Results 30,181-30,200 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am saying we are actively working on it. I understand advice is being sought from the Office of the Attorney General because it is complex legislation. However, we will bring that forward as soon as we can. There is no intentional delay here.

Order of Business (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: This is a question of getting it right, but I expect the Deputy will see it early in the autumn.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disability Allowance Applications (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: All applications under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme are subject to administrative check, in addition to which a percentage are also subject to field inspection. The basis of both these checks is laid down in the governing EU Regulations. The administrative checks and systems validations confirm compliance with a variety of requirements, including confirming that the application was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Afforestation Programme (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: In 2006, the Forest Service introduced IFORIS which is its computerised geo-spatial and payments system. Like the Single Farm Payment and other schemes, this system uses ortho-photography, which is geometrically corrected aerial photography overlaid onto maps. The IFORIS system captures an image of an applicant's claim map and calculates an accurate measurement of the area being claimed. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Projects (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The negotiations on the CAP reform package have been ongoing during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU. As part of this process, the Rural Development proposal (EAFRD) is being actively progressed together with the other three proposals which form the overall package. The aim of the negotiations is to reach political agreement by the end of the Irish Presidency. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Eligibility (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Despite the challenging budgetary constraints facing my Department, last year I allocated €20 million annually to fund the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) and re-opened the scheme to new applicants (AEOS 111). AEOS III will build on the success of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) and both AEOS 1 and 2 in delivering an annual payment to farmers in return for farming...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Funding (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The table set out the measures funded under the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 [RDP]. The expenditure performance is based on the quarterly returns to the European Commission and this table reflects the position up to March 2013. Under the current approved financial plan in the Programme close on €4.8Bn is allocated at programme level. This amount includes an allocation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Further to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte's forests be considered for sale, NewERA, Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department examined the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte's forest assets. This examination included the identification of the forestry assets involved, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Natura 2000 Issues (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The European Court of Justice declared in case C418/04 that, by failing to take all the measures necessary to comply with Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43 (Habitats Directive) in respect of authorisation of aquaculture programmes, Ireland had failed to fulfil its obligations under that Directive. In the negotiations to address the judgment a process was agreed with the European Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Reform (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the concept of 'fully documented fisheries' as this is what the CFP had always promised to deliver and not to 'a fully documented ecosystem' which is a concept which does not exist, as such. This would mean that it was possible to know and quantify what every living thing in the entire marine ecosystem is doing at any given time - which is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards Regulation (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: There is no direct importation of horsemeat into the EU from the USA. The slaughter of horses for human consumption within the US ceased in 2006. I understand however that significant numbers of live horses are exported from the US for slaughter in both Canada and Mexico. Some of this meat is then exported to the EU. I am not aware that any of this meat has ended up in Ireland, where the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licences Application Numbers (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: At present there are in the order of 600 aquaculture licence applications awaiting determination. This number comprises of both new licence applications and applications in respect of renewal applications for existing licences. The backlog has developed over a period of approximately nine years and largely arises because the majority of areas for which aquaculture licences are sought are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Applications (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU Regulations governing both REPS and AEOS and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Successive EU audits have made it clear that compliance with the Regulations must be strictly adhered to and that all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Suckler Welfare Scheme Application Numbers (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme was a five-year programme for beef breed animals which were born during the period 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2012. This Scheme was fully funded by the Exchequer. Over the five year duration of the Scheme, in excess of €155 million has already been delivered in support to suckler cow farmers. The Scheme has made an important contribution to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Development (19 Jun 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: Rural Development Programme Funding (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The amount of EU co funding due in 2013 under 2007 - 2013 Rural Development Programme (Pillar I) for measures administered by my Department is estimated at €176 million. This compares to €294.4 million in EU co funding received in 2012. The lower figure for 2013 reflects the likely amount of EU funding remaining to be drawn down under the programme based on the estimated...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: It is important that we do as much as we can over the next few months to ensure that Irish farmers are not faced with the same issues and difficulties next Winter as experienced earlier this year in sourcing adequate fodder for their animals. Accordingly, Teagasc’s Interagency Fodder Committee is currently monitoring the fodder situation while also examining and co-ordinating the next...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Further to the Government decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte's forests be considered for sale, NewERA, Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department examined the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte's forest assets. This examination included the identification of the forestry assets involved, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I want to take the opportunity to again emphasise both my own and the Government’s commitment to the agri-environment schemes as operated by my Department. These schemes put environmentally friendly farming at the forefront and recognise the vital role farmers play in delivering public goods in protecting the environment and the natural heritage for the benefit of society as a whole....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ash Dieback Threat (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: To date, 36 forestry plantations have tested positive for the disease, all planted with imported stock. The disease has also been confirmed at 15 horticultural nurseries, 13 roadside landscaping projects, 13 farms (REPS/AEOS), 3 garden centres and 2 private gardens. As a precautionary measure in order to reduce the potential spread of the disease, my Department has written to...