Results 29,921-29,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Framework Plans (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Commonage lands form an important part of the farming enterprises of many farmers, particularly along the West Coast. They also form an important part of the local environment from the point of view of bio-diversity, wildlife, amenities and economic returns e.g. tourism. However, there is a substantial risk of land abandonment as under-grazing becomes more of a problem. Under-grazing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: The processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application for the person named has recently been finalised by my Department and payment has issued directly to the nominated bank account of the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Agreements (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Trade in agricultural products is excluded from the scope of the European Economic Area (EAA) Agreement which makes Norway a part of the EU's internal market. However, Article 19 of the Agreement obliges signatories to "undertake to continue their efforts with a view to achieving progressive liberalization of agricultural trade". A bilateral agreement was drawn up in 2012, which established...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Properties (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: The lease on these premises, Houston Hall, Raheen Business Park, Raheen, Limerick, is a matter for the Office of Public Works (OPW). Following the recent transfer of administrative staff to the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, we are working with the OPW with a view to consolidating all our remaining business units, including the Regional District Veterinary Office, on to one floor.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Reports (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: The information request by the Deputy is listed in the following table. CONSULTANT TITLE OF REPORT DATE OF COMMISSION DATE OR EXPECTED DATE OF PUBLICATION PAYMENTS IN 2011 (March to December) € University College Dublin Evaluation of the EU School Fruit Scheme/Food Dude Programme in Ireland 2011 - Commission Regulation 288 of 2009 February 2011 10 January 2012 4,500 University...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: The details of the fees paid to Board members of the twelve State Bodies operating under the aegis of my Department for 2012 are outlined in the attached table. The issues of expenses paid to members of State Boards is an operational matter for the body itself. Body/Agency No of Board Members Term of Office Board Fees per Annum Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board 7 2 - 5 years Chair:...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 966 and 1007 together. The details of the salaries of the Chief Executive Officers of the eight Non Commercial State Bodies and the four Commercial State Bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are outlined in the following table. In relation to two Commercial State Bodies – Coillte and the Irish National Stud – the salaries of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 967 and 969 together. The attached table details the companies who were paid in excess of €20,000 for professional services during the period 1 June 2012 to 31 May 2013. In line with the Programme for Government, the Department is putting on its website details of payments for goods and services valued at more that €20,000. This threshold has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Training (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Details outlined in tables below of Training Programmes and third level courses and costs for employees of Department for academic year 1 September 2012 to 30 June 2013. In addition, my Department incurred expenditure in this period in Health and Safety training to the sum of €22,440.56. A further sum of €17,424.40 was spent in the provision of Internal Audit Training courses....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Using my Department’s 2012 outturn of €8,614,233 for Travel and Subsistence expenses as a base, the following table sets out the projected savings if the various percentage reductions were applied: % Reduction Annual Saving € 1% 86,142 5% 430,712 7% 602,996 10% 861,423 12% 1,033,708 15% 1,292,135 17% 1,464,420 20% 1,722,847 In the period 2008...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Total Savings for Training and Development in 2012 if they were reduced by the percentage indicated by the Deputy are as follows: 5% = €38,541; 7% = €53,958; 10% = €76,893; 12% = €92,499; 15% = €115,624; 17% = €131,040; 20% = €154,166.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Exchequer Savings (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy, following implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement, is set out in the following table: Special Adviser Annual Salary on 01/07/2013 € Annual saving if capped at 1st point of P.O. Scale € Ross MacMathuna 103,200 27,553 Aine Kilroy 81,676 6,029 Total annual saving 33,582

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: REPS4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. The person named has made an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office in relation to his Single Farm Payment and Department officials are currently awaiting the outcome of that...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named received 75% of his REPS4 2012 payment on 27th June 2013 and he received the balancing payment of 25% on 2nd July 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Programme for Government Implementation (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have provided, in the schedule beneath, details on the implementation status of the commitments in the 2011-2016 Programme for Government for which my Department has primary responsibility. The timeline for delivery of these commitments is the lifetime of this Government but the Deputy will be aware that the nature of these commitments is such that ongoing development and progress is the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Consultancy Contracts Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not employ external public relations communications consultants or organisations. Public relations advice, where required is provided by my Department’s Press Office. It is not possible to provide costs for this service, as the work is carried out as part of the standard duties of the staff involved.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Sugar Industry (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that in 2011 I met with two separate groups who had conducted feasibility studies, into the possibility of establishing a new sugar/bioethanol facility in the country. I clearly stated at both meetings and on many occasions since both in the Dáil and elsewhere, that any venture to develop a combined sugar/bioethanol production facility would have to be a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Decentralisation Programme Staff Transfers (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: In answer to the Deputy's question, I can confirm that no staff from my department's office in County Galway transferred to Government Departments in counties Mayo or Sligo since March 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Breeding Industry (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) was established in 2007 following extensive consultation with the main sectoral interests in the sport horse industry. The establishment of HSI brought together the breeding and sport sides of the Irish Sport Horse Sector. HSI, a 32 county body, is a limited company run by a board of directors representative of various affiliate bodies. My Department transferred...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (16 Jul 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have already posted on the website of the Department preliminary details of the CAP reform package on which political agreement was reached between the three EU institutions last month. Over the coming days I will be adding to that information. One of the main features of this agreement on the CAP is the amount of flexibility it gives to Member States to implement the common policy in a...