Results 30,301-30,320 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: From a mitigation point of view there are a number of particular challenges for the Irish agriculture sector: Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in the agriculture sector arise mainly due to natural processes which have developed over a long period of time. To date, mitigation technologies that would significantly abate the impact of these processes, without impacting productivity, have not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Since May 2011, a notification has been placed on my Department’s website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. On 7 September 2012 last, I placed an advertisement in the National Newspapers inviting expressions of interest. All expressions of interest lapse at the end of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: There has been no delay in this case; advance payment of the 2012 Single Payment issued on 16 October 2012, while the balancing payment issued on 3 December 2012; in both cases to the nominated bank account.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Meetings (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The FAO is one of the largest technical bodies in the UN and is of great importance to Ireland in terms of its work on standardization in relation to agriculture, agreements on global plant and livestock health matters and cooperation in development work. Every two years the FAO organises a conference to agree its multi-year Programme of work, strategy, and budget. This conference also...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has no record of an application having being received under AEOS 1, 2 or 3 for the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am aware that the whitefish fishing fleet has been under pressure this year. In terms of available quota, the whitefish quotas for 2013 were down 1% from the 2012 quotas. However, the 2012 quotas represented a 3 % increase on the 2011 quotas. Accordingly, whitefish quota levels have remained relatively stable over the recent past with some 36,538 tonnes of whitefish available to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Fisheries Policy Review (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: I have had many discussions with industry representatives over the course of the reform which as you will be aware was first proposed by the EU Commission back in mid 2011. Due to the particular time pressures during the specific period of the EU Presidency, it was simply not possible to schedule as many meetings with industry representatives as I would have liked. I met the Federation of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Discards (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Presidency has recently concluded extremely complex negotiations in relation to securing agreement on a reformed Common Fisheries Policy. This agreement represents a considerable achievement for the Irish Presidency and for Irish fisheries interests generally as it places long term sustainability at the core of policy. I have recently been in touch with all recognised industry...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Commission Directive 2012/24/EU amending the technical provisions of Council Directive 86/297/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the power take-offs (PTO’s) of tractors and their protection was published on the 8 October 2012. Member States have until 31 October 2013 to adopt the obligations of this Directive and my Department is currently preparing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Council Directive 2001/112/EC relating to fruit juices and certain similar products lays down rules on the production, composition and labelling of these products. These rules have been amended by Directive 2012/12/EU to take into account technical progress in fruit juice processing and the codex standard for fruit juices and nectars, which was adopted in 2005. Directive 2012/12/EU will...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: North-South Ministerial Council (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The details and background surrounding this issue were outlined in my correspondence with the Deputy on 22nd May. This matter relates to one incident where deficiencies were identified on the labelling of a consignment of seed potatoes originating in Northern Ireland. The issue is of a technical nature and was brought to the attention of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Administration (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The three EU institutions, Council, Parliament and Commission are in agreement that Direct Payments should be targeted to farmers actively engaged in production. However the definition of an active farmer is still the subject of substantial discussion in the CAP reform negotiations and there is no clear outcome as yet. The current final stage of the negotiations involves reaching agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Data (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Payments under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced, on target, on 26 September and, to date, payments worth in excess of €208 million have awarded to 95,449 farmers. Payments continue to issue twice weekly, as individual cases are confirmed eligible. No funding has been returned unspent to the Exchequer in respect of the 2012 Scheme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Data (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled at present and a further reply will issue to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Milk Quota Application Numbers (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The Scheme for the Allocation of Milk Quota to New Entrants To Dairying invites applications from interested parties under three New Entrant categories, namely: - Category A - Brand New Entrant to Dairying - Category B - Purchaser of Quota as a New Entrant through the Milk Quota Trading Scheme - Category C - Purchaser of Quota as a Successor through the Milk Quota Trading Scheme The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Potato Sector (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: Teagasc is the main potato breeder in Ireland. Its breeding programme originally focused on the breeding of varieties for the home market but since the inception of its partnership with Irish Potato Marketing, (IPM) in the 1970’s, the scope of the breeding programme expanded very successfully to include breeding for the export market as well as to producing a suitable processing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Premium Payments (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: A remedial works letter issued to the applicant in March 2013 because his plantation was not up to the required standard. A report confirming that works have been completed has been received from the applicant's forester and the Forest Service District Inspector has been notified. A site inspection is scheduled for the week ending 28th June 2013. The subsequent premium for 2013 cannot be...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Eligibility (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The situation in relation to the participation in and payment under REPS 4 to the person named is under review by my Department and a written reply will issue directly to the deputy in the next few days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the Table below: REQUESTED SICK LEAVE STATISTICS 2009 – 2012 IN RESPECT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE - 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total number of uncertified sick days taken in Year 2,700 2,259 2,168 1,861 Average number of uncertified sick days per employee in Year 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.5 Total number of certified...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department makes available substantial resources to deal with equine related issues. In particular, funding is provided to Local Authorities under the Control of Horses Act, 1996, to enable these bodies implement their extensive powers relating to the control and welfare of stray or abandoned horses. In keeping with advice on humane disposal of horses from the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory...