare of horses in their ownership and/or their care and to dispose of them appropriately, my...

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

Simon Coveney: The Direct Payment Regulation which will take effect from 2015 gives Member States the option to grant Coupled Support to farmers. Such support is restricted to a specified list of sectors which includes cereals, protein crops, potato, milk and milk products, sheep-meat and beef. In addition such support may only be granted in circumstances where any such sector is undergoing certain...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme Payments (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the difficulties which the pig sector is facing and the potentially negative impact of the end September 2013 deadline for completion of work under the Sow Welfare Scheme. However, EU Commission approval is required for an extension to this deadline. I am in consultation with the EU Commission for an extension to this deadline. Such an extension, if approved, would, of...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 89 together. My Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry out an annual round of inspections covering both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure adherence with EU regulatory...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 81 together. 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...

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

Simon Coveney: Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) has submitted an application for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are currently being considered in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act. My Department has also issued a Site Investigation Licence to BIM in respect...

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

Simon Coveney: Payments under the Single Payment Scheme may be made only in respect of eligible land and applicants under the Scheme are obliged annually to declare the land parcels available to them. Details of the eligible area of the land parcels are recorded on the Department's Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS). Details of the use and area claimed for each of some 900,000 eligible land parcels...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Issues (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: I published a detailed report on the "Equine DNA and Mislabelling of Processed Beef Investigation" on 14th March 2013, which 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 actively considering...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The National Parks and Wildlife Service officers do not come within the scope of my function. The Deputy will be aware that under the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1965 responsibility for prosecutions rests with An Garda Síochána. If the Deputy wishes to forward details of a specific case involving animal cruelty, my Department will be happy to examine the evidence and...

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

Simon Coveney: The timing of the Single Farm Payment is of critical importance to farmers and the wider rural economy, given that it represents in excess of €1.2 billion of the €1.6 billion that is paid out annually in direct aid. The SFP forms a significant part of the annual income of farmers in Ireland; in many cases it is used to subsidise the running costs of the farming enterprise and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Slaughtering Issues (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under EU law, responsibility for compliance with food safety and traceability requirements rests in the first instance with food business operators. This is augmented by official controls, applied at different stages in the food supply chain. My Department implements official controls in relation to horse identification at marts and other sales venues, in abattoirs under its supervision and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Development (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: The House will be aware that I have been considering introducing a charge for parking facilities within Howth Fishery Harbour Centre for some time for the following reasons: - to assist in operating Howth Fishery Harbour Centre on a financially-sound basis, - to provide a source of revenue for further investment in Fishery Harbour Centre facilities, - as part of an overall traffic management...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry out an annual round of inspections covering both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure adherence with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of public, animal and plant health,...

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

Simon Coveney: It is not possible to provide this information in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (24 Sep 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: Farm Inspections (24 Sep 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry out an annual round of inspections covering both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure adherence with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of public, animal and plant health,...